Northern Rail Cup scrapped for 2014

The Northern Rail Cup will not take place in 2014, in what the RFL are calling a transitional year for clubs.

With the current sponsorship deal coming to an end, and talks ongoing about the structure of the game for 2015 and beyond, it has been decided to pull the competition, which has been running since 2002.

Clubs were informed by the RFL of their decision this week.

Featherstone chief executive Craig Poskitt told Love Rugby League: “Featherstone were certainly not in favour (of scrapping the competition). We make money on the games, so we will lose valued revenues. Other clubs, who don’t make money on games, may think differently.

“It’s a poor effort again commercially not to obtain a sponsor.

“But we are confident that the new promotion and relegation structure will go through, so hopefully this is a small setback in what we forsee as very exciting times around the corner.”

The 2013 Northern Rail Cup was won by Leigh, who defeated Sheffield 43-28 in the final at Halifax.

The final had previously been held for eight years at Blackpool.

Leigh are the most successful team in the competition’s history, having won it four times.

Widnes win in the 2009 competition enabled them to satisfy the on-field criteria which ultimately saw them submit a successful Super League licence application and return to the top flight for 2012.