Big step for Womens RL in England

[Tommygilf]

https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2022/10/30/rhinos-set-to-make-history-with-first-payments-to-womens-team/

Step 2 towards professionalising the Rhinos Womens RL team. Massively important for the national side.

Hope that others can soon follow suit.

Edited October 30, 2022 by Tommygilf

[Tommygilf]

Betfred Women’s Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos will make history in 2023 by becoming the first team in this country to financially reward their players for their efforts on the field for the club.

The Rhinos won a second Grand Final in just four seasons in 2022 and are looking to expand the Women’s Rugby League operation in 2023. This will include a winning bonus for each game next season, along with meritocratic payments for success in the Challenge Cup and Grand Final competitions, with the hope of contracting experienced players to value their contribution to the women’s and girls’ game in Leeds.

Headingley Stadium will host the opening game of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup on Tuesday 1st November with the historic double header that will see hosts England taking on Brazil, kick off 2.30pm, following by the PNG Orchids clash with Canada at 5pm. The Rhinos have seven players in the England squad for the World Cup as well as Tara Moxon in the Papua New Guinea Orchids squad.

The move in 2023 is the second phase of the club’s move towards a professional women’s Rugby League team. Phase one included further medical and sport science support with a women’s team doctor, private scans, additional physio support and an enhanced sport science programme that resulted in the Rhinos making both major finals last season. The club also as part of phase one paid the women’s players for their time and commitment to promote the game for media and commercial appearances whilst contributing towards expenses for players travelling a significant distance and provided equipment such as boots, gym wear and gumshields.

Phase two looks to bolster this positive step towards professionalising the women’s game with payment towards players, a small step in the right direction to keep enhancing the women’s game and supporting the club’s players.

Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Lois Forsell commented, “It’s great to see the growth and development of the women’s programme at Leeds Rhinos since 2018. Year on year it has grown, the club have big ambitions and these steps are all positive ones in the right direction that look to grow the game sustainably.”  

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington commented, “The Leeds Rhinos womens team are an integral part of our club and we are keen to see them progress as well as inspiring more woman and girls in Leeds to play Rugby League. There have been huge strides made in the Womens game in this country over the last five years and we hope we can move forward even further over the next five years.”

[David Dockhouse Host]

Quick fire fun questions with Pip Birchall of St Helens and Ireland.

Take a peep as we look forward to the Womens World cup

We've done several shows on the Womens game, they don't get Kota of veiws but it's certainly growing.

This was great fund and Pip is a great guest 

 

 

 

 

[gingerjon]

6 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2022/10/30/rhinos-set-to-make-history-with-first-payments-to-womens-team/

Step 2 towards professionalising the Rhinos Womens RL team. Massively important for the national side.

Hope that others can soon follow suit.

Plop.

I was hoping this hadn't been covered as I had a killer topic heading lined up and everything.

The wording on the article is a bit Beaumont-esque - like they can't quite be clear on what they weren't doing before that they are doing now.

Essentially: win bonuses and rewards for competition finishes?

It's very good news and hopefully more clubs will invest more into their women's teams alongside the Rhinos doing this.

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

Plop.

I was hoping this hadn't been covered as I had a killer topic heading lined up and everything.

The wording on the article is a bit Beaumont-esque - like they can't quite be clear on what they weren't doing before that they are doing now.

Essentially: win bonuses and rewards for competition finishes?

It's very good news and hopefully more clubs will invest more into their women's teams alongside the Rhinos doing this.

I think its more just confirming that the move to fully professionalising is going ahead on schedule. 

Previously, described as phase 1 in the article, it was using the gym and training facilities, kit supplies (ie boots and gumshields) along with expenses for fuel, proper physio/medical support and the Rhinos commercially supporting the team through social media for example. Other payments appear to have been somewhat basic - though maybe in line with some league 1 clubs. Not loads but its better than an amateur setup.

I suspect this has a lot to do with Sam Lisone and his partner, current Kiwis vice captain Georgia Hale joining the club. Some players will be looking at good part time wages, and some will, through roles with the Club foundation for example, be able to work full time for the rhinos.

[RBKnight]

Here's the view of Clint Goodchild, York's owner, from a couple of weeks ago, anticipating this :-

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/23065743.york-rlfc-chairman-matter-time-women-go-pro/

He makes the point that the IMG proposals make the development of the women's game one of the "tick boxes",  so those behind the curve will have to poach players.......

[RigbyLuger]

1 hour ago, RBKnight said:

Here's the view of Clint Goodchild, York's owner, from a couple of weeks ago, anticipating this :-

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/23065743.york-rlfc-chairman-matter-time-women-go-pro/

He makes the point that the IMG proposals make the development of the women's game one of the "tick boxes",  so those behind the curve will have to poach players.......

...or rename a local amateur club.

[Tommygilf]

To add, not only is this a plus for IMG's grading, but I think we're going to get a rude awakening about how far the NRLW has come on in the past few years.

[Man of Kent]

Good luck anyone playing Leeds women next year.