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RFL Women's Rugby League

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RFL Women's Rugby League
SportRugby league
Instituted2012
Ceased2017
Replaced by
Country England
Most titles Thatto Heath Crusaders (4 titles)
Related competition

The RFL Women's Rugby League was an amateur women's rugby league competition in the United Kingdom. The competition was a successor to the Women's Rugby League Conference, but moved the season to run between March and October.[1] The competition was first played for in 2012 and ran for five full seasons. The 2017 season was not completed as the league was replaced in July 2017 by a new three division structure comprising the Women's Super League, the Women's Championship and the Women's Championship 1.

Teams[edit]

Women's Rugby League clubs
Club Location Seasons
Barrow Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria 2017
Batley Bulldogs Batley, West Yorkshire 2017
Bradford Thunderbirds/Bulls Bradford, West Yorkshire 2012–17
Brighouse Rangers Brighouse, West Yorkshire 2012–16
Castleford Panthers Castleford, West Yorkshire 2012–13
Castleford Tigers Castleford, West Yorkshire 2017
Chorley Panthers Chorley, Lancashire 2012–13
Coventry Bears Coventry, Warwickshire 2012–13
Crosfields Warrington, Cheshire 2012–14
Featherstone Rovers Featherstone, West Yorkshire 2012–17
Fryston Warriors Castleford, West Yorkshire 2014
Guildford Giants Guildford, Surrey 2012
Guiseley Bradford, West Yorkshire 2012
Hemel Stags Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire 2012
Hunslet Hawks Leeds, West Yorkshire 2012–15
Leigh East Leigh, Greater Manchester 2012–13
Leigh Miners Rangers Leigh, Greater Manchester 2012–17
Lindley Swifts Huddersfield, West Yorkshire 2016
Normanton Knights Normanton, West Yorkshire 2013–16
Nottingham Outlaws Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 2012
Oulton Raidettes Leeds, West Yorkshire 2012–17
Ovendon Halifax, West Yorkshire 2012
Rochdale Hornets Rochdale, Greater Manchester 2014–16
Royal Navy Portsmouth, Hampshire 2012
Selby Warriors Selby, North Yorkshire 2014–16
Southampton Spitfires Southampton, Hampshire 2012
Stanningley Leeds, West Yorkshire 2012–17
Thatto Heath Crusaders St. Helens, Merseyside 2012–17
Wakefield Trinity Wakefield. West Yorkshire 2017
Warrington Wolves Warrington, Cheshire 2012
West Craven Warriors Barnoldswick, Lancashire 2012–15
West London Sharks Chiswick, London 2012
Whinmoor Warriors Leeds, West Yorkshire 2012–14
Widnes Vikings Widnes, Cheshire 2012
Wigan St Patricks Wigan, Greater Manchester 2013–17

Champions[edit]

Season Champions Score Runners-up League Leaders Ref.
2012 Featherstone Rovers 46–80 Bradford Thunderbirds Featherstone Rovers [2]
2013 Thatto Heath Crusaders 36–60 Bradford Thunderbirds Thatto Heath Crusaders [3]
2014 Thatto Heath Crusaders 36–14 Bradford Thunderbirds Bradford Thunderbirds [4]
2015 Thatto Heath Crusaders 18–12 Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers [5][6]
2016 Thatto Heath Crusaders 36–80 Bradford Bulls Thatto Heath Crusaders [7][8]

Seasons[edit]

2012[edit]

In the 2012 season, the teams were divided into four groups; the Premier, the Yorkshire and North East, the North West, and the Southern Division.[2] This was a similar format to the Women's Rugby League Conference from which teams qualified for national play-offs.[9] There were six teams in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Castleford Panthers, Coventry Bears, Featherstone Rovers, Nottingham Outlaws, and Warrington Wolves. The two northern divisions had seven teams each and the southern division had five teams; Guildford Giants, Hemel Stags, The Royal Navy, Southampton Spitfires and West London Sharks.[2] Featherstone finished top of the Premier Division and defeated Bradford 46–8 to win the Championship final. The minor finals were won by teams from the North West Division; Leigh East won the Bowl and Leigh Miners Rangers won the Plate.[2] The finals were held at the Stobart Stadium in Widnes.[10]

2012 play-offs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
P1 Featherstone Rovers 46
P2 Warrington Wolves 0
Featherstone Rovers 46
Bradford Thunderbirds 8
P3 Bradford Thunderbirds 34
NW1 Widnes Vikings 4
Source:[2]

2013[edit]

The league was restructured in 2013 into a Premier Division and Division One. Five teams took part in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Coventry Bears, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights and Thatto Heath. There were 12 teams in Division One; Brighouse, Castleford Panthers, Chorley Panthers, Crosfields, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh East, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Stanningley, West Craven Warriors, Whinmoor and Wigan St Patricks.[3] The Championship was won by Thatto Heath and Leigh East won Division One.[11]

2013 Play-offs[edit]

Round 1Round 2Final
Thatto Heath48Thatto Heath32
Bradford Thunderbirds18Bradford Thunderbirds6
Bradford Thunderbirds32
Normanton Knights12
Featherstone Rovers0
Normanton Knights24
Source:[3]

2014[edit]

In 2014, five teams took part in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Crosfields, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights and Thatto Heath.[12] It was won by Thatto Heath who defeated Bradford 36–14 in the play-off final.[4] There were 11 teams in Division One; Brighouse Rangers, Fryston Warriors, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets, Selby Warriors, Stanningley, West Craven Warriors, Whinmoor Warriors and Wigan St Patricks.[12] Division One was won by Stanningley.[13]

