2023 RFL Women's Super League South

Last updated

2023 RFL Women's Super League South
Teams6
ChampionsLondon Broncos
Biggest home winCardiff Demons 72–8 Bedford Tigers
Biggest away winThurrock T-Birds 4–58 Bedford Tigers

The 2023 Rugby Football League Women's Super League South was the third season of the Women's Super League South rugby league competition composed of teams from the south of England and Wales. On 31 January 2023 the Rugby Football League (RFL) announced a new pyramid for the women's game from 2024 meaning that 2023 would be the final season of the Super League South before becoming integrated into this new structure as a tier 2 competition. [1]

Contents

The opening match of the season, Thurrock T-Birds 8–56 Army RL, was played on 27 May. [2] Defending champions Cardiff Demons won all five of their matches to top the league and defeated Bedford 72–8 in the semi-final. London Broncos finished second in the league having only lost once; 8–10 to Cardiff. They won their semi-final 22–12 against Army RL to set up a rematch of the 2022 Grand Final. [3] [4] On 27 August, London Broncos took the 2023 Women's Super League South title with a 22–10 win over Cardiff Demons. [5] London and Cardiff both earned places in the 2024 Challenge Cup as a result of reaching the Grand Final. [6]

Teams

England south location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Army RL
Red pog.svg
Bedford Tigers
Red pog.svg
Bristol Golden Ferns
Red pog.svg
Cardiff Demons
Red pog.svg
London Broncos
Red pog.svg
Thurrock T‍–‍Birds
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Locations of Teams in Southern England and Wales

On 31 January 2023, the fixtures for the season were announced with seven teams, including newcomers Thurrock T-Birds, due to take part in the league in which all the teams would play each other once after which the top four advanced to the play-offs. [7] [8] However, revised fixture lists included only six teams following the withdrawal of the Oxford Cavaliers before the start of the competition. [6] [9]

Fixtures and results

Home \ AwayARMBEDBRICARLONTHU
Army——40–14———
Bedford Tigers14–36——4–46——
Bristol Golden Ferns—8–54———24–0
Cardiff Demons32–10—56–0——24–0 [lower-alpha 1]
London Broncos40–1038–2224–0 [lower-alpha 2] 8–10——
Thurrock T-Birds8–564–58——0–24—
Source: RFL: Match Centre
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ↑ Match cancelled, 24–0 win awarded to Cardiff
  2. ↑ Match cancelled, 24–0 win awarded to London

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Panthers colours.svg Cardiff Demons550016822+14610Advance to play-off semi-finals
2 Broncoscolours.png London Broncos540113442+928
3 Armyrlcolours.png Army5302152108+446
4 Bedfordtigerscolours.png Bedford Tigers5203152132+204
5 Goldenfernscolours.png Bristol Golden Ferns510446174−1282
6 Thurrocktbirdscolours.png Thurrock T-Birds500512186−1740
Source: RFL: Match Centre

Playoffs

Betfred Women's Super League South finals
HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueReferee
Semi-finals
Cardiff Demons72–8Bedford Tigers13 August 2023Cardiff University
London Broncos22–12Army RL13 August 2023Rosslyn Park
Grand Final
Cardiff Demons10–22London Broncos27 August 2023Rossyln ParkPeter Hamer
Source:RFL: Match Centre WRL: Cardiff Demons

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References

  1. ↑ "RFL reveal exciting national pyramid for growing women's game". Love Rugby League. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Thurrock T-Birds 8–56 Army Rugby League". Army Rugby League. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Super Sunday in the capital as Women's Super League South reaches semi-finals stage". Rugby-League.com. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Our League to stream Women's Super League South Grand Final this Sunday". Rugby-League.com. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "London Broncos 22 v 10 Cardiff Demons". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Building a National Pyramid". Community Rugby League: MORE THAN A SPORT REVIEW MID-YEAR 2023 (PDF). Rugby Football League. p. 16. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Thurrock T-Birds join Women's Super League South for 2023". Rugby-League.com. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Women's Super League South 2023 fixtures announced". Wales Rugby League. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Match Centre". Rugby-League.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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