Women's Premier League (rugby union)

Women's Premier League (rugby union)
Title	Women's Premier League
Current season	2023–24 Women's Premier League
Sport	Rugby union
Founded	2010
Inaugural	2010–11
Teams	10
Country	England
Champion	Exeter Chiefs Women
Most champs	Saracens Women (7 titles)
Related comps	Premier 15s

Women's Premier League (rugby union). The Women's Premier League was the top-level domestic women's rugby union competition in England from its formation in 2010 until 2017. It served as the direct predecessor to the current Premier 15s league, providing a crucial platform for the development of elite women's club rugby in the country. During its existence, it featured many of England's leading clubs and international players, helping to raise the profile and standard of the women's game.

History

The league was established in 2010 by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to create a more structured and competitive national league for women's clubs. It replaced the previous Women's National League and was part of a broader strategy to improve the pathway for female players in England. The creation of the league coincided with a period of growth for England women's national team, which won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2014. After seven seasons, the RFU undertook a major review of the women's club game, leading to the league's dissolution and replacement by the new, fully professionalized Premier 15s competition in 2017. This change was influenced by the success of other professional women's sports leagues and aimed to provide greater financial stability and media exposure.

Format and competition structure

The league typically operated on a double round-robin format, where each team played every other team twice, once at home and once away. The team finishing at the top of the league table at the end of the season was crowned champion, with no playoff final in most seasons. The competition ran from autumn through to spring, aligning with the traditional Northern Hemisphere rugby union season. At the end of each campaign, the bottom-placed team faced relegation to the second-tier Women's National League, while the top team from that division earned promotion. This structure was designed to maintain competitive integrity and a clear pathway between divisions within the English women's rugby pyramid.

Teams and locations

The league featured a core of ten clubs, though membership fluctuated slightly over the years due to promotion and relegation. Prominent and long-standing members included Saracens Women, Wasps FC Ladies, Richmond Women, and Loughborough Lightning. Other notable participants were Bristol Women, Worcester Women, and Darlington Mowden Park Sharks. These clubs were spread across England, from London-based sides like Saracens and Richmond to Midlands clubs like Loughborough Lightning and northern teams such as Darlington Mowden Park Sharks. Several of these clubs had established partnerships with men's Premiership Rugby sides, which provided crucial infrastructure and support.

Champions and results

Saracens Women were the most successful club in the league's history, winning seven consecutive titles from the inaugural 2010–11 season through to 2016–17. Their dominance was a defining feature of the competition, built on a squad containing numerous England internationals. Richmond Women were runners-up on multiple occasions, while other clubs like Wasps FC Ladies and Loughborough Lightning also consistently challenged at the top of the table. The final season in 2016–17 concluded with Saracens as champions, after which the league's records and history were succeeded by the Premier 15s.

Notable players

The league acted as the primary domestic competition for many of England's World Cup-winning stars. Key international figures who played in the league include Emily Scarratt of Loughborough Lightning, Maggie Alphonsi and Rochelle Clark of Saracens Women, and Danielle Waterman of Bristol Women. It also featured notable players from other nations, such as Irish centre Jenny Murphy and New Zealand Black Ferns fly-half Kelly Brazier. The development of future internationals like Sarah Hunter and Katy Daley-Mclean was also closely tied to their performances in this competition.

Media coverage and sponsorship

Media coverage of the league was limited compared to the men's professional game, but it marked a significant step forward for women's club rugby. Highlights and match reports were regularly featured on the Rugby Football Union's website and in specialist rugby publications. A landmark moment was the broadcasting of the 2017 final on Sky Sports, which provided unprecedented exposure. The league did not have a consistent title sponsor throughout its existence, but it benefited from the RFU's central support and the backing of individual club sponsors. This period laid the groundwork for the significantly enhanced broadcast and sponsorship agreements later secured by the Premier 15s, including deals with BBC Sport and BT Sport.

Category:Rugby union competitions in England Category:Women's rugby union competitions Category:Rugby union leagues