Great Britain women's national rugby league team

Last updated
Great Britain Lionesses
Team information
NicknameThe Lionesses
Governing body Rugby Football League
Region Europe
Uniforms
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body GBRL.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
World Cup
Appearances2 (first time in 2000 )
Best resultRunner's Up 2000

The Great Britain women's national rugby league team, also known as the Great Britain Lionesses, represents Great Britain in Women's rugby league. They are administered by the Rugby Football League (RFL). The Great Britain Lionesses have placed third both the 2000 and 2003 Women's Rugby League World Cup. [1]

Contents

The team is now largely defunct with the RFL switching towards home nations represention following the men's 2007 All Golds Tour (a process which began in 1995). The England women's national rugby league team was established ahead of the next world cup in 2008, with Wales making their debut in 2019.

Scotland are yet to establish a women's team.

Test Results

DateOpponentScoreTournamentVenueVideoReport(s)
21 Jul 1996Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
14–16
3 Test Series Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phillip Oval, Canberra [2] [3]
28 Jul 1996Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
18–12
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gilbert Park, Brisbane
3 Aug 1996Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
20–18
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Redfern Oval, Sydney [4] [5]
23 Aug 1998Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
6–28
3 Test Series Flag of New Zealand.svg Pukatwhero Park, Rotorua [6] [7]
29 Aug 1998Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
0–44
Flag of New Zealand.svg Rugby League Park, Christchurch [8] [9] [10]
4 Sep 1998Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2–38
Flag of New Zealand.svg Carlaw Park, Auckland [11] [12]
7 Nov 2000Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
12–22
2000 WRLWC Flag of England.svg Rugby Ground, Orrell, Greater Manchester [13] [14]
14 Nov 2000Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
14–10
Flag of England.svg Rams Stadium, Dewsbury [15] [16] [17] [18]
21 Nov 2000Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
4–0
Flag of England.svg The Jungle, Castleford [19]
24 Nov 2000Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
4–26
Flag of England.svg Wilderspool, Warrington [20] [21]
14 Jul 2002Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
26–16
3 Test SeriesFlag of Australia (converted).svg Wentworthville Oval [22]
20 Jul 2002Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
10–14
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane [23]
27 Jul 2002Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
5–14
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruce Stadium, Canberra, ACT [24] [25]
28 Sep 2003Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
28–12
2003 WRLWC Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [26]
2 Oct 2003Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
54–0
Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [27]
4 Oct 2003 Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg Māori
8–10
Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [28]
6 Oct 2003Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
20–20
Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [29] [30]
10 Oct 2003Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
0–38
Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour Stadium [31]

Notes:

Tours

1996 Tour of Australia

The Great Britain Lionesses toured Australia for the first time in 1996. The team was captained by Lisa McIntosh, with Brenda Dobek as vice-captain. [37] Ian Harris (Hull) was head coach with Jackie Sheldon as assistant coach. Nikki Carter (Hull Vixens) was tour manager. [38] Paula Clark (York) was the touring team's physiotherapist.

Great Britain lost the inaugural Test Match against Australia, but won both of the subsequent two Test Matches to claim a two-one series victory. [37]

1996 Tour of Australia
DateOpponentScoreVenueNotes
16 July 1996 City colours.svg Sydney Select XIII
86-0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Redfern Oval, SydneyTour match
18 July 1996Australian Capital Territory
36-0
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Steinfield Oval, CanberraTour match
21 July 1996 Australian colours.svg Australia
14–16
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Phillip Oval, CanberraFirst Test
24 July 1996 Queensland colours.svg Queensland XIII
22-8
Flag of Queensland.svg Gilbert Park, BrisbaneTour match
28 July 1996 Australian colours.svg Australia
18-12
Flag of Queensland.svg Gilbert Park, BrisbaneSecond Test
31 July 1996Presidents XIII
30-0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Cunningham Oval, SydneyTour match
3 August 1996 Australian colours.svg Australia
20-18
Flag of New South Wales.svg Redfern Oval, SydneyThird Test

