Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League

The Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League was the premier Women's rugby league competition in the state of New South Wales, Australia. In 2017, the competition became known as the NSWRL Women's Premiership. The New South Wales Rugby League also administer open age women's and age group girls' competitions that sit below the NSWRL Women's Premiership. Within the Sydney Metropolitan region, there are several conferences.

History

A regular women's rugby league competition was started in Sydney in the 1990s.

Competition rules for the 1995 season had modifications to team size. On-field teams were between seven (minimum) and ten (maximum) players, with the number for a match being determined by the availability of players on the day. Including players starting on the bench, teams were limited to fourteen players. The number of interchanges been on-field and bench was unlimited. Scrums were three players per team in a front row formation. Game time was two thirty minute halves.

Eight teams nominated for the 1995 SWRL season: Bankstown, Blacktown, Cabbage Tree Hotel ( Bulli), Mount Pritchard, Northern Reds, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels Juniors, and Riverwood. Both Northern Reds and North Sydney had their home games scheduled at the same venue, Tunks Park in Cammeray. Fourteen rounds were scheduled from late April to mid-August, with the Grand Final in early September 1995.

This competition folded after the conclusion of the 2000 season.

In 2001, the ''New South Wales Women's Rugby League'' staged exhibition and trial matches in lieu of a competition.

The Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League restarted a competition in 2005. A meeting in March 2005 at the PCYC in Miller, south west of Sydney was the catalyst to get the women's competition up and running again.

Sydney Metropolitan - Rugby League Clubs with Women's Teams

In the 2024 season, four open-age women's rugby league competitions featured teams from Sydney.

* Metro Combined (''6 teams''): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Mounties, Narraweena Hawks, Redfern All Blacks, St Christopher’s, Wentworthville Magpies.
** A 13-a-side competition ran from 14 April to a grand final on 23 June 2024.
** A nines competition ran from 7 July to a grand final on 8 September 2024. Only four of the six teams participated, with Narraweena and Redfern not playing in this nines competition.
* Metro Combined (''10 teams''): Alexandria Rovers, Cabramatta Two Blues, Forestville Ferrets, Guildford Owls, Hills District Bulls, Lalor Park, Leichhardt Wanderers, Marrickville RSL, Mascot Jets, Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Stags.
** The competition ran from 28 April to a grand final on 7 September 2024.
* Macarthur (''9 teams''): Camden Rams, Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Campbelltown Collegians Collie Dogs, Glenquarie All Stars (''two teams, 1 and 2''), Minto Cobras, Narellan Jets, The Oaks Tigers, Warragamba Wombats.
** The competition ran in two phases.
*** The first ran from Round 1 on 28 April to Round 8 on 18 May, followed by semi-finals, preliminary finals and grand finals on 15 June 2024.
**** Glenquarie All Stars entered a second team which played its first game in Round 6.
*** The second phase ran from Round 9 on 29 June to Round 15 on 18 August, followed by semi-finals, a preliminary final, and a grand final on 14 September 2024.
**** Campbelltown City Kangaroos did not play in this second phase.
* Southern Corridor (''4 teams from Sydney, 3 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions''):
** Sydney: Como Jannali Crocodiles, Penshurst RSL Kookaburras, Riverwood Legion, Taren Point Titans.
** Illawarra & South Coast: Corrimal Cougars, Illawarra Collegians Collie Dogs, Western Suburbs Red Devils.

Premiers

Premiership Tally

Bold means the team still currently plays in the competition.

Clubs by season

1990s

1992 (5 teams)
* Bankstown, Bonnyrigg, North Sydney, Parramatta, and Wildfires.
1993 (6 teams)
* Bankstown Sports, Bonnyrigg Warriors, North Sydney, Waverton Eagles, Western Sydney, and Wildfires.
1994 (5 teams)
* Bankstown Sports, Blacktown, North Sydney, Western Sydney, and Waverton Eagles.
** There was also a four team competition in the Illawarra: Bulli Eagles, Lakeview Bears, Picton Magpies, and Wollongong.
1995 (8 teams)
* Bankstown Sports, Blacktown Wildfires, Cabbage Tree Hotel ( Bulli Eagles), Mount Pritchard, Northern Reds, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels Juniors, and Riverwood.
** The Illawarra competition having collapsed, players from the region entered the Sydney Competition as the Cabbage Tree Hotel (Bulli). The team was referred to as Bulli in July.
** There were two name changes: Western Sydney to Mount Pritchard and Waverton to Northern Reds.
1996 (5 teams)
* Mount Pritchard, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels, Penrith, South Sydney.
1997 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: North Sydney, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, St. Marys.
1998 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, Western Suburbs Magpies.
1999 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, Western Suburbs Magpies.

2000s

2001
* No competition. The ''New South Wales Women's Rugby League'' staged a thirteen-a-side trial between South Sydney and Doonside and several other exhibition matches.

2002
* No competition.

2003
* No competition.

2004
* No competition.

2005 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Canley Vale Kookaburras, Newtown Jetettes, and Redfern All Blacks.

2006 (6 teams)
* Canley Vale Kookaburras, Guildford Owls, Newtown Jetettes, Parramatta Eels Juniors, Redfern All Blacks, and Windsor Wolves.
** Guildford, Parramatta, and Windsor joined the competition.

2007 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Cabramatta Two Blues, Canley Vale Kookaburras, Canterbury Bulldogs, Forestville Ferrets (debut), and Renown United.

