On Sunday 29 March, the Cardiff Demons travelled to London to face their fierce rivals, the London Broncos, at the Broncos’ newest ground, Hazelwood, under a revised framework of the National Community Rugby League.
With significant history and rivalry between the two sides, this opening-round fixture was widely anticipated to be a thrilling match-up, particularly after their first encounter of the 2025 season ended in a nail-biting 22–22 draw in Cardiff.
London Broncos claimed the first victory of the 2026 Women’s National Championship, showing resilience to secure the win in challenging conditions. Their relentless performance resulted in a 26–14 scoreline and victorious celebrations at home.
The Cardiff Demons are the only standalone Welsh women’s team in the Championship and have embarked on an impressive journey, representing Welsh Rugby League at the highest level. Meanwhile, London Broncos secured back-to-back Southern titles in 2023 and 2024 and finished as League Leaders in the 2025 Northern Championship season, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Betfred Women’s Super League.
Previously, the dominance of both teams in the Southern Women’s League led to their placement in the Northern Women’s Championship last year. This has since contributed to the competition being rebranded as the Women’s National Championship, highlighting the growing strength and depth of talent across the southern region.
The Women’s National Championship is a 12-team competition sitting just below the Betfred Women’s Super League, operating as part of the Women’s Rugby League (WRL) community game. Its purpose is to deliver a high-quality, well-administered competition that prioritises player development, safety, fairness, and inclusivity. Now entering the 2026 season, the Championship offers fresh opportunities, with newly promoted Widnes Vikings joining alongside Warrington Wolves, who drop down from the Women’s Super League.
Attention now turns to another rivalry, this time local as Manchester Swinton Lionesses face Salford RLFC on 5 April. The remaining Round 1 fixtures in the National Championship will take place on 19 April.
Northern Leagues One, Two and Three will also commence on Sunday 19 April, with more teams than ever competing across the league structure for promotion through the pyramid. With new rivalries emerging and established ones reignited, supporters can expect plenty of action throughout the season.
To stay up to date with all the women’s results and league tables, please visit the Rugby League Match Centre.
Photo Credit: Media Pac Sports
