Wigan Warriors Women’s Academy

The Women’s Academy was established in November 2021, with a view to further developing the Women’s game. The Academy team will have the opportunity to train and play under the Wigan Warriors brand and in the Club environment, with a structured training programme development pathway.

Initially, we sent an open invite to U16s from local Community Clubs to bring in some girls into our with a strong emphasis on the girls showing an expression of interest to train and play. The girls were invited to our training complex at Robin Park Arena for sessions conducted by Rugby League Development Officer, John Whalley.

With selected dates throughout the season, the Academy team will play against other Super League Academy teams to give them vital experience and development. On joining the Academy, the girls are placed onto a potential three-year programme within our Academy system, on a pathway towards our BWSL first team.

John Whalley, rugby league development officer: “We have placed a huge importance on having a Women’s Academy as it allows us to develop our girls over a number of years and prepare them for the challenges in the Betfred Women’s Super League. At current, we have 24 girls in our Wigan Warriors Women’s Academy system from several North West Community Clubs, with a number of those already identified to be promoted into our first team in the coming months.

“We have a very successful development history here at Wigan with the boys and we want to replicate that with the girls. We are working hard with our local schools,  Community Clubs while offering after-school clubs, Community Club invite sessions and development days, with ages ranging from 11 to 16-years old. The long term benefits of this will see local girls coming through our development pathway system and hopefully into our Women’s first team.”

Wigan Warriors Women’s Academy players will get their first taste of a Warriors fixture as they prepare to play in a pre-season friendly against Salford Red Devils on Sunday 27th February. The Red Devils host at Cadishead Rhinos, with a 2pm K.O. with a number of Academy products set to feature.