York Valkyrie reveal huge announcement for upcoming 2023 season
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Anna Gowthorpe/BPI/Shutterstock 12016481ay York City Knights Ladies applaud their fans after their defeat York City Knights v St Helens, Betfred Women s Challenge Cup Final, Rugby League, Leigh Sports Village, Sale, UK - 05 Jun 2021 York City Knights v St Helens, Betfred Women s Challenge Cup Final, Rugby League, Leigh Sports Village, Sale, UK - 05 Jun 2021 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xAnnaxGowthorpe/BPI/Shutterstockx 12016481ay
York Valykyrie are one of the elite women’s sides in the domestic game despite the men’s side having failed to crack Super League with Valykyrie more than mixing it with the likes of Leeds and St Helens in recent seasons.
Following the immense success of the 2021 World Cup, during which all three tournaments ran simultaneously to provide the same platform for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair games it’s a hugely important time for women’s rugby league.
Valykyrie have capitalised on this and announced that from the 2023 season onwards they will become the second female side to pay their players, following in suit with Leeds Rhinos.
The club announced the brilliant news via their website with Chairman, Clint Goodchild, confirming the news to the York Press after holding discussions with the RFL and Leeds CEO Gary Hetherington who had previously made the step to pay female players at Rhinos.
👇 York RLFC can confirm that the Valkyrie will be paid from next season.
#RiseUp | #WeAreYork⚔️— York RLFC Valkyrie (@YorkValkyrie) January 4, 2023
Valkryie lost to Rhinos in the Grand Final last season having won their group, with the women’s Super League being split into two separate divisions before an end-of-season playoffs.
York are in the first division alongside four other teams and topped the table with seven wins and one defeat before losing out to Leeds 12-4 in the Grand Final.
The second division compete in the Shield Final with the winner gaining promotion and joining York in the first division.
This major investment from York as a club mirrors the funding that the women’s game in Australia is getting with the NRLW expanding from four teams to 10 for it’s 2023 competition.