The league structures and fixtures across tier 1 and 3 of the Women’s League for 2026 have now been confirmed. The tier 2 and 3 landscapes will include 4 structured leagues, housing over 30 teams in total.
Women’s National Championship
Formerly known as the Women’s Northern Championship, the tier 2 competition has been rebranded as the Women’s National Championship. This advancement fittingly marks the second year since the introduction of southern teams Cardiff Demons and London Broncos, who have historically dominated the Women’s Southern Championship.
The 2026 Women’s National Championship will feature 12 teams competing across 12 rounds. The top four teams will progress into the play-off phase, which will include the opportunity to compete in the National Championship semi-finals and if successful the final two teams will progress to National Final; the winning team will then progress to the promotion play off final v 8th place in the Betfred Women’s Super League.
Teams:
Bradford Bulls
Cardiff Demons
Castleford Tigers
Hull FC
Hull KR
London Broncos
Manchester Swinton Lionesses
Oulton Raidettes
Salford RLFC
Sheffield Eagles
Warrington Wolves
Widnes Vikings
To view the 2026 Women’s National Championship fixtures, click here.
Women’s Northern League 1
In 2025, Widnes Vikings topped the Women’s Northern League 1 table as League Leaders following an impressive season. With their promotion to the Women’s National Championship now confirmed following a win over Wakefield Trinity, the race for the top spot in League 1 is wide open in 2026.
Teams:
Fryston Warriors
Illingworth
Leigh Miners Rangers
Rochdale Hornets
Stanningley
Thatto Heath Crusaders
Wakefield Trinity
Workington Town
To view the 2026 Women’s Northern League 1 fixtures, click here.
Women’s Northern League 2
The Women’s Northern League 2 saw significant progression during the 2025 season, with 8 teams competing and contributing positively to driving standards across the women’s game. Following the promotion of Thatto Heath Crusaders and Rochdale Hornets to Women’s Northern League 1, League 2 promises an intriguing 2026 season, featuring a refreshed line-up and new competitive challenges.
Teams:
Ashton Bears
Batley ARLFC
Dewsbury Moor
Halifax Panthers
Heysham Atoms
Rochdale Mayfield
Ulverston RLFC
Wigan St Judes
To view the 2026 Women’s Northern League 2 fixtures, click here.
Women’s Northern League 3
Due to increasing demand from women’s teams seeking competitive opportunities, Women’s Northern League 3 has been introduced for the 2026 season. Featuring 7 teams, the league stands as a further testament to the continued growth and development of Women’s Rugby League.
Teams:
Bronte Barbarians
Crosfields ARLFC
Keighley Cougars
North Wales Crusaders
Oldham RLFC
Wigan St Patricks
York Acorn
The 2026 Women’s Northern League 3 fixtures will be released shortly.
