WHAT IS IT?
The 2022 Women’s Super League Nines is a completely new event in the British calendar. It marks the Rugby Football League’s biggest foray into the abbreviated version of the sport since the British Coal Nines in 1988. The event is a carnival rather than a purely spectator-focused tournament, with three pitches in use and players encouraged to mingle with fans and each other.
WHO IS PLAYING IN IT?
All 12 Women’s Super League teams plus eight invited sides from places like Wales, France and London. The object of the day is to be among the six highest-ranked teams. These will progress to the finals at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday, July 24. The teams are split into five pools, with three playing in the ‘morning session’ beginning at 10.30am and two in the second session beginning at 1.30pm. The day’s play concludes at 4pm.
WHERE IS IT ON?
Victoria Park is a sprawling parkland situated just across the Mersey River from Warrington Town Centre. With the help of ‘Created By’ Rugby League World Cup finding, there are now three state-of-the-art rugby league pitches with two grandstands, one between the first end second fields. Victoria Park’s postcode for Victoria Park is WA4 1DG.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
Games are played in nine-minute halves. Tries are worth four points – or five if scored in the bonus area near the posts. Conversions, worth two points, are taken by drop-kicks. For this tournament, squad sizes are unlimited but 15 players must be named for each game. There will be no touch judges. Sin bins last three minutes.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON THE DAY?
There will be three workshops for people involved in the women’s game: one on mental toughness, one on players realising their potential and another entitled ‘Play Like A Girl’. Collectively, these are called ‘Inspiration Sessions’.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET IN?
Nothing.
Photo: Deeseses Catalanes players at Victoria Park on Saturday.
