In a really exciting development for women’s rugby league the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats announced, during their half time break on Sunday, in front of thousands of their supporters, the formation of women’s team Wakefield Trinity Ladies.
This bold move shows the tremendous growth in popularity of women’s rugby league a game that is raising its profile season after season.
In November there will be a press launch and men’s and women’s teams will be revealed together in the official kit.
The new women’s team will also have the sponsorship support of Kinnerton Confectionary who were keen to be involved with the women’s game and who believe that a Super League Club forming a women’s team is a pioneering move, promising a new era for women’s rugby league.
Wakefield Trinity Ladies will be given the opportunity for individual player development, first class coaching and team development in conjunction with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Club.
The Wildcats will support the women’s team in its growth and development and are proud to be promoting women’s Rugby League within its community and further afield.
Sharlston Rovers, an Ambassador Club for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, will provide the home ground and also training facilities for the new side.
There is also the exciting prospect of the Ladies playing some curtain raisers for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats first team, which will introduce the women’s game to a whole new audience.
The Wakefield Trinity Ladies Head Coach Jo Phillips hopes that this move will enable players to develop as individuals, as they utilise the opportunities and facilities that they’ve been provided with. She also hopes that the team can replicate the season that the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats first team have had, and that with access to coaching development from within the club, it will only further enhance the teams development and progression.
The Club will establish a viable pathway to the senior team through girls junior teams. The aim will be to engage more girls at grassroot level and also provide a forum for more of them to participate in rugby league, ensuring that there’s a natural growth and expansion of the team in the future.
Joanne Phillips said, “We believe this to be a pioneering move from a Super League club. As a team, this presents us with endless opportunities for players, coaches and team development, but more importantly to promote the women’s game within the Wakefield community, and hopefully engage more women and girls to participate within Rugby League.
“Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and their Ambassadors have a real passion for both the growth and development of all facets of the game, and for its community, which is why for us as a team it is a real privilege to be a part of them and what they represent. We’d like to thank the chairman and all involved, along with our kit sponsors Kinnerton Confectionary for all the fantastic opportunities this has and will present us with”.
This is an exciting era for not just the team, but for the women’s game on a whole.
Assistant Coach and Player Rebecca Brierley hopes that by having a women’s Rugby League team affiliated with a Super League Club, it will encourage other clubs to follow in Wakefield Trinity Wildcats pioneering steps, as she believes the involvement of these top tier clubs will help to promote the women’s game and take it to the next level.
Wakefield Trinity Ladies will be training over the next few months to enable them to be physically prepared and conditioned for the commence of the 2017 Summer League.
The Ladies are currently in the process of recruitment from ages 16 upwards. No experience is required, and the Ladies and club would love to welcome you to be part of this exciting new venture.
Training will take place on Monday’s & Wednesday’s 7-8.30pm at new home Sharlston Rovers ARLFC.
If you would like more information or if you are interested in taking part then please contact Joanne Phillips: jojoelle@hotmail.co.uk and follow the team on Twitter @WTLRL
