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London Broncos

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London Broncos
Club information
Full nameLondon Broncos Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)The Broncos
London
Short nameLondon Broncos
Colours Black, White and Red
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
(as Fulham RLFC)
Websitelondonbroncosrl.com
Current details
Ground(s)
ChairmanDavid Hughes
CoachMike Eccles
CaptainWill Lovell
CompetitionChampionship
2024 season12th (Relegated to the championship)
Current season
Uniforms
Home colours
Away colours
Records
RFL Championship0
Challenge Cups0
Other honours2
Most capped202Steele Retchless
Highest try scorer109Luke Dorn
Highest points scorer774Paul Sykes

The London Broncos are a professional rugby league club based in Wimbledon, England. They play their home games at Plough Lane and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league.

Whilst the club has never won a major trophy, they have finished second in the League Championship once and have been Challenge Cup runners-up once. They have also won the Championship Grand Final, to gain promotion to the Super League, on two occasions.

Originally formed as Fulham Rugby League Club in 1980, they have also previously been known as London Crusaders and Harlequins Rugby League. London's home colours are black and red.

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

Professional rugby league was briefly represented in London during the 1930s by London Highfield (1933), Acton and Willesden (1935–36) and Streatham and Mitcham (1935–36). All these were speculative clubs set up by local businessmen purely as money making exercises, and were ultimately driven out of business through poor finances. Thereafter, the sport of rugby league in England remained exclusively a northern based game for over forty years until the formation in 1980 of a new club in London, Fulham.

1980–1991: Fulham R.L.F.C.

[edit]

In June 1980, Fulham Football Club chairman Ernie Clay set up a rugby league team at Craven Cottage, with the primary intention of creating another income stream for the football club. Warrington director Harold Genders, who had helped to persuade Clay of the potential benefits of establishing a rugby league club in the capital, resigned from the Warrington board to become managing director of Fulham R.L.F.C. The Rugby Football League (RFL), keen to encourage the expansion of the sport beyond its traditional northern heartland, accepted the new club at once. One of the game's leading players, Reg Bowden, was recruited by Genders to act as player-coach and the club's first signing was Roy Lester, on a free transfer from Warrington. Within nine weeks, Genders and Bowden had assembled a team of very experienced players, most of whom were approaching retirement, together with a few promising youngsters. [citation needed]

The first match, on 14 September 1980, was a major success; nearly 10,000 Londoners attended the game at Craven Cottage to see the newly formed side convincingly beat highly regarded Wigan 24–5. On 15 February 1981, more than 15,000 were present to see Fulham take on Wakefield Trinity in the Challenge Cup, a club attendance record that still stands. The new Fulham RL team quickly proved to be very competitive and went on to win promotion at the end of their inaugural season. After that initial success, however, immediate relegation from the first division in 1981–82 was something of a reality check.[citation needed]

Fulham played two "home" games against Swinton and Huddersfield at Widnes in 1983 as the pitch at the Cottage had disintegrated in the wet winter following the collapse of the main drain to the River Thames under the Miller Stand.[citation needed]

The club also played several one-off games in 1983 at various football grounds around London; matches were played at Wealdstone's Lower Mead stadium, Hendon's Claremont Road ground, Brentford's Griffin Park and Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

Despite winning the Division Two Championship comfortably in 1982–83, a second immediate relegation in 1983–84, coupled with continuing financial losses, saw Clay, under pressure from the Fulham football club board, pull the plug at the end of their fourth season. However, with the backing of supporters Roy and Barbara Close and the appointment of a new coach, former player Roy Lester, Fulham RL still had a future. Most of the existing players moved on as free agents, and a new squad began life based at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre for the 1984–85 season.

After a single season, the club then moved to a new home at Chiswick Polytechnic Sports Ground in the summer of 1985, and would remain there for five years. Bill Goodwin replaced Lester as coach from 1986 to 1987. In August 1986, Fulham hit a serious cash crisis and were forced to withdraw temporarily from the RFL only 11 days before the start of the season, but were able to re-launch in September.[citation needed] Bev Risman was appointed coach at Fulham in 1987. The team was in the bottom half of the second division and continually struggled for success, and Risman left after a couple of seasons and Bill Goodwin returned. Phil Sullivan was coach for just two months between January and February 1989, thereafter Goodwin came in for his third spell and held the reins until May 1989 when Ross Strudwick was appointed.

The club returned to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in 1990, this time making it their home for three seasons.

In May 1991, York and Fulham toured Russia.[1]

1991–1994: London Crusaders

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Prior to the start of the 1991–92 season the club's name was officially changed from Fulham RLFC to London Crusaders RLFC. A slightly more successful period on the pitch begun at this point. Ross Strudwick was replaced as coach by Darryl van der Velde in 1992 but continued as club manager until 1993.

In June 1993 the club moved once again, from Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to Barnet Copthall arena. In November 1993, London Crusaders imposed a 20% pay cut on all staff to ease financial problems. With the club in financial straights, the RFL briefly took ownership of the Crusaders in 1993–94 to protect their southern outpost, but the club were then acquired by new owners Britannic Shipping; Strudwick stepped down as manager to give the club's new owners a clean slate.[2]

Despite the club's financial problems, the team proved very competitive on the pitch under coach Tony Gordon and narrowly missed out on automatic promotion back to the First Division by a single point. The climax of the Crusaders' era was a May 1994 appearance in the Divisional Premiership Final at Old Trafford; although they lost 22–30 to Workington Town, the club had gone into the game with the knowledge that an exciting take-over bid had just been announced.

1994–2005: London Broncos

[edit]
The Valley
The Stoop
Griffin Park

In the spring of 1994, just prior to the Divisional Premiership Final, it was announced that the successful Australian NRL club Brisbane Broncos was buying the London Crusaders club, which would be renamed London Broncos from the start of the forthcoming 1994–95 season. Gordon was replaced by a Brisbane coach, Gary Grienke.[3] The first home game under the new Broncos moniker was against Keighley at Hendon F.C.'s ground at Claremont Road, though most home games were still played at Barnet Copthall.

