Rugby_League_War_of_the_Roses
Rugby League War of the Roses
Series of rugby league matches
The War of the Roses (also known in its later years as the County of Origin Series) was the inter-county rugby league matches between Lancashire and Yorkshire, the areas where rugby league has traditionally been most popular in England. The series started in 1895 and was last played in 2003. For most of its history the game was played as part of the County Championship.
| War of the Roses | |
| Contested by | |
| Lancashire | Yorkshire |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| First edition | 1895 |
| Last edition | 2003 |
| Number of series wins | |
 Lancashire |
 Yorkshire |
| 44 | 44 |
| Draws: 3 | |
The first War of the Roses was contested in 1895 as part of the County Championship. The majority of the clubs in rugby league came from Yorkshire and Lancashire and the fixtures was held almost annually, with exceptions for the two world wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945) and 1977–1978, until 1983 when the County Championship was abandoned. Fixtures between Lancashire and Yorkshire briefly returned firstly between 1985 and 1991 and then again between 2001 and 2003. Eligibility to play was established either by county of birth or in which county players had originally played the sport professionally.[1]
In 1985, an annual fixture between Lancashire and Yorkshire was proposed as a replacement for the County Championship. The fixture became known as the Rodstock War of the Roses and the first game was played in September 1985. The series lasted until 1991, when it was scrapped due to lack of interest.[2]
The fixture was revived in 2001 under the name of the County of Origin series, inspired by the success of Australia's State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland.[3][4] After three years, the Origin series games were discontinued due to falling attendances.[5]
Roses matches have continued at amateur level as part of the BARLA Three Counties Championship but despite several calls for a return at professional level the fixture remains unplayed.[6][5]
The two teams have met in 91 competitive matches with each team having won 44 and three games ending in draws. In addition there have been a number of exhibition matches during the First and Second World Wars when the County Championship was suspended.
| Season | Date | Venue | Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match played as part of the County Championship | |||||
| 1895–1896 | 7 December 1895 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 0–8 | Yorkshire |
| 1895–1896 | 29 February 1896 | Fartown, Huddersfield | Yorkshire | 3–8 | Lancashire |
| 1896–1897 | 21 November 1896 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 7–3 | Yorkshire |
| 1897–1898 | 20 November 1897 | Park Avenue, Bradford | Yorkshire | 7–6 | Lancashire |
| 1898–1899 | 5 November 1898 | New Barnes, Salford | Lancashire | 9–20 | Yorkshire |
| 1899–1900 | 4 November 1899 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 13–16 | Lancashire |
| 1900–1901 | 3 November 1900 | The Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | Lancashire | 24–5 | Yorkshire |
| 1901–1902 | 15 February 1902 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 13–8 | Lancashire |
| 1902–1903 | 15 November 1902 | The Willows, Salford | Lancashire | 13–0 | Yorkshire |
| 1903–1904 | 14 November 1903 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 0–8 | Lancashire |
| 1904–1905 | 12 November 1904 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 5–14 | Yorkshire |
| 1905–1906 | 4 November 1905 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 0–8 | Lancashire |
| 1906–1907 | 3 November 1906 | The Willows, Salford | Lancashire | 19–0 | Yorkshire |
| 1907–1908 | 2 November 1907 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 15–11 | Lancashire |
| 1908–1909 | 31 October 1908 | The Willows, Salford | Lancashire | 13–0 | Yorkshire |
| 1909–1910 | 4 November 1909 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 27–14 | Lancashire |
| 1910–1911 | 7 November 1910 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 17–3 | Yorkshire |
| 1911–1912 | 25 January 1912 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 12–13 | Lancashire |
| 1912–1913 | 16 December 1912 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 8–20 | Yorkshire |
| 1913–1914 | 10 December 1913 | Fartown, Huddersfield | Yorkshire | 19–11 | Lancashire |
| 1919–1920 | 24 September 1919 | The Cliff, Broughton | Lancashire | 15–5 | Yorkshire |
| 1920–1921 | 21 October 1920 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 18–3 | Lancashire |
| 1921–1922 | 4 October 1921 | The Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | Lancashire | 2–5 | Yorkshire |
| 1922–1923 | 7 December 1922 | Craven Park, Hull | Yorkshire | 11–11 | Lancashire |
| 1923–1924 | 8 December 1923 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 6–5 | Yorkshire |
