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Defending champions Leeds kick off the 2023 Women’s Super League season against Grand Final runners-up York
Defending champions Leeds Rhinos and York Valkyrie will open the 2023 Betfred Women’s Super League season with a rematch of last year’s Grand Final.
The match at the Totally Wicked Stadium saw the Rhinos clinch their second BWSL title with a 12-4 victory over newly-named Valkyrie and it promises to be another fierce encounter when the teams meet on Sunday, April 9.
The match at Headingley will be the first part of a double header, followed by the Rhinos taking on Huddersfield Giants in the Betfred Super League at 6pm.
“There will be more excitement and anticipation than women’s rugby league in 2023, following the national impact that England’s performances at the World Cup have had,” said Thomas Brindle, general manager of the Women’s Super League.
“For the BWSL to kick off with a repeat of last year’s Grand Final as part of a double header at Headingley, another first for the competition, and another big stage for many English players.”
The other 10 BWSL clubs kick off their campaign on Sunday 16 April, when York have another tough match against 2022 Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup winners St Helens at the LNER Community Stadium.
Other highlights of the round will see Warrington Wolves make their debut in Group One with a derby against Wigan Warriors, and away games for two new names in Group Two as Salford Red Devils travel to Castleford Tigers, and Leigh Leopards face Bradford Bulls at Odsal. .
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Best action from the Women’s Super League Grand Final between Leeds Rhinos and York City Knights.
That will set the scene for England’s mid-season international against France in Warrington on April 29, and the group stage of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup – to be drawn on January 12 – will then take center stage for a month.
The BWSL returns on Friday 26 May with another blockbuster at Headingley, as Leeds face St Helens. Also that weekend, Valkyrie will face Warrington as part of the Betfred Championship Summer Bash at the LNER Community Stadium.
The last round of regular season games on the weekend of 8 to 10 September, after which the top four of Group one will contest the semi-finals leading to the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final on the weekend of 7-8 October.
The team that finishes at the top of Group Two will secure automatic promotion to the eight-team BWSL Group One in 2024, with a play-off to determine the second promoted team.
Warrington won promotion to Group One of the Women’s Super League in 2022
“We welcome three new names to the BWSL in 2023, following the rebrand of York Valkyrie, the new partnership between Leigh Leopards and Leigh Miners Rangers, and the rapid progress made by Salford Red Devils in their debut season in 2022,” Brindle said.
“With Warrington’s fantastic build-up to move up to Group One, it promises to be a very competitive season – and we look forward to making some more exciting announcements on our broadcast coverage.”
Wells: 2023 Women’s Super League should be a cracker
Sky Sports rugby league pundit Jon Wells…
“Easter Sunday marks the return of the Women’s Super League for 2023 – and if 2022 is anything to go by, this season should be a cracker.
“Leeds Rhinos aim to defend their crown in an exciting Group One that includes old foes St Helens, newly promoted Warrington Wolves and a newly-named York side who have certainly won the award for the best re-brand. Valkyrie is looking to kill them all before anyone else. – them, as they almost finished last time out.
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Player of the match Caitlin Beevers said the Women’s Super League Grand Final was a ‘phenomenal game’ for the women’s game.
“If you haven’t experienced the Women’s Super League before, you won’t be disappointed.”
Betfred Women’s Super League 2023 Fixtures
Sunday, April 9: Leeds Rhinos vs York Valkyries (TBC).
Sunday, April 16: Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors (2pm), Huddersfield Giants vs Leeds Rhinos (2pm), York Valkyrie vs St Helens (3pm), Bradford Bulls vs Leigh Leopards (5.15pm), Featherstone Rovers vs Barrow Raiders (12pm), Castleford Tigers vs Salford Red Devils (2pm).
Friday, May 26: Leeds Rhinos vs St Helens (5.30pm).
Sunday, May 28: Huddersfield Giants vs Wigan Warriors (2pm), York Valkyrie vs Warrington Wolves (TBC), Barrow Raiders vs Bradford Bulls (2pm), Salford Red Devils vs Leigh Leopards (12pm), Featherstone Rovers vs Castleford Tigers (12pm).
Sunday, June 11: St Helens vs Wigan Warriors (1pm), Huddersfield Giants vs Warrington Wolves (2pm), Bradford Bulls vs Salford Red Devils (5.15pm), Barrow Raiders vs Castleford Tigers (12pm), Leigh Leopards vs Featherstone Rovers (2pm).
Sunday, July 2: St Helens vs Huddersfield Giants (1pm), Warrington Wolves vs Leeds Rhinos (2pm), York Valkyrie vs Wigan Warriors (12pm), Bradford Bulls vs Castleford Tigers (5.15pm), Featherstone Rovers vs Salford Red Devils (12pm), Barrow Raiders vs . Leigh Leopards (12pm).
Sunday, July 9: Warrington Wolves vs St Helens (2pm), Wigan Warriors vs Leeds Rhinos (12pm), Huddersfield Giants vs York Valkyrie (2pm), Featherstone Rovers vs Bradford Bulls (12pm), Castleford Tigers vs Leigh Leopards (2pm), Salford Red Devils vs Barrow Raiders (12pm).
Sunday, July 16: Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves (12pm), York Valkyrie vs Leeds Rhinos (12pm), Leigh Leopards vs Bradford Bulls (2pm), Barrow Raiders vs Featherstone Rovers (12pm), Salford Red Devils vs Castleford Tigers (12pm).
Friday, July 28: St Helens vs York Valkyries (5.30pm).
Sunday, July 30: Warrington Wolves vs Huddersfield Giants (2pm).
Sunday, August 6: Wigan Warriors vs St Helens (12pm), Warrington Wolves vs York Valkyrie (2pm), Leeds Rhinos vs Huddersfield Giants (12.30pm), Salford Red Devils vs Bradford Bulls (12pm), Castleford Tigers vs Barrow Raiders (2pm), Featherstone Rovers vs . Leigh Leopards (12pm).
Sunday, August 20: Huddersfield Giants vs St Helens (2pm), Wigan Warriors vs York Valkyrie (12pm), Leeds Rhinos vs Warrington Wolves (12.30pm), Bradford Bulls vs Barrow Raiders (5.15pm), Leigh Leopards vs Salford Red Devils (2pm), Castleford Tigers vs Featherstone Rovers (2pm).
Sunday, September 3: Wigan Warriors vs Huddersfield Giants (12pm), St Helens vs Leeds Rhinos (1pm), Bradford Bulls vs Featherstone Rovers (5.15pm), Leigh Leopards vs Castleford Tigers (2pm), Barrow Raiders vs Salford Red Devils (2pm).
Friday, September 8: Leeds Rhinos vs Wigan Warriors (17.30).
Sunday, September 10: St Helens vs Warrington Wovles (1pm), York Valkyrie vs Huddersfield Giants (3pm), Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls (2pm), Salford Red Devils vs Featherstone Rovers (12pm), Leigh Leopards vs Barrow Raiders (2pm).
Play-off semi-finals: TB.
October 7/8: Grand Final (TBC).
Sky Sports is home to three Super League Grand Finals in 2023. The Men’s Grand Final, Women’s Grand Final and Wheelchair Grand Final will all be shown on Sky Sports next season. The new Super League season starts on Thursday 16 February.
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