RFL President's Cup
# RFL President's Cup

The RFL President's Cup is an annual competition for men's and women's representative teams drawn from the British Rugby league structure and is run by the Rugby Football League (RFL). It was previously known as the RFL Association's Cup.

## History

The RFL Associations Cup was founded in 2014 following the previous year's Rugby League Festival Of World Cups (the series of Rugby League World Cups for women, wheelchair, police, armed forces and students) with a view to better preparing each of the competing British entries ahead of their inclusion in future World Cups.

Speaking at the launch of the competition, David Gent, the RFL's Director of Participation stated "This competition is about a regular fixed competition for these associations, but it is vital we support these squads in their attempts to win their respective World Cups."

Additional benefits for the women's team would be to give England selectors the opportunity to scout players from all sections of the women's game, to create higher intensity fixtures than the domestic competition at the time provided and to select players to the national women's squad.

The first season saw the men's competition involving Great Britain Students, Great Britain Armed Forces, Great Britain Teachers and Great Britain Police and the women's competition featuring England Students, Great Britain Armed Forces, Great Britain Teachers and The Lionesses - a team made up of players from the women's domestic league who were not eligible for any of the other three teams.

In 2015 England Universities replaced Great Britain Students in the men's competition following the movement of the Student Rugby League Four Nations Competition from the Easter period to a summer slot.

No men's or women's competition took place in 2017 owing to teams participating in the Festival of World Cups in Australia. During this year, Great Britain Armed Forces re-branded to become UK Armed Forces.

For the 2018 season, the competition was renamed RFL President's Cup. The women's competition was discontinued following the RFL revamping the international player pathway process and introducing a National Performance Programme with a focus on talent identification, player skill development, physical competences and the creation of a performance coaching environment in advance of the RFL opening a National Rugby League Centre in Manchester which will provide facilities for the England Women's team to train at. An Origin Game was also introduced to recreate international competition to develop the elite players.

The 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic, but the competition returned in 2022 which also saw the return of a women's competition, this time for only 3 teams; England Students, Great Britain Teachers and UK Armed Forces.

## Format

Each team plays each other once in a single round-robin competition, with the team finishing at the top of the league table being crowned champions.

Competition points are scored as follows:

* Win: 2 points
* Draw: 1 point
* Loss: 0 points
* Default on game: 0 points (with 24-0 score-line awarded to the opposition).

Where teams are tied on competition points, points difference (the cumulative number of points scored in all games minus the cumulative number of points conceded in all games) is used to determine league positions.

The Pankhurst Trophy, previously played for annually and awarded to the winner of the England Students v UK Armed Forces women's game, continues to be awarded to the winner of the fixture.

## Men's Competition

### 2022 season

The fixtures for the 2022 season are:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| UK Armed Forces | 52–00 | Great Britain Police | 30 March 2022, 6:00pm | Saddleworth Rangers |
| England Universities | 32–12 | Great Britain Teachers | 30 March 2022, 8:00pm | Saddleworth Rangers |
| Great Britain Police | 38–32 | England Universities | 27 April 2022, 6:00pm | Lock Lane |
| Great Britain Teachers | 18-40 | UK Armed Forces | 27 April 2022, 8:00pm | Lock Lane |
| Great Britain Teachers | 32–40 | Great Britain Police | 25 May 2022, 6:00pm | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| UK Armed Forces | 14–26 | England Universities | 25 May 2022, 8:00pm | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | UK Armed Forces | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 44 | +62 | 4 |
| 2 | England Universities | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 64 | +26 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 116 | −38 | 4 |
| 4 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 62 | 112 | −50 | 0 |

### 2021 season

Competition did not take place.

### 2020 season

Competition did not take place.

### 2019 season

The fixtures for the 2019 season are:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| UK Armed Forces | 38–6 | Great Britain Police | 10 April 2019, 6:00pm | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| England Universities | 54–8 | Great Britain Teachers | 10 April 2019, 8:00pm | Leigh Miners Rangers |
| Great Britain Police | 6–16 | England Universities | 8 May 2019, 6:00pm | Siddal A.R.L.F.C. |
| Great Britain Teachers | 0–22 | UK Armed Forces | 8 May 2019, 8:00pm | Siddal A.R.L.F.C. |
| Great Britain Teachers | 16–30 | Great Britain Police | 20 June 2019, 6:00pm | Sheffield Hallam Sports Park |
| UK Armed Forces | 24–22 | England Universities | 20 June 2019, 8:00pm | Sheffield Hallam Sports Park |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | UK Armed Forces | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 26 | +58 | 6 |
| 2 | England Universities | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 38 | +52 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 70 | −28 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 106 | −82 | 0 |

### 2018 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| England Universities | 48–10 | Great Britain Police | 18 April 2018, 7:00pm | Rochdale Mayfield |
| UK Armed Forces | 0–24 | Great Britain Teachers | Game defaulted | N/A |
| Great Britain Teachers | 10–46 | England Universities | 2 May 2018, 6:00pm | Wigan St Judes |
| Great Britain Police | 8–40 | UK Armed Forces | 2 May 2018, 8:00pm | Wigan St Judes |
| Great Britain Police | 36–36 | Great Britain Teachers | 20 June 2018, 6:00pm | Rochdale Mayfield |
| England Universities | 40–22 | UK Armed Forces | 20 June 2018, 8:00pm | Rochdale Mayfied |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | England Universities | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 42 | +92 | 6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 80 | 82 | −2 | 3 |
| 3 | UK Armed Forces | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 72 | −10 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 54 | 124 | −70 | 1 |

### 2017 season

Competition did not take place.

