The Rugby Football League is backing a bid by the Sport and Recreation Alliance (SRA) to become ‘host secretariat’ for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Girls in Sport.

New Zealand-based IWG is the world’s largest network dedicated to empowering women and girls, and the London-based SRA is determined that the UK should heighten its profile and impact on the international stage.

Alliance members believe that the positive, collective momentum built across the sector in the UK recent years mean that the SRA is well-placed to step up and lead the IWG for the next four years.

The SRA has now secured the backing and support of the government, Sport England, leading sportspeople and many sports bodies – including the RFL.