The Women’s Super League (WSL) returns this weekend, shadowed by the memory of England’s crushing 90-4 defeat to Australia in Las Vegas earlier this year. That result starkly highlighted the gulf between the two rugby league nations and contributed to the women’s international being dropped from next year’s Vegas showcase. However, as the WSL enters its ninth season, there are green shoots of progress suggesting a more hopeful future.
While Australia’s National Rugby League Women’s Premiership (NRLW) features fully professional athletes, England’s top women players still operate largely on an amateur or semi-professional basis. This difference in resources, infrastructure, and player development has led to a significant performance gap. Yet beneath the surface, signs point to steady, meaningful growth in the women’s game in England.
Since the league’s launch in 2017, participation among women and girls has increased dramatically. In 2017, there were around 1,700 female players; in 2025, that number is expected to exceed 8,000 a 400% increase. This explosion in grassroots participation shows that the foundations laid over the past decade are beginning to pay off.
The evolution of Wigan’s women’s team underscores that progress. Long overshadowed by dominant sides like St Helens, Leeds, and York, Wigan’s recent Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Leeds marked a turning point. Their journey to the final not only signifies the emergence of a genuine fourth powerhouse but also showcases the league’s potential to develop homegrown talent. Many of Wigan’s players picked up the sport inspired by early WSL stars and are now helping to raise the competition’s standard.
Wigan’s investment in the women’s game is also notable. This weekend, they will unveil a new £1 million facility dedicated to the women’s team an unprecedented move that shows serious commitment to growth. However, not every club enjoys the financial muscle to follow suit, and without broader government or commercial backing, widespread progress remains a challenge.
Despite criticism that the Vegas experience was damaging, there’s an argument to be made that it provided a necessary reality check. Facing the best in the world, though daunting, offers a benchmark for what England must aspire to. Avoiding such challenges wouldn’t improve performance; it would only mask existing shortcomings. Exposure to the top level is painful but essential for long-term development.
Officials within the Rugby Football League remain cautiously optimistic. A full review of the women’s game is underway, with a willingness to explore new ideas. One proposal under consideration is altering the WSL’s calendar to avoid clashing with the NRLW season. This shift could create opportunities for international player exchanges, enhancing both leagues’ competitiveness, though it would come with financial hurdles.
Next year’s World Cup may arrive too soon for England to mount a serious challenge to the dominant Australians. However, the combination of rising participation, fresh investment, and the emergence of new teams suggests the sport is moving in the right direction. The Las Vegas defeat, while painful, may ultimately be seen as a crucial moment of clarity one that galvanised efforts to build a more competitive and sustainable future for women’s rugby league in England.
