HeRLeague News Round-Up

Hello everyone and welcome to HeRLeague, a new page dedicated to all things regarding women's Rugby League in the UK and beyond. We'll be here every week rounding up all the action from the Betfred Women's Super League, Challenge Cup, WNRL and internationals as well as hopefully speaking to some of the stars of the women's game over the course of the season. 

In the meantime, let's take a look at some of the biggest women's RL news stories from this week. 

OPENING ROUND FIXTURES THROW UP TANTALISING CLASHES 

The 2020 Betfred Women's Super League fixtures were announced this past Sunday (January 12th) and the first round fixtures have provided some eagerly awaited clashes.

Defending champions Leeds Rhinos will play host to a Yorkshire derby clash as arch-rivals Bradford Bulls make the short trip on the opening day. Newly promoted Warrington Wolves will welcome 2018 Champions Wigan Warriors to the Asics Stadium for their maiden Super League outing whilst fellow new kids on the block Huddersfield Giants have been handed a trip to St. John University to face York City Knights.

St. Helens, beaten by Leeds in the semi-finals of both the Super League play-offs and Challenge Cup, have been handed a home opener against Castleford Tigers. Featherstone Rovers round off the opening weekend by welcoming Wakefield Trinity to the LD Nutrition Stadium.

The 2020 season commences on Sunday March 29th and will conclude on Sunday 11th October with a double-header event at Leeds Rhinos' Emerald Headingley Stadium.

After each team has played each other once over the course of the weekly rounds, the team at the top of the table will receive the League Leader's Shield before league splits into two. The top four will enter the play-offs (1st vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd) with the two winning semi-finalists meeting at Headingley in the showpiece of the double-header. The six remaining teams will then play off for the Super League Shield with that final acting as the curtain raiser to the double-header event.

WOMAN OF STEEL HEADS DOWN UNDER FOR NINES ADVENTURE 

2019 Woman Of Steel Courtney Hill will briefly return to her native Australia to represent Sydney Roosters in the 2020 NRL Nines competition.

Hill, 33, captained the Rhinos in their 20-12 win over Castleford at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the Grand Final and also scored a try as Leeds also defeated the Tigeresses in July's Challenge Cup Final. The former cricketer has been temporarily released by Adam Cuthbertson's side for the tournament in Australia but will be back with the club in time for the new Women's Super League season.

THOMPSON TAKES WARRIORS CAPTAINCY FOR NEW CAMPAIGN 

Following the departure of 2018 Grand Final winning captain Gemma Walsh to rivals St. Helens, England international centre Rachel Thompson has been named as Wigan Warriors captain for the 2020 season.

Thompson will lead the side on the field as they look to reclaim their crown following a disappointing 34-4 defeat to League Leaders Castleford Tigers in last season's play-offs and will be assisted by new vice-captain Vicky Molyneux. 32-year-old Molyneux earned many plaudits during her debut season with the Wigan club winning their Women's Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year in 2019.

2021 WORLD CUP FIXTURES ANNOUNCED 

The fixtures for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup were announced on Thursday 16th January following the draw, held at Buckingham Palace.

HRH The Duke of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry, conducted the draw alongside Olympic gold medal winning rower Dame Katherine Grainger and 1995 RLWC finalist Jason Robinson. The women's competition will be played with eight teams in two groups of four before a semi-final stage and the final which will be played as part of a double-header with the men's final at Manchester United's Old Trafford on November 27th 2021. 

Host nation England were matched in Group A with Papua New Guinea, Canada and Brazil, who become the first South American nation to play in a global Rugby League event. Defending champions Australia will face trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in Group B along with France and the Cook Islands. 

England will take on Brazil in the opening game of the women's tournament on Tuesday November 9th 2021 at the Emerald Headingley Stadium in Leeds. 

For more information about the 2021 Rugby League World Cup head over to rlwc2021.com. 

BEEVERS SHOWS SUPPORT FOR NEW WOMEN'S SPORT TRUST CAMPAIGN 

Leeds Rhinos teenage sensation Caitlin Beevers was one of 40 of Britain's most successful female athletes to help launch the Women's Sport Trust's new '#Unlocked' campaign. 

18-year-old Beevers, who scored a try to help her side defeat Castleford 16-10 in 2019's Challenge Cup final, has been chosen as one of the WST's 'Activators' who will attempt to take women's sport in Britain to the next level, sharing stories and ideas to help break down the barriers that female athletes may face and develop ways to challenge key issues and challenges that women's sport faces in the present day. 

Full-back or winger Beevers, a nominee for the BBC's 2019 Young Sports Personality of the Year award, will be accompanied in the initial 'Activators' group by Manchester City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, basketball coach Asma Elbadawi and racing driver Alice Powell. 

For more about the #Unlocked campaign visit womenssporttrust.com 

That brings our first news round-up to a close, I hope you've enjoyed this maiden visit to HeRLeague, remember we'll be back throughout the season with all the news, views and action as well as hopefully speaking to some of the key players from the women's game. 

Feel free to get in touch with us on Twitter, our editor Dan can be found @BarkerDan10. 

Until next time, take care.