20 Apr 2022

Female athletes out to inspire at Warrington tournament

Some of the best players in Women’s Rugby League will descend on Warrington on Sunday 1 May – and women and girls from across the region are invited to come along and be inspired to take up the game.

Victoria Park is the venue for the RFL’s inaugural Women’s Nines tournament, with teams from as far afield as Dublin and Perpignan joining the likes of St Helens and Warrington Wolves at a day-long festival of Rugby League.

And innovation is the word off the pitch as well as on it, with England and Women’s Super League players running ‘Inspiration’ sessions for younger fans, and offering opportunities to find out more about what it means to ‘Play like a Girl’ and what it takes to reach the top.

The Warrington festival is the group stage of a tournament which will see the top six sides face each other at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday 24 July for the right to be crowned Women’s Nines champions.

On the pitch, the action gets underway at 10.30am with London Broncos versus Dublin City Exiles and Bristol Golden Ferns versus Barrow Raiders, while off the pitch the first in a series of ‘Inspiration’ sessions – Physical and Mental Toughness – begins at 11am.

During an action-packed day, Leeds Rhinos and Featherstone Rovers will go head-to-head with London and Dublin, while the event’s other touring team, Catalans Dragons, will face 2018 Women’s Super League champions Wigan Warriors, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity.

In a repeat of the group stage of this year’s Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, 2021 treble winners St Helens will face Barrow Raiders and Warrington Wolves, plus Bristol Golden Ferns from the Women’s Super League South.

Challenge Cup semi-finalists York City Knights will be looking to showcase some of their exciting new talent against Bradford Bulls and Leigh Miners. And with sights set on a finals day spot at their home ground, Salford Red Devils will take on Huddersfield Giants, Castleford Tigers and community side Oulton Raidettes who this claimed some notable Women’s Super League scalps on their way to quarter-finals of the Women’s Challenge Cup.

RFL Head of Growth, Thomas Brindle, says: “We’re really excited about what this tournament has to offer on and off the pitch. The stars of women’s game have inspired more young fans and players than ever before, thanks to the increased profile the Women’s Super League has injected into the sport.

“The festival approach at Warrington offers opportunities for complete novices, younger players and potential stars of tomorrow to come along and find out more about Women’s Rugby League and how to get involved. Throughout the day we’ll have workshops connecting younger players with those at the top level, including topics such as body positivity and how to be physically prepared for the demands of the game. With entertainment throughout the day running alongside the action on the pitch, there’ll be something for everyone. It’s an event not to be missed.”

Inspiration sessions

11am: Physical and Mental Toughness – Savannah Andrade (York City Knights) & Rachel Thompson (Wigan Warriors), facilitated by Sean Scantlebury (England Women Strength and Conditioner).

Rugby League requires not only physical toughness but mental resilience to deal with the demands of sport at the top level. Hear from England women's strength and conditioning coach Sean Scantlebury as he talks with England stars Rachel Thompson and Savannah Andrade all about how they physically prepare for the game as well as how they manage injuries and setbacks.

1.30pm: Maximising Your Full Potential – Emily Rudge (St Helens) & Courtney Winfield-Hill (Leeds Rhinos), facilitated by Jenna Brooks (Sky Sports).

Women's Rugby League has a profile like never before but to become a top player you must be professional both on and off the pitch. Sky Sports Jenna Brooks will chat with England Captain Emily Rudge and former Woman of Steel and Leeds Captain Courtney Winfield-Hill about their journey to the top of their game and how to reach your full potential as a female Rugby League player.

3pm: Play Like a Girl – Paige Travis (St Helens) & Danika Priim (Leeds Rhinos), facilitated by Jodie Cunningham (St Helens).

Every girl who walks onto a rugby pitch is brave and fierce, and proves exactly why Rugby League is not just for boys. Whatever size or shape you are, whatever background you come from, Women's Rugby League has a place for you. Jodie Cunningham talks with fellow England and Saints superstar Paige Travis, and retired Leeds and England prop forward and TV pundit Danika Priim, on how inclusive the women's game is and what it means to them to 'Play like a Girl'.

Visitors can book a spot on one of the Inspiration sessions via the RFL ticketing website here.

Group A – Morning Session – First Game Kicks off at 10.30am