Super League I

The year 1996's Stones Bitter Super League I was the official name for the 102nd season of top-level rugby league football, and the first year of Europe's new championship: Super League. It is also the first season of rugby league to be played in summer. The competition featured all eleven teams from the 1995-96 Rugby Football League season plus expansion club, Paris Saint Germain.

Opening Night

On 29 March 1996, Super League kicked off in Paris before 17,873 people at the Charlety Stadium when Paris Saint Germain overcame Sheffield Eagles 30-24.cite news
title = LE BLOG Day 2, Back to Charlety and Paris Saint Germain
url = http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/2008/06/paris.html
publisher = Chris Irvine, Times Online
date = 12 June 2008
accessdate = 18 June 2008] Jacques Fouroux, the PSG president, described that night, "Ninety eight per cent of them [the crowd] were new to the game, but they understood it right away. They saw tries, lots of commitment and lots of movement. They saw beauty. They attended a great party."cite news
title = LE BLOG Day 2, Back to Charlety and Paris Saint Germain
url = http://timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/2008/06/paris.html
publisher = Chris Irvine, Times Online
date = 12 June 2008
accessdate = 18 June 2008]

eason summary

The reigning champions Wigan Warriors were hoping to maintain their hold on the championship in the newly-formed Super League. However, at the end of the season St Helens were crowned inaugural Super League champions after finishing in first position on the league ladder.cite news
title = Super League Champions Roll of Honour
url = http://www.superleague.co.uk/page.php?id=345
publisher = Super League Official website
date =
accessdate = 18 June 2008] During the year a secondary title, known as the Premiership was also played, with the final being contested between Wigan Warriors and the championship winners St. Helens with Wigan coming out victorious and Andy Farrell winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy.

Final Standings

ee also

*Super League (Europe)

ources

* [http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/1996.htm Super League I at rlhalloffame.org.uk]
* [http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=147 Super League I at wigan.rlfans.com]

External links

* [http://www.superleague.co.uk/index.php Super League Official website]

References