Women's Origin

Last updated
Women's Origin
Sport Rugby league

Women's Origin describes matches between the Lancashire and Yorkshire women's rugby league teams.

Contents

The first women's game between the two sides was in 2014. The series was usually held before the domestic club season and grew from a one-game to a three-game competition. The tournament was held annually until the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

In 2024 the fixture returned as a way of developing the England women's national rugby league team.

Country of Origin series

Women's County of Origin series
Tournament information
Sport Rugby league
Established2014
Defunct2020
Administrators Rugby Football League
Participants Flag of Lancashire.svg Lancashire
Yorkshire Flag.png Yorkshire

History

In 2014, a pilot County Origin game between Lancashire Ladies and Yorkshire Ladies was held in Wigan. The trophy was won by Lancashire.

The following year, the RFL announced that the 2015 County Origin Series would take place at Thatto Heath Crusaders, St. Helens with the game seeing the sides share the honours after a 22–22 draw, with an attendance of around 500. [1] [2] The match, held on 18 October 2015, followed a Lancashire Girls vs Yorkshire Girls under 18s match, which finished 34–0 in favour of the Yorkshire side. [2]

Lancashire retained the series title following the previous year's draw in 2016, [3] and again in 2018 after no game was played the year prior. [4]

In 2019, the competition was expanded two a two game series. Despite Lancashire hosting both matches, Yorkshire claimed their inaugural title with a 2-0 series victory. [5]

In the competition's final edition, the series was further expanded to three games with Lancashire reclaiming the title, winning two games and drawing the other. [6]

Results

Women's County of Origin series
SeasonVenueHome teamScoreAway teamRef
2014Wigan St Jude's, WiganLancashire22–0Yorkshire [7]
2015 St. Helens Lancashire22–22Yorkshire [2]
2016StanningleyYorkshire16–22Lancashire [3]
2018 Post Office Road, FeatherstoneYorkshire10–16Lancashire [4]
2019 Bloomfield Road, BlackpoolLancashire8–14Yorkshire [5]
Halliwell Jones Stadium, WarringtonLancashire20–27Yorkshire [5]
Yorkshire win series 2–0
2020Weetwood sports ground, LeedsYorkshire8–15Lancashire [8]
Mount Pleasant, BatleyYorkshire12–12Lancashire [9]
Weetwood sports ground, LeedsYorkshire0–23Lancashire [6]
Lancashire win series 2–0

England training

June 2024

In 2024, the Rugby Football League announced the County of Origin fixture returned would in 2024 ahead of England's mid-season friendly again France. England head coach, Stuart Barlow, selected Lancashire and Yorkshire squads and ran regional training sessions with each culminating in the Origin fixture a week before the England fixture. Match day performances in Origin, and performances in regional training were used to selected the national squad going into the final week of England training. [10] [11]

22 June 2024
Yorkshire Yorkshire Flag.png 12–20 Flag of Lancashire.svg Lancashire
  • Note: Game featured no conversion and unlimited substitutions.

October 2024

Ahead of England's post-season friendly against Wales similar regional training camps were used leading up to an Origin game held two weeks before the England international. [12]

19 October 2024
Lancashire Flag of Lancashire.svg 20–12 Yorkshire Flag.png Yorkshire
Tries: Salihi, Partington, Davies (2), Hunter
Report
Tries: Brown, Hardcastle, Andrade
  • Note: Game featured no conversion and unlimited substitutions. [13]

August 2025

In June 2025, the RFL announced two Origin fixtures for 2025. The first of which was played as a double-header with a men's academy origin fixture and one week ahead of England mid-season international against Wales. [14]

2 August 2024
Yorkshire Yorkshire Flag.png 8–50 Flag of Lancashire.svg Lancashire
Tries: Hook, Stead
Goals: Casey 1/2
Report
Tries: Hunter (2), Davies, Banks (2), Partington, Jones, Woosey, Rowe
Goals: Rowe 4/6 Salihi 3/3

October 2025

The second game of 2025 will be played in the post season and for the first time won't be played in advance of an England international. [14]

19 October 2025
Lancashire Flag of Lancashire.svg v Yorkshire Flag.png Yorkshire
TBA

See also

References

  1. "County Origin Renewed". RFL Women's Rugby League. 13 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Origin seals a dramatic end to season". Women's Rugby League. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Lancashire are Origin champions!". rugby-league.com. RFL. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Lancashire take Origin bragging rights in Warrington". rugby-league.com. RFL. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Yorkshire leave it late but take Super League Women's Origin series". rugby-league.com. RFL. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Lancashire seal 2-0 Women's Origin Series victory". rugby-league.com. RFL. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. "Lancashire at the double". rugby-league.com. RFL. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  8. "Report | Yorkshire 8-15 Lancashire". RFL. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. "Yorkshire earn late draw in Women's Origin". RFL. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  10. "England Women Head Coach Stuart Barrow names National Performance squad for Roses clash". 13 June 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  11. Robinson, Jack (13 June 2024). "Sixteen Saints Women named in National Performance Squad". St.Helens R.F.C. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  12. "Boundary Park to host Women's Origin clash". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  13. "Women's Origin | Davies dazzles for Lancashire". RFL. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Women's Origin showdown offers England contenders chance to impress". RFL. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.