UK Top Teams : 1991-2000

For the 1980's Wigan was well and truly the best team, with Widnes second, the two Hull sides were 3rd and 4th. The decade that followed saw huge changes to the structure of the game. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Cups ended in 1993, the League Cup concluded in 1996 and Super league arrived in that same year. In 1996 the game also switched to the summer from the winter.

Mergers were proposed to strengthen clubs but that proved so unpopular, it didn't eventuate. Workington was relegated in the first year, replaced by Salford. A team based in Paris was created but only lasted two seasons. It was replaced by Huddersfield. Promotion and relegation were halted between 1998 and 2000.

This is part of a series where top results are scored and tallied up. The Championship is the top 4 teams, scored 6-3-2-1. Then the Premiership again top 4 sides, 6-4-2-2. Challenge Cup finalists, 4-2. League Cup 4-2, Lancashire & Yorkshire Cups 3-1.

A break down of competitions shows who were the big hitters in this decade.

The League: Wigan 53 points, St Helens 24.
Finals: Widnes 50, St Helens 38.
Challenge Cup: Wigan 33 points, St Helens and Leeds 15 each.
Lancashire/Yorkshire Cups: Only three held.
League Cup: Wigan 14 points of the six held.

Wigan won eight of the ten League competitions, with St Helens and Bradford getting one each. The Premiership (Finals) Wigan won seven and St Helens the other three. For the Challenge Cup, Wigan won the first five in this decade but none after that. St Helens and Bradford won a couple each. This decade was all about a powerful Wigan side.

In the World Club Challenge, the top team from the UK and Australia played each other. In 1991, Wigan defeated Penrith 21-4. In 1992, Wigan lost to Brisbane 8-22, 1994 Wigan overcame Brisbane 20-14. 1997 had a full competition between sides form both hemispheres with no UK side in the final. In 2000, St Helens lost to Melbourne 6-44. These matches do not count in the list below.

For the next in the series, just click here.
For the first in the series, simply click here.

Rk	Club / Year	Tot	00	99	98	97	96	96	95	94	93	92	91
1	Wigan Warriors	153	10	1	15	7	9	16	22	20	23	18	12
2	St Helens RFC	83	9	9	3	12	10	14	3		10	10	3
3	Bradford Bulls	47	10	10		9	4	5		2	4	1	2
4	Leeds Rhinos	45	5	9	7			3	10	3	2	4	2
5	Castleford Tigers	32		2		2			2	10	2	10	4
6	Widnes Vikings	18									4	4	10
7	Warrington Wolves	12							4	3		1	4
7	Sheffield Eagles	12			6	2		1		2	1
9	London Broncos	11		3		3	3	2
10	Hull FC	8											8
11	Wakefield Trinity	4									3		1
11	Halifax RLFC	4			3					1
13	Featherstone Rov	2											2
14	Salford Red Devils	1											1
14	Rochdale Hornets	1										1
		433	34	34	34	35	26	41	41	41	49	49	49