South Africa RL : 2023/24 Season

Rugby League has been in the RSA since the 1950's but for reasons I won't go into here, things haven't worked out. It's been a history of false dawns. Will it ever be different? For a sport that generates all its income from television deals for just two professional leagues, the international game and expansion is overlooked. 

As best I can ascertain, there are two divisions, the first the Rhino Cup and the second the Prote Cup. There is also the Jans Prinsloo Competition which is a regional affair. I will see if all this can be confirmed.

As for the 2024 season, it is as below. It seems they get four points for a win and also bonus points but I don't know how they are earned. First up the league table final results from the official website which can be found by clicking here:

This led into a semi final and final scenario to the right. The Grizzlies narrowly took the title after coming second in the league. 

The regional competition was as follows:

Australia Women's Interstate Challenge : 1999 - 2017

The Women's State of Origin series has been held since 2018. It was a one game series until 2023 when it increased to two and 2024 three matches. Prior to the SOO, there was the Women's Interstate Challenge which started in 1999. Dan suggested I look into that and I've now done that. 

It didn't get as much publicity as the more modern SOO and records of the matches played are not always available. Queensland won every series from 1999 to 2014 which was quite a record. A draw in 2015 led to two New South Wales victories. In fact. they made it four in a row when we take into account the new SOO series. Now Queensland has won four of the last five series held. 

Below are the results. Apart from the win record, there are no scores out there in Internet World that I could find from 2000 to 2004. If anyone can help with that, I'll update the list accordingly. It's a shame that relatively recent matches have become seemingly forgotten. I'm sure there must be a proud Queenslander out there with some or all the info to complete the list. 

PS. Thanks Dan for the 2005 scores. 

The 2014 Interstate Challenge highlights are below. 

You can also catch a video of the 1999 opening game at this site plus text : Simply click here.

NRLW History 2017-23

The women's NRL competition has only been around for seven years and starts the eighth edition now. For the first three years, there were just four clubs. With Covid, the NZ side exited and has not played since but will return for the 2025 season. 

It became six for the next two years and ten in 2023 and 2024. 2025 becomes twelve with the NZ Warriors returning and a new team, the Canterbury Bulldogs. 

By awarding the top four finishers each year, we can see the successful clubs. Of course, there were only four teams in the first three editions held so they are all recognised. Now with ten sides, it's harder to be noticed. 

The clubs yet to register points are the Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and the Wests Tigers. They have all played just one season so far. 

Both NSW and Queensland run state competitions below the national one shown here.