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Women's rugby league

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Not to be confused with Women's rugby union.
Women's rugby league
Highest governing bodyInternational Rugby League
NicknamesLeague, RL, rugby, rugby XIII (used throughout Europe)
League, footy, football (used throughout Oceania)
Characteristics
ContactFull Contact
Team membersThirteen
Mixed-sexSingle
TypeTeam sport, Outdoor
EquipmentRugby ball
VenueRugby league playing field

Women's rugby league is the female-only version of rugby league.

The sport has growing more popular in Australia, France, Great Britain, and New Zealand. These countries regularly compete in the Women's Rugby League World Cup which has been in operation since 2000.

Governing bodies

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International Rugby League

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As with men's rugby league, the international game and national governing bodies are overseen by the International Rugby League.

National bodies

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Australian Women's Rugby League

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Main article: Women's rugby league in Australia

The Australian Rugby League Commission and National Rugby League are the governing bodies of female rugby league in Australia.

From its establishment in 1993, the Australian Women's Rugby League was the governing body of female rugby league in Australia and other parts of Oceania. It took the association five years to be recognized by the ARL. From 1998, the AWRL was an affiliate of the ARL. The AWRL ran the Australia women's national rugby league team and National Championships. Affiliated to the AWRL were state-level governing organisations in the Queensland Women's Rugby League, New South Wales Women's Rugby League, Canberra Women's Rugby League and the Western Australian Women's Rugby League.

Following the advent of the Australian Rugby League Commission in 2012, the duties of the AWRL were absorbed by the ARLC and NRL.

The main women's competitions in Australia are the National Rugby League Women's Premiership, New South Wales Women's Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League Women's Premiership.

Rugby Football League

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Main article: Women's rugby league in the British Isles

The Rugby Football League is the governing body of female rugby league in the United Kingdom; although some activity is run by the independent Women's Amateur Rugby League Association established in 1985. With women's rugby becoming increasingly popular, the RFL has taken more control in running women's competitions.

At the beginning of the 2006 season there were between thirty and forty female-only rugby league clubs running in England, not including clubs that have teams of both sexes.[1] The majority of these clubs are located in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The RFL began control of the female sport in 2013 with the launch of the RFL Women's Rugby League. This became the RFL Women's Super League in 2017 as the top level women's rugby league competition in the United Kingdom.

At international level the Great Britain women's national rugby league team represented the whole of Great Britain; however in 2006 the RFL announced that after the 2007 All Golds Tour the Great Britain team would no longer compete on a regular basis, favouring national teams for the home nations of England, Scotland, and Wales.

New Zealand Rugby League

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Women's rugby league in New Zealand is controlled by the New Zealand Rugby League. The national side is called the Kiwi Ferns. The NZRL Women's National Tournament is a competition for female rugby league teams. Women have been playing rugby in New Zealand since the 19th century.[2]

International

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The following list of nations that compete, or have competed, internationally in women's rugby league.
Table last updated: 28 October 2024.

