The Sheffield Eagles brand will be present in Women's Rugby League in 2022, as the Eagles Foundation announces plans to launch a women's team. The move comes on the back of the successful launch of a Wheelchair Rugby League team with the Sheffield Eagles name earlier this year and is part of both organisations’ plans to diversify participation in the sport in the city.
A launch night has been booked for Monday 10th January for players and volunteers who are interested in joining the team, which will take place at The Hillsborough Club, 27 Bradfield Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 2BS. Anyone interested in being part of the new team should contact Andrea Dobson, Eagles Foundation Development Officer, via andrea.dobson@eaglesfoundation.co.uk or 07960 135 699 so that numbers can be confirmed.
An open training session will take place the week following the meeting (time and venue TBC) with details of the team’s competitive fixtures being announced in due course.
"We're very excited to be launching the Sheffield Eagles women’s team," explained Andrea Dobson, who herself is one of the country’s most decorated players.
"There has been on and off Women’s Rugby League activity in Sheffield for over 20 years and we aim to build on that platform and give women in the city and across South Yorkshire and the North Midlands the opportunity to play Rugby League at the highest level and to be able to do so representing the Sheffield Eagles name.
The growth of Women's Rugby League in the last four seasons has been unprecedented, with the game finding new heights of investment and media coverage, capped recently by the England v France international match being shown live on BBC 2.
And, with the Women's World Cup set to reach a new global audience in 2022 when it is played in England, there is no better time for an Eagles team to make their debut. Whilst the plans for the team are modest at the outset, there is an ambition to progress the team through the ranks to compete at the highest level nationally once the structures and are in place to do so.
"It's an opportunity for women’s players to write a new chapter in the history of the club," continued Andrea.
"But we also want to inspire the next generation of players in our schools and colleges and ensure that there is a solid foundation for the women’s game in the area to continue to grow from and to ensure that girls have equal access to Rugby League as boys and are given the same opportunities to progress."
