- Source: Leigh Leopards Women
Leigh Leopards Women are a women's rugby League team based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England. The team originally competed as the ladies' team of Leigh Miners Rangers before an agreement between the club and Leigh Leopards led to the rebranding of the team in late 2022. In 2022 and 2023 the team took part in the Women's Super League before the restructuring of the league which saw them compete in the 2024 Northern Championship. In 2024, they won the National Championship Final and subsequent play-off to earn promotion back to the Super League in the 2025 season.
History
= Leigh Miners Rangers
=In the early 2010s Leigh took part in the Women's Rugby League Conference where in 2012 they defeated Brighouse 12–10 to win the Plate competition. Leigh made their Challenge Cup debut in the inaugural 2012 competition, losing to Chorley Panthers in the first round. The following season they defeated Chorley in round one for their first win in the Challenge Cup. In the RFL Women's Rugby League Leigh won the Plate Final in 2015 and in the restructured league in 2016 they defeated the Oulton Raidettes 20–12 to become League 1 Champions. In the 2016 Challenge Cup, Leigh reached the final, but lost 62–6 to Thatto Heath Crusaders. In 2021, Leigh topped the Championship and then defeated Barrow Raiders 10–6 in the Grand Final. Both teams were admitted to Group 2 of the Super League for the 2022 season. On 15 May, Leigh made their Super League debut with a 28–14 home win over Wakefield Trinity. They won four of their matches to finish fifth in the table.
= Leigh Leopards
=In October 2022, it was announced that in a partnership agreement between the community and professional clubs in Leigh, the women's team of Leigh Miners Rangers were to merge with Leigh Leopards. Offers were made for the players and members of staff to retain their previous roles and the team would compete in the Super League under the new name. In the 2023 season, wins over Barrow and Hull KR in the Challenge Cup saw Leigh progress to the quarter-finals of the competition. The team continued to use Twist Lane as its home, but played their first match at Leigh Sports Village on 11 June against Featherstone Rovers. In the Super League, Leigh were top of Group 2 going into the final day of the regular season ahead of both Barrow and Featherstone Rovers by one point, but 14–12 a loss to Barrow saw them finish in third place. They faced Barrow again in the final of the play-offs where a 14–8 loss denied them a place in the restructured Super League in 2024. In January 2024, it was announced that they would be in the Northern Women's Championship. Leigh went unbeaten throughout the regular season and defeated Sheffield Eagles 46–6 in the Grand final to qualify for the National Championship Final against London Broncos, the winners of the Southern Championship. Leigh won 22–18 to lift the trophy. This saw them advance to a play-off match on 6 October against Featherstone Rovers which they won to earn promotion to the Super League for the 2025 season.
Seasons
References
External links
Official website