For the 1995–96 season the club found another new home base, returning to south-west London at The Stoop Memorial Ground, home of Harlequins Rugby Union Club. Despite finishing fourth in the Second Division the previous season, London Broncos were selected by the RFL to be part of the radical new Super League competition scheduled to begin in the summer of 1996, on the basis that the RFL felt it was commercially essential for the sport's national profile to have a team based in the nation's capital. The regular 1995–96 season, deliberately made brief to accommodate for Super League, ran from August 1995 to January 1996 and saw London included together with the top ten teams from the 1994–95 First Division in a 'Centenary League Championship', effectively a "dry run" for Super League. Faced with much stronger opposition, London struggled and finished second from last.

The club moved once more prior to the start of the 1996 inaugural summer season of Super League, this time to south-east London to play at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic, which is when current owner David Hughes initially became involved with the club. Former Brisbane Broncos coach Tony Currie was appointed to the role of head coach. The team performed far beyond initial expectations and eventually finished a highly creditable fourth, with Greg Barwick the top points scorer for the club. That season also brought the best London home attendances since the first season at Craven Cottage. Tony Rea retired from playing to take up the Chief Executive role at the club.

After only one season at The Valley, the club were on their way back to south-west London to play at the Stoop Memorial Ground again for the 1997 season. The second season of Super League saw an even greater improvement in the team's performance, finishing a remarkable second to the eventual champions, Bradford Bulls. This represents London's best ever final league position to date. Richard Branson's highly successful Virgin Group became the majority shareholders and primary sponsors of the club, and the immediate future looked very bright. Highlights that year included victories at the Stoop over Canberra in the World Club Challenge and comprehensive league victories against Bradford and Wigan.

In 1998, as part of rugby league's "on the road" scheme, London Broncos played Bradford Bulls at Tynecastle in Edinburgh in front of over 7,000 fans. Success continued in 1998 with a first appearance in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, losing to Wigan. Head coach Tony Currie left the club at the end of the 1998 Super League season and was replaced by Dan Stains.

In 1999, the club went one stage better in the Challenge Cup. Following a famous last-minute semi-final victory over Castleford, the Broncos reached the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium for the first time, but despite taking a shock early lead in the game and performing bravely, they were soundly defeated 52–16 by red-hot favourites Leeds.

The club returned to the Valley for the 2000 season, but sacked Stains after enduring a long losing streak. Tony Rea was appointed temporary joint head coach with Stains' assistant Les Kiss. Rea and Kiss managed to steer Broncos out of the slump. In 2000, the experienced John Monie was appointed Head Coach. Monie only stayed in the job until the last month of the 2000 Super League season with the club having had mediocre results during his tenure. Rea took over as caretaker coach until the end of the season and Broncos eventually reached mid-table security. Rea then resigned his Chief Executive role at the end of the 2000 season to become Head Coach on a full-time basis.

York made an approach to the Virgin Group to buy the London Broncos in August 2001, with the aim of buying a Super League place for a proposed merged club to be based in York under a new name, York Wasps.[4] This attempt was thrown out when Richard Branson rebuffed the offer as 'ridiculous, and speculative at best'.

In 2002, fervent club supporter David Hughes purchased the majority shareholding from Virgin in a major restructuring of the club. The Broncos moved once again, to play their home matches at Griffin Park as tenants of Brentford FC. 2003 marked the club's first Super League playoff appearance, losing in the first round to St. Helens 24–6 at Knowsley Road.

The 2005 season was marked by significant activity off the pitch as the club welcomed new chairman and majority shareholder Ian Lenagan who had bought 65% of the shares. This was followed by the announcement of a partnership with Harlequins Rugby Union Club that saw the club return to The Stoop Memorial Ground, this time formally renamed as Harlequins RL and adopting the host club's kit and crest for the 2006 season.

2006–2011: Harlequins Rugby League

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Ian Lenagan became the majority shareholder in the London Broncos in July 2005 and within a week of his arrival, the team was formally renamed "Harlequins RL". Press releases of the time suggested that this would make the combined club "a powerhouse in both codes" according to Mark Evans of the Union club and provide a "very, very strong future for rugby league in the capital" according to Lenagan.[5] The arrangement between the clubs was described as a "long-term partnership".

At the time of the announcement there were many projected benefits of the two clubs sharing and pooling; both clubs were to play at the same ground and have access to the training facilities at the Richardson Evans Playing Fields, Roehampton Vale, though this was little more than a public park and not actually fit for a professional club of either code. In practice, there was no integration between the rugby codes, no joint player development, and the administrative and commercial resource sharing was little more than the RU club allowing the RL club some shared office space.

The sole integration programme appeared to be a combined fund raising lottery – which folded long before the Rugby League club permanently left the Twickenham Stoop – and two "double header" match days. These were in 2006, in which the Union side played first, followed by the League side, but the lengthy two hour gap between fixtures was a deterrent to the Union supporters and the majority had left the ground before the kick-off of the League fixture. Plymouth Albion and Leeds Carnegie were the Union opponents for the Union team whilst the Rugby League team played Huddersfield and St Helens.

On the field, the Harlequins RL club started with an encouraging 8,213 watching the home game against St Helens on 11 February 2006 but a heavy loss was followed by further consecutive home losses against Wakefield and Castleford, before a thumping 0–60 home defeat to Leeds. It was not until the fifth home game in the season that the team won at the Twickenham Stoop against Catalans Dragons in round 9.

Whilst the club started with a goal of 5,500 average home ground attendance by mid 2007.[6] the actual attendance average was around the 3,500 level.

A 38–18 loss against bottom of the table Catalan, who were in their first year in Super League, was followed by a close home defeat to a Wigan team after each team scored. Harlequins were at this point 9th out of 12.

