Lois Forsell is the latest to call for changes to the domestic structure of women’s rugby league in the UK following England’s blow-out loss to Australia.
The 2025 domestic season kicks off this weekend with the opening group-stage matches in the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup, although last month’s 90-4 defeat to the Jillaroos in Las Vegas has cast something of a long shadow.
England Women head coach Stuart Barrow floated the need to make changes to the domestic structure in the wake of that and Leeds Rhinos head coach Forsell, who will miss Saturday’s match with Leigh Leopards while on maternity leave, echoed those calls, with a meeting on the future direction of the Betfred Women’s Super League (BWSL) set for later this month.
- England captain Cunningham: Invest in infrastructure over wages to close gap to Australia
- England mauled in Vegas
- Subscribe to rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube
“We’re all aware the Jillaroos are the best team in the world and you’re going to have to be on your best form to turn them over, but you’d have gone over there to compete,” Forsell, capped 18 times by England as a player, told BBC Radio Leeds.
“Obviously we didn’t do that with that scoreline and there is some work to be done on the back of that, because no matter what way you look at that we can support the girls in England a lot more.
“If you look at competition structure and things like that, and making sure it’s a bit more competitive more regularly.
“That’s the biggest it has got for women’s rugby…and that sort of a position, we need to make sure we’re preparing them domestically and internationally to play at the height of those games.”
At present, the BWSL comprises eight teams, with the ‘big four’ of Leeds, York Valkyrie, St Helens and Wigan Warriors being the dominant forces in the competition.
Barrow Raiders, Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves and promoted Leigh make up the rest of the BWSL in 2025.
One option which is unlikely to be on the cards is contracting the competition, although there does seem to be a consensus change is needed, with Huddersfield head of rugby James Westerby echoing Forsell’s view.
“We’ve got to do something to make it a more competitive league,” Westerby, whose Giants side kick off their Challenge Cup campaign at home to BWSL champions York on Sunday, told BBC Radio Leeds.
“You don’t [want a Super League of just four teams], you want an eight-team or however many, but you just want it competitive.
“Because, then, from a TV point of view Sky might get involved, the BBC might get involved more if it’s more competitive week in, week out. Also, from a sponsorship point of view and investment, you want it to be competitive.
“We get it from both sides, we all have different ideas, but we’ve got to come together for the good of the game and look at the bigger picture.”
