The NRLW will expand to a 12-team competition in 2025 as the women’s game reaches “another level”. The Australian Rugby League Commission has approved teams for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors to join the competition from next season.
The addition of two teams means the 2025 NRLW regular season will expand to 11 weeks, and ARLC chair Peter V’landys said the expansion plans would help provide certainty and encourage growth of the women’s game at grassroots levels.
“The women’s game has gone to another level with the skill level and quality of the games being extraordinary,” he said. “This is evidenced by the popularity of the NRLW competition. Last year over a million viewers tuned in to watch the NRLW grand final, and we are looking forward to an even bigger and better competition in 2025.
“Investments into participation and pathways will ensure that new teams are competitive as soon as they enter the competition.”
The Warriors were previously part of the women’s competition until they were forced to withdraw in 2020 due to Covid travel restrictions.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the expansion was an important milestone for the code.
“The return of the Warriors is an important strategic boost for the women’s game in New Zealand, while the Bulldogs are adding the final step to their program after years of strong investment in the women’s game,” he said.
“The plan with clubs will see further expansion opportunities in the coming years, for which we have seen strong interest and detailed business plans from all 17 clubs.”
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have continued to apply to be part of the NRLW since the competition started but again missed out on being part of the expansion.
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said the club would remain committed to its female rugby league program, which includes open, under-19 and under-17 teams along with junior sides in New South Wales competitions.
“We completely understand the NRL’s decision to expand with the Warriors and Bulldogs based on geographic terms in 2025, and we look forward to our opportunity to field a team when the time is right for the NRL’s expansion and our club’s participation plans,” Solly said.
The Dolphins, Manly, Souths, Penrith and Melbourne will remain the only NRL clubs without teams in the women’s competition in 2025.
The 2024 NRLW season will start from 25 July after the first three-game women’s State of Origin wraps up at the end of June.