RFL Women's Championship seasons (2017–2023)

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RFL Women's Championship
seasons 2017–2023

The RFL Women's Championship[1] is the second tier of women's rugby in the British rugby league system sitting below the RFL Women's Super League.

The competition was founded in 2017, and was a single leagued division with all teams based in Northern England due to geographic distribution of the sport's popularity. However, starting in 2024, in response to the increase in popularity of women's rugby league outside of Northern England, the Championship was expanded to include a Midlands and South group for teams elsewhere in the county, allowing a route to the Super League for all teams.[2][3][4][5]

The following article summarises the results of the competition before its 2024 expansion:

Key[edit]

Source[6][a]
Key

  Promoted to next season's Super League
  Transfer to the 2024 Northern Championship
(C) Champions

2017 season[edit]

The 2017 season did not begin until 23 July[8] and as a result of this the teams only played each other once during the competition. Stanningley went unbeaten throughout the 2017 season to finish top of the Championship[9] and defeated Oulton Raidettes 28–10 in the Grand Final.[10]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Stanningley (C) 6 6 0 0 232 60 172 12
2 Oulton Raidettes 6 4 1 1 186 76 110 9
3 Wigan St Patricks 6 4 2 0 190 76 114 8
4 Leigh Miners Rangers 6 3 3 0 120 98 22 6
5 Wakefield Trinity 6 2 3 1 110 114 -4 5
6 Barrow 6 1 5 0 34 282 -248 2
7 Batley Bulldogs 6 0 6 0 12 178 -166 0

2017 play-offs[edit]

Semi-finals Final
      
1 Stanningley 60
4 Leigh Miners Rangers 4
Stanningley 28
Oulton Raidettes 10
2 Oulton Raidettes 12
3 Wigan St Patricks 10

Source:[10][11]

2018 season[edit]

Stanningley repeated their success in 2018 with a 20–12 win over Leigh Miners Rangers.[12] Wakefield Trinity, who finished top of the Championship in 2018, joined the Super League in 2019.[13]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Stanningley (C) 15 12 3 0 438 168 270 24
2 Wakefield Trinity 14 11 3 0 390 126 264 22
3 Oulton Raidettes 14 9 5 0 304 265 39 17
4 Leigh Miners Rangers 15 8 7 0 384 236 148 15
5 Hull FC 14 7 7 0 211 252 -41 14
6 Barrow 14 6 8 0 255 373 -118 11
7 Widnes Vikings 14 4 10 0 216 420 -204 8
8 Wigan St Patricks 14 0 14 0 74 432 -358 -4
Deductions
  • Barrow: 1 point for forfeit
  • Leigh Miners Rangers: 1 point for forfeit
  • Oulton Raidettes: 1 point for forfeit
  • Wigan St Patricks: 4 point for four forfeits

2018 play-offs[edit]

Semi-finals Final
      
1 Wakefield Trinity 4
4 Leigh Miners Rangers 8
Stanningley 20
Leigh Miners Rangers 12
2 Stanningley 38
Hull F.C. 12

Source:[12][14][b]

2019 season[edit]

Warrington Wolves defeated Barrow Island 40–4 in the Grand Final.[17] Warrington and Huddersfield Giants were accepted into the Super League.[18]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Warrington Wolves (C) 16 15 1 0 648 92 556 30
2 Barrow 16 12 3 1 325 246 79 25
3 Stanningley 15 9 5 1 330 190 140 19
4 Huddersfield Giants 15 6 9 0 224 328 -104 12
5 Widnes Vikings 14 5 8 1 114 259 -145 11
6 Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies 14 3 9 2 166 280 -114 8
7 Oulton Raidettes 14 3 9 2 114 358 -244 7
8 Hull FC 14 2 11 1 160 328 -168 3
Deductions
  • Hull FC: 2 point for two forfeits
  • Oulton Raidettes: 1 point for forfeit

2019 play-offs[edit]

Semi-finals Final
      
1 Warrington Wolves 36
4 Huddersfield Giants 4
Warrington Wolves 40
Barrow 4
2 Barrow 14
3 Stanningley 12

Source:[17][19]

2020 season[edit]

Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 season[edit]

Leigh Miners Rangers defeated Barrow Raiders 10–6 in the Grand Final.[20] Barrow and Leigh joined the Super League in 2022.[21]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF DIFF% WP% PTS
1 Leigh Miners Rangers Ladies (C) 14 10 2 2 292 116 251.72 251.72 78.57 22
2 Barrow Raiders Ladies 14 9 4 1 312 160 195.00 195.00 67.86 19
3 Widnes Vikings 12 7 4 1 220 146 150.68 150.68 62.50 15
4 Stanningley 13 6 6 1 204 190 107.37 107.37 50.00 13
5 Oulton Raidettes 11 4 6 1 128 178 71.91 71.91 40.91 9
6 Hull FC 10 3 7 0 136 198 68.69 68.69 30.00 6
7 Halifax Panthers 12 1 11 0 108 412 26.21 26.21 8.33 2
8 Keighley Cougars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0