On 8 July 2006, Ian Lenagan removed Tony Rea as head coach, and moved him "upstairs" to a position on the club's board of directors. In his place, Brian McDermott, an assistant coach at Leeds Rhinos, was appointed as head coach. Results at home improved, taking Harlequins RL to 7th place in Super League XI.

Harlequins RL vs St. Helens in 2006, the first game under the new guise

The 2007 season saw the team pull off an incredible opening win against St Helens and by 7 July the team was 5th in the table, but a collapse in form in the second half of the season – a recurring theme of the McDermott reign – saw the team win only once from eight matches to finish 9th.

At the end of the season, Ian Lenagan took over control of fellow Super League side Wigan Warriors and was given two years to sell his Harlequins shares.[7]

In 2008, Harlequins RL got off to a good start, winning six from the first ten games, but as was customary a second half of the season collapse saw the club won only five from the last seventeen games to finish in 9th again.

In 2009, the club was playing very well in the early part of the season, which extended up until 12 June with ten wins from sixteen, but yet again the rest of the season proved miserable with one win from 12 seeing the club slide from 5th position to 11th.

Home supporters were particularly displeased with the 0–48 home loss to Castleford and the 0–36 half time score v Bradford.

By round 12 in 2010, the club had won only one game from the first eleven and were bottom of the table, meaning that McDermott had seen the team win just twice in twenty three games, and at half-time away at Wigan the team were losing 24–6 before pulling off their finest comeback as Harlequins RL to win 38–26. That result seemed to spur the team into life briefly, with three more wins from the next four, but after that there was an end-of-season collapse to join the start-of-season collapse.

The round 25 game at Catalan saw the Quins bottom of the table with Catalan on a similar points tally and the game looked likely to decide who would finish bottom. The Quins were winning 16–12 with just a couple of minutes to go when Catalan were over the line with ball in hand, but Will Sharp stripped the ball from the Dragons player and Quins managed to hold out for the win.

The final game under McDermott saw Harlequins lose to Warrington at home; 7 wins from his last 38 games.

It was a shock to Harlequins RL supporters to see McDermott's assistant take over but this bizarre decision seemed to be warranted as Rob Powell oversaw three wins from their first three matches, placing them at the top of the ladder.

Away wins at Leeds Rhinos and St Helens seemed to herald a new dawn, however, the club's run of success was ended with a club record 82–6 defeat to Warrington Wolves on 20 March 2011 and the team were within a try of losing by the all-time Super League record margin of −80 held by Salford City Reds.

After that the Harlequins only won two more games in the next six months and the Harlequins RL era drew to a close when the club played St Helens in their final game under that name on 10 September 2011.

2012–present: Return to London Broncos

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The club announced on 1 November 2011 that it would be returning to the London Broncos name from the 2012 season.[8] In addition, the team unveiled a new logo as well as new colours of black, light blue and silver. On 4 February, London Broncos played their first competitive match against St. Helens since reverting to that name. The game was won by St. Helens 34–24 in front of a 4,924 crowd, which was higher than all of their attendances in the year before. In the match, seven players made their debuts for the club.

In the 2012 season, the Broncos played two home games "on the road" away from the Twickenham Stoop, on 6 June vs Bradford at Leyton Orient FC's Brisbane Road, where they were narrowly beaten 22–29 in front of 2,844 fans, and on 20 June vs Hull F.C. at Gillingham FC's Priestfield Stadium, as recognition for the work Medway Dragons had done in growing rugby league in Kent. The game proved to be popular with 3,930 turning up to watch London narrowly beaten 12–14 by Hull.[citation needed]

Tony Rea was appointed as the club's head coach for a second time in August 2012 taking over from Rob Powell. In 2013, London Broncos used four venues for their home games with the majority being played at the Twickenham Stoop. On 8 June 2013, London once again played a home game at Priestfield Stadium, this time being heavily beaten 82–10 by Warrington in front of 3,041 fans.[citation needed] On 28 March, London had to play a home game at Esher RFC's ground at Molesey Road due to a waterlogged pitch at the Stoop. For the next home game on 6 April, Harlequins RU didn't allow London to use the Stoop due to a Heineken Cup game, forcing them to play Bradford at Adams Park in High Wycombe.

London Broncos had a successful Challenge Cup campaign in 2013, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since their Wembley appearance in 1999. In round 4, London beat part-timers Featherstone Rovers 24–12 and in round 5, defeated Bradford 25–16. In the quarter-finals, London Broncos beat part-timers Sheffield Eagles 29–10 to book a place in the semi-finals. On 27 July, London Broncos' dream of reaching the Wembley final for the second time came emphatically to an end with a televised 0–70 defeat by Wigan, a record score in a Challenge Cup semi-final.

On 29 June 2013, London Broncos announced the loan signing of Australian Jamie Soward until the end of the season. Soward quickly became a fans favourite with a man of the match performance on his debut v Salford (scoring a try and kicking five goals) and received a standing ovation from the crowd despite being defeated 30–44. Soward put in impressive performances in his short venture in England and in 9 games scored 67 points (5 tries, 23 goals, 1 drop goal).

The club's financial struggles were made evident when, on 20 November 2013, the club announced that it would have to enter administration in ten working days if a new owner was not found. On 3 December 2013, London Broncos announced, "The club will be instructing lawyers to file a further notice of intention to appoint administrators at court, which shall be effective for 10 business days". The club's saviour David Hughes later decided to carry on putting millions into the club.[9][10]

On 13 December 2013, London Broncos announced a move to the Hive Stadium in Canons Park, the new home of Barnet F.C., from the start of the 2014 season.[11] After London lost 21 players from their 2013 squad, they faced a huge task to build up their squad again with minimal finances. The Broncos managed to retain twelve players from 2013 and in the off season signed 16 players (five on loan) including Tongan international fullback Nesiasi Mataitonga and former England international hooker Scott Moore. Tony Rea quit as coach following Broncos' 11-game winless start to the new Super League season. Assistant coach Joey Grima became head coach, having been asked to take charge for the rest of the season and next.Rea replaced by Grima at Broncos. Despite several closely contested games in 2014, the team struggled throughout the season against teams with far more strength in depth and much greater financial resources, and finished the season bottom of the Super League table, with only one win.

