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Harlequins Rugby League is a Rugby League club representing the greater London area. They are currently the premier rugby league side in London, and play in the Super League . They have since been joined in the professional ranks by the London Skolars in 2003. The capital also has a number of amateur teams. Until the end of the 2005 Playing Season they were known as London Broncos, playing their last game under that name on 23 September 2005 and changing their name officially on 17 October 2005. They had also previously been known as '''Fulham''' and '''London Crusaders'''. The club play at the Twickenham Stoop , home of the Harlequins Rugby Union club. Between 2002 and 2005 their home had been Griffin Park , home of Brentford F.C. Previously, the club used a wide variety of grounds across London since first being formed as Fulham (when they played at Craven Cottage ) in 1980. They wear a home shirt very similar to the union club's famous multi-coloured quartered jersey (light blue, magenta, chocolate, french grey, black & light green). The away shirt is predominantly white, with magenta and blue along the shoulders and sleeves. HISTORY Professional Rugby League was briefly represented in London in the 1930s by ''London Highfield'' (who played only one season), ''Acton & Willesden'' (also one season) and ''Streatham & Mitcham'' (one and a half seasons). All were ultimately driven out of business through poor finances. Thereafter, the sport in England remained exclusively a northern game until June 1980, when Fulham Football Club announced the formation of a Rugby League team, with the primary intention of creating another income stream for the soccer club. The Rugby Football League (RFL), keen to expand the sport beyond its traditional northern heartland, instantly accepted the new club and one of the game's leading players, Reg Bowden, was recruited to act as player-coach. Within weeks, Bowden had assembled a team of experienced players, together with a few youngsters. Nearly 10,000 curious fans turned up for the opening game at Craven Cottage , most of whom were watching their first ever live Rugby League match. The newly formed side surprisingly beat highly regarded Wigan 24-5. Fulham went on to win the Division Two Championship and secured promotion. After the euphoria generated in their initial season, immediate relegation in 1981-82 was a sobering reality check and at the end of their fourth season continuing financial losses saw the plug pulled by the parent soccer club. However with the backing of supporters Roy and Barbara Close, and with an enthusiastic new coach Roy Lester, Fulham still had a future. Between 1984 and 1994 the club spent periods based at Crystal Palace, Chiswick and Barnet. This decade was noted for its continued struggle both on and off the pitch, but the club still managed to keep its head just above water. A 1991 name change to 'London Crusaders' coincided with an entertaining period on the pitch. The climax of this spell was a 1994 appearance in the Divisional Premiership Final under coach Tony Gordon. In the spring of 1994 it was announced that the Australia n ARL side Brisbane Broncos was buying the club, which would be renamed 'London Broncos'. In 1996, despite not playing in the top flight, the London Broncos were selected by the RFL to be part of the new Super League on the basis that it was essential for the sport to have a high profile representative in the capital . The club moved to The Valley , the home ground of Charlton Athletic F.C. . The 1996 season brought the best attendances since the inaugural season at Craven Cottage . After two years they moved once again, to the Harlequin Rugby Union Club's Stoop Memorial Ground. Richard Branson 's Virgin Group became majority shareholders, and the immediate future looked very bright. In 1997, after a remarkably good season they finished second in Super League . Highlights that year included victories at the Stoop over Canberra in the World Club Challenge and Bradford and Wigan in Super League . In 1999 the Broncos managed to reach the Challenge Cup final in 1999 at Wembley Stadium , but were heavily defeated by Leeds. After a second brief spell back at The Valley, fervent supporter David Hughes purchased the majority shareholding from Virgin in a major restructuring of the club. As part of this reorganisation the Broncos moved yet again. PREVIOUS KITS The different incarnations of the club have each worn different kits. Fulham used an all black kit with white chevron. Under the Crusaders and Broncos names they wore mainly red with a yellow and blue trim. HONOURS
HEAD COACH PLAYING SQUAD PLAYERS OF NOTE
RECORDS Individual player records
Team records
EXTERNAL LINKS
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