Female participation in rugby league skyrockets with growth of women’s game

Figures obtained by The Courier-Mail show the number of girls playing rugby league has more than doubled in the past five years.

FEMALE participation in rugby league has skyrocketed with recent data showing numbers have more than doubled in the past five years.

However, concerns are growing over the number of boys dropping out of the game, prompting Queensland-wide changes to the practice of tackling in the under-6 and under-7 divisions.

Queensland Rugby League board member Ben Ikin: “If the female game wasn’t growing the way it is, we’d be suffering a participation decline.”

Figures obtained by The Courier-Mail show around 28,593 girls played rugby league across the country in 2019 compared to 11,633 during the 2015 season.

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Meanwhile, male participation from under-5 through to over-19s fell by more than 8000 participants in the same time frame.

It follows after a shake-up to the state’s junior competitions which has outlawed tackling in the under-6 division and a no-tackling policy for the first 10 rounds of the under-7 competition.

The game’s decision makers are hopeful the changes will bring more kids back to the game.

Queensland Rugby League board member Ben Ikin is a member of the NRL’s Player Development Framework committee responsible for the changes and praised the rise in female numbers.

“If the female game wasn’t growing the way it is, we’d be suffering a participation decline,” Ikin said.

“We’ve got to take the responsible approach and stay up to date with our game as requires.

“There needs to be a balance between competition and fun. You’ve got to continually work to get that right. Otherwise you have less kids playing your game.”

TACKLING ISSUES: Lena Tautau, Keira Rangi and Harlem Walker are proud to be part of the growth of female participation in rugby league. Picture: AAP/John Gass

Two-time premiership winning Bronco Ali Brigginshaw said the female participation rise was the reason she played rugby league.

“Just the exposure we’re getting now. Having the games on television and having more games accessible to young girls.

“They’re seeing that they can play it too.

“It’s about getting women’s rugby league out there so more people play.

“We’ve finally hit the age group where they play from under-6s now and being allowed to play all the way through. They don’t have to leave the game.

“When I was younger I had to leave the game when I was 12.

“It’s why we play. I love the game but I love seeing the talent come through. I used to play when no one knew what (female rugby league) was. No one really cared.”

Australia's Ali Brigginshaw scores a try during the Australia v New Zealand Women's Rugby League World Cup 9s match at Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta. Picture: Brett Costello

NRL powerbrokers have been pleased with the rise in women’s rugby league across Australia in the past five years and are hopeful it will continue.

The women’s State of Origin will be played on the Sunshine Coast for the first time ever, while the introduction of the Queensland Rugby League Women’s competition will add another element to the female game.