SWINTON chief executive Steve Wild has said York RLFC provided much of the inspiration to rebrand their women’s team, who will now be officially known as Manchester Swinton Lionesses and sport a new badge on their shirts.
Since their launch in 2020, the Lionesses have developed year-on-year and 2025 saw them win the Challenge Shield and reach the semi-finals of the Nines competition.
It is now hoped that the new identity will see the club continue to inspire participation, attract new supporters, and lead the growth of women’s sport across Greater Manchester and beyond, whilst also retaining the Swinton’s ‘One Club, One Vision’ philosophy.
“At Swinton Lions RLFC we must embrace new ways to be innovative in order to capture a wider audience and bring fresh awareness to our brand. If we don’t, then the likelihood is stagnation or regression,” explained Wild.
“Whilst we are proud to embrace our history, which in itself is a driving force behind the culture and heartbeat of our club, our Lionesses have brought an exciting approach and mindset to what our club as a whole is all about.
“The growth and success to date of our women’s team has undoubtedly brought different eyes on our club, including new sponsorships and first time fans through the gate. All of this helps to underpin and help nurture our entire operation, not just our women’s team.
“By giving the Lionesses a brand look of their own, with their own logo and inclusion of the word ‘Manchester’, they can go on to provide a focal point for elite women’s rugby league across the whole of Greater Manchester – including Swinton, Salford, Trafford and further afield.
“York Knights and York Valkyrie have arguably set a template for this type of outlook – excellence and identity in two separate fields – but all falling under the same York RLFC brand.
“We make no excuses for taking some inspiration from that model, whilst our geographical advantage, sitting as we do in the midst of one of the most significant sporting conurbations in the world, is an opportunity we aim to grasp and can’t ignore.”
Jason Harborow, team chairman of the newly named Manchester Swinton Lionesses added: “This evolution is about more than a new name or logo; it’s about creating a platform for women and girls across Greater Manchester to be inspired, to belong, and to believe they can achieve greatness in our sport.
“It also represents the wider direction of Swinton Lions – a progressive club that’s proud of its history but unafraid to innovate. We want to build a fresh and diverse fan base, attract new commercial partners, and ensure the whole club reflects the community we represent.”