The Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League was the premier women's rugby league competition in the state of New South Wales, Australia. In 2017, the competition became known as the NSWRL Women's Premiership. The New South Wales Rugby League also administer open age women's and age group girls' competitions that sit below the NSWRL Women's Premiership. Within the Sydney Metropolitan region, there are several conferences.
History A regular women's rugby league competition was started in Sydney in the 1990s.
Competition rules for the 1995 season had modifications to team size. On-field teams were between seven (minimum) and ten (maximum) players, with the number for a match being determined by the availability of players on the day. Including players starting on the bench, teams were limited to fourteen players. The number of interchanges been on-field and bench was unlimited. Scrums were three players per team in a front row formation. Game time was two thirty minute halves.
Eight teams nominated for the 1995 SWRL season: Bankstown, Blacktown, Cabbage Tree Hotel (Bulli), Mount Pritchard, Northern Reds, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels Juniors, and Riverwood. Both Northern Reds and North Sydney had their home games scheduled at the same venue, Tunks Park in Cammeray. Fourteen rounds were scheduled from late April to mid-August, with the Grand Final in early September 1995.
This competition folded after the conclusion of the 2000 season.
In 2001, the New South Wales Women's Rugby League staged exhibition and trial matches in lieu of a competition.
The Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League restarted a competition in 2005. A meeting in March 2005 at the PCYC in Miller, south west of Sydney was the catalyst to get the women's competition up and running again.
Sydney Metropolitan - Rugby League Clubs with Women's Teams In the 2025 season, four open-age women's rugby league competitions featured teams from Sydney.
Metro Combined (8 teams): Cabramatta Two Blues, Marrickville RSL, Mascot, Milperra Colts, Mounties, Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Stags, Redfern All Blacks, and Wentworthville Magpies. Metro Combined (6 teams): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Chipping Norton, Forestville Ferrets, Lalor Park, Leichhardt Wanderers, Hills District Bulls. In Round 6 the above competitions were restructured. Chipping Norton, Forestville Ferrets and Leichhardt Wanderers moved from gold to silver. Cabramatta Two Blues, Milperra Colts, Mounties, and Wentworthville Magpies moved from silver to gold. Both competitions commenced on 6 April and ran to Round 15 on 10 August 2025, followed by a final series that concluded with a Grand Final on 31 August 2025. Redfern All Blacks defeated Mounties in the gold competition. Chipping Norton defeated Hills District Bulls in the silver competition.
Southern Corridor (3 teams from Sydney, 3 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions): Sydney: Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Campbelltown Collegians, Cronulla Caringbah Sharks, The Oaks Tigers. Illawarra & South Coast: Corrimal Cougars, Helensburgh Tigers, Shellharbour Sharks. Southern Corridor (7 teams from Sydney, 3 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions): Sydney: Camden Rams, De La Salle Caringbah, Engadine Dragons, Glenquarie All Stars, Oran Park Chargers, Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters, Warragamba Wombats. Illawarra & South Coast: Avondale Wombats, Stingrays of Shellharbour, and Western Suburbs Red Devils. In Round 7 the above competitions were restructured. Engadine Dragons were moved from gold to silver. A second Campbelltown City Kangaroos team dropped out. Both competitions commenced on 26 April and ran to Round 15 on 10 August 2025, followed by a final series that concluded with a Grand Final on 30 August 2025. Corrimal Cougars defeated Campbelltown City Kangaroos in the gold competition. Camden Rams defeated De La Salle Caringbah in the silver competition.
