The Girls’ Community Game will return this Saturday (16 March) with a brand-new age group introduced to meet demand as participation numbers continue to soar.
Following a record year of growth for the girls’ game in 2023, the Rugby Football League is pleased to announce that from this season they will be able to compete in seven different divisions: U11s, U12s, U13s, U14s, U15s, U16s, and for the first time, U18s.
This new age group will bridge the gap between the girls’ league and Open Age competition to provide further playing opportunities with the opening fixtures of 2024 set to take place this Saturday.
Rochdale Mayfield took the U13s West Division by storm last year and will begin their U14s campaign against Dewsbury Moor and another standout tie will see Drighlington host Oulton Raidettes.
Halton Farnworth Hornets suffered heartbreak in the U15 Cup Final at the end of 2023, they’ll be looking to make a strong start against Leigh Miners Rangers on Saturday. Another standout tie in the U16s Premier Division will see Greetland All Rounders travel to Hull FC.
This season will officially kick off on Saturday 16 March with the Girls’ Finals Day set to take place at the Millennium Stadium in Featherstone on Saturday 19 October. Cup competitions will also run alongside league fixtures this season - the U14s and U16s will have regional competitions that result in a War of the Roses Final in July with U13s and U15s taking place after the summer holidays.
There will also be plenty of activity for the development age groups this year with carnivals for U11s and U12s taking place throughout the season to give players a chance to come together to have fun and develop their skills.
All matches will be played under the new Tackle Height framework which has been introduced this season. The legal limit for any contact has been lowered from shoulder height (ie below the neck) to arm pit height (ie below the shoulder) and any contact above the arm pit will therefore be penalised. Ahead of the new season, community game coaches have been attending Tackle Height education workshops, enabling them to understand the rule changes, and to adapt and improve tackling techniques among the players they work with.
A full list of Girls’ Community Game fixtures can be found here.
