BY JOHN DAVIDSON
IT DIDN’T take long for the bile to start.
“Who the fuck is this stroke victim Aussie women iv (sic) turned volume off” one fan posted. This was followed by comments such as “Her voice is grating. Annoying to say the least” and “Ironically when she was Leeds women’s captain they never interviewed her cos she couldn’t put a sentence together”.
This was all aimed at Courtney Winfield-Hill, who was commentating for Sky on St Helens’ big win over Castleford on Friday night. The Winfield-Hill who is a former Woman of Steel and ex-England international, who was one of the best players in the world in her day. Who has forgotten more about rugby league than most will know.
This seems to be a common occurrence these days when any female dares to commentate or be involved in the media in English rugby league. It’s a common theme that needs to stop.
This year Sky has expanded the involvement of women in its broadcasts. It’s showing more Women’s Super League games, and every men’s Super League match, and the likes of Winfield-Hill, Jodie Cunningham, and Danika Priim are being used more.
It is the same with the BBC, who have more live Super League fixtures in 2024 and feature the likes of Tanya Arnold and Sharon Shortle.
It has resulted in more abuse and more disgusting reactions. Priim spoke about this weeks ago to ITV.
Now, viewers don’t have to like every pundit or commentator, whether they’re male or female. They can have opinions on their views, comments or their style of commentary. It’s a free world.
But these pundits and presenters deserve the same respect regardless of their sex.
And if you don’t like them, simply keep your hate and bile to yourself. Don’t spread it across social media and encourage more sexism and misogyny. It’s just not necessary.
Women are a part of rugby league and have been for a long, long, long time.
Whether it be the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, or wives of players, coaches, or fans, or as volunteers involved in many parts of the sports, or as employees such as journalists, physios, press officers, officials, referees and in other roles, or as mere fans themselves. I was raised by a female rugby league fan who is as passionate about the sport as anyone.
In more recent decades they have become players, and we have seen the rise and rise of women’s and girl’s rugby league.
More females are playing rugby league than ever before, and attendances, media interest, and coverage are increasing of both the Women’s Super League and the NRLW.
Recent participation numbers in the UK show that fewer men are playing open age rugby league, but there is huge growth among women and girls participants, a total increase of 33%.
The number of primary school girls aged under-sevens to under-11s has gone from 1413 in 2022 to 2172 in 2023, while the number of under-12s to under-15s playing has increased from 1689 to 2474, while the number of women playing has grown from 1363 to 1694.
At a time when those playing all sports generally are in decline, with the growth of gaming and other digital interests, these figures should be applauded.
The simple reality is that rugby league needs women, it needs female players and fans to survive and thrive.
In an ever-competitive sports landscape, you simply can’t ignore the female side. This is something that football, boxing and rugby union are embracing.
While we have come a long way when it comes to women in sport, and equality and acceptance, this piece shows we still have a long way to go.
Sports like rugby league can lead the way in positively changing attitudes.
Women in our code already do a fantastic job, whether it is on the field with the likes of Amy Hardcastle or Jessica Sergis, with a microphone like Winfield-Hill and Lara Pitt, or with the camera like Yvonne O’Keefe and Sky Sports’ producer June Fairhurst, who has been in charge of the network’s rugby league for many years.
The message is clear – women are an important part of rugby league, get used to it.