2021 play-offs[edit]

Semi-finals Final
      
1 Leigh Miners Rangers 36
4 Stanningley 6
Leigh Miners Rangers 10
Barrow Raiders 6
2 Barrow Raiders 16
3 Widnes Vikings 6

Source:[20][22]

2022 season[edit]

Oulton Raidettes defeated Salford Red Devils 33–14 in the Grand Final.[23] Salford replaced Wakefield Trinity in the 2023 Super League.[24]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Salford Red Devils 15 14 1 0 542 136 406 28
2 Oulton Raidettes (C) 14 12 1 1 403 152 251 25
3 Warrington Wolves Lunas 15 10 4 1 390 229 161 21
4 Stanningley 14 6 8 0 334 268 66 12
5 Hull KR 15 6 9 0 310 410 -100 12
6 Dewsbury Moor Ladies 13 4 9 0 256 354 -98 8
7 Hull FC 14 2 12 0 144 416 -272 4
8 Widnes Vikings 14 2 12 0 146 560 -414 4

2023 season[edit]

Hull KR defeated Oulton Raidettes 30–16 in the Grand Final.[25]

POS CLUB P W L D PF PA DIFF PTS
1 Hull KR (C) 20 18 2 0 682 202 480 36
2 Oulton Raidettes 20 16 4 0 604 244 360 31
3 Dewsbury Moor Ladies 19 15 4 0 512 226 286 30
4 Stanningley 19 13 6 0 540 244 296 26
5 Sheffield Eagles 18 11 7 0 512 298 214 22
6 Hull FC 18 6 11 1 298 362 -64 11
7 Widnes Vikings 18 4 12 2 222 468 -246 8
8 Swinton Lionesses 18 4 13 1 222 550 -328 7
9 Wakefield Trinity 18 1 17 0 68 932 -864 -1
10 Warrington Wolves Lunas 18 3 15 0 242 376 -134 -3
Deductions
  • Wakefield Trinity: 3 points for three forfeits
  • Hull FC: 2 point for two forfeits
  • Oulton Raidettes: 1 point for forfeit
  • Widnes Vikings: 2 point for two forfeits
  • Swinton Lionesses: 2 point for two forfeits
  • Warrington Wolves Lunas: 9 point for nine forfeits

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ League tables on the RFL "Match Centre" include some results from play-off matches. In 2018, for example the table includes the Grand Final (but not semi-finals) meaning Wakefield appear below Stanningley though they finished the regular season above them on points difference.[7]
  2. ^ It was initially reported that Stanningley would play Oulton Raidettes in the semi-final. It was later confirmed that Stanningley would play Hull F.C.[15][16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New era for Tier Two of Women's Rugby League". www.rugby-league.com. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  2. ^ Gordon, James (31 January 2023). "RFL reveal exciting national pyramid for growing women's game". loverugbyleague.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ Cook, Sam (January 31, 2023). "Women's rugby league set for exciting changes with reshuffle to create pyramid for 2024". Rugby League News.
  4. ^ Ibbetson, Stephen (February 5, 2023). "RFL take national view in restructure of women's leagues from 2024".
  5. ^ Walker, Callum (January 31, 2023). "RFL reveals groundbreaking new structure for Women's Super League and lower tiers".
  6. ^ "Match Centre".
  7. ^ "Preview | Women's Championship Grand Final". www.rugby-league.com. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Tigers and Bulls win as Women's RL Super League gets underway". 4 The Love Of Sport. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Stanningley thwart Trinity's play off hopes". 4 The Love of Sport. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  10. ^ a b "HIGHLIGHTS | Stanningley v Oulton Raidettes". www.rugby-league.com. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Women's Rugby League round up 1 October". 4 The Love of Sport. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Highlights | Stanningley win Women's Championship Grand Final". www.rugby-league.com. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Wakefield Trinity join 2019 Women's Super League". www.rugby-league.com. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Rhinos and Warriors reach Women's Super League Grand Final". www.rugby-league.com. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Leeds Rhinos win League Leaders' Shield as semi-finals confirmed". www.rugby-league.com. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Women's Super League semi-final to be shown live on Our League". www.rugby-league.com. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Warrington and Keighley triumph on Women's Finals Day". www.rugby-league.com. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Giants and Wolves to join Betfred Women's Super League in 2020". www.rugby-league.com. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Another late Leeds show sets up Challenge Cup Final rematch". RFL. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Leigh Miners win Women's Championship Grand Final". www.rugby-league.com. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League to expand again in 2022". www.rugby-league.com. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Women's Rugby League Results". 4 The Love Of Sport. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Grand Final Success for Sheffield Eagles and Oulton Raidettes". www.rugby-league.com. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Salford Red Devils and Leigh Leopards to join BWSL in 2023". www.rugby-league.com. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Hull KR star Carla Nolan reflects on historic Women's treble and Super League aim". Hull Daily Mail. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
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