Huddersfield Giants Women

Huddersfield Giants
Club information
Full nameHuddersfield Giants Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Giantesses
Colours Claret and Gold
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
WebsiteHuddersfield Giants
Current details
Ground(s)
CoachLori Halloran
CaptainBethan Oates
CompetitionRFL Women's Super League
20246th
Current season
Records
Super League Shield1 (2021)

Huddersfield Giants Women are the women's rugby league team of Huddersfield Giants from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. They compete in the RFL Women's Super League, playing their home games at Laund Hill and double header matches with the men's team at the John Smith's Stadium.

History

In December 2017, plans were announced for a Huddersfield Giants girls' under-19s team with the aim of developing a team to compete in the 2018 Super League. Team trials took place in January 2018.[1][2] In February, the team announced their first squad which consisted of dual-registered players from community clubs, with more than half from either Illingworth Girls or Huddersfield St Josephs, and included future England international Olivia Wood.[3] Grace Ramsden was announced as captain in April.[4] Using Laund Hill, the Huddersfield YMCA sports complex, as their home ground Huddersfield Giants played their first game on 17 June 2018, winning 58–16 against the Royal Navy.[5] This was followed by matches against the under-19's teams of clubs including Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers.[6]

Huddersfield had planned to join the Super League in 2019 but part way through the 2018 season a change was made to the eligibility criteria so that it required teams to have completed a season in the Championship.[7] For the 2019 season Huddersfield continued with the under-19s team and established an open age team which competed in the Championship.[8] The Giants also expanded their squad by signing former Great Britain internationals Jordanna Proctor and Shelley Brook for the 2019 season.[9] Huddersfield took part in their first Challenge Cup but lost 34–12 to the Army in the first round.[10] In the league they lost 36–4 to Warrington Wolves in the semi-final of the play-offs,[11] but they had achieved the objective with a top-four finish which saw them, and Warrington, accepted into the Super League for the following season.[12] However, they were both made to wait due to the cancellation of the 2020 season.[13]

In April 2021, before Huddersfield had begun their Super League campaign, the two new teams faced each other in the Challenge Cup where a 38–12 loss meant Huddersfield failed to qualify for the quarter-finals.[14][15] It was not until 2 May 2021 that Huddersfield made their debut in the Super League with a 90–0 loss to St Helens.[16] Their first win came two weeks later with a score of 28–20 against Bradford Bulls.[17] After finishing in 7th place in the regular season they took part in the Shield competition. They qualified for the play-offs where they won their semi-final match 30–26 against Warrington with a golden point try scored by Erin Stott in the third period of extra-time.[18] In October 2021, the team earned their first trophy with a 24–22 win over Featherstone Rovers in the Shield Final.[19]

The Super League was split into two groups in 2022 with Huddersfield placed in Group 1 due to having won the Shield Final.[20] They missed out on the play-offs having failed to win any of their league games.[21] In the Challenge Cup Huddersfield progressed from the group stage with a 114–0 win over Hull FC, including 7 tries from Amelia Brown,[22] before losing to St Helens in the quarter-final.[23] Huddersfield reached the quarter-final of the Cup again in 2023,[24] and despite finishing bottom of their group for a second season they retained their top tier league status for 2024 due to the restructuring of the national pyramid.[25] In October 2023, plans were announced for the creation of several full-time roles dedicated to managing the women's team and the introduction of financial rewards and contracts for the players. These changes included transferring the running of the team from Huddersfield Giants Community Trust (the club's charitable organisation) to the main Huddersfield Giants club.[26] This saw the Giants equipped with full time medical professionals and access to the club's training facilities. On 6 November, Bethan Oates and Amelia Brown became the first players to sign professional contracts with the club.[27] In the 2024 season, Huddersfield again reached the quarter-finals of the challenge cup before being knocked out by defending champions St Helens.[28] In the Nines tournament they were awarded a wildcard place to the final's day and went on to reach the semi-finals.[29][30] In the Super League, a 36–0 win over Warrington on the final day of the regular season ensured a sixth-place finish in the table.[31]

