Widnes Vikings



Widnes Vikings RLFC are a professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Co-Operative Championship, which is the second tier of European Rugby League, but from 2012 onwards they have gained a licesnse to compete in Super League.

Widnes was one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league teams. Their traditional nickname is "The Chemics" after the main industry in Widnes, but the club also use their more modern nickname in 'The Vikings'. They have a strong local rivalry with Warrington and resisted the idea of merger with their rivals at the beginning of Superleague in 1995. Before Super League they were one of the strongest teams in British rugby league and they were dubbed "Cup Kings" after going to Wembley nearly every year in the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1989 Widnes became the first official World Club Champions, by beating the Australian champions Canberra Raiders.

Following a brief spell in Super League (2002–05), Widnes entered into Administration following the 2007 season. This had been the result of a club which had been poorly run for several years. By November 2007 the club had been purchased by Steve O'Connor, a local businessman, who had just sold his business to the Stobart Group. He invested a substantial amount of money into his home town club, with the dream of returning Widnes RLFC back to the glory days. By 2011, the club had succesfully achieved Super League status bringing this dream one step closer to reality.