Woman of Steel Jodie Cunningham is proud that Rugby League has already played its part in record numbers of viewers watching women’s sport in 2022 – with so much more to come.
The Women’s Sport Trust announced today that almost one third of the UK population (21.1m) watched women’s sport in the first five months of the year – a three-fold increase on the figures for 2021.
Rugby League’s main contribution to those figures came with the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Elland Road on May 7, again shown live on BBC2 with a viewing peak in excess of 300,000.
Next weekend, Sky Sports kick off their expanded coverage of Women’s Rugby League in 2022 with England’s Mid-Season International against France – which will be followed by a number of Betfred Women’s Super League fixtures culminating in the Grand Final on September 18.
And Women’s Rugby League will have its greatest platform yet when the BBC provides unprecedented coverage of the Rugby League World Cup this autumn – including the Men’s and Women’s Finals at Old Trafford on November 19.
Jodie Cunningham, the St Helens captain and England star who is also the RFL’s National Women’s and Girls Development Manager, said: “It’s already been a fantastic year for women’s sport, and it’s so important that Rugby League is part of that success.
“Our Challenge Cup Final went to another level this year with a record crowd at Elland Road and more than 300,000 watching on BBC2, and it’s fantastic that Sky will again be showing our Mid-Season International as well as more Women’s Super League matches than ever.
“There are so many different ways to watch Women’s Rugby League – BBC Sport also showed the Challenge Cup semi finals double header on iPlayer, the RFL’s Our League app has provided live coverage of games in the Challenge Cup and the Super League, and The Sportsman have also been great supporters of the women’s game, covering regular Super League games and this weekend’s international in Wales.
“It’s all part of the growing profile of Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League – and the World Cup at the end of the year will take that to another level.”
After live coverage of consecutive Betfred Women’s Super League victories for York City Knights over St Helens and Leeds Rhinos, The Sportsman will provide live and exclusive coverage on its YouTube channel this Sunday (June 12) of the first of two consecutive internationals for England Women – against Wales in Cross Keys, kicking off at 1pm.
