Women and Girls Rugby

In association with Leeds City Council, Parklane College, Leeds and Hunslet schools, Leeds and District Amateur Rugby League Clubs.

Leeds Rhinos Girls Rugby League Community Development programme was set up in 2006 with the overall aim to encourage more women and girls from the local community to play the sport.

Since 2006 the Women and Girls programme has created opportunities for over 4,000 girls of secondary school age to participate in Rugby League. The programme is delivered to twenty five secondary schools across Leeds to girls who are mainly in years 7 and 8.

The programme is headed up by Leeds Rugby Community Development Officer Laura Clarke and follows a six week structure where girls learn basic ball handling and passing skills through to full contact and tackling.

Leeds Rugby Foundation runs competitions and festivals for Primary and Secondary Schools across the school year.

Four girls-only Tag Rugby Festivals are planned for Primary School teams on 14th October 2009, 3rd February 2010, 24th March 2010, and 19th May 2010. These are open to all Primary Schools across the city! Entries welcome!

Three tournaments annually are also organised for girls in Seconadry Schools in years 7, 8, 9 and 10. The standard and success of these festivals have helped pave the way for the development of an Under 13 School Girls League, which shows just how much the demand for girls rugby within the city has grown in recent years. In its pilot year the U13s School Girls League provided opportunities for secondary schools to play in a structured competition with regular fixtures. Going into its second year the league has more than doubled in size with twelve high schools now playing in the U13s Schools League. Keep up to date on the site with match reports and league tables!

The Leeds Rhinos Girls Rugby League Community Development programme also works to support schools entering the Carnegie Champion Schools Competition, a tournament run by the RFL in partnership with English Schools Rugby League, which has now seen 185 girls team take part.

Amateur Rugby League Clubs across the city are also embracing female teams for girls wishing to progress further in the game and play rugby league outside of school with a record number of Women Open Age teams also running!

For those who prefer the non contact Touch Rugby - please come and join us at Soccer City, just off Geldard Road on Tuesday Evenings from 7-9pm, where women can socialise and play touch rugby indoors! No need to enter a team just come along for any period of time to have fun and get fit! Please bring £3 per player and suitable clothing for activity!

We also have opportunities for volunteers, coaches and administrators. If you are interested anythin above please contact Laura Clarke via email at laura.clarke@leedsrugby.com.