| 1924–1925 | 29 November 1924 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 9–28 | Lancashire |
| 1925–1926 | 12 December 1925 | City Road, St Helens | Lancashire | 26–10 | Yorkshire |
| 1926–1927 | 30 October 1926 | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Yorkshire | 13–18 | Lancashire |
| 1927–1928 | 29 October 1927 | Wilderspool, Warrington | Lancashire | 35–19 | Yorkshire |
| 1928–1929 | 3 November 1928 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 10–33 | Lancashire |
| 1929–1930 | 22 March 1930 | The Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | Lancashire | 18–3 | Yorkshire |
| 1930–1931 | 18 October 1930 | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Yorkshire | 25–15 | Lancashire |
| 1931–1932 | 17 October 1931 | Wilderspool, Warrington | Lancashire | 11–8 | Yorkshire |
| 1932–1933 | 29 October 1932 | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Yorkshire | 30–3 | Lancashire |
| 1933–1934 | 25 September 1933 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 12–15 | Yorkshire |
| 1934–1935 | 9 January 1935 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 5–5 | Lancashire |
| 1935–1936 | 12 October 1935 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 16–5 | Yorkshire |
| 1936–1937 | 21 October 1936 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 6–28 | Lancashire |
| 1937–1938 | 12 February 1938 | The Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | Lancashire | 10–9 | Yorkshire |
| 1938–1939 | 26 October 1938 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 10–10 | Lancashire |
| 1945–1946 | 10 November 1945 | Station Road, Swinton | Lancashire | 17–16 | Yorkshire |
| 1946–1947 | 9 November 1946 | Parkside, Hunslet | Yorkshire | 13–10 | Lancashire |
| 1947–1948 | 12 November 1947 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 22–10 | Yorkshire |
| 1948–1949 | 3 May 1949 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Yorkshire | 3–12 | Lancashire |
| 1949–1950 | 5 October 1949 | Wilderspool, Warrington | Lancashire | 22–13 | Yorkshire |
| 1950–1951 | 18 October 1950 | Fartown, Huddersfield | Yorkshire | 23–15 | Lancashire |
| 1951–1952 | 10 October 1951 | Kirkstall Lane, Leigh | Lancashire | 5–15 | Yorkshire |
| 1952–1953 | 28 April 1953 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 16–8 | Lancashire |
| 1953–1954 | 14 October 1953 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 18–10 | Yorkshire |
| 1954–1955 | 6 October 1954 | Odsal, Bradford | Yorkshire | 20–10 | Lancashire |
| 1955–1956 | 26 September 1955 | Watersheddings, Oldham | Lancashire | 26–10 | Yorkshire |
| 1956–1957 | 26 September 1956 | The Boulevard, Hull | Yorkshire | 21–35 | Lancashire |
| 1957–1958 | 23 September 1957 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 11–25 | Yorkshire |
| 1958–1959 | 24 September 1958 | Craven Park, Hull | Yorkshire | 35–19 | Lancashire |
| 1958–1959 | 29 October 1958 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 15–16 | Yorkshire |
| 1959–1960 | 11 November 1959 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 28–38 | Yorkshire |
| 1960–1961 | 31 August 1960 | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Yorkshire | 20–21 | Lancashire |
| 1961–1962 | 9 October 1961 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 14–12 | Yorkshire |
| 1962–1963 | 26 September 1962 | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Yorkshire | 22–8 | Lancashire |
| 1963–1964 | 11 September 1963 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | Lancashire | 45–20 | Yorkshire |
| 1964–1965 | 23 September 1964 | The Boulevard, hull | Yorkshire | 33–10 | Lancashire |
| 1965–1966 | 10 November 1965 | Station Road, Swinton | Lancashire | 13–16 | Yorkshire |
| 1966–1967 | 21 September 1966 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 17–22 | Lancashire |
| 1967–1968 | 24 January 1968 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 23–17 | Yorkshire |
| 1968–1969 | 25 September 1968 | Craven Park, Hull | Yorkshire | 10–5 | Lancashire |
| 1969–1970 | 3 September 1969 | The Willows, Salford | Lancashire | 14–12 | Yorkshire |
| 1970–1971 | 13 January 1971 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 32–12 | Lancashire |
| 1970–1971 | 24 February 1971 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 34–8 | Lancashire |
| 1971–1972 | 29 September 1971 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 22–42 | Yorkshire |
| 1972–1973 | 11 October 1972 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 32–18 | Lancashire |
| 1973–1974 | 19 September 1973 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 17–15 | Yorkshire |
| 1974–1975 | 25 September 1974 | Lawkholme Lane, Keighley | Yorkshire | 20–14 | Lancashire |
| 1974–1975 | 16 October 1974 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 29–11 | Yorkshire |
| 1975–1976 | 20 December 1975 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 7–17 | Yorkshire |
| 1976–1977 | 1 March 1977 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 18–13 | Lancashire |
