Women’s Super League Fixtures Released

The fixtures for the new Women’s Super League season have been announced, along with a new format.

With the addition of two new teams, Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves, the format of the league will now change.

Each team will play each other once, before the league then splits off. The top four will compete in the playoffs, while the bottom six will play for the Shield.

The playoffs will involve the top four sides playing each other home and away. Then the top two qualify for the Grand Final.

Meanwhile, the Shield will see the six teams play each other once, before the top two qualify for the final.

Finals for both competitions will take place on 11th October at Emerald Headingley.

The season itself will get underway on 29th March with a full round of fixtures.

Leeds Rhinos will start the defence of their title with a West Yorkshire derby against Bradford Bulls. While Warrington Wolves kick off their campaign with a derby against Wigan Warriors.

The match of the round sees last season’s top two go head-to-head as St Helens welcome Castleford Tigers.

The final two games of the round sees Huddersfield host York City Knights and Featherstone Rovers hosting Wakefield Trinity.

Thomas Brindle, the RFL’s Head of Growth who is the BWSL General Manager, said: “As the Betfred Women’s Super League grows in size and profile, the announcement of the fixture list becomes a more significant moment in the domestic Rugby League calendar every year.

“In 2020 we welcome two new clubs in Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves, both of whom were approved for promotion because of what they can bring to the competition and the Women’s and Girls’ game as a whole.
“After going out to tender in 2019, we committed to staging the Grand Final at Emerald Headingley for three seasons – 2019, 2020 and 2021.

“The RFL BWSL management committee have taken the decision to split the competition after nine rounds to increase the intensity of that competition in late summer and early autumn, especially between the top four teams as they battle to reach the Grand Final – a decision which has also been welcomed by the England Performance Unit who believe it will benefit the elite women players in their preparations for the World Cup.”