Warrington Wolves Women

In November 2018, it was announced that Warrington Wolves were to launch a women's team and that team trials had been organised to take place in December.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35039/warrington-wolves-launch-womens-team |title=Warrington Wolves launch women's team |publisher=RFL |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=23 May 2023}} There had previously been a Warrington Wolves women's team established in 2002 who also who used Victoria Park.{{cite news|url=https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/18993913.warrington-wolves-womens-rugby-league-team-2008/ |title=Warrington Wolves women's rugby league team 2008 |newspaper=Warrington Guardian |date=12 January 2021 |access-date=14 March 2024}} In 2004, the team competed in the Women's League Division Three and won the Plate Final of the Women's Amateur Rugby League Association in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.warringtonladies.btik.com/p_MatchReports.ikml |title=Match Reports |website=Warrington Ladies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405131415/http://www.warringtonladies.btik.com/p_MatchReports.ikml |archive-date=5 April 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.totalrl.com/red-letter-day-beckons-for-womens-rugby-league/ |title=Red-letter day beckons for Women's Rugby League |publisher=Total Rugby League |date=29 March 2018 |access-date=14 March 2024}} In 2008, they joined the Women's Rugby League Conference, winning the Championship Final in 2011, and then also competing in the 2012 Women's Challenge Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsister.com/2011/08/23/rugby-league-co-operative-rugby-league-conference-womens-final-day-sees-warrington-lift-the-championship-trophy/ |title=Rugby League: Co-operative Rugby League Conference Women’s Final Day sees Warrington lift the Championship trophy |last=Healey |first=Erin |date=23 August 2011 |website=Sport Sister|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831153248/http://www.sportsister.com/2011/08/23/rugby-league-co-operative-rugby-league-conference-womens-final-day-sees-warrington-lift-the-championship-trophy/ |archive-date=31 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.womensrugbyleague.co.uk/club/9710 |title=Warrington Women & Girls |publisher=Women's Rugby League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720052859/http://www.womensrugbyleague.co.uk/club/9710 |archive-date=20 July 2012}} Warrington also had girls' teams for several age groups;{{cite web|url=http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2019/03/08/girls-rugby-league-fixtures-9th-and-16th-march/ |title=Girls' Rugby League fixtures 9th and 16th March |publisher=4 The Love Of Sport |date=8 March 2019 |access-date=24 May 2023}} Emily Rudge had been with the U16s when selected for the {{rlnt|wEngland}} squad for the 2008 World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk:80/englandrl.php?id=443 |title=England Women |publisher=England Rugby League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007232905/http://www.englandrl.co.uk:80/englandrl.php?id=443 |archive-date=7 October 2008}} In July 2009, five Warrington players, including Rudge and Jodie Cunningham, were named in the England squad for the two-test series against {{rlnt|wFrance}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?id=34293 |title=England name young squad for women's internationals |website=Sport Focus |date=14 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025204848/http://www.sportfocus.com/newspub/story.cfm?id=34293 |archive-date=25 October 2021}}

The community coach at Warrington, Lee Westwood, said in 2018 that the women's team would "provide a pathway for all girls from 11 years old to open age". For their first season the team entered the Championship with the aim of joining the Super League in 2020. Despite losing their first match of the season 28–20 at Barrow,{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/21635/womens-rugby-league-round-up |title=Women's Rugby League round-up |publisher=RFL |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Warrington defeated Widnes 40–10 the following week{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/21668/womens-rugby-league-round-up |title=Women's Rugby League Round-Up |publisher=RFL |date=15 April 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}} and went on to finish top of the Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22614/betfred-womens-super-league-grand-final-preview |title=Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final Preview |publisher=RFL |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}} A 36–4 victory over {{Rlw team|huddersfield}} in the play-off semi-final saw Warrington progress to the final on 12 October in which they defeated Barrow 40–4 to take the Championship title.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22599/another-late-leeds-show-sets-up-challenge-cup-final-rematch |title=Another late Leeds show sets up Challenge Cup Final rematch |publisher=RFL |date=6 October 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22628/warrington-and-keighley-triumph-on-womens-finals-day |title=Warrington and Keighley triumph on Women's Finals Day |publisher=RFL |date=12 October 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Their top four finish in the league meant that they, along with Huddersfield, were accepted into the Super League for the following season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22761/giants-and-wolves-to-join-betfred-women%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-super-league-in-2020 |title=Giants and Wolves to join Betfred Women's Super League in 2020 |publisher=RFL |date=8 November 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}} In the Challenge Cup Warrington reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners {{Rlw team|leeds}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22055/coral-womens-challenge-cup-quarter-final-round-up |title=Coral Women's Challenge Cup Quarter Final Round-Up |publisher=RFL |date=23 June 2019 |access-date=23 May 2023}}

