The Rugby Football League is pleased to announce that the very first Southern Women’s College and University Development Day will be taking place at Hemel Stags this month (May 17).
The event is another step forward for the development of the Women’s and Girls’ game in the Southern Regions and will take place just after London Broncos play their second Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup fixture on May 7. The Broncos are one of six teams competing in the Betfred Women’s Super League South this year with the competition going from strength to strength since its inception in 2021.
The development day will begin with a series of coaching sessions led by RFL coaches before teams then compete in a Nines Festival which will see one team crowned champions. England Women Rugby League Head Coach Stuart Barrow - who recently led the international team to a 64-0 win over France - will also be in attendance to discuss the England pathway.
The format of the day will allow for an introduction to Rugby League to new teams and players currently in education and will lay the foundations for further activity to take place in the 2023/24 academic year.
England Women Captain, Jodie Cunningham, who is also the RFL’s National Women and Girls Development Manager, says:
“The Betfred Women’s Super League South is in its third season and has welcomed a new club into the ranks this year – Thurrock T-Birds – so we know that there is a strong appetite for Rugby League in the Southern Regions, especially after the amazing national audiences for our World Cup campaign last autumn.
“Developing Rugby League opportunities in College and Universities is a key area for us and we really hope that it will help us produce players who continue on the pathway into the WSL South which will be part of tier two of the national competition pyramid from 2024.
“The event on May 17 is open to full University or College teams and individuals, so anyone interested is welcome to take part and we would encourage anyone interested to register their attendance before it’s too late.”
The Southern Women’s College and University Development Day will begin with a development session at 12pm before the Nines Festival kicks off at 1.15pm. Anyone interested in attending should register here.
Southern Women’s College and University Development Day
Date: 17 May 2023
Venue: Hemel Stags RLC, Pennine Way Stadium, Pennine Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 5UD
Time: 12pm-3pm
