The Women’s Nines Festival starts back up this weekend at Victoria Park, Warrington for its second season. Last year the York Valkyrie saw victory over the Leeds Rhinos in the final with England and York full-back Tara Jane Stanley scoring the only points of the game to win 7-0.
- Nines is, as suggested by the name, is played with 9 players on the field with two halves – both consisting of 9 minutes each. There is no half-time, but teams are allowed a minute to change ends. Squads are allowed to be made of up to 15 players, with 6 on the bench and unlimited interchanges.
- Conversions after a successful try take the form of drop kicks. Players from the team that has conceded the try don’t have to stand behind the try line but aren’t allowed to get involved with the conversion attempt. Scrums consist of no more than 5 forwards, with a maximum 3 in the front row and 2 in the second row. When the ball is in the scrum no more than 4 players from each team can act as backs. The ball must come from behind the feet of the second row.
- When a penalty is awarded, play must proceed by way of a tap 10-metres in advance of where they infringement took play.
This year the Women’s Nines Festival is FREE ENTRY, with educational workshops focusing on the women’s game and its different aspects. The ‘Coaching and development in Women & Girls Rugby League’ workshop will be hosted by National Women & Girls Development Manager and England captain Jodie Cunningham with delivery from Current England Women Assistant coach Derek Hardman, and Warrington Wolves Women & Girls Development Officer Ryan Cartledge. You can sign up to the workshop here.
Catalans were participants last year, but due to clashes in the French domestic schedule they won’t be returning. In their place comes the ‘invitational’ teams Leamington Royals, Cardiff Demons, Newcastle Thunder, London Broncos and Workington Town, with the 12 Women’s Super League sides taking part also. The Midlands will be represented for the first time in the competition by Leamington.
The teams have been put into 5 groups. The top team of each group, and a wildcard, will earn themselves a place in the Nines Finals Day at the AJ Bell Stadium, Salford on Saturday 24th June.
💥@TheRFL Women's Nines are on again, Sunday week at Warrington's Victoria Park.
📸@SWpixhttps://t.co/yZohUcMJuf pic.twitter.com/SuJHhq6Brc— Rugby League Nines (@RugbyLeague9s) May 5, 2023
Group 1, Pitch 1: Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves, Leamington Royals and Oldham RLFC.
Warrington Wolves vs Huddersfield Giants – 10:30am
Oldham RLFC vs Leamington Royals – 10:55am
Huddersfield Giants vs Oldham RLFC – 11:20am
Leamington Royals vs Warrington Wolves – 11:45am
Huddersfield Giants vs Leamington Royals – 12:10pm
Warrington Wolves vs Oldham RLFC – 12:35pm
Group 1 starts the day early at 10:30am, with Warrington Wolves taking on fellow Women’s Super League Division 1 competitors Huddersfield Giants. The newly-established Oldham ‘Roughyeds’ are added into the competition for the first time. Leamington Town make Women’s Nines Festival debut becoming the first team to represent the Midlands in the tournament.
Group 2, Pitch 1: Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, Salford Red Devils and Cardiff Demons.
Bradford Bulls vs Leeds Rhinos – 1:30pm
Salford Red Devils vs Cardiff Demons – 1:55pm
Leeds Rhinos vs Salford Red Devils – 2:20pm
Cardiff Demons vs Bradford Bulls – 2:45pm
Leeds Rhinos vs Cardiff Demons – 3:10pm
Salford Red Devils vs Bradford Bulls – 3:35pm
Group 2 kicks off with a West Yorkshire derby with the Bradford Bulls taking on the Leeds Rhinos. Bradford recently suffered a 72-0 loss to Leeds in the Women’s Challenge Cup at Weetwood Sports Park. Leeds play in the top tier of the Women’s Rugby League system, WSL Division 1 – where they won the League last year – and were Women’s Rugby League Nines runner’s up last year. Both Bradford and Salford play in WSL Division 2, and the Cardiff Demons are the Women’s Super League South reigning champions.
Group 3, Pitch 3: St Helens, Featherstone Rovers, Hull KR and Newcastle Thunder.
St Helens vs Featherstone Rovers – 10:30am
Newcastle Thunder vs Hull KR – 10:55am
Hull KR vs St Helens – 11:20am
Featherstone Rovers vs Newcastle Thunder – 11.45am
St Helens vs Newcastle Thunder – 12.10pm
Hull KR vs Featherstone Rovers – 12:35pm
St Helens play Featherstone Rovers in the first game of group 3. The Saints have a prestigious record in women’s rugby league, doing the treble twice and are reigning champions of the Challenge Cup. Featherstone play in the WSL Division 2, and have also won the Challenge Cup in its inaugural season. Hull KR compete in the Women’s Championship in the tier below the WSL, and the Newcastle Thunder don’t currently play in the elite level pyramid.
Group 4, Pitch 2: Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards, Castleford Tigers and London Broncos.
Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards – 1:30pm
Castleford Tigers vs London Broncos – 1:55pm
Wigan Warriors vs Castleford Tigers – 2:20pm
London Broncos vs Leigh Leopards – 2:45pm
Wigan Warriors vs London Broncos 3:10pm
Leigh Leopards vs Castleford Tigers – 3:35pm
Women’s Super League Division 1 side Wigan Warriors take on Division 2 teams Leigh Leopards and Castleford Tigers with Women’s Super League South runner’s up London Broncos in what looks like one of the more closely contested groups in the tournament.
Group 5, Pitch 2: York Valkyrie (C), Barrow Raiders, Hull FC and Workington Town.
York Valkyrie vs Barrow Raiders – 10:30am
Workington Town vs Hull FC 10:55pm
Hull FC vs York Valkyrie – 11:20am
Barrow Raiders vs Workington Town – 11:45am
York Valkyrie vs Workington Town – 12:10pm
Barrow Raiders vs Hull FC – 12:35pm
Reigning Women’s Nines champions York Valkyrie get things started in Group 5 against Barrow Raiders, who they met in the Women’s Challenge Cup recently with York taking a 44-4 win over the Raiders at Craven Park. Hull FC compete in the Women’s Championship, the tournament below the Women’s Super League. Workington are a developing side who don’t yet compete in the women’s rugby league pyramid system, and were formed toward the back end of 2022.
The Women’s Nines Festival 2023 Group Stage will be held on the 14th May 2023 at Victoria Park, Knutsford Road, Warrington, WA4 1DG and entry is FREE.
Finals day will be held at AJ Bell Stadium, Salford, 1 Stadium Way, Eccles, Manchester M30 7EY.
Written by Ellie Indie
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