RFL Women's Super League South

The Rugby Football League Women's Super League South (known as the Betfred Women's Super League South due to sponsorship) was one of two top-level club competitions in women's rugby league in southern England and South Wales. It was originally intended to start in 2020, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The inaugural season started in mid-June 2021[1] and ended on 29 August.[2] In 2023, it was announced that the Super League South would become one of the four regional tier-two competitions in the 2024 restructuring of the national pyramid for women's rugby.

Women's Super League South
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 RFL Women's Super League South
SportRugby league
Founded2021 (2021)
No. of teams6
Country England
 Wales
Domestic cup(s)RFL Women's Challenge Cup
Official websiteWomen's Super League

History
See also: RFL Women's Rugby League

On 30 April 2021, the Rugby Football League (RFL) announced the establishment of a new "Super League South" competition, which runs in parallel to the existing Women's Super League competition in the north of England, rather than directly expand it and is the top level of club competition in southern England and South Wales. The inaugural Super League south season started in June 2021, competed for by six teams, divided into two conferences of three teams each.[1]

On 31 January 2023, the RFL announced a new pyramid for the women's game, and in doing so confirmed that the 2023 season would be the Super League South's last as a top tier competition. The competition would be replaced by the Regional League South and become a second tier competition with opportunity for promotion to the RFL Women's Super League. Regional League South would run parallel with a North, Roses, and Midlands league.[3]

Clubs
Colours Club Seasons Location Coach
Lime Green and Black Golden Ferns[1] 2021–2023 Bristol, Gloucestershire Emily White
TBC Cardiff Demons[4] 2021–2023 Cardiff, Glamorgan[5] Ian Newbury[4]
TBC Cornish Rebels[6] 2021 Redruth, Cornwall Ronan O’Neill[7]
TBC London Broncos[8] 2021–2023 Wimbledon, Greater London Colin Baker[8]
TBC Bedford Tigers[9] 2021–2023 Bedford, Bedfordshire Rob Ashton
TBC British Army Rugby League[10] 2021–2023 Aldershot, Hampshire Woz Broadley
TBC Oxford Cavaliers 2022 Brackley, Northamptonshire[11]
Pink, White and Black Thurrock T-Birds[3] 2023 Grays, Essex Jake Matthews
Italics indicates no longer in competition.

Structure

For the inaugural season in 2021, the three teams in each conference played each other twice home and away, for a total of six games each. At the conclusion of these matches, the semi-finals saw the winner of each conference playing the runner-up of the other. The winners of those two games thus played in the Grand Final, with the Cardiff Demons winning 30–26 over the British Army Rugby League side.

A League Leaders Shield was not awarded, and players in the competition were not eligible for the Woman of Steel award.[1] Starting from the 2022 edition of the tournament, clubs are eligible to play in the Women's Challenge Cup under the same eligibility requirements as clubs from the existing Women's Championship and League 1 competitions.[1]

Champions
Season Champions Score Runners-up
2021 Cardiff Demons 30–26 Army RL
2022 Cardiff Demons 34–4 London Broncos
2023 London Broncos 22–10 Cardiff Demons

Sponsorship

Bookmakers Betfred were announced in 2021 as being the inaugural sponsors of this new competition, as well as continuing their sponsorship of Women's Super League beyond 2021.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Betfred Women's Super League to break new ground in 2021". Rugby Football League Limited. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. "Rugby League: Heartbreak For Army Women In First Ever Southern Area Grand Final". Forces.net. 29 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. "RFL reveal exciting national pyramid for growing women's game". Love Rugby League. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. Gordon, James (28 May 2021). "Cardiff Demons aim for Women's Super League franchise". LoveRugbyLeague. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. "New Women's Super League club to launch in Cardiff". Wales Rugby League. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. "Rebels Enter Betfred Womens Super League South". Cornish Rebels. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  7. "O'Neill names as Ladies head coach". Cornish Rebels. 16 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. "Broncos Join Five Teams In Launch Of Inaugural Betfred Women's Super League South". London Broncos. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  9. "Tigers to feature in expanded Women's Super League!". Bedford Tigers. 1 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  10. "The Army enters Superleague!". Army Rugby League. 1 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  11. "Match Centre". Rugby-League.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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