Written by Rugby Football League
There will be an exciting new tournament in the Rugby League calendar this summer: Women’s Nines.
On Sunday 1 May Warrington’s Victoria Park will host a group stage event featuring all 12 Betfred Women’s Super League sides and ‘invitation’ teams including Bristol Golden Ferns, Catalans Dragons, Dublin City Exiles, London Broncos, Oxford Cavaliers and Salford Red Devils. The top six sides from the group stage will face each other at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday 24 July for the right to be crowned Women’s Nines champions.
And innovation is the word off the pitch as well as on it. The Warrington event will have a ‘festival’ feel to it, with off-field workshops and activities running alongside the action on the pitch involving some of the best female players in Women’s Rugby league.
RFL Head of Growth, Thomas Brindle, explains: “We’re really excited about what this tournament has to offer on and off the pitch. Nines is an exciting spectacle, and we’ll see lots of fantastic players showcasing their skills together at Warrington and Salford.
📺 More @Betfred Women's #ChallengeCup action coming up on #OURLEAGUE this weekend!
🏉 Don't miss @WTLRL vs @OultonRaidettes from 5.30pm on Sunday: https://t.co/rZcxdnceQy pic.twitter.com/htm1YbnGcx
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) March 30, 2022
“The festival approach at Warrington offers opportunities for complete novices, younger players and potential stars of tomorrow to come along and find out more about Women’s Rugby League and how to get involved. Throughout the day we’ll have workshops connecting younger players with those at the top level, including topics such as body positivity and how to be physically prepared for the demands of the game. With entertainment throughout the day running alongside the action on the pitch, there’ll be something for everyone. It’s an event not to be missed.”
Nines Rugby League matches are played over two nine-minute halves, with five points for a try scored in the bonus zone under the posts and two for a drop-kicked conversion attempt. Squads will consist of up to 15 players, with unlimited interchanges allowed from the six-strong bench.
Further details of the competition will announced in due course.
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