A supporters club (the LBSA) was founded in 2014 in order for fans to have a voice regarding their team.[12] In July, at a pre-match lunch hosted by former Broncos Martin Offiah and Shaun Edwards, the LBSA announced its Hall of Fame, with six inaugural inductees: Reg Bowden, Peter Gill, Mark Johnson, Hussain M’Barki, Rob Purdham, Steele Retchless and Scott Roskell.[13]

2015–2018: Relegation to the Championship

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On 13 July 2014, London Broncos were relegated from the Super League to the Championship after a 72–12 loss to Warrington.

The capital club had competed in all 19 Super League seasons and this was the club's first relegation since 1984 as Fulham RL and the first time the club competed in the second tier since 1995.

Relegation bought another mass exodus of players, with the club losing many key homegrown and non-homegrown players.

In the 2015 season, London Broncos had a poor season. Head Coach Joey Grima had issues with senior players like Foran, Cordoba, Mathers, Adamson and Lovegrove which meant that by about a third of the way into the season none were selectable. The club trained players went into the double digits that season but of them only Alex Walker and Matt Davis would be successful in the long run. As pressure built, Grima resigned leaving Andrew Henderson in charge. Henderson had too much to do and Broncos were a long way short of making the Super 8 play-offs that would have given them a chance of promotion back to Super League. However a surprise away win in the qualifiers at Dewsbury Rams saw the club make it to the Championship Shield Grand Final in Widnes but they were heavily beaten 36–4 by Featherstone Rovers.

In 2016, London Broncos moved to Ealing having signed a three-year deal to play at the Trailfinders Sports Ground, home of rugby union side Ealing Trailfinders. On 3 July, the Broncos beat Dewsbury 36–6 to secure a place in the Qualifiers against the bottom 4 Super League teams for promotion.[14] Henderson signed Penrith Panthers playmaker Jamie Soward, who had previously played for the Broncos in 2013, until the end of the season. London Broncos finished 2nd in the Championship heading into the Qualifiers for a place in the Super League. The Broncos started the Qualifiers with a narrow 34–30 away loss to Leigh. London then won their first game in the competition, setting a record club score victory over Batley 76–16 at the Trailfinders Sports Ground. The following week, Henderson's team put in a gutsy performance despite going down 28–42 to Leeds in front of a record rugby league crowd at the ground of 1,845 in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

In 2017 the Broncos again finished second and reached the qualifiers for a second consecutive year. The team put in several impressive performances including a close 38–40 loss against Warrington Wolves; lost by just two points against Catalans Dragons away and came within six points of beating Hull KR. However the last two games were both hammerings whilst Broncos also blew the lead against Featherstone to draw on the hooter and only actually beat Halifax. Shortly after the season finished Andrew Henderson, who had successfully managed the club through a troubled period, left to help manage Warrington Wolves.

Danny Ward was promoted to Head Coach and in 2018 the Broncos got off to a flying start with seven wins in a row to go first in the Championship table with five straight wins, breaking their previous record for the best start to a season with a 68–12 home victory over Batley Bulldogs. A mid-season slump saw the club needing an improbable sequence of results to make the play-offs but six wins and a draw from the last seven saw the club achieve exactly that and make Super 8s – the Qualifiers.

2018–present: Promotion and subsequent relegation

[edit]

Following a strong 2018 campaign in the Championship, Danny Ward carried off the Championship Head Coach of the Year Award at the end of season awards dinner held at the Principal Hotel in Manchester. The Broncos finished second in the regular season and commenced their Super 8s – Qualifiers campaign with a one-point win over the Widnes Vikings in which Jarrod Sammut kicked a vital 79th minute drop goal to secure the victory. This good start was followed up with key victories over Salford, Toulouse and Halifax to leave the Broncos with 8 points in the Qualifiers table sitting in fifth behind the Toronto Wolfpack in fourth, which meant London faced the Wolfpack away at the Lamport Stadium in Toronto on 7 October 2018 to decide the final Super League place in the so-called 'Million Pound Game'. London won a very tense and defensive game 4–2, thus earning promotion to Super League for the 2019 season. However, in spite of handing table leaders St Helens two of their three losses in the 2019 season, and several other notable wins against stronger opponents, Broncos were relegated after only one season back in the top flight, after losing their final game of the season to Wakefield.[15]

With the entire 2020 Championship season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RFL advised the Broncos that their present ground at Ealing would be deemed as unsuitable for top level matches should they return to the Super League, so in December 2020 the club entered into discussions with AFC Wimbledon to groundshare at their newly built Plough Lane stadium in Wimbledon. The agreement was confirmed in mid July 2021 and the club played its first game at its new home in January 2022, a pre-season friendly against Widnes.

