Bradford schoolgirls win national rugby title in Wakefield

Most of the pupils had not even played the sport before they started Year 7 last September.

But female rugby league stalwart Saima Hussain, who currently plays for Keighley Cougars’ ladies, helped them to progress rapidly after the team started up last November.

And they have, incredibly, now become RFL Champion Schools winners, taking home the national title on Finals Day with a scintillating 40-22 victory against their Rainford High School counterparts from St Helens at Wakefield Trinity’s Belle Vue.

The girls quickly found their groove after the team was formed late last year, and they made it to the Yorkshire Cup Final back in March.

They were pushed all the way by Archbishop Sentamu Academy of Hull, but eventually took the title by scoring a late try to seal a 28-16 win at Featherstone Rovers’ Post Office Road.

The St Bede's and St Joseph's girls (left) line up ahead of March's Yorkshire Cup final. (Image: UGC.)

Even then, the young girls probably never expected to claim silverware on the national stage, but they did so in style against Rainford.

After the Finals Day, Andrea Murray, the RFL’s National Education Manager, said: “On behalf of everyone at the RFL, our congratulations go to all the winners, and also the finalists and the dozens of schools and thousands of players who have competed in the 2024 Champion Schools competitions.

“Every year, we see the future of the sport with wonderful skills, fantastic commitment and so many youngsters enjoying the experience – and I’d like to add personal thanks to the teachers, parents and other volunteers – as well as our RFL team - who make it all possible.

“We are grateful to Wakefield Trinity, with the redevelopment of the DIY Kitchens Stadium making it an ideal venue for our 2024 Finals Day, and also to inspiresport, who have been outstanding sponsors of the competition for the last two years.”