Rugby League Clubs
Harlequins RL
Twickenham Stoop Stadium
Langhorn Drive
Twickenham
TW2 7SX | map
London
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The origins of professional Rugby League in London date back to three unsuccessful attempts to start teams in the 1930's. Despite the encouraging attendances in the early days, the ventures were doomed to failure, largely due to the rising popularity as Greyhound Racing which was seen by the entrepreneurs as the major growth sport in the capital. It was not until 1980 that another attempt was made to bring top level professional Rugby League to London. In that year the owner of Fulham Football Club decided to start up a Rugby League team as part of the Football Club. The team was accepted into the Rugby League by the governing body, despite many reservations. Crowds, often over 10,000, saw many memorable games in that first season. They included the first game at Craven Cottage, when legends Wigan were beaten in front of almost 10,000 fans. Since then the team went through a couple of name changes, from the London Crusaders to the London Broncos (after being bought by the famous Australian club the Brisbane Broncos). As the London Broncos the team reached second place at the end of the 1997 season. In 2005 the team changed its name again to Harlequins Rugby League, highlighting its links with the Harlequins Rugby Union side, with which they share The Stoop Memorial Ground.
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