In the 2022 RFL Championship season, London started poorly and for most of the season were in the relegation zone. The club managed to win four of their last ten matches in the league to avoid relegation and finish 11th on the table.[16] The 2023 RFL Championship season saw London finish 5th in the table and qualify for the playoffs. They would go on to defeat Sheffield in the opening playoff game and then beat league leaders Featherstone, who had finished 18 points above them in the regular season, to reach the playoff final. London would then go on to upset Toulouse Olympique in the Million Pound Game 18–14 to seal a spectacular return to the Super League.[17]

London started the 2024 Super League season with ten consecutive losses where they conceded nearly 40 points a game. London earned their first win in round 11 against fellow strugglers Hull F.C., recording a 34–18 victory.[18] Further victories came in an upset against play-off chasers Catalans Dragons[19] and the return fixture against Hull F.C.[20] The Broncos finished bottom of the table on the final day of the season, following a 0–54 defeat to Warrington Wolves, having entered the matchweek one point difference higher than Hull F.C.[21] At the end of the season, David Hughes, who had owned the club for 27 years, announced he was walking away from the club. [22] As of 14th October 2024, discussions and crowdfunding efforts are underway to save the club from closure and continue a professional rugby league presence in London. On 24 October 2024, London were relegated back to the Championship through the IMG grading system and were replaced by Wakefield Trinity.[23]

Stadium

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The Broncos have played home matches at numerous different grounds around London since the club's original formation. In 2021 they hoped to move their home ground to Plough Lane stadium in Wimbledon, as tenants of AFC Wimbledon, looking to agree a ten-year lease with break and extension clauses.[24] Until an arrangement to use Plough Lane was reached, the club continued to play at Trailfinders Sports Ground.[25] The Broncos finally began play at Plough Lane in 2022.

Colours and badge

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Colours

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The original Fulham team wore an all black kit, with a broad white chevron, bordered with red, across the chest. As London Crusaders, the kit used the same colours, but in a variety of designs over the seasons. London Broncos wore red, yellow and blue also in a variety of styles, with red being the predominant colour for the last 5 years of their existence. When the club became known as Harlequins RL they adopted the colours of host rugby union side Harlequins. When the club returned to being known as the London Broncos, the home kit was black with a light blue trim and the reverse for the away kit. In 2015, the London Broncos reverted to their original Fulham colours, much to the approval of long-term fans, with their home kit being predominantly black with a broad white chevron and a red strip bordering the chevron. The away kit is predominantly red with a broad black chevron with white border. For the 2022 season, the club will play in blue and yellow, referencing the traditional colours of their new hosts in Wimbledon.[26] The club have indicated that they will revert to Black from 2023.

Badge

[edit]
Club Logo for used for 2012-2017 Seasons

As Fulham RLFC, the club utilised the badge of the host football club, which at the time was the emblem of the local administrative borough, Hammersmith and Fulham. The first badge as London Broncos was a red and white crest with a horse's head on the front with London inscripted on the top. This was worn, with some minor adjustments, until 2006 when the club became known as Harlequins RL.

As Harlequins RL, the club crest was the same as that of the host rugby union team. This was used up until 2011.

In 2012, the club reverted to the name London Broncos and created a new crest, based on the original Broncos badge but featuring a horse's head in a modern stylised fashion, depicted in silver and blue.

Kit sponsors and manufacturers

[edit]
Years Kit Manufacturer Main Shirt Sponsor
1980–85 Mansport none
1993 Canterbury
1994–1998 Puma Foster's
1999–2003 Canterbury Virgin
2004 ISC Bartercard
2005 Carlotti Streetwise Sports
2006–2008 Kooga none
2009 Puma St Mary's University College
2010 WIN plc
2011 Quins RL Foundation
2012–2013 MKK Sports Selco Builders Warehouse
2014 Jako
2015 Towergate Partnership
2016 Kappa Rugbytel
2017 Simply Air Conditioning
2018– Errea Bartercard

2024 squad

[edit]

Where a player has played internationally for more than one country, the nations are indicated with the most recently represented first. A slash (/) indicates an uncapped player of dual nationality.

First team squad Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • Injured

Updated: 27 March 2024
Source(s): [1]


2024 transfers

[edit]

Players In

[edit]
Player From Contract Date
England James Meadows Batley Bulldogs 1 Year 10 November 2023[27]
England Gideon Boafo Newcastle Thunder 2 Years 10 November 2023[28]
Nigeria Sadiq Adebiyi Keighley Cougars 2 Years 11 November 2023[29]
England Robbie Storey 1 Year 11 November 2023[30]
Australia Rhys Kennedy Hull KR 1 Year 11 November 2023[31]
England Josh Rourke Whitehaven RLFC 1 Year 11 December 2023 [32]
France Hakim Miloudi Limoux 1 Year 1 January 2024
Italy Jack Campagnolo South Logan Magpies 1 Year 15 January 2024

Club officials

[edit]

Backroom staff

[edit]
  • Chairman: David Hughes
  • CEO: Jason Loubser
  • Head of Commercial: Mark Kemp
  • Football Manager: Dom Fenton
  • Head of Community: John Keyes
  • Commercial: Izzy Lovell
  • Head of Medical:
  • 1st Team / Lead Academy Physiotherapist:
  • Sports therapist:

Coaching staff

[edit]
  • Head coach: Mike Eccles
  • Assistant coach: Rhys Lovegrove
  • Head of Youth: Chris Baxter
  • Academy & Reserves Head Coach: Kieran Robertson

List of former head coaches

[edit]

Also see Category:London Broncos coaches.

