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The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) is the governing body for social and recreational rugby league in the United Kingdom. It works jointly with the Rugby Football League (the overall governing body of rugby league in the UK) by means of the RFL Community Board.

History

BARLA was created in 1973 in Huddersfield by a group of enthusiasts concerned about the dramatic disappearance of many amateur leagues and clubs. Fewer than 150 amateur teams remained with a mere thirty youth rugby league teams. The 'breakaway' from the RFL was acrimonious and was strongly contested with a vote 29-1 against recognising BARLA. Thanks to Tom Mitchell, this changed to an unanimous vote of approval for BARLA within twelve months.

In 1977 BARLA toured Australia and New Zealand for the first time. In that year the BARLA Young Lions made their first inaugural tour setting a lasting trend by giving future stars of the game such as David Hobbs their first taste of international rugby league.

The BARLA National League first took place in the 1986/1987 season with 10 teams.

The association has always been a champion of the amateur ethos and in 1987 BARLA played a major role in the establishment of the 'free gangway' between the two codes at amateur level. The agreement allowed players to inter-change between rugby league and rugby union without fear of discrimination.

The BARLA National League added a second division in 1989.

On the 30th November 1990, BARLA's new headquarters at West Yorkshire House, Huddersfield was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1993, BARLA provided the first Great Britain team to tour South Africa. The BARLA National League was rebranded the National Conference League and expanded to three divisions (now named premier, first and second) in 1993.

By 1999, there were more than 1,400 teams and 900 youth and junior teams. On an average weekend in the season, almost 23,000 players will be in action.

BARLA's work in the international expansion of the game was recognised by their inclusion as affiliate members of the International Federation (equivalent to the International Board at the time) in 1999 and by BARLA's inclusion in the Emerging Nations World Championship in 2000.

Role

BARLA runs many leagues, mainly based in the 'heartland' areas of the sport (Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria). The top division under their control is the National Conference League, with regional leagues including the North West Counties and Pennine leagues.

BARLA selects an international team consisting of amateur players, the BARLA Lions. This team tours many parts of the rugby league world, and have competed in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament. The association have made 31 tours to and from the Southern Hemisphere. These include pioneer visits to Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and South Africa. In the Northern Hemisphere games have been played against Moldavia, Russia, Morocco and the USA.

Service areas

BARLA divides itself into service areas which are defined by local authority or county sports partnership boundaries depending on their geographical location. Each service area is managed by a steering group at which all rugby league agencies in the area and other appropriate partners are represented.

Cumbria

North West Allerdale, Barrow & South Lakes, Copeland and Eden

North West

Halton, Lancashire, Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, St Helens, Warrington & Cheshire, Wigan & Leigh

Yorkshire

Bradford, Calderdale, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Wakefield

Non-heartlands

London & South East, North East, Scotland, Wales

See also

• Rugby Football League
• Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
• Victory Cup
• National Conference League
• North West Counties
• Pennine League
• CMS Yorkshire league
• Cumberland League
• Hull & District League
• Barrow & District League
• Rugby league in England
• Cumbria County Cup

External links

• BARLA Official Website
• Lancashire Service Area

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