Grounds

Laund Hill

Laund Hill is the main home venue for the Huddersfield Giants women's team.[32] At the time the Under-19s team first played there it was known as the Orchard FM Community Sports Park, or Orchard Park, and plans were being discussed by Huddersfield YMCA for a £700,000 redevelopment of the 16-acre (6.5 ha) site.[6][33] However, The YMCA went into administration in September 2019 and the site was bought in 2021 by the owner of Huddersfield Giants, Ken Davy, who stated plans for the installation of an all-weather 3G or 4G pitch at the complex which was planned to be the training base for club.[34][35]

John Smith's Stadium

Main article: Kirklees Stadium

The John Smith's Stadium is home to Huddersfield Town football club and the Huddersfield Giants men's team. The Giants women's team have played there as part of double header fixtures with the men's team.[36][37]

Seasons

Season League Play-offs Challenge Cup Ref.
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
2019 Championship 14 6 0 8 220 292 12 4th Lost in Semi-final R1 [10][11][38]
2020 Super League Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [13]
2021 Super League 7 2 0 5 104 288 4 7th Did not qualify R1 [14][19]
[38]
Super League Shield 4 3 0 1 152 52 6 2nd Won in Shield Final
2022 Super League 8 0 0 8 32 462 0 5th Did not qualify QF [21][23]
2023 Super League 10 1 0 9 102 452 2 6th Did not qualify QF [39][24]
2024 Super League 14 4 0 10 204 556 8 6th Did not qualify QF [40][41]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "Huddersfield Giants announce trial dates for new Women's team". RFL. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Huddersfield Giants reveal Women's Super League ambition". Huddersfield Giants. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Huddersfield announce women's squad". Love Rugby League. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Huddersfield Giants Woman confirm 2019 squad". Huddersfield Giants Community Trust. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Stead Delighted with Women's debut victory". Huddersfield Giants Community Trust. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "U19's Women's Team take on Castleford on Sunday – Be there!". Huddersfield Giants. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Mid-season rule change costs Huddersfield Women Super League status". Love Rugby League. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Giants invest in future of women's game". Huddersfield Giants. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Huddersfield Giants Women confirm 2019 squad". Huddersfield Giants Community Trust. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Women's Rugby League Round-Up". RFL. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Another late Leeds show sets up Challenge Cup Final rematch". RFL. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Giants and Wolves to join Betfred Women's Super League in 2020". RFL. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Betfred Women's Super League to return". Huddersfield Giants. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". 4 The Love of Sport. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Draw details for AB Sundecks 1895 Cup and Betfred Women's Challenge Cup". RFL. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League round-up". RFL. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Huddersfield Giants claim first-ever Women's Super League win". RFL. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Giants Women reach final in golden point thriller". Huddersfield Giants. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  19. ^ a b c "Huddersfield win Women's Super League Shield final". Love Rugby League. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League Fixtures 2022". RFL. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Betfred Women's Super League Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Quarter-finalists confirmed". RFL. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Broadcast details for Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Semi-Finals Confirmed". RFL. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Women's Challenge Cup: Holders St Helens, Wigan Warriors and York Valkyrie seal quarter-final wins". BBC Sport. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  25. ^ "RFL reveal exciting national pyramid for growing women's game". Love Rugby League. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Huddersfield Giants Women revamp for 2024". RFL. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Brown and Oates sign professional contracts". Huddersfield Giants. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Challenge Cup semi-final draws made with Wembley in sight". Love Rugby League. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Sewell Group Craven Park to host 2024 Women's Nines Finals Day". RFL. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Wigan Warriors lift Women's Rugby League Nines trophy". RFL. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  31. ^ "York beat Featherstone to set up Leeds semi-final". BBC Sport. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  32. ^ "Giants Women 2023 fixtures revealed!". Huddersfield Giants. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  33. ^ "YMCA put in new plans for sports complex – but they need £700,000 first". Yorkshire Live. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Ken Davy saves Huddersfield YMCA complex and plans 'world class' sporting facilities". Huddersffield Hub. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Member Newsletter: Issue #1 November 2021" (PDF). Huddersfield Laund Hill Community Club (HLHCC). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Giants to play historic double header". Huddersfield Giants. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Match Preview | Double Header". Huddersfield Giants. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  38. ^ a b "Match Centre". RFL. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Betfred Women's Super League Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  40. ^ "Men's and Women's Quarter-Finals Review & Semi-Finals confirmed | Betfred Challenge Cup". RFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Women's Super League Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024.