2008
* Campbelltown Eagles, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Nepean, Penrith, Newtown Jetettes, and Redfern All Blacks.

2009 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, East Campbelltown Eagles, Forestville Ferrets, Newtown Jetettes, and Penrith Waratahs (debut).

2010s

2010 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: All Saints Toongabbie, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Guildford Owls.

2011 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Merrylands, Minchinbury Jets.

2012 (8 teams)

* Auburn Warriors, Blacktown Workers, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Maitland Pickers (debut), Minchinbury Jets, Penrith Waratahs, Redfern All Blacks.
** An Illawarra team participated in and won the State Championships held at St Marys on a long weekend, 9-11 June 2012.

2013 (''unsure of exact team numbers'')
* Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Maitland Pickers, Penrith Waratahs.

2015 (11 teams)

Eleven teams competed, including three from clubs outside of Sydney.
* Within Sydney (8 teams): Berala Bears (debut), Forestville Ferrets, Greenacre Tigers, Lower Mountains, Mount Druitt PCYC, Minto Cobras, Redfern All Blacks, Penrith Waratahs.
* Outside Sydney (3 teams): Berkeley Vale Panthers, Helensburgh Tigers (debut), Maitland Pickers.
** The Helensburgh Tigers also fielded a team in a four-team Illawarra competition. The other clubs were Berkeley Eagles, Corrimal Cougars, and Windang Pelicans.
** Two tiers of finals series matches were staged. Greenacre Tigers played Forestville Ferrets in the Tier A grand final. Berkeley Vale Panthers played Berala Bears in the Tier B grand final.

2016

In 2016, the Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League included the following clubs.

2020s

2020
* No competition due to lockdown measures taken to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic.

2021

In the 2021 season, three open-age women's rugby league competitions were conducted across Sydney.
* Combined Women's (''9 teams''): Como Jannali Crocodiles, Forestville Ferrets, La Perouse Panthers, Leichhardt Wanderers, Marrickville RSL Kings, Mascot Jets, North Sydney Brothers, Redfern All Blacks, Ryde Eastwood Hawks.
* Penrith and District (''8 teams''): Blacktown City Bears, Doonside Roos, Emu Plains Emus, Minchinbury Jets, Mt Druitt Lions, Penrith Waratahs, St Clair Comets, St Marys Saints.
* Central Macarthur Western (''5 teams''): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Campbelltown Collegians Collie Dogs, Hinchbrook Hornets, Milperra Colts, Moorebank Rams.

2022
* Metro Combined ''West'' (''5 teams''): Minchinbury Jets, Mounties, St Clair Comets, St Marys Saints, Wentworthville Magpies.
* Metro Combined ''East'' (''6 teams''): Asquith Magpies, Como Jannali Crocoles, La Perouse Panthers, Marrickville RSL, Mascot Jets, Redfern All Blacks.
* Metro Combined ''East'' (''6 teams''): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Blacktown City Bears, Forestville Ferrets, Leichhardt Wanderers, Penshurst RSL Kookaburras, Riverwood Legion.
** Asquith Magpies were promoted from to during the season, first appearing in the ''East'' competition in Round 7.
* Macarthur (''6 teams from Sydney, 2 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions''):
** Sydney: Camden Rams, Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Campbelltown Collegians Collie Dogs, East Campbelltown Eagles, Mittagong Lions, Narellan Jets.
** Illawarra & South Coast: Corrimal Cougars, Stingrays of Shellharbour.

2023

In a change from the previous season (2022), a Southern Corridor Women's Tackle competition was established.
* Metro Combined (''10 teams''): Asquith Magpies, Forestville Ferrets, Marrickville RSL, Mascot Jets, Milperra Colts, Mounties, Redfern All Blacks, St Clair Comets, St Marys Saints, Wentworthville Magpies.
* Metro Combined (''8 teams''): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Glenmore Park Brumbies, Hills District Bulls, Leichhardt Wanderers, Narraweena Hawks, Penrith (two teams, Pink & White), St Christopher’s.
* Macarthur (''7 teams''): Camden Rams, Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Campbelltown Collegians Collie Dogs, East Campbelltown Eagles, Minto Cobras, Mittagong Lions, Narellan Jets.
* Southern Corridor (''3 teams from Sydney, 7 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions''):
** Sydney: Como Jannali Crocodiles, Penshurst RSL Kookaburras, Riverwood Legion.
** Illawarra & South Coast: Corrimal Cougars, Jamberoo Superoos, Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs, Mt Kembla Lowries, Nowra-Bomaderry Jets, Stingrays of Shellharbour, Warilla-Lake South Gorillas.

Clubs by name

Teams that participated in the SMWRL prior to the 2016 season include:
* Auburn
* Blacktown
* Cabramatta Two Blues
* Canley Vale Kookas
* Canterbury Bulldogs
* East Campbelltown Eagles
* Guildford Owls
* Hawkesbury Hawkes
* Nepean
* Newtown Jetettes
* Windsor Wolves
* Renown United
* Riverwood Legion 1995
* Sydney Bulls

See also

* Rugby league in New South Wales
* New South Wales Women's Rugby League
* Queensland Women's Rugby League
* Western Australian Women's Rugby League

References

External links

*

{{Rugby League in New South Wales

Rugby league competitions in New South Wales
Rugby league in Sydney
Women's rugby league competitions in Australia
2005 establishments in Australia
Sports leagues established in 2005