Premiers YearPremiersScoreRunner-ups Sydney Women's Rugby League 1992 North Sydney 10 – 8 Wildfires 1993 Waverton Eagles 1994 Blacktown Wildfires 22 – 18 Waverton Eagles 1995 Bulli Parramatta Eels 1996 South Sydney 26–16 Parramatta Eels1997 South Sydney 26–14 Parramatta Eels 1998 1999 2000 St Marys Saints 2001-04 No Premiership Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League2005 Redfern All Blacks 2006 Canley Vale Kookas 18 – 8 Newtown Jetettes 2007 Cabramatta Two Blues Forestville Ferrets 2008 Forestville Ferrets 8 – 6 Canley Vale Kookas 2009 Forestville Ferrets 24 – 16 East Campbelltown Eagles 2010 Cabramatta Two Blues Canley Heights Dragons 2011 Canley Heights Dragons 12 – 6 Forestville Ferrets 2012 Canley Heights Dragons Blacktown2013 Canley Heights Dragons 44 – 6 Forestville Ferrets 2014 Canley Heights Dragons 42-26 Redfern All Blacks 2015 Greenacre Tigers 14-12 Forestville Ferrets 2016 Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks 26-22 Greenacre Tigers NSW Women's Premiership2017 Redfern All Blacks 26-16 North Newcastle 2018 Mounties 12-10 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2019 CRL Newcastle 12-10 Mounties 2020 Commenced but not completed, due to Covid-19 Metro Combined Gold 2021 Commenced but not completed, due to Covid-19 2022 West Mounties 54-6 Wentworthville Magpies 2022 East La Perouse Panthers 22-10 Asquith Magpies 2023 Wentworthville Magpies 22-18 Milperra Colts 2024 St Christopher's 18-4 Mounties 2025 Redfern All Blacks 14-12 Mounties
Premiership Tally Rank Club Tally Seasons Metro1 Canley Heights Dragons 4 4 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) 2 Redfern All Blacks 3 1 (2005) 1 (2017) 1 (2025)3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2 2 (1996, 1997) 3 Forestville Ferrets 2 2 (2008, 2009) 3 Cabramatta Two Blues 2 2 (2007, 2010) 3 Mount Pritchard Mounties 2 1 (2018) 1 (2022 West)7 North Sydney 1 1 (1992) 7 Waverton Eagles 1 1 (1993) 7 Blacktown Wildfires 1 1 (1994) 7 Bulli (Cabbage Tree Hotel) 1 1 (1995) 7 Canley Vale Kookas 1 1 (2006) 7 Greenacre Tigers 1 1 (2015) 7 Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks 1 1 (2016) 7 Country Rugby League Newcastle 1 1 (2019) 7 La Perouse Panthers 1 1 (2022 East)7 Wentworthville Magpies 1 1 (2023)7 St Christopher's 1 1 (2024) Bold means the team currently plays in the competition.
Clubs by season 1990s 1992 (5 teams) Bankstown, Bonnyrigg, North Sydney, Parramatta, and Wildfires. 1993 (6 teams) Bankstown Sports, Bonnyrigg Warriors, North Sydney, Waverton Eagles, Western Sydney, and Wildfires. 1994 (5 teams) Bankstown Sports, Blacktown, North Sydney, Western Sydney, and Waverton Eagles. There was also a four team competition in the Illawarra: Bulli Eagles, Lakeview Bears, Picton Magpies, and Wollongong. 1995 (8 teams) Bankstown Sports, Blacktown Wildfires, Cabbage Tree Hotel (Bulli Eagles), Mount Pritchard, Northern Reds, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels Juniors, and Riverwood. The Illawarra competition having collapsed, players from the region entered the Sydney Competition as the Cabbage Tree Hotel (Bulli). The team was referred to as Bulli in July. There were two name changes: Western Sydney to Mount Pritchard and Waverton to Northern Reds. 1996 (5 teams) Mount Pritchard, North Sydney, Parramatta Eels, Penrith, South Sydney. 1997 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: North Sydney, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, St. Marys. 1998 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, Western Suburbs Magpies. 1999 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Parramatta Eels, South Sydney, Western Suburbs Magpies.
2000s 2001 No competition. The New South Wales Women's Rugby League staged a thirteen-a-side trial between South Sydney and Doonside and several other exhibition matches.
2002 No competition.
2003 No competition.
2004 No competition.
2005 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Canley Vale Kookaburras, Newtown Jetettes, and Redfern All Blacks.
2006 (6 teams) Canley Vale Kookaburras, Guildford Owls, Newtown Jetettes, Parramatta Eels Juniors, Redfern All Blacks, and Windsor Wolves. Guildford, Parramatta, and Windsor joined the competition.
