While volunteers have remained the backbone of the grassroots game, the wave of women’s participation in rugby league (both on and off the field) has advanced exponentially from a decade ago. England looking to blaze a trail at Women’s Rugby League World Cup Read more As reported to the Guardian by the NRL, female registrations in the tag and tackle versions of the game have grown by 32% this year alone. With 9,029 new women playing a form of rugby league in Australia, the demand for a national women’s competition has never been greater.