In 2020, Warrington were to face Barrow again, this time in the second round of the Challenge Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/23177/hull-kr-to-host-hull-fc-in-coral-womens-challenge-cup-second-round |title=Hull KR to host Hull FC in Coral Women's Challenge Cup second round |publisher=RFL |date=8 March 2020 |access-date=23 May 2023}} However, a week before the match the RFL suspended all competitions.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/23231/rfl-and-super-league-joint-statement-on-season-suspension |title=RFL and Super League joint statement on season suspension |publisher=RFL |date=16 March 2020 |access-date=23 May 2023}} The cancellation of the women's 2020 season was announced in August.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/23667/covid-19-forces-cancellation-of-women%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-competitions-in-2020 |title=Covid-19 forces cancellation of Women's Competitions in 2020 |publisher=RFL |date=27 August 2020 |access-date=23 May 2023}} This included the Super League in which Warrington had been due to make their debut on 29 March against {{Rlw team|wigan}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/22905/2020-betfred-womens-super-league-fixtures-released |title=2020 Betfred Women's Super League fixtures released |publisher=RFL |date=12 January 2020 |access-date=23 May 2023}} The following season, on 18 April 2021, Warrington played their first Super League game and lost 52–8 to Wigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/24416/wilson-scores-28-points-in-impressive-wigan-win |title=Wilson scores 28 points in impressive Wigan win |publisher=RFL |date=18 April 2021 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Their first win, 44–8 over Huddersfield, came in Round 5 of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35578/betfred-womens-super-league-round-up |title=Betfred Women's Super League round-up |publisher=RFL |date=14 June 2021 |access-date=23 May 2023}} After finishing the regular season in 8th place, Warrington took part in the Shield competition, but lost 30–26 to Huddersfield after golden point extra time in the semi-final{{cite web|url=https://www.giantsrl.com/article/7844/giants-women-reach-final-in-golden-point-thriller |title=Giants Women reach final in golden point thriller |publisher=Huddersfield Giants |date=30 September 2021 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Warrington reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup but lost 6–26 to {{Rlw team|castleford}}.{{cite web|url= https://www.rugby-league.com/article/24513/york-claim-cup-semi-final-spot |title=York claim Cup semi-final spot |publisher=RFL |date=9 May 2021 |access-date=23 May 2023}}

In 2022, there was a new format for the Challenge Cup that introduced a group stage from which Warrington advanced to the quarter-finals where they were defeated by Leeds.{{cite web |title=A new format, a new final venue - Why we should look forward to the 2022 Women's Challenge Cup |url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/a-new-format-a-new-final-venue-why-we-should-look-forward-to-the-2022-womens-challenge-cup-46535/ |website=Rugby League News | date=11 December 2021 |access-date=23 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/37014/england-watch-%7C-women---challenge-cup-quarter-finals |title=England Watch {{!}} Women - Challenge Cup quarter-finals |publisher=RFL |date=11 April 2022 |access-date=23 May 2023}} The structure of the Super League season also changed and Warrington were placed in Group 2 of the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/36456/betfred-women%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-super-league-fixtures-2022 |title=Betfred Women's Super League Fixtures 2022 |publisher=RFL |date=18 January 2022 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Warrington finished the regular season top of their group by winning all 12 matches including a 102–0 victory over {{Rlw team|wakefield}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60900/betfred-womens-super-league-round-up-%7C-september-12 |title=Betfred Women's Super League Round-Up {{!}} September 12 |publisher=RFL |date=12 September 2023 |access-date=23 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60640/betfred-womens-super-league-round-up-%7C-july-31 |title=Betfred Women's Super League Round-Up {{!}} July 31 |publisher=RFL |date=1 August 2023 |access-date=23 May 2023}} Warrington then claimed the Shield by winning 72–0 over {{Rlw team|bradford}} in the semi-final and 34–6 over {{Rlw team|featherstone}} in the final to earn promotion to Group 1 for the 2023 Super League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60942/betfred-womens-super-league-grand-final-and-shield-final-round-up |title=Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final and Shield Final Round-Up |publisher=RFL |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=23 May 2023}} In 2023, Warrington reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup for a four successive campaign. Lee Westwood stepped down from his role as head coach at the end of the 2023 season and was succeeded by former player and team captain Armani Sharrock.{{cite web|url=https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2023/october/Armani-Sharrock-named-new-Women-s-Head-Coach/ |title=Armani Sharrock named new Women's Head Coach |publisher=Warrington Wolves |date=4 October 2023 |access-date=8 November 2023}} Warrington continued their run of Challenge Cup quarter-final appearances in 2024 for a fifth successive tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/challenge-cup-semi-finals-draws-made-with-wembley-in-sight |title=Challenge Cup semi-final draws made with Wembley in sight |website=Love Rugby League |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=26 September 2024}} In the Super League a loss to Huddersfield on the final day of the regular season saw Warrington finish the season in seventh place, but six points clear of potential relegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c93yyy0v6g5o |title=York beat Featherstone to set up Leeds semi-final |work=BBC Sport |date=15 September 2024 |access-date=27 September 2024}} At the end of the season, Sharrock stepped down as head coach and was succeeded in the role by Ged Ginty who was appointed on 4 December 2024.{{cite web|url=https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/december/Ged-Ginty-appointed-new-Women-s-team-Head-Coach/ |title=Ged Ginty appointed new Women's team Head Coach |website=Warrington Wolves |date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024}}

• Super League
• Super League Shield: 2022
• Championship
• League Leaders: 2019
• Grand Final Winners: 2019

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://warringtonwolves.com/}}

{{Warrington Wolves}}

{{RFL Women's Super League}}

Category:RFL Women's Super League teams

Category:Women's rugby league teams in England