2007 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Cabramatta Two Blues, Canley Vale Kookaburras, Canterbury Bulldogs, Forestville Ferrets (debut), and Renown United.
2008 Campbelltown Eagles, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Nepean, Penrith, Newtown Jetettes, and Redfern All Blacks.
2009 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, East Campbelltown Eagles, Forestville Ferrets, Newtown Jetettes, and Penrith Waratahs (debut).
2010s 2010 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: All Saints Toongabbie, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Guildford Owls.
2011 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Merrylands, Minchinbury Jets.
2012 (8 teams) Auburn Warriors, Blacktown Workers, Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Maitland Pickers (debut), Minchinbury Jets, Penrith Waratahs, Redfern All Blacks. An Illawarra team participated in and won the State Championships held at St Marys on a long weekend, 9-11 June 2012.
2013 (unsure of exact team numbers) Teams included: Canley Heights Dragons, Forestville Ferrets, Maitland Pickers, Penrith Waratahs.
2015 (11 teams) Eleven teams competed, including three from clubs outside of Sydney. Within Sydney (8 teams): Berala Bears (debut), Forestville Ferrets, Greenacre Tigers, Lower Mountains, Mount Druitt PCYC, Minto Cobras, Redfern All Blacks, Penrith Waratahs. Outside Sydney (3 teams): Berkeley Vale Panthers, Helensburgh Tigers (debut), Maitland Pickers. The Helensburgh Tigers also fielded a team in a four-team Illawarra competition. The other clubs were Berkeley Eagles, Corrimal Cougars, and Windang Pelicans. Two tiers of finals series matches were staged. Greenacre Tigers played Forestville Ferrets in the Tier A grand final. Berkeley Vale Panthers played Berala Bears in the Tier B grand final.
2016 In 2016, the Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League included the following clubs.
Team Home Ground Open Div 1 Open Div 2 Under 18's Under 15'sBerala BearsPeter Hislop Park Berkeley Vale PanthersMorry Breen Oval Chester Hill RhinosTerry Lamb ComplexCronulla-Caringbah SharksCronulla High School Forestville Ferrets Forestville Park Glenmore Park BrumbiesChed Towns Reserve Greenacre Tigers Roberts Park Hunter Stars Cessnock Sportsground MaroubraSnape Park MinchinburyMt Druitt Reserve Mount Pritchard MountiesMount Pritchard Oval Penrith Waratahs Doug Rennie Field Redfern All BlacksWaterloo Oval
2020s 2020 No competition due to lockdown measures taken to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021 In the 2021 season, three open-age women's rugby league competitions were conducted across Sydney. Combined Women's (9 teams): Como Jannali Crocodiles, Forestville Ferrets, La Perouse Panthers, Leichhardt Wanderers, Marrickville RSL Kings, Mascot Jets, North Sydney Brothers, Redfern All Blacks, Ryde Eastwood Hawks. Penrith and District (8 teams): Blacktown City Bears, Doonside Roos, Emu Plains Emus, Minchinbury Jets, Mt Druitt Lions, Penrith Waratahs, St Clair Comets, St Marys Saints. Central Macarthur Western (5 teams): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Campbelltown Collegians Collie Dogs, Hinchbrook Hornets, Milperra Colts, Moorebank Rams.
2022 Metro Combined West (5 teams): Minchinbury Jets, Mounties, St Clair Comets, St Marys Saints, Wentworthville Magpies. Metro Combined East (6 teams): Asquith Magpies, Como Jannali Crocoles, La Perouse Panthers, Marrickville RSL, Mascot Jets, Redfern All Blacks. Metro Combined East (6 teams): All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Blacktown City Bears, Forestville Ferrets, Leichhardt Wanderers, Penshurst RSL Kookaburras, Riverwood Legion. Asquith Magpies were promoted from to during the season, first appearing in the East competition in Round 7. Macarthur (6 teams from Sydney, 2 teams from the Illawarra & South Coast regions):