| 1977–1978[lower-alpha 2] | 19 October 1977 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 33–8 | Yorkshire |
| 1978–1979 | 27 September 1978 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 23–7 | Yorkshire |
| 1979–1980 | 12 September 1979 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 19–16 | Lancashire |
| 1980–1981 | 24 September 1980 | Naughton Park, Widnes | Lancashire | 17–9 | Yorkshire |
| 1981–1982 | 9 September 1981 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | Yorkshire | 21–15 | Lancashire |
| 1982–1983 | 26 May 1982 | Hilton Park, Leigh | Lancashire | 21–22 | Yorkshire |
| Match played as "Rodstock War of the Roses" | |||||
| 1985–1986 | 11 September 1985 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 10–26 | Yorkshire |
| 1986–1987 | 17 September 1986 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 26–14 | Lancashire |
| 1987–1988 | 16 September 1987 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 10–16 | Yorkshire |
| 1988–1989 | 21 September 1988 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 24–14 | Lancashire |
| 1989–1990 | 20 September 1989 | Central Park, Wigan | Lancashire | 12–56 | Yorkshire |
| 1991–1992 | 18 September 1991 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 17–12 | Lancashire |
| Match played as the "County of Origin Series" | |||||
| 2001 | 5 June 2001 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 24–36 | Lancashire |
| 2002 | 14 June 2002 | JJB Stadium, Wigan | Lancashire | 22–18 | Yorkshire |
| 2002 | 18 June 2002 | Headingley, Leeds | Yorkshire | 28–36 | Lancashire |
| 2003 | 2 July 2003 | Odsal, Bradford | Yorkshire | 56–6 | Lancashire |
| Source[7] | |||||
| Women's War of the Roses | |
| First edition | 2015 |
| Last edition | 2020 |
| Number of series wins | |
| Lancashire |
Yorkshire |
| 3 | 1 |
| Draws: 1 | |
In 2015, the RFL announced that they would stage the inaugural Women's "War of the Roses", between Lancashire Ladies and Yorkshire Ladies. The match, which took place at Thatto Heath Crusaders, St. Helens, saw the sides share the honours after a 22–22 draw, with an attendance of around 500.[8]
The match, held on 18 October 2015, followed a Lancashire Girls vs Yorkshire Girls under 18s match, which finished 34–0 in favour of the Yorkshire side.
Results
| Season | Venue | Home team | Score | Away team | Series winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | St. Helens | Lancashire | 22–22[9] | Yorkshire | Draw |
| 2016 | Stanningley | Yorkshire | 16–22[10] | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| 2017 | Not played | ||||
| 2018 | Post Office Road, Featherstone | Yorkshire | 10–16[11] | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| 2019 | Bloomfield Road, Blackpool | Lancashire | 8–14[12] | Yorkshire | Yorkshire |
| Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington | Lancashire | 22–20[12] | Yorkshire | ||
| 2020 | Weetwood sports ground, Leeds | Yorkshire | 8–15[13] | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Mount Pleasant, Batley | Yorkshire | 12–12[13] | Lancashire | ||
| Weetwood sports ground, Leeds | Yorkshire | 0–23[14] | Lancashire | ||
- Played as the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund match
- Lush, Peter & Farrar, Dave, eds. (1998). Tries in the Valleys: A history of rugby league in Wales. London League. p. 65. ISBN 978-0952-606437.
- Craven, Dave (13 June 2011). "Sporting Bygones: When Yorkshire was 'an empire worth defending' under legend Fox". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- Butcher, Tim, ed. (November 2002). Rugby League 2002-2003. League Publications. pp. 165–166. ISBN 1-901347-10-9.
- Woods, Dave (31 May 2001). "Origin game evolves". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- Jackson, William (13 June 2020). "Yorkshire v Lancashire - how the teams would look today". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "BARLA Three Counties Announcement". barla.org.uk. BARLA. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "War of Roses". World of Rugby League. Archived from the original on 19 January 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "County Origin Renewed". RFL Womens Rugby League. 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- "Origin seals a dramatic end to season". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "Lancashire are Origin champions!". rugby-league.com. RFL. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- Flynn, Leanne (16 May 2019). "Rhinos Women have five named in Women's Rugby League Origin squad". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "Yorkshire leave it late but take Super League Women's Origin series". rugby-league.com. RFL. 16 June 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "Yorkshire earn late draw in Women's Origin". rugby-league.com. RFL. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- "Lancashire seal 2-0 Women's Origin Series victory". rugby-league.com. RFL. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.