take the number of active particpants by LA district, divide it by the population of each, and the top 2 Districts are...



Allerdale and Copeland

That doesn't make them the biggest which is what the OP asked. Your formula offers a proportionate rate per head.



The South East as it's described has to be the biggest RL region, or the south of France.



What are RL regions?

in participation terms, West Cumbria is as big a 'RL region' as anywhere else.

Yorkshire, as RL has great roots in the major city's of Leeds, Bradford and Hull. In Gods land the city's ignore the sport and its roots lie in the old pit and mill towns, SL is 7/5 and the Championship 8/2. The demise of clubs such as Oldham and Swinton should be a concern, and a lesser degree Rochdale.

Having lived in both camps, id have to say Yorkshire.

I'm basing it on the fact they've been the top three for the last three years, like I said!

2012: 1. Wigan 2. Warrington 3. St Helens

2011: 1. Warrington 2. Wigan 3. St Helens

2010: 1. Wigan 2. St Helens 3. Warrington



Last 3 league leaders shields, last 7 Challenge Cups, all in the NW. Leeds have done very well, but they alone aren't better than what the NW has hauled.





2012 - Wigan (16,043), Leeds (14,94icon_cool.gif

2011 - Wigan (16,124), Leeds (15,099)

2010 - Wigan (15,177), Leeds (15,092)



You've not even had it the last three years! Good job you never put anything on that bet!

He specifically stated since the SL competition began, why select just the last 3 years.

Because it supports his point

Wigan:



96 - 10168

97 - 8859

98 - 10552

99 - 9239

00 - 10536

01 - 11333

02 - 10436

03 - 10216

04 - 12649

05 - 13891

06 - 14445

07 - 16039

08 - 14504

09 - 14077

10 - 15177

11 - 16124

12 - 16043



Total SL Average: 12628 by my maths. The average has been consistently above that since 2004.

This was done a few years ago by a university graduate at Leeds going back to 1897 and up t 2010. On the above parameters the top clubs were:-



1. Wigan

2. St Helens

3. Leeds

4. Widnes



12. Bradford



So on actual success this stacks in the West Region favour, however for actual players playing the game and contributing to the sport, East Region comfortably.

I wonder why it matters.

Yorkshire seems to have the most people who post on RL messageboards but actively dislike the sport. Just ahead of Leigh.