A team from Clackmannanshire are among the newcomers to the 2009 Co-operative Conference this summer.

Hillfoot Rams, who will compete in the Scottish division, are one of eight new clubs in rugby league's ever-expanding summer amateur competition which gets under way in April.

The arrival of South Dorset Giants, who are based in Weymouth, Southampton Spitfires and Norwich City Saxons further demonstrate the growing spread of the 13-man code while St Clears Wild Boars will increase the game's presence in Wales.

South Dorset will be in the South-West division alongside established clubs Somerset Vikings, Exeter Centurions, Devon Sharks, East Devon Eagles and Plymouth Titans, with Southampton competing in the London and South league.

Among the new clubs in rugby league's traditional heartland, Wigan Riversiders have taken the step up to the North-West division seven years after their formation by a group of Warriors supporters.

"The structured geographical progression of rugby league over the last decade or so has been one of its real success stories," said RFL national development executive Gary Tasker.

You've just made that up haven't you....does it border danglebitwood and the River Icklestick?

Stanley Unwin wrote:You've just made that up haven't you....does it border danglebitwood and the River Icklestick? http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... rence.html

Stanley Unwin wrote:You've just made that up haven't you....does it border danglebitwood and the River Icklestick? http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... rence.html

and with a northwest and a yorkshire merit league in place, its finally becoming easier to get clubs off the ground in the north too without having to expose new players/clubs straight into the tough BARLA leagues...

Here's the line-ups (although it's possible there's been some last minute changes and thus for 100% certainty wait for the official release, but this should be accurate) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Leag ... _Structure

Here's the line-ups (although it's possible there's been some last minute changes and thus for 100% certainty wait for the official release, but this should be accurate) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Leag ... _Structure

bowes wrote:Here's the line-ups (although it's possible there's been some last minute changes and thus for 100% certainty wait for the official release, but this should be accurate) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Leag ... _Structure Here's the Merit League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RL_Merit_L ... ting_clubs and the Midlands League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlands_R ... ting_clubs

bowes wrote:Here's the line-ups (although it's possible there's been some last minute changes and thus for 100% certainty wait for the official release, but this should be accurate) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Leag ... _Structure Here's the Merit League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RL_Merit_L ... ting_clubs and the Midlands League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlands_R ... ting_clubs

the official launch of the competition was yesterday before the world club challenge.

expect something ing the papers today

tim2 wrote:Here's the Merit League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RL_Merit_L ... ting_clubs and the Midlands League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlands_R ... ting_clubs And also the London League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Lea ... gby_league)

tim2 wrote:Here's the Merit League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RL_Merit_L ... ting_clubs and the Midlands League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlands_R ... ting_clubs And also the London League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Lea ... gby_league)