Nation Moniker Rank
[3]		 Venues Mat Record Debut Last
H A N W D L PF PA O Year Opp Ref
 Argentina NR 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 48 19 2018 BRA [4] 2018
 Australia Jillaroos 1 31 19 12 62 37 0 25 1745 867 1 1995 NZL [5][6] 2024
 Brazil Amazonas 12 1 1 2 4 1 0 3 68 164 19 2018 ARG [4] 2022
 Canada Ravens 8 1 6 6 13 7 0 6 266 342 17 2017 NZL [7][8] 2023
 Cook Islands Moana 6 0 5 9 14 4 1 9 168 512 6 2003 NZL [9] 2024
 England Lionessess 3 15 20 7 42 30 1 11 1366 464 11 2007 FRA [10] 2024
 Fiji Bulikula 26 3 0 2 5 2 0 3 58 152 4 1998 AUS [11][12] 2024
 France Les Bleues 4 17 10 9 36 7 1 28 532 1252 11 2007 ENG [10] 2024
 Ghana 25 1 2 0 3 0 0 3 30 84 30 2023 NGR [13] 2024
 Great Britain Lionessess NR 4 10 4 18 7 1 10 245 338 3 1996 AUS [14][15] 2003
 Greece 9 4 4 1 9 4 0 5 86 204 23 2019 TUR [16][17] 2024
 Ireland 10 2 4 1 7 5 0 2 136 126 25 2021 WAL [18] 2024
 Italy 18 4 4 0 8 3 0 5 108 238 15 2017 LBN [19] 2024
 Jamaica 23 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 10 136 29 2023 USA [20][21] 2023
 Kenya 19 3 2 0 5 3 0 2 106 51 33 2023 UGA [22][23] 2024
 Lebanon Junipers 27 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 22 15 2017 ITA [19] 2017
 Malta Dames 20 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 6 42 27 2022 PHI [24] 2023
 Netherlands Lionessess 13 1 3 0 4 2 0 2 88 70 32 2023 GRE [25] 2024
 New Zealand Kiwi Ferns 2 25 19 17 61 49 0 12 2036 603 1 1995 AUS [6][5] 2024
NZ Māori Wahine Toa NR 7 5 1 13 6 0 7 238 274 5 2002 NZL [26] 2017
 Nigeria Green Falcons 21 2 3 0 5 4 0 1 106 52 30 2023 GHA [13] 2024
 Niue NR 0 1 5 6 1 1 4 62 220 8 2003 NZM [9] 2020
 Pacific Islands NR 0 1 4 5 2 0 3 76 164 13 2008 NZL [27] 2008
 Papua New Guinea Orchids 5 3 2 7 12 4 0 8 182 404 17 2017 ENG [28][29] 2024
 Philippines Sampaguitas 15 0 0 3 3 2 0 1 80 6 27 2022 MLT [24][30] 2023
 Russia NR 0 1 4 5 2 0 3 50 220 13 2008 ENG [31] 2008
 Samoa Fetu Samoa 24 1 3 12 16 8 0 8 356 396 6 2003 GBR [9] 2024
 Serbia 11 5 5 0 10 1 0 9 56 378 22 2019 ITA [32][33] 2024
Tokelau NR 0 1 5 6 2 0 4 96 162 8 2003 COK [9] 2003
 Tonga 14 0 2 12 14 1 1 12 172 466 8 2003 SAM [9] 2024
 Turkey 17 4 1 0 5 2 0 3 82 104 21 2019 FRA [34][35] 2022
 Uganda 22 2 1 0 3 1 0 2 29 84 33 2023 KEN [22][23] 2024
 United States Hawks 16 0 2 1 3 1 0 2 92 80 26 2022 CAN [36] 2023
 Wales 7 4 5 0 9 4 0 5 214 212 24 2021 ENG [37][38] 2024

Notes:

  • In the Venues columns H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral.
  • A Great Britain women's rugby league team toured France in 1989 but played only touch football games against French women. They did play a tackle match against a men's Under 21 team, losing 4–10.[39][40]
  • The 2000 World Cup programme lists previous Test series occurring between 1995 and 1999.[40]
  • An article previewing the 2007 match between England and France mentions that it was the first international to be played by an English or Great Britain side since the 2003 World Cup.[10]
  • Jamaica played in a Nines tournament in 2019 (with Canada and Ontario teams), prior to making their full international debut in 2023.
  • Solomon Islands played in Nines tournaments at two Pacific Games, in 2019 and 2023.
  • Vanuatu played in the Nines tournament at the 2023 Pacific Games.

Women's Rugby League World Cup

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Main article: Women's Rugby League World Cup

The Women's Rugby League World Cup was first held in Great Britain during 2000 to coincide with the men's Rugby League World Cup. Australia, Great Britain and eventual winners New Zealand took part.[41] New Zealand also won the second and third World Cups: a nine team tournament held at North Harbour Stadium, in the Auckland suburb of Albany in 2003; and an eight team tournament held at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and, for the final, Suncorp Stadium in 2008.[42][43]

In the 2013 World Cup, the Australian Jillaroos won the cup, breaking New Zealand's 13 year winning streak.[44] Australia again beat New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup Final.[45]