The playing group consisted of captain Lisa McIntosh (Dudley Hill, squad number 13), vice-captain Brenda Dobek (Wakefield Panthers, squad number 6) and the following: 16. Jill Adams (Redhill), 17. Jane Banks (Wigan St Patricks), 1. Sharon Birkenhead (Redhill), 4. Karen Burrows (Redhill), 5. Wendy Charnley (Rochdale), 20. Julie Cronin (York), 22. Lucy Ferguson (Wakefield Panthers), 7. Mandy Green (Dudley Hill), 18. Nicki Harrison (Dudley Hill), 21. Joanne Hewson (Askam), 15. Lisa Hunter (Hull), 23. Allison Kitchin (Barrow), 3. Liz Kitchin (Barrow), 9. Michelle Land (Wakefield Panthers), 25. Sally Milburn (Askam), 8. Donna Parker (Hull Vixens), 2. Chantel Patricks (Dudley Hill), 24. Samantha Pearson (Dudley Hill), 26. Joanne Roberts (Wakefield Panthers), 11. Lucia Scott (Rochdale), 14. Vicky Studd (Dudley Hill), 19. Paula Tunnicliffe (Rochdale), 12. Sandra Wade (Barrow) and 1. Joanna Will (Wakefield Panthers).

1998 Tour of New Zealand

The Great Britain Lionesses toured New Zealand for the first time in 1998. The team was captained by Lisa McIntosh and coached by Jackie Sheldon. [32]

1998 Tour of New Zealand
DateOpponentScoreVenueNotes
16 August 1998 Hullcolours.svg New Zealand Maori
32–4
AucklandTour match [39]
19 August 1998 Canterbury colours.svg Auckland
20–18
Carlaw Park, AucklandTour match [40] [41]
23 August 1998 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand
6–28
Pukatwhero Park, RotoruaFirst Test [6]
26 August 1998 North Sydney colours.svg Canterbury
20–0
ChristchurchTour match [42]
29 August 1998 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand
0–44
Rugby League Park, ChristchurchSecond Test [8]
4 September 1998 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand
2–38
Carlaw Park, AucklandThird Test [11]

2002 Tour of Australia

In 2002 Great Britain Lionesses toured Australia with sponsorship from Munchies. [43] [44]

2002 Tour of Australia
DateOpponentScoreVenueNotes
14 July 2002 Australian colours.svg Australian Jillaroos
26–16
Flag of New South Wales.svg Wentworthville Oval, Sydney1st Test [45]
17 July 2002 Queensland colours.svg Queensland
50–10
Flag of Queensland.svg Brothers Leagues Club Ground, IpswichTour match [46]
20 July 2002 Australian colours.svg Australian Jillaroos
10–14
Flag of Queensland.svg ANZ Stadium, Brisbane2nd Test [45]
23 July 2002Canberra/ACT
72–0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan Tour match [47]
27 July 2002 Australian colours.svg Australian Jillaroos
5–14
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg Bruce Stadium, Canberra3rd Test [48]

The playing group, captained by Lisa McIntosh (Bradford Thunderbirds), consisted of Samantha Bailey (Sheffield), Jane Banks (Bradford), Nicola Benstead (Hull Dockers), Teresa Bruce (Bradford Thunderbirds), Sue Cochrane (Wakefield Panthers), Brenda Dobek (Wakefield Panthers), Becky Jones (Hillside Hawks), Alexandra Knight (Keighley), Michelle Land (Wakefield Panthers), Paula McCourt (Wakefield Panthers), Sally Millburn (Barrow), Nikki O'Donnell (Hull Dockers), Natalie Parsons (Bradford Thunderbirds), Chantel Patrick (Bradford Thunderbirds), Nicholette Postlethwaite (Wigan Ladies), Donna Prime (Hull Dockers), Debbie Rice (Hull Dockers), Kirsty Robinson (Bradford Thunderbirds), Amy Robinson (Hull Dockers), Nicola Simpson (Milford Storm), Rebecca Stevens (Sheffield), Danni Titterington (Wakefield Panthers), Gemma Walsh (Wakefield Panthers) and Rachael Wilson (Wakefield Panthers). [37]

The team was coached by Jackie Sheldon, with John Mitchell (Bradford Thunderbirds) and Dylan Reynard (Milford) serving as assistant coaches. The touring party was managed by Roland Davis and Andrew McDonald (Keighley). Elaine Kirton (Whitehaven) was on tour as physiotherapist. [37]

2010s

A 2015 Great Britain Lionesses tour of Australasia was approved by the RLIF, however did not occur.
During the decade, England women's teams visited France for away matches, travelled to Australia for the 2017 World Cup and in 2019 toured Papua New Guinea and participated in a four-team international nines competition.

See also

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