London Skolars join league's pro ranks
London will have a second rugby league side next season - the first time for 66 years that two professional clubs have played in the capital.
North London Skolars have been provisionally admitted into the revamped Northern Ford Premiership after the Rugby Football League Council agreed a new fivedivision structure yesterday.
Skolars, who play just down the road from Tottenham in White Hart Lane, will take their place in the 20-team league provided they lodge £75,000 with the bank by the end of the month to prove financial viability.
The club must also make minor improvements to its New River Sports Stadium.
Skolars currently operate in the summerbased Conference League. Their admission to the professional ranks comes 22 years after the birth of London Broncos, who were known as Fulham for their first 13 years. Broncos compete in the Super League, which will remain unchanged.
Assuming the Skolars get the go-ahead, it will be the first time London has such a rugby league presence since 1936 when Streatham & Mitcham and Acton & Willesden were in existence.
Skolars secretary Andrew Jackson said the club aims to make gradual progress.
"We won't be budgeting on getting 2,000 through the gates," he said. "If we were to get an average of 1,000 in our first season, we would be delighted."
The club, formed seven years ago by a group of students and current chairman Hector McNeill, is coached by former London Broncos player Mark Croston.
RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis said: "It's terrific news about the Skolars and we're happy to have them on board."
Lewis added that the new club would receive special dispensation to exceed the overseas quota because of the high proportion of Antipodeans living in the capital. Non-Super League clubs are restricted to just one overseas player per club.
Under the league restructure, York City will also be admitted into the Premiership which will be split in two to form National Leagues One and Two. Below them in a pyramid structure, the new National League Three will comprise two divisions of amateur clubs.
