International Rugby League (IRL) has recently formed a women and girls working party group to advise on the strategic objectives and practical activities to support growth of that sector of the sport.

The group will focus on ground up initiatives geared at coordinating the growing number of nations operating women’s programmes. The group also advises on elite level competition structure and global calendar framework.

English based former match official and rugby league development executive Julia Lee is chairing the group and recognises the potential of the sport for women and girls, saying;

“These are exciting times for women in sport and particularly in rugby league. The work of the International Rugby League Women and Girls Group will bring significant change to the way that women’s rugby league is globally developed, viewed and recognised.

“The female game is dynamic and growing. There are global opportunities for players from any part of the world to take up rugby league and either excel at it or simply enjoy participating.

“On International Women’s Day it is good to mark this progress, but I want to ensure that every day is international women’s day in rugby league and with the work of our colleagues around the globe we are making progress towards achieving that goal already.”

The group is formed of people actively involved in rugby league in various parts of the world. Chair Julia Lee is joined by Luisa Avaiki, head of women’s rugby league for New Zealand Rugby League, Tahina Booth, a PNG Orchids international player, Tiffany Slater, General Manager of NRL Women’s Elite Program, Dave Elliott, the RFL’s national programme manager, Tiziano Franchini, the Italian women’s coach, and the IRL’s Sara Piper, a digital and marketing specialist