| RFL Women's Rugby League | |
| Founded: | 2012 |
| Folded: | 2017 |
| Championtag: | Champions |
| Most Champs: | Thatto Heath Crusaders |
| Count: | 4 |
The RFL Women's Rugby League was an amateur women's rugby league competition in the United Kingdom. The competition was a successor to the Women's Rugby League Conference, but moved the season to run between March and October.[1] The competition was first played for in 2012 and ran for five full seasons. The 2017 season was not completed as the league was replaced in July 2017 by a new three division structure comprising the Women's Super League, the Women's Championship and the Women's Championship 1.
| Women's Rugby League clubs | |||
| Club | Location | Seasons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow | Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria | 2017 | |
| Batley Bulldogs | Batley, West Yorkshire | 2017 | |
| Bradford Thunderbirds/Bulls | Bradford, West Yorkshire | 2012–17 | |
| Brighouse Rangers | Brighouse, West Yorkshire | 2012–16 | |
| Castleford Panthers | Castleford, West Yorkshire | 2012–13 | |
| Castleford Tigers | Castleford, West Yorkshire | 2017 | |
| Chorley Panthers | Chorley, Lancashire | 2012–13 | |
| Coventry Bears | Coventry, Warwickshire | 2012–13 | |
| Crosfields | Warrington, Cheshire | 2012–14 | |
| Featherstone Rovers | Featherstone, West Yorkshire | 2012–17 | |
| Fryston Warriors | Castleford, West Yorkshire | 2014 | |
| Guildford Giants | Guildford, Surrey | 2012 | |
| Guiseley | Bradford, West Yorkshire | 2012 | |
| Hemel Stags | Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire | 2012 | |
| Hunslet Hawks | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 2012–15 | |
| Leigh East | Leigh, Greater Manchester | 2012–13 | |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | Leigh, Greater Manchester | 2012–17 | |
| Lindley Swifts | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | 2016 | |
| Normanton Knights | Normanton, West Yorkshire | 2013–16 | |
| Nottingham Outlaws | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire | 2012 | |
| Oulton Raidettes | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 2012–17 | |
| Ovendon | Halifax, West Yorkshire | 2012 | |
| Rochdale Hornets | Rochdale, Greater Manchester | 2014–16 | |
| Royal Navy | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 2012 | |
| Selby Warriors | Selby, North Yorkshire | 2014–16 | |
| Southampton Spitfires | Southampton, Hampshire | 2012 | |
| Stanningley | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 2012–17 | |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | St. Helens, Merseyside | 2012–17 | |
| Wakefield Trinity | Wakefield. West Yorkshire | 2017 | |
| Warrington Wolves | Warrington, Cheshire | 2012 | |
| West Craven Warriors | Barnoldswick, Lancashire | 2012–15 | |
| West London Sharks | Chiswick, London | 2012 | |
| Whinmoor Warriors | Leeds, West Yorkshire | 2012–14 | |
| Widnes Vikings | Widnes, Cheshire | 2012 | |
| Wigan St Patricks | Wigan, Greater Manchester | 2013–17 | |
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | League Leaders | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row | 2012 | Featherstone Rovers | 46–8 | Bradford Thunderbirds | Featherstone Rovers | ||
| scope=row | 2013 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 36–6 | Bradford Thunderbirds | Thatto Heath Crusaders | ||
| scope=row | 2014 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 36–14 | Bradford Thunderbirds | Bradford Thunderbirds | [2] | |
| scope=row | 2015 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 18–12 | Featherstone Rovers | Featherstone Rovers | [3] [4] | |
| scope=row | 2016 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 36–8 | Bradford Bulls | Thatto Heath Crusaders | [5] [6] |
In the 2012 season, the teams were divided into four groups; the Premier, the Yorkshire and North East, the North West, and the Southern Division.[7] This was a similar format to the Women's Rugby League Conference from which teams qualified for national play-offs.[8] There were six teams in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Castleford Panthers, Coventry Bears, Featherstone Rovers, Nottingham Outlaws, and Warrington Wolves. The two northern divisions had seven teams each and the southern division had five teams; Guildford Giants, Hemel Stags, The Royal Navy, Southampton Spitfires and West London Sharks.[7] Featherstone finished top of the Premier Division and defeated Bradford 46–8 to win the Championship final. The minor finals were won by teams from the North West Division; Leigh East won the Bowl and Leigh Miners Rangers won the Plate.[7] The finals were held at the Stobart Stadium in Widnes.[9]
