The Rugby Football League has launched a brand-new competition this month - the Women’s University Winter League – and it’s already off to a flying start.
The league will serve as an opportunity for new and current players to represent their University in Rugby League in a regular competition - the first time this has been possible for the women in this education sector. The fixtures will be complimented by 9s competitions running across the next two semesters to give more establishments and players the chance to get involved in the game.
Northumbria University hosted the University of Liverpool at Coach Lane Campus in the opening round of the competition. Sophie Price scored two fine tries for the home side as they came out 12-4 victors in a closely fought game.
The league boasts teams from across the UK with the three other participating Universities making their debut in the competition this Sunday (November 12) when the University of Manchester host Northumbria, and the University of Oxford travel to the University of Nottingham.
Teams will face one another in a round robin format over the winter before the top four enter the play offs next March, the top two teams will then face off in the Final of the competition on Sunday 31 March.
BUCS Rugby League Co-Ordinator, Maz Veater, says:
“The launch of the Women’s University Winter League highlights the RFL’s commitment to growing the sport for female athletes within Higher Education. We now have over 130 women competing in regular fixtures and getting exposure to all that the sport has to offer. This league is the first step towards creating an official BUCS offering for female Rugby League, and we expect to see the continued growth of University teams off the back of the pilot season.”