Seasons

[edit]
Season
(As Fulham R.L.F.C.)
League Premiership Challenge Cup Other Competitions Top try scorer Top points scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Tries Name Points
1980–81 Division 2 28 20 0 8 447 237 40 3rd Did not qualify R1 League Cup R2 Mal Aspey 16 Iain MacCorquodale 171
1981–82 Division 1 30 9 1 20 365 539 19 13th Did not qualify R2 R1 John Crossley 15 Steve Diamond 206
1982–83 Division 2 32 27 1 4 699 294 55 1st Did not qualify R2 R1 John Crossley 27 Steve Diamond 308
1983–84 Division 1 30 9 1 20 401 694 19 13th Did not qualify R2 R1 Hussein M'Barki 17 Steve Diamond 177
1984–85 Division 2 28 16 1 11 521 526 33 8th Did not qualify R1 R1 Mike Davis / Steve Mills 17 Chris Wilkinson 157
1985–86 Division 2 34 16 1 17 679 709 33 9th Did not qualify R1 R1
1986–87 Division 2 28 8 2 18 461 632 18 12th Did not qualify R1 R1
1987–88 Division 2 28 10 0 18 382 559 20 17th Did not qualify R1 PR
1988–89 Division 2 28 10 0 18 464 650 20 15th Did not qualify R1 PR
1989–90 Division 2 28 16 2 10 496 488 34 8th Did not qualify R2 R1
1990–91 Division 2 28 17 2 9 450 338 36 7th Did not qualify R1 R1
Season
(As London Crusaders)
League Premiership Challenge Cup Other Competitions Top try scorer Top points scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Tries Name Points
1991–92 Division 2 28 14 0 14 428 483 28 4th Did not qualify R2 League Cup R1
1992–93 Division 2 28 12 2 14 534 562 26 5th Did not qualify R1 R2
1993–94 Division 2 30 21 2 7 842 522 44 3rd Did not qualify R4 QR
Season
(As London Broncos)
League Premiership / Play-offs Challenge Cup Other Competitions Top try scorer Top points scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Tries Name Points
1994–95 Division 2 30 20 1 9 732 480 41 4th Did not qualify R4 League Cup R2
1995–96 Division 1 20 7 0 13 466 585 14 10th Not held R3
1996 Super League 22 12 1 9 611 462 25 4th Lost in Semi Finals R4
1997 Super League 22 15 3 4 616 418 33 2nd Lost in Qualifying Playoffs R5
1998 Super League 23 10 0 13 415 476 20 7th Did not qualify SF
1999 Super League 30 6 1 23 526 916 13 12th Did not qualify RU
2000 Super League 28 6 0 22 456 770 12 11th Did not qualify R5
2001 Super League 28 13 1 14 644 603 27 6th Did not qualify R5
2002 Super League 28 13 1 14 661 635 27 8th Did not qualify R5
2003 Super League 28 14 2 12 643 696 30 5th Lost in Elimination Playoffs R5
2004 Super League 28 7 1 21 561 968 15 10th Did not qualify R5
2005 Super League 28 13 2 13 800 718 28 6th Lost in Elimination Playoffs QF
Season
(As Harlequins RL)
League Play-offs Challenge Cup Other Competitions Top try scorer Top points scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals Name Goals
2006 Super League 28 11 1 16 556 823 23 7th Did not qualify QF
2007 Super League 27 10 3 14 495 636 23 9th Did not qualify QF
2008 Super League 27 11 0 16 569 763 22 9th Did not qualify R5
2009 Super League 27 11 0 16 591 691 22 11th Did not qualify R4
2010 Super League 27 7 0 20 494 838 14 13th Did not qualify R5
2011 Super League 27 6 1 20 524 951 13 12th Did not qualify R5
Season
(As London Broncos)
League Play-offs Challenge Cup Other Competitions Top try scorer Top points scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals Name Goals
2012 Super League 27 7 0 20 588 890 14 12th Did not qualify QF
2013 Super League 27 5 2 20 487 946 12 13th Did not qualify SF
2014 Super League 27 1 0 26 438 1237 2 14th Did not qualify R4
2015 Championship 23 12 0 11 538 510 24 7th Lost in Shield Final R5
2016 Championship 23 17 0 6 702 444 34 2nd Did not qualify R4
The Qualifiers 7 3 0 4 221 212 6 6th
2017 Championship 23 18 0 5 832 406 36 2nd Did not qualify R4
The Qualifiers 7 1 1 5 174 220 3 6th
2018 Championship 23 16 1 6 907 423 33 2nd Won in Million Pound Game R5
The Qualifiers 7 4 0 3 161 164 8 5th
2019 Super League 29 10 0 19 505 787 20 12th Did not qualify R5
2020 Championship[a] 5 4 0 1 120 92 8 4th None Played R4
2021 Championship 20 11 1 8 552 579 21 7th Did not qualify R4[b] 1895 Cup R2 Abbas Miski 18 Chris Hankinson 204
2022 Championship 27 8 1 18 548 740 17 11th Did not qualify R4 Paul Ulberg 16 Oli Leyland 112
2023 Championship 27 16 0 11 600 552 32 5th Won in Grand Final R6 Alex Walker 19 Oli Leyland 140
2024 Super League 27 3 0 24 317 916 6 12th Did not qualify R6 Josh Rourke 8 Oli Leyland 93

Supporters' Player of the Year Awards

[edit]

The London Broncos Supporters Association (LBSA) inaugurated the Fan's Player and Young Player of the Year awards in 2014, with Matt Cook and Joe Keyes the first winners. The award has been held every year, with the exception of the cancelled 2020 season. In 2022, a Women's Player of the Year was awarded for the first time.

List of Player of the Year winners
Year Men's Player of the Year Men's Young Player of the Year Women's Player of the Year Ref.
2014 England Matt Cook Ireland Joe Keyes [33]
2015 Fiji Wes Naiqama England Matt Davis [33]
2016 Wales Rhys Williams England James Cunningham [33]
2017 Malta Jarrod Sammut England Alex Walker [33]
2018 England Eddie Battye England Alex Walker (2) [33]
2019 England Jordan Abdull England Rob Butler [33]
2020 season cancelled
2021 England Chris Hankinson England Gideon Boafo [citation needed]
2022 Italy Dean Parata England Oli Leyland United States Courtney Treco [citation needed]
2023 England Oli Leyland England Bill Leyland United States Courtney Treco (2) [34][additional citation(s) needed]
2024 England Jacob Jones England Oli Leyland (2) Netherlands Nicole Kennedy [citation needed]

Honours

[edit]

League

Runners up (1): 1997
Winners (2): 1982–83, 2023
Runners up (3): 2016, 2017, 2018
Winners (1): 2018

Domestic Cups

Runners up (1): 1999

Player Records

[edit]

Up to and including 20 September 2024. Current players appear in bold.

