Ladies rugby league booming in Barrow

Ladies rugby league is booming in Barrow – so much so the Raiders have applied to enter a reserve side.

As the Barrow Ladies get ready to contest Women’s Super League for the first time, the club have been delighted with the interest from a large numbers of players so they now want to enter a team in League One.

The reserves will be led by new head coach Paul Sykes, who has been working with the girls as an assistant for some time.

Sykes will receive assistance from members of the Advantage Community team, including men’s first-team players Tee Ritson, Ellis Gillam and Anton Iaria. Working with the Community team will provide the link to the Raider Girls group that targets 12-16-year-olds with sessions on a Saturday afternoon.

The reserves will be training at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium at 6.30pm every Tuesday, and welcome new players of any experience to bolster the squad.

With the possibility that there could be dual-registration between the Super League team and the reserves, the door isn’t closed on top performers making the leap to the big stage.

The Raiders have left a couple of slots available in the Super League squad which will be announced very soon.

On the launch of a reserve team, head coach Sykes said: “Firstly, the fact that Barrow Raiders Ladies has a reserve team is huge, not only for Barrow but for the women of Cumbria who have ever thought of giving rugby league a go.

“We currently have around 18/20 players in the reserves with varying skill levels, but we’re always keen to add more. The reserves will give players a pathway to the Super League team.

“Much of what we do in the reserves is geared towards preparing players for that step up to Super Leagues level. First and foremost, we do cover a lot of the basics, which can be repetitive at times, but it’s those basics that are essential to making that step up.

“Also by covering the basics, it gives the new players who maybe haven’t played before, the chance to pick those early skills up, rather than just standing watching thinking ‘what do I do?’ So, right from the start, new players are involved.

“What we want to see during the 2022 season is, firstly, women enjoying the sport of Rugby League. Secondly, players pushing for places in the Super League squad. And thirdly, we will be looking to create a team that goes out and competes on the field against some very good competition.”