The World Cup is played every 4 years. Delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent World Cup included eight teams and was held in November 2022 in England. It was played alongside Men's and Wheelchair tournaments.[46] Australia won the tournament for the third time, all three in succession.[47]

Domestic competitions

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Australia

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The NRL Women's Premiership is the top tier national competition. In the second tier are two state competitions in New South Wales and Queensland. There are tackle competitions at a local level in several areas of Sydney and Brisbane, and in regional areas of New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
There are also competitions in the capital cites of the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia and these states send teams to the National Championships.[48]

The New South Wales Rugby League has also promoted and supported non-tackle League tag competitions in Sydney and regional areas since the early 2010s.[49][50][51]

State of Origin is a state representative series played by Queensland and New South Wales. This annual competition began in 1999 as an Interstate Challenge with selections based on the players' state of residence. In 2018, this changed to Origin. In 2023, the National Rugby League extended what had usually been a single annual match to a two-match series.[52]

Great Britain

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Main article: British rugby league system § Women's structure

The top tier of rugby league in Great Britain is the RFL Women's Super League which operates a promotion and relegation system with the RFL Women's Championship below it. The Women's Challenge Cup is Great Britain's primary cup competition.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Women's rugby league". news.bbc.co.uk. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  2. ^ "History". www.communityrugby.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  3. ^ "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2024". International Rugby League. 26 Jul 2024. Retrieved 31 Jul 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Brazil win inaugural South American Cups". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 26 Nov 2018. Retrieved 18 Apr 2021.
  5. ^ a b Scholes, Gary (9 Jul 1995). "NZ men's defeat motivates women". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. p. 12. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Kiwi Ferns - Past Results". NZRL. 30 Sep 2020. Retrieved 7 Oct 2020.
  7. ^ France, Marvin (16 Nov 2017). "Kiwi Ferns blow out the cobwebs with big win over Canada in World Cup opener". stuff. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Kiwi Ferns Vs Canada - Women's RLWC 2017 Highlights". YouTube. Rugby League World Cup. 16 Nov 2017. Retrieved 30 Sep 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e Francis, Payne (2003). New Zealand Rugby League Almanack 2003. New Zealand Rugby Football League Inc.
  10. ^ a b c "England squad for womens [sic] Rugby League International". Sport Focus. 1 Jul 2007. Retrieved 27 Oct 2021.
  11. ^ "Sport". Courier Mail. 21 Sep 1998. p. 32.
  12. ^ Curtin, Jennie (21 Sep 1998). "48 Hours". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 28.
  13. ^ a b "Nigeria 40 v 4 Ghana - Match report". European Rugby League. 3 Nov 2023. Retrieved 4 Nov 2023.
  14. ^ Hardy, Karen (22 Jul 1996). "Brits pay ultimate penalty". Canberra Times. p. 25.
  15. ^ "1996 Aust vs GB Womens RL Test Match". YouTube. Jenny Luker. 31 Oct 2019. Retrieved 15 Jun 2021.
  16. ^ "Turkey and Greece to meet in historic double-header". Rugby League Planet. 6 Jun 2019. Retrieved 18 Apr 2021.
  17. ^ "Türk Kadin Ragbi Takimi 44 4'Lük Skorla Galip Geldi". YouTube. Edirne Televizyonu. 15 Sep 2019. Retrieved 29 Mar 2022.
  18. ^ "Wales 24 v 26 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 17 Oct 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Lebanon 0 v 22 Italy - Match Report". European Rugby League. 25 Feb 2017. Retrieved 15 Apr 2021.
