This Sunday sees three big Grand Final matches where eight of our potential Rugby League World Cup stars will be taking part.
North Wales Crusaders are going for Championship Grand Final glory at Belle Vue Leisure Centre in Manchester (kick-off 2.30pm) as they look to win this title for a third time. They take on Rochdale Hornets, and as the two sides finished level at the top of the table, it’s certain to be a close and exciting match.
Three of the Crusaders’ players, Jonathan Gill, Fionn McCabe and Martin Turner, are in the Wales World Cup training squad and could be on their way to Australia next month. We wish them, and the rest of the Crusaders side, all the best of luck in this encounter. A number of our backroom staff will also be with Crusaders as volunteers, and they’ll be coached by Harry Mitchell-Jones, who has won 46 Welsh caps but is unavailable to travel to the World Cup this year.
That match is the curtain-raiser to the Wheelchair Super League Grand Final, where Wales captain Jodie Boyd-Ward will be hoping to lead Leeds Rhinos to glory as they face favourites Halifax Panthers (kick-off 5.30pm).
Jodie, who lifted the Super League trophy as Leeds captain in 2024, is the only Welsh international in this match, but she’ll be taking on and playing alongside her rivals from the England set-up, so it’s certain to be a great encounter. If you’re not in Manchester, this match can be seen live on Sky Sports+.
At the same time, just a few miles away at Ince Rose Bridge, the RFL Women’s Championship Grand Final between Manchester Swinton Lions and London Broncos is being played (kick-off 2pm). The winner will advance to the promotion-relegation match against Leigh Leopards.
We’d like to wish our London Broncos quartet, Emily Hughes, Ffion Lewis, Jade Mullen, and Kathryn Salter all the best of luck in this game.
Our Women’s Rugby League World Cup campaign kicks off on Saturday 17 October as we face England in Perth, whilst our Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup starts on Friday 30 October in Wollongong, again against England.
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