London Rugby League

South London is one of the most important development areas for the sport of Rugby League in our region. Current Harlequins RL players Will Sharp, Lamont Bryan and Adam Janowski all either came through the original South London Storm juniors (now Croydon Hurricanes), or started their Rugby League career playing for Storm.

The south London Service area looks after Schools and junior Rugby League. They cater for both boys and girls from 6 through to 16 and provide opportunities for all to participate through schools programmes and local junior clubs, Croydon Hurricanes, Brixton Bulls and South London Thunderbirds.

At 16 players are able to join the South London Storm academy which caters for the under 18 age group and helps to fill the massive gap that can sometimes exist between junior and open age Rugby League. 

(In 2008 Will Sharp and Lamont Bryan both progressed to the Harlequins RL first team squad).

The South London Service area prides itself on offering a formula of creating strong, efficient and sustainable school - club links.

1) Meet the needs of all young people, regardless of their participation objectives

2) Provide new and varied opportunities for young people

3) Help young people to realise their ambitions in sport by providing recognised pathways

4) Agree good standards of provision and put in place quality controls to ensure standards remain high

South London Service area have been operating primary and secondary schools programmes in Croydon and Lambeth for several years. This takes the form of both curriculum and after school  coaching.

In Autumn 2007 the programme expanded to include the boroughs of Wandsworth, Sutton and Merton.

All schools receive UKCC level 2 qualified coaching and are given the opportunity to compete in inter - school fixtures, festivals and the Champion schools competition.

For further information on schools Rugby League in South London contact the SLRLSA Development officer Ben Cramant at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Carnegie Champion Schools Tournament is a full contact knock-out Rugby League competition open to every secondary school in the UK, aimed at promoting and increasing participation in the sport amongst the nation's youngsters.

Over the course of the competition the tournament progresses from local to regional and ultimately national level, as teams battle it out for a place in the national finals.

Within the South London Service Area the Champion Schools competition is the most important tool for our school - club link pathway.

The competition which is held for both boys and girls in November each year, ensures that all participants are engaged in some form of competitive full contact Rugby League.

The South London tournament is held at Storms home ground in Thornton Heath which gives participants some insight in to a Rugby League club and how it works.

If you want your school to play Rugby League please contact development officer Ben Cramant on 07866 737905 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

There are excellent opportunities for players at all ages to gain representative selection and honours.

At junior level opportunities exist for talented players to get selected at under 13 and under 14 level to participate in the RFL Player development centre.

London RL also run a series of 'Origin' matches for junior players each year.

At 15 talented players can be invited to join the Harlequins foundation academy program.

For further information on junior player pathways visit www.londonrl.com

Open age and academy players have the opportunity to trial to represent the England Lionhearts and Lionhearts under 18's teams.

The England Lionhearts are the representative team of the 'summer game' and incorporate the RLC, Student game and services.

The Lionhearts compete in an annual 4 nations competition and have also reacently toured Malta and Serbia

for more info visit http://englandlionhearts.co.uk/