  20. ^ "Jamaica 8 v 78 United Staes - Match report". European Rugby League. 23 Sep 2023. Retrieved 28 Sep 2023.
  21. ^ Lowe, Brian (25 Sep 2023). "USA Women Trounce Jamaicans in Rugby League International". Rugby League Planet. Retrieved 28 Sep 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Kenya and Uganda women name squads for historic women's rugby league international". European Rugby League. 15 Dec 2023. Retrieved 4 Apr 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Kenya 54 v 0 Uganda - Match report". European Rugby League. 16 Dec 2023. Retrieved 4 Apr 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Philippines Sampaguitas Go Down To Malta Dames In Inaugural Women's International". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 25 Oct 2022. Retrieved 25 Oct 2022.
  25. ^ "Greece 0 v 14 Netherlands - Match report". European Rugby League. 9 Dec 2023. Retrieved 4 Apr 2024.
  26. ^ "The Scoreboard". Rugby League Week (9/10/2002). Sydney: Bauer Media Group.
  27. ^ "Kiwi Ferns v Pacific nations". YouTube. NZ Rugby League. 3 August 2017 [2008]. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  28. ^ "England 36 v 8 Papua New Guinea - Match Report". European Rugby League. 16 Nov 2017. Retrieved 31 Mar 2021.
  29. ^ "England vs Papua New Guinea - Full Highlights - Womens RLWC 2017". YouTube. Channel 7 Sport. 16 Nov 2017. Retrieved 1 Apr 2021.
  30. ^ "Philippines Sampaguitas Name Squad For Malta Clash". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 21 Oct 2022. Retrieved 25 Oct 2022.
  31. ^ "England women shine in World Cup". BBC. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  32. ^ "Italy 26 v 0 Serbia - Match Report". European Rugby League. 22 Jun 2019. Retrieved 15 Apr 2021.
  33. ^ James, Honor (26 Jun 2019). "Italy's women win 1st Test as Serbia make their bow". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
  34. ^ "La France s'impose largement face à la Turquie". Trieze Mondial. 5 Oct 2019. Retrieved 8 Apr 2021.
  35. ^ "International Test Match Turkey vs France". YouTube. Turkish Rugby League. 6 Oct 2019. Retrieved 23 Oct 2021.
  36. ^ "Canada Ravens vs USA Redtails - April 16th 2022". Canada Ravens. 16 Apr 2022. Retrieved 17 Apr 2022.
  37. ^ "England 60 v 0 Wales". European Rugby League. 25 Jun 2021. Retrieved 31 Oct 2021.
  38. ^ Hafez, Shamoom (25 Jun 2021). "Women's international: England 60-0 Wales - 10 different try-scorers for hosts". BBC. Retrieved 26 Jun 2021.
  39. ^ "Women out to rattle bones, not buckets". Times (London). 14 Aug 1998.
  40. ^ a b rugbee.com Women's Rugby League World Series 2000 Official Programme. Harold Lacey Publications. 2000.
  41. ^ Hadfield, Dave (25 Nov 2000). "Rugby League: Hina too strong for battling Britain". The Independent (London). p. 23.
  42. ^ Coffey, John (13 Oct 2003). "Kiwi Ferns rule on league cup stage". The Press (Christchurch). p. 29.
  43. ^ "Ferns girls too strong - league world cup". Daily Telegraph. 17 Nov 2008. p. 67.
  44. ^ "Jillaroos win Women's World Cup". NRL.com. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  45. ^ "Women's Rugby League World Cup: Australia's Jillaroos beat New Zealand 23-16 in final to claim world title". ABC. 2 Dec 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  46. ^ "Rugby League World Cup - England 2021 - Women's Tournament". RLWC2021. 1 Feb 2022. Retrieved 30 Mar 2022.
  47. ^ Lucantonio, AJ (20 Nov 2022). "Bend it like Brigginshaw as Jillaroos remain queens of the international game". League Unlimited. Retrieved 21 Nov 2022.
  48. ^ "Squads released for 2023 Harvey Norman National Championships". NRL. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 4 Oct 2023.
  49. ^ Lang, Josh (13 Sep 2010). "Go Green Machine - Leeton's league tag reign continues". Irrigator.
  50. ^ Robertson, Grant (17 Sep 2011). "Stage set for another league tag classic". Northern Daily Leader. p. 135.
  51. ^ "2015 League Tag Castlereagh Grand Final Coonamble v Trangie". YouTube. WesternRams. 6 Sep 2015. Retrieved 28 Aug 2020.
  52. ^ "Sydney and Townsville to host women's Origin series". NRL. 26 Apr 2023. Retrieved 26 Apr 2023.
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