### 2016 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 52–18 | Great Britain Police | 20 April 2016, 6:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| England Universities | 32–16 | Great Britain Teachers | 20 April 2016, 8:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Police | 4–58 | England Universities | 11 May 2016, 6:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Teachers | 24–44 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 11 May 2016, 8:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Police | 36–6 | Great Britain Teachers | 8 June 2016, 6:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| England Universities | 36–26 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 8 June 2016, 8:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | England Universities | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 46 | +80 | 6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 78 | +44 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 116 | −58 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 112 | −66 | 0 |

### 2015 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| England Universities | 72–8 | Great Britain Police | 29 April 2015, 6:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 50–6 | Great Britain Teachers | 29 April 205, 8:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Teachers | 14–36 | England Universities | 27 May 2015, 6:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Police | 28–32 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 27 May 2015, 8:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Police | 18–34 | Great Britain Teachers | 10 June 2015, 6:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| England Universities | 4–28 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 10 June 2015, 8:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 38 | +72 | 6 |
| 2 | England Universities | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 50 | +62 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 104 | −50 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 54 | 138 | −84 | 0 |

### 2014 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| Great Britain Police | 30–44 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 10 May 2014, 2:00pm | RAF Cranwell |
| Great Britain Students | 52–0 | Great Britain Police | 4 June 2014, 6:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 36–6 | Great Britain Teachers | 4 June 2014, 8:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Teachers | 2–52 | Great Britain Students | 21 June 2014,12:00 | Select Security Stadium, Widnes |
| Great Britain Students | 32–24 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 17 July 2014, 6:00pm | Select Security Stadium, Widnes |
| Great Britain Police | 24–16 | Great Britain Teachers | 17 July 2014, 8:00pm | Select Security Stadium, Widnes |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Great Britain Students | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 26 | +110 | 6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 68 | +36 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Police | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 112 | −58 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 112 | −88 | 0 |

## Women's Competition

### 2022 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| UK Armed Forces | 34-10 | Great Britain Teachers | 13 April 2022, 7:00pm | Saddleworth Rangers |
| Great Britain Teachers | | England Students | 11 May 2022, 7:00pm | Lock Lane |
| England Students | | UK Armed Forces | 1 June 2022, 7:00pm | Leigh Miners |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Great Britain Teachers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | England Students | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### 2016 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| England Students | 10–16 | Great Britain Teachers | 22 May 2016, 1:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 0–62 | The Lionesses | 22 May 2016, 3:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| England Students | 21–16 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 26 June 2016, 3:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| The Lionesses | 38–10 | Great Britain Teachers | 26 June 2016, 1:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Teachers | 32–14 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 10 July 2016, 1:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| The Lionesses | 36–14 | England Students | 10 July 2016, 3:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | The Lionesses | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 24 | +112 | 6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 62 | −4 | 4 |
| 3 | England Students | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 68 | −23 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 115 | −85 | 0 |

### 2015 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| The Lionesses | 52–10 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 7 June 2015, 1:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Teachers | 14–46 | England Students | 7 June 2015, 3:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| The Lionesses | 36–18 | Great Britain Teachers | 28 June 2015, 3:00pm | Wigan St Patrick's |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 10–50 | Great Britain Students | 28 June 2015, 12:15pm | Odsal Stadium, Bradford |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 18–24 | Great Britain Teachers | 19 July 2015, 1:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| England Students | 20–26 | The Lionesses | 19 July 2015, 3:00pm | Post Office Road, Featherstone |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | The Lionesses | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 48 | +66 | 6 |
| 2 | England Students | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 116 | 50 | +66 | 4 |
| 3 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 100 | −44 | 2 |
| 4 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 126 | −88 | 0 |

### 2014 season

Fixtures & results:

| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue |
| England Students | 16–30 | The Lionesses | 8 June 2014, 1:00pm | Rochdale Mayfield |
| Great Britain Teachers | 36–4 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 8 June 2014, 3:00pm | Rochdale Mayfield |
| England Students | 20–20 | Great Britain Teachers | 21 June 2014, 2:00pm | Select Security Stadium, Widnes |
| Great Britain Armed Forces | 4–40 | The Lionesses | 21 June 2014, 4:00pm | Select Security Stadium, Widnes |
| England Students | 44–26 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 20 July 2014, 1:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Great Britain Teachers | 16–32 | The Lionesses | 20 July 2014, 3:00pm | Stanningley ARLFC |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | The Lionesses | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 36 | +66 | 6 |
| 2 | Great Britain Teachers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 72 | 56 | +16 | 3 |
| 3 | England Students | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 80 | 76 | +4 | 3 |
| 4 | Great Britain Armed Forces | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 120 | −86 | 0 |