Source:[7]
The league was restructured in 2013 into a Premier Division and Division One. Five teams took part in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Coventry Bears, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights and Thatto Heath. There were 12 teams in Division One; Brighouse, Castleford Panthers, Chorley Panthers, Crosfields, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh East, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Stanningley, West Craven Warriors, Whinmoor and Wigan St Patricks.[10] The Championship was won by Thatto Heath and Leigh East won Division One.[11]
Source:[10]
In 2014, five teams took part in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Crosfields, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights and Thatto Heath.[12] It was won by Thatto Heath who defeated Bradford 36–14 in the play-off final.[2] There were 11 teams in Division One; Brighouse Rangers, Fryston Warriors, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets, Selby Warriors, Stanningley, West Craven Warriors, Whinmoor Warriors and Wigan St Patricks.[12] Division One was won by Stanningley.[13]
The 2015 season began on 12 April with 13 teams in the Premier Division; Bradford Thunderbirds, Brighouse Rangers, Featherstone Rovers, Hunslet Hawks, Leigh Miners Rangers, Normanton Knights, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets, Selby Warriors, Stanningley, Thatto Heath, West Craven Warriors and Wigan St Patricks.[16] However, several fixtures were postponed and by early July the league table showed that Hunslet Hawks had forfeited their remaining fixtures.[17] By the end of the regular season Rochdale Hornets were also unable to play giving West Craven a bye in the first round of the play-offs. In the play-offs the top four competed for the championship, the next four for the shield and the remaining teams for the plate. Featherstone, the league leaders, lost to second-place Thatto Heath in the first round[18] but then defeated Bradford to set up a rematch with Thatto Heath in the Grand Final.[19] On 4 October, Thatto Heath won 18–12 in the final with the Shield going to Wigan St Patricks and Leigh taking the Plate.[3] [20] [21]
The 2016 season started on 3 April with a change to the format so that the twelve competing teams were split into two groups after five matches.[22] Bradford Bulls, who replaced the Bradford Thunderbirds,[23] were top of the table on 15 May[24] and were joined by, Featherstone Rovers, Normanton Knights, Stanningley, Thatto Heath and Wigan St Patricks in Group 1. Brighouse Rangers, Leigh Miners Rangers, Lindley Swifts, Oulton Raidettes, Rochdale Hornets and Selby Warriors were in Group 2.[25] The top four from each group then progressed to the play-offs. Group 1 league leaders Thatto Heath defeated fourth place Stanningley in the semi-final[26] and retained their title on 1 October with a 36–8 win over Bradford Bulls in the Grand Final. In Group 2 Leigh topped the league and went on to win the final 20-12 against Oulton.[5] [27]
The 2017 season began on 12 March with 11 teams in the Premier Division: Barrow, Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers, Leigh Miners Rangers, Oulton Raidettes, Stanningley, Thatto Heath, Wakefield Trinity and Wigan St Patricks.[28] The season was left unfinished with last recorded match played on 9 July between Wigan and Barrow.[29] At that time Castleford were top of the table having won seven matches, but were the only team to have played all ten rounds, whereas Featherstone had won six of their eight matches and Bradford had won all five of their completed fixtures.[30] The County Cup finals were played the following weekend and after these the league was replaced by the Super League and the Championship which both started on 23 July.[31] [32]