2014 Play-offs[edit]

Round 1Round 2Final
Bradford Thunderbirds24Bradford Thunderbirds14
Thatto Heath10Thatto Heath36
Thatto Heath34
Featherstone Rovers12
Featherstone Rovers44
Normanton Knights12
Source:[4][14][15]

2015[edit]

The 2015 season began on 12 April with 13 teams in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Brighouse Rangers, Featherstone Rovers, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh Miners Rangers, Normanton Knights, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets, Selby Warriors, Stanningley, Thatto Heath, West Craven Warriors and Wigan St Patricks.[16] However, several fixtures were postponed and by early July the league table showed that Hunslet Hawks had forfeited their remaining fixtures.[17] By the end of the regular season Rochdale Hornets were also unable to play giving West Craven a bye in the first round of the play-offs. In the play-offs the top four competed for the championship, the next four for the shield and the remaining teams for the plate. Featherstone, the league leaders, lost to second-place Thatto Heath in the first round[18] but then defeated Bradford to set up a rematch with Thatto Heath in the Grand Final.[19] On 4 October, Thatto Heath won 18–12 in the final with the Shield going to Wigan St Patricks and Leigh taking the Plate.[5][20][21]

2015 Play-offs[edit]

Round 1Round 2Final
Featherstone Rovers4Thatto Heath18
Thatto Heath24Featherstone Rovers12
Featherstone Rovers26
Bradford Thunderbirds14
Bradford Thunderbirds56
Stanningley30
Source:[5][18][19]

2016[edit]

The 2016 season started on 3 April with a change to the format so that the twelve competing teams were split into two groups after five matches.[22] Bradford Bulls, who replaced the Bradford Thunderbirds,[23] were top of the table on 15 May[24] and were joined by, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights, Stanningley, Thatto Heath and Wigan St Patricks in Group 1. Brighouse Rangers, Leigh Miners Rangers, Lindley Swifts, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets and Selby Warriors were in Group 2.[25] The top four from each group then progressed to the play-offs. Group 1 league leaders Thatto Heath defeated fourth place Stanningley in the semi-final[26] and retained their title on 1 October with a 36–8 win over Bradford Bulls in the Grand Final. In Group 2 Leigh topped the league and went on to win the final 20-12 against Oulton.[7][27]

2016 Play-offs[edit]

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Thatto Heath 24
4 Stanningley 0
Thatto Heath 36
Bradford Bulls 8
2 Featherstone Rovers 28
3 Bradford Bulls 30
Source:[7][26]

2017[edit]

The 2017 season began on 12 March with 11 teams in the Premier Division: Barrow, Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Stanningley, Thatto Heath, Wakefield Trinity and Wigan St Patricks.[28] The season was left unfinished with last recorded match played on 9 July between Wigan and Barrow.[29] At that time Castleford were top of the table having won seven matches, but were the only team to have played all ten rounds, whereas Featherstone had won six of their eight matches and Bradford had won all five of their completed fixtures.[30] The County Cup finals were played the following weekend and after these the league was replaced by the Super League and the Championship which both started on 23 July.[31][32]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "RFL waiting on Womens League responses". Rugby Football League. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Women's Rugby League". Women's Rugby league. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Women's Rugby League". Women's Rugby league. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Thatto are just champion". Rugby-League.com. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Thatto Heath – Grand Final Champions!". 4 The Love Of Sport. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Women's Rugby League Round Up : 13 September 2015". 4 The Love Of Sport. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Leigh Miners and Thatto Heath take the honours at Grand Finals Day". 4 The Love Of Sport. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Women's Rugby League Weekly Round up 18th September". 4 The Love Of Sport. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Women". Rugby League Conference. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Ladies Homepage". Brighouse Rangers. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Roll of Honour". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Women's Rugby League". Women's Rugby league. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Roll of Honour". Women's Rugby league. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Womens Round Up". Rugby-League.com. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Womens Round Up". Rugby-League.com. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Rugby League – Women's Premier League". 4 The Love Of Sport. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Women's Rugby League Round Up – 5 July 2015". 4 The Love Of Sport. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Women's Rugby League Play Offs : 20 September". 4 The Love Of Sport. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Women's Rugby League Play Offs : 27 September 2015". 4 The Love Of Sport. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Wigan St Patricks win the Shield with a golden point". 4 The Love Of Sport. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Leigh Miners win the Plate in Women's Rugby League Grand Finals". 4 The Love Of Sport. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Women's Rugby League Summer League kicks off on 3 April 2016". 4 The Love Of Sport. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Club of the Week: Bradford Bulls". Rugby-League.com. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Women's Rugby League – 15 May 2016". 4 The Love Of Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Women's Rugby League Weekly Round up 18th September". 4 The Love Of Sport. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Women's Rugby League – 25 September 2016". 4 The Love Of Sport. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Thatto Heath are Women's RL champions!". Rugby-League.com. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Women's Rugby League Premier Division round up". 4 The Love Of Sport. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Women's Rugby League Weekly Round up 9th July". 4 The Love Of Sport. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Match Centre". RFL. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Castleford Tigers and Wigan St Pats claim regional titles". 4 The Love Of Sport. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Tigers and Bulls win as Women's RL Super League gets underway". 4 The Love Of Sport. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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