Leeds Rhinos have launched their first women’s Rugby League team and are set to train and play at Sports Park Weetwood.
The Leeds Rhinos Women’s team, an Open Age side, will aim to compete in the Women’s Super League in 2018. The creation of the women’s team is part of Leeds Rhinos’ commitment to grow the game and offer more opportunities for females to play Rugby League through its charity Leeds Rhinos Foundation. This supports the RFL’s own ambition to attract more women to the game after it was revealed that 93 per cent of the current total of 95,000 who play the game are male.
Gary Hetherington, Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive said:
“Leeds Rhinos are totally committed to supporting the growth of Rugby League amongst women and girls and it’s so good to see so many currently playing the and we hope the creation of a potential new Super League team will encourage even more to play.”
Lois Forsell, Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s women and girls development officer, who is a current England international, will be heading up the Leeds Rhinos Women’s team as programme co-ordinator and is confident that Leeds will benefit from this new venture.
Forsell said:
“Leeds Rhinos Foundation now engage with more girls and women playing Rugby League in Leeds than ever before, so for us to offer an opportunity and a pathway for them to play for our own team is something that will help the women’s game grow even further,”
We firmly believe that the introduction of a women’s Super League team in Leeds will enhance our women’s and girl’s development programme. As a charity, we are very proud to be affiliated with the Rhinos and we believe that having a club with their success and history behind us will inspire more girls to get involved in playing and we hope to be a team that young girls aspire to play for, just as boys dream of playing for the Rhinos.”
Women interested in playing are invited to a launch evening at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on 21st September in the Pavilion, where they will be able to find out more information on the new team. This will be followed by taster sessions and try outs which will cater for all women interested in either having a taster of Rugby League or aiming to excel further within the sport.
Leeds Rhinos Women’s Fans Taster Session: Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Monday 2nd October 2017, 6.30-8pm
Leeds Rhinos Women’s Under-16-19s Try Out: Sports Park Weetwood, Tuesday 10th October 2017, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Leeds Rhinos Women Open Access Try Out: Sports Park Weetwood, Tuesday 17th October 2017, 6.30pm-8.30pm
For more information on Leeds Rhinos Women’s team contact Lois Forsell.
