League Leader's Shield

The League Leader’s Shield is a trophy awarded to the team finishing the season top of Super League (Europe) in the sport of rugby league. Currently (and for much of its history) the championship is decided on the basis of a play-off series, and the Shield is thus regarded as a lesser prize.

British rugby league has been using a play-off series rather than simply awarding the title to the top-placed team for the majority of its history. From 1903 until 1973 the Championship was awarded to the team winning a top-four play-off (excluding the four seasons 1904-06 and 1962-64, when the championship was awarded to the top placed team). During this period no prize was awarded to the actual team finishing top.

In 1973, the Championship was split into two divisions (see Second Division), and a new play-off type competition, the Premiership was introduced. The title of "champion" was awarded not to the Premiership winner but the top-placed team.

With the advent of Super League, rugby league again returned to a play-off structure for the championship. Initially, the practice of awarding no prize to the top-placed team was re-introduced. The League Leader's Shield was introduced only in 2003.

Shield Winners

Year	League Leader
2003 "(SL VIII)"	Bradford Bulls
2004 "(SL IX)"	Leeds Rhinos
2005 "(SL X)"	St Helens
2006 "(SL XI)"	St Helens
2007 "(SL XII)"	St Helens
2008 "(SL XIII)"	St Helens