| 2024 RFL Women's Championship | |
| Prevseason Link: | RFL Women's Championship seasons (2017–2023)#2023 season |
| Prevseason Year: | 2023 |
| Nextseason Link: | 2025 RFL Women's Championship |
| Nextseason Year: | 2025 |
The 2024 RFL Women's Championship (also known as the Betfred Women's Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth season of the RFL Women's Championship and the first of its restructure and expansion to include teams from across the country.
The competition was split into three regional leagues: Northern, Midlands, and Southern. The winners of the Northern and Southern Championship faced each other for the National Championship title and the winner of this match entered a promotion play-off on 6 October with the last placed team of the 2024 RFL Women's Super League for a place in the 2025 Super League.[1] [2]
The Northern Championship was won by and the Southern Championship was won by . Leigh defeated London in the National Championship Final and then won against in the promotion play-off.
The Midlands Championship was jointly awarded to Leamington Royals and Nottingham Outlaws.
In January 2024, the RFL confirmed the nine clubs in the Northern Championship and four of the clubs in Southern Championship.[3] The teams in the Midlands Championship were announced in May.[4]
The 2024 RFL Northern Women's Championship began on 2 March and concluded on 22 September, and comprised 18 regular season matchweeks and playoffs.[5]
The restructuring of the national pyramid meant that the Super League South was replaced by the Southern Championship with four of the six of clubs from the 2023 Super League South continuing in the new competition format. The two other teams took part in the tier 3 competitions sitting directly below the Southern Championship: Thurrock combined with North Herts Crusaders to compete in the Southern East League 1, and the Bristol Golden Ferns were part of the Southern West League 1.[6] The Southern Championship started on 25 May and concluded on 7 September with the Grand Final played at Cardiff University playing fields.
The 2024 Midlands Championship was played using a festival format and because of this the teams were ineligible for the National Championship Final. The competition saw a soft launch in 2023 and was played between Cheltenham Phoenix, Coventry Bears, Leamington Royals, and Telford Raiders.[7] Nottingham Outlaws replaced Cheltenham in the schedule for the 2024 competition which began on 1 June and in which teams played two games on each of the three fixture days, followed by a finals day on 4 August.[4] [8] The final between Nottingham and Lemington was abandoned due to a significant player injury. Both teams were awarded the title.[9]
In the Southern play-offs, advanced to the Grand Final as the forfeited their semi-final match.[10] The Southern Grand Final was played on 7 September at Cardiff University Playing Fields. In a repeat of the 2023 Super League South competition, London Broncos faced Cardiff Demons in the final and defeated them 28–8 to win the competition.[11]
The Northern Championship semi-finals were played on 15 September.[2], who won the League Leaders' Shield, advanced to the final after fourth-placed Oulton Raidettes forfeited their semi-final match. They were joined by second-placed who defeated third-placed .[12] [13] [14] The Northern Championship Grand Final was played on 22 September. Leigh Leopards won 46–6 against Sheffield Eagles to claim the division title and advance to the National Championship match.[15]
The National Championship Final was played on 29 September by the winners of the Northern and Southern Championship. Leigh Leopards defeated London Broncos 22–18 to win the title.[16]
The promotion play-off match was contested by the winner of the Championship Grand Final and the last placed team of the 2024 RFL Women's Super League, and took place on 6 October as a double-header with the Grand Final of the Super League.[17] [18] Leigh Leopards defeated 34–16 to earn promotion to the Super League.[19]
| Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| London Broncos | 48–0 | Army | 18 August | Rosslyn Park |
| Cardiff Demons | – | |||
| Source: |
| Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| Cardiff Demons | 8–28 | London Broncos | 7 September | Cardiff University Playing Fields |
| Source:[20] |
| Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| Leigh Leopards | 48–0 | Oulton Raidettes | 15 September | Twist Lane |
| Sheffield Eagles | 20–6 | Salford Red Devils | 15 September | Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park |
| Source: |
| Score | Away | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| Leigh Leopards | 46–6 | Sheffield Eagles | 22 September | Twist Lane |
| Source: |
| Score | Southern | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| Leigh Leopards | 22–18 | London Broncos | 29 September | Alexander Stadium, Birmingham |
| Source: |
| Score | Championship | Match Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | |||
| 16–34 | Leigh Leopards | 6 October | Totally Wicked Stadium | |
| Source: |