Bristol Golden Ferns and Telford Raiders were crowned champions as the Southern and Midlands Women’s League finals concluded on Sunday 26 July, with Bristol defeating Army RL 54-6 and Telford overcoming Leamington Royals 46-6 on an outstanding day of finals action.
Southern Championship Finals
The Southern Championship Finals took place at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, with two excellent matches on show. In the third-place play-off, Bedford Tigers faced Brentwood Eels. Despite a committed performance from Brentwood, Bedford secured a 56-8 victory.
The Grand Final was a repeat of the 2025 final, with Bristol Golden Ferns taking on Army RL. Army RL had led the league since the departure of Cardiff Demons and London Broncos to the National Women’s Championship, but it was Bristol who claimed the title after a historic and dominant performance. The Golden Ferns secured their first Southern Women’s Championship title with an impressive 54-6 win.
Midlands Championship Finals
The Midlands Championship Finals were held at Leamington Rugby Football Club, where Aston Warriors and Coventry Bears opened the day in the third-place play-off. The contest remained tightly balanced throughout, before a last-minute Coventry try sealed a dramatic 34-28 victory in the final seconds.
The Midlands Grand Final was also a repeat of 2025, with reigning champions Telford Raiders coming up against hosts Leamington Royals. Despite a competitive start, Telford proved too strong for the home side, retaining the championship with a 46-6 victory.
Across both regions, the finals highlighted the continued development of the women’s game, with Bristol Golden Ferns crowned Southern champions and Telford Raiders retaining their Midlands title.
Bristol Golden Ferns Head Coach John Gould commented, “I’m unbelievably proud of this team. Twelve months ago, we walked away from the final hurting after falling just short, so to come back and produce a performance like that on the biggest stage says everything about the character of this group.
This wasn’t built in a day. It’s the result of three years of hard work, commitment and belief from every player, coach and volunteer involved with the Golden Ferns. The players have earned this through the standards they set every single week, both at training and away from the club.
Credit to the Army Women, they’re a fantastic team and have helped drive standards across the South. But on Sunday, our players were outstanding for the full 80 minutes and thoroughly deserved to be crowned Southern Champions.
This is a massive moment for our club, but it also feels like the start of something bigger. We’re excited to keep pushing standards, help grow the women’s game in the South, and see just how far this team can go.”
Telford Raiders Coach, Fred Baker commented, “the standard of rugby we have seen from all teams in the competition has been a step up from previous seasons. All teams have been competitive and have had great numbers, and all our games have been played at 13 a side. The Midlands Championship feels it's moving on from being a development league and is now a competition that is attracting more and more new players. At Telford the women's team is now a central part of the club and after 4 seasons we're all excited to see what we can build and where we can go over the next few years.”
Image Credit: a.bikingphotography