Most appearances

[edit]
Rank Player Apps. Points London Career
1 United States Steele Retchless (№ 341) 202 64 1998–2004
2= England Rob Purdham (№ 392) 197 484 2002–2011
Australia Chad Randall (№ 458) 193 2004–2013
4 England Will Lovell (№ 529) 173 84 2012-2014; 2018-
5 Scotland Alex Walker (№ 567) 170 312 2014-2019; 2022-
6 Australia Steve Rosolen (№ 211) 169 124 1991–1998
7 Australia Luke Dorn (№ 440) 166 436 2005–2006; 2009–2013
8 Morocco Hussein M'Barki (№ 29) 165 269 1981–1984; 1988–1992
9 England Chris Melling (№ 465) 163 188 2007–2013
10= England Tony Kinsey (№ 17) 157 74 1980-1986
Australia Mat Toshack (№ 335) 124 1998–2004
Wales Rhys Williams (№ 569) 420 2015-2019

Most tries

[edit]
Rank Player Tries Apps. London Career
1 Australia Luke Dorn (№ 440) 109 166 2005–2006; 2009–2013
2 Wales Rhys Williams (№ 569) 105 157 2015–2019
3 England Kieran Dixon (№ 518) 97 136 2012–2014; 2017–2020
4 Australia Scott Roskell (№ 221) 85 143 1992–1997
5 Scotland Alex Walker (№ 567) 78 170 2014–2019; 2022–
6= Morocco Hussein M'Barki (№ 29) 75 165 1981-1984; 1988-1992
Australia Dennis Moran (№ 379) 115 2001-2004
8 England Iliess Macani (№ 544) 68 140 2013–2016; 2022–
9 South Africa Mark Johnson (№ 243) 66 73 1992–1995
10 New Zealand Mark Riley (№ 233) 62 94 1992–1996

Most goals

[edit]
Rank Player Goals D-Gls. Apps. London Career
1 Wales Steve Diamond (№ 25) 305 4 109 1981–1984
2 England Paul Sykes (№ 384) 287 4 137 2001–2007
3 Malta Jarrod Sammut (№ 578) 200 4 75 2015; 2017–2018; 2021
4 England John Gallagher (№ 246) 196 2 51 1993–1995
5 England Kieran Dixon (№ 518) 190 0 136 2012–2014; 2017–2020
6 Australia Tony Martin (№ 311) 182 1 112 1996–1997; 2001–2003
7 England Rob Purdham (№ 392) 171 2 197 2002–2011
8 England Oli Leyland (№ 652) 170 1 95 2021–
9 Australia Brett Warton (№ 353) 154 0 63 1999–2001
10 England Chris Wilkinson (№ 47) 141 13 73 1984–1987

Most points

[edit]

Note: Tries scored before the 1983–84 season were worth 3pts

Rank Player Points Apps. London Career
1 England Paul Sykes (№ 384) 774 137 2001–2007
2 England Kieran Dixon (№ 518) 768 136 2012–2014; 2017–2020
3 Wales Steve Diamond (№ 25) 691 109 1981–1984
4 Malta Jarrod Sammut (№ 578) 620 75 2015; 2017–2018; 2021
5 Australia Tony Martin (№ 311) 533 112 1996–1997; 2001–2003
6 England Rob Purdham (№ 392) 484 197 2002–2011
7 England John Gallagher (№ 246) 470 51 1993–1995
8 Australia Luke Dorn (№ 440) 436 166 2005–2006; 2009–2013
9 Wales Rhys Williams (№ 569) 420 157 2015–2019
10 England Oli Leyland (№ 652) 401 95 2021-

Hall of Fame

[edit]

In 2014, the LBSA launched the club's Hall of Fame, and announced seven inaugural inductees.[35] As of 2019, the Hall of Fame has 11 members:

Team Records

[edit]

Up to and including 12 May 2024. Note: The attendance for the match against Trafford Borough on 7 January 1990 is unknown.

Biggest Wins

[edit]
Rank Margin Match Competition Date
1 82 82–0 vs. Highfield (H) League Cup 12 November 1995
2 74 82–8 vs. Barrow Raiders (H) Challenge Cup 21 May 2006
3 70 70–0 vs. Gateshead Thunder (A) Challenge Cup 6 May 2011
4= 68 72–4 vs. Dewsbury Rams (H) Challenge Cup 15 April 2012
68–0 vs. Rochdale Hornets (H) Championship 17 June 2018
6= 66 72–6 vs. Barrow Raiders (A) Championship 29 July 2018
70–4 vs. Hunslet Hawks (A) Challenge Cup 3 April 2005
8= 64 72–8 vs. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (H) Super League 27 February 2005
64–0 vs. Bramley (H) Second Division 27 March 1994
64–0 vs. Doncaster Dragons (H) Challenge Cup 14 February 1999

Biggest Defeats

[edit]
Rank Margin Match Competition Date
1 76 6–82 vs. Warrington Wolves (A) Super League 20 March 2011
2 72 10–82 vs. Warrington Wolves (H) Super League 8 June 2013
3 70 0–70 vs. Wigan Warriors (N) Challenge Cup 27 July 2013
4 66 6–72 vs. Whitehaven (A) Lancashire Cup 14 September 1986
5 64 0–64 vs. Leigh Centurions (A) Championship 24 April 2022
6 62 12–74 vs. Bradford Bulls (A) Super League 9 June 1999
7= 60 12–72 vs. Warrington Wolves (A) Super League 13 July 2014
6–66 vs. Toulouse Olympique (H) Championship 8 August 2021
0–60 vs. Whitehaven (A) Second Division 19 February 1989
0–60 vs. Leeds Rhinos (H) Super League 25 March 2006

Highest Home Attendances

[edit]
Rank Attendance Match Competition Stadium Date
1 15,013 vs. Wakefield Trinity Challenge Cup Craven Cottage 15 February 1981
2 12,583 vs. Leeds League Cup Craven Cottage 23 November 1980
3 12,301 vs. Huddersfield Giants Super League Twickenham Stoop 29 April 2006
4 10,432 vs. Australia Tour Match Craven Cottage 14 November 1982
5 10,014 vs. Wigan Super League The Valley 17 August 1996
6 9,846 vs. Brisbane Broncos World Club Challenge Twickenham Stoop 27 July 1997
7 9,638 vs. Paris Saint-Germain Super League The Valley 4 April 1996
8 9,552 vs. Wigan Second Division Craven Cottage 14 September 1980
9 9,481 vs. Hull Challenge Cup Craven Cottage 28 February 1982
10 9,166 vs. Bradford Bulls Super League Twickenham Stoop 31 August 1997

Lowest Home Attendances

[edit]

Note: This list does not include matches during the COVID-19 affected 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Rank Attendance Match Competition Stadium Date
1 225 vs. Hunslet Hawks Championship Shield The Hive 23 August 2015
2 245 vs. Highfield Challenge Cup National Sports Centre 4 February 1992
3 252 vs. Keighley Second Division National Sports Centre 10 April 1991
4 294 vs. Featherstone Rovers Challenge Cup Trailfinders Sports Ground 19 March 2016
5 347 vs. Whitehaven Challenge Cup Plough Lane 11 March 2023
6= 350 vs. Carlisle Second Division National Sports Centre 22 December 1991
vs. Swinton Second Division National Sports Centre 10 January 1993
vs. Oldham Second Division National Sports Centre 31 March 1993
vs. Doncaster Championship Shield The Hive 8 August 2015
10 353 vs. Dewsbury Rams Challenge Cup The Rock 23 April 2023

Women's team

[edit]

In 2021, the London Broncos formed a women's team to take part the inaugural season of the RFL Women's Super League South.[36] In 2022, the Broncos finished the regular season at the top of the table, but lost to Cardiff Demons in the Grand Final.[37][38] The following season they took the 2023 Women's Super League South title with a 22–10 win over Cardiff in the Grand Final.[39] In 2024, the Super League South became the Southern Women's Championship.[40] On 7 September 2024, London defeated Cardiff 28–8 in the Grand Final of the Southern Championship to qualify for the National Championship final.[41]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The 2020 Championship was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Statistics shown are those at time of abandonment and are not official.
  2. ^ Officially round 2 due to the competitions temporary restructure in 2021.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "History of York Rugby League". Yorkcityknights.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Rugby League: Wigan's travel plans unclear". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  3. ^ Rugby League: London lose their innocence on their last crusade: Dave Hadfield on the metamorphosis taking place after tomorrow's Second Division Premiership final The Independent, 21 May 1994
  4. ^ York make Super League move BBC Sport, 31 August 2001
  5. ^ "Broncos link up with Harlequins". BBC Sport. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. ^ Rae, Richard (5 February 2006). "Rugby League: London calling". Times Online. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 27 December 2009.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Lenagan seals takeover of Wigan". BBC Sport. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  8. ^ "The London Broncos are Back! (press release)". Londonbroncosrl.com. 1 November 2011. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  9. ^ "London Broncos to go into administration". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. ^ "London Broncos hopeful of securing future after 'positive' talks". BBC Sport. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  11. ^ "London Broncos to compete in 2014 after sealing Barnet groundshare". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  12. ^ "LBSA – The London Broncos Supporters Association". Lbsa.org.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Reg Bowden honoured in London". Widnesvikings.co.uk. Widnes Vikings. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  14. ^ "London Broncos Rugby League | #ProudToBeBroncos | » Broncos confidently down Rams at Tetley's". Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Super League: Wakefield Trinity win 19–10 to relegate London Broncos". bbc.co.uk. 13 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Betfred Championship: Round twenty-seven". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 3345. 5 September 2022. p. 31.
  17. ^ "Championship Grand Final: Toulouse 14–18 London Broncos – Capital club back in Super League". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ "Hull FC humiliated in London as Broncos earn first win of Super League season". www.hulldailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Super League - London Broncos 12-10 Catalans Dragons: Bottom club Broncos upset Catalans". BBC Sport. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Super League - London Broncos 12-10 Catalans Dragons: Bottom club Broncos upset Catalans". BBC Sport. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  21. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cm29zvvl9r0o.amp
  22. ^ "David Hughes: London Broncos owner puts club up for sale". BBC Sport. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Super League: Wakefield Trinity return for 2025 season under IMG's grading criteria with London Broncos in Championship". www.skysports.com.
  24. ^ "Plough Lane sporting usage". Thedonstrust.org. 17 December 2020.
  25. ^ "London Broncos to start 2021 campaign at Rosslyn Park". Love Rugby League. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  26. ^ @LondonBroncosRL (15 December 2021). "To celebrate our first season at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, the London Broncos will be wearing blue and yellow…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "London Broncos' signing spree continues with third of the day as Championship playmaker returns to the capital". loverugbyleague.com. 10 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Gideon Boafo returns to London!". londonbroncosrl.com. 10 November 2023.
  29. ^ "London Broncos re-sign forward Adebiyi". BBC Sport.
  30. ^ "Robbie Storey Signs for Broncos". 5 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Rhys Kennedy: London Broncos sign Hull Kingston Rovers prop". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Josh Rourke: London Broncos sign former Salford and Whitehaven fullback". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d e f "Player Awards". London Broncos Supporters Association. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  34. ^ "London Broncos secure the services of award winning halfback". Serious About Rugby League. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  35. ^ "London Broncos Supporters Association Hall of Fame launched". London Broncos Rugby League. 5 July 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  36. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League South to break new ground in 2021". RFL. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League South reaches semi-final stage". RFL. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  38. ^ "Cardiff Demons deliver Grand Final masterclass". RFL. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  39. ^ "London Broncos 22 v 10 Cardiff Demons". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  40. ^ "New era for Tier Two of Women's Rugby League". RFL. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  41. ^ "London Broncos and St Helens seal title triumphs". RFL. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
[edit]