York RLFC
Club information
Full nameYork Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Valkyrie
Colours Black and Amber
Founded2016 (2016)
WebsiteOfficial website
Current details
Ground(s)
CompetitionRFL Women's Super League
20231st
Current season
Records
Women's Super League1 (2023)
League Leaders' Shield2 (2022, 2023)

The York Valkyrie are the women's rugby league team of York RLFC (known as York City Knights from 2002 to 2022) based in York, England. The Valkyrie, who were established in 2016 as the York City Knights Ladies, compete in the Women's Super League and play their home games at York Community Stadium which is also home to the York RLFC men's team, the York Knights, and football club, York City F.C.

History

In May 2016 the York City Knights Ladies team was launched in partnership with the Knights Foundation. The team was formed to take part in the Women's Summer Merit League and although it included several players from the York Ladies team who had competed in the Women's Rugby League Association (winter season) League the head coach, Andy Fletcher, described it as "a brand new club and a brand new team".[1][2][3] The previous club had been based at the New Easrwick All Blacks ground and also used the facilities at York Acorn.[4] The partnership meant that the team had use of the facilities at the Knights training base at York St John University's sports park.[1][3]

In 2017 the team went undefeated in the Merit League and won the Challenge Shield.[5][6] They were accepted into the RFL Women's Super League in 2018[7] but had a poor start losing their first game 40–0 to St Helens.[8] The team initially struggled in the Super League where their first win did not come until their tenth match when they defeated Featherstone Rovers 20–12.[6] However, in the Challenge Cup they reached the semi-final for the first time.[9] In 2019, York reached the final of the Challenge Shield,[10] but York continued to struggle in the league where they won only one game.[11] In 2020, Katie Langan, who had been with the York Ladies and then City Knights teams since 2009, was appointed as captain.[12] Following the Covid-enforced cancellation of the 2020 season, the team made several changes both on and off the field. To provide off-field support for the team coaches the club created the role of ladies team manager in 2020[13] and in April 2021 Lindsay Anfield was appointed as their first director of women's rugby league.[11][14] A few weeks later five players from Anfield's former club, Castleford, joined the team.[15][16] York reached the final of 2021 Challenge Cup[11] and in the league they qualified for the play-off semi-finals.[17] York began the 2022 season by winning the inaugural Women's Nines[18] and went on to be the winners of the 2022 Women's Super League Leaders' Shield.[19] They also had three players shortlisted for the 2022 Woman of Steel including Tara-Jane Stanley, who won the award, and Hollie-Mae Dodd, who was named 2022 Young Player of the Year.[20][21] The third nominee was Sinead Peach who had been appointed co-captain with Langan at the start of the season.[22]

A black double-decker bus with amber coloured writing: "York RLFC" on the front, and "A revolution is coming" on the side
First York bus promoting York RLFC's re-branding[23]

On 14 October 2022 York City Knights announced that the club had changed its name to York RLFC, with the men's team still being known as the Knights and the women's team becoming the Valkyrie. As part of the rebrand both teams introduced new logos.[24] In January 2023, the team became the second in the Super League to announce that it would introduce payments for their players following the statement made in October by Leeds Rhinos.[25][26] In the 2023 season, York lost in the semi-finals of both the Women's Nines[27] and the Challenge Cup,[28] but went unbeaten in the league to retain their League Leaders' Shield and claimed the Super League title with a 16–6 win against Leeds in the Grand Final.[29] Sinead Peach, who was promoted to team captain at the start of the season,[22] won the 2023 Woman of Steel, and Lindsay Anfield was named Women's Super League Coach of the Year.[30] On 27 October 2023, York became the first team in the Women's Super League to sign its players on to professional contracts with Peach, Stanley and Liv Wood each offered two-year deals.[31] Two weeks later York had signed a squad of twenty players on to two-year professional contracts.[32][33] On 21 December 2023, York and Sheffield Eagles announced the establishment of a dual registration partnership.[34]

Stadiums

York St John University Sports Park

A group photo of two rugby league teams on a sports field
York Valkyrie with the PNG Orchids (20 October 2022)

In 2012 York St John University acquired a sports park on Haxby Road, York, which they named 'York St John University Sports Centre Nestlé Rowntree Park'.[35] A multi-million-pound redevelopment included the creation of a 3G pitch for football and rugby.[36] The use of the sports park as a training base for the rugby club is part of a partnership agreement with the university.[37] The women's team also used it for playing their home matches.[2] On 23 April 2017 York City Knights Ladies played their first match at the sports park winning 10–8 against Huddersfield St Joseph’s Ladies.[3][38]

In 2021 a £1 million investment, partly funded by the Rugby League World Cup CreatedBy programme, was used to build a 4G pitch matching the specifications of York Community Stadium.[37][39] During the 2021 Rugby League World Cup the sports park hosted the Cook Islands women's team[40] and was the venue for the warm-up match between the Valkyrie and the Papua New Guinea Orchids on 20 October 2022.[41]

York Community Stadium

The York Community Stadium, which is home to football club York City F.C. and York RLFC, was first proposed in 2009 but due to numerous delays it was not completed until December 2020.[42] However, the restrictions at the start of the 2021 Super League season meant that matches were the split between venues in Leeds and Warrington.[43] In May 2021, the Valkyrie played their first match at the Community Stadium; the semi-final of the Challenge Cup in which a hat-trick by Savannah Andrade saw York overcome Castleford 32–4.[44][45] The stadium, which has a capacity of 8,500,[46] was a venue for the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup.[47] In October 2023, the crowd of 4,547 for the match between York Valkyrie and Leeds Rhinos set an attendance record for a RFL Women's Super League Grand Final.[48]

Players

2024 Squad

York Valkyrie 2024 Squad
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Savannah Andrade
  • Rhiannion Marshall
  • Georgie Hetherington
  • Jess Sharp
  • Ash Hyde
  • Sade Rihari
  • Ellie Hendry
  • Daisy Sanderson
  • Bettie Lambert
  • Kelsey Gentles
  • Georgia Taylor
  • Eboni Partington



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 November 2023
Source(s):

Internationals

Players who earned international caps while playing for York City Knights Ladies or York Valkyrie:

Seasons

Season League Play-offs Challenge Cup Other competitions Refs
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
2017 Merit League 76102805813 1st — R1 Challenge Shield W [5][58]
2018 Super League 121011785482 7th — SF [9][58]
2019 Super League 131012685202 7th — R2 Challenge Shield RU [58][59][60]
2020 Super League Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [43]
2021 Super League 750219810610 4th Lost in Semi-final RU [58][61][62][63]
Play-offs 420252664 3rd
2022 Super League 87012425814 1st Lost in Grand Final SF Nines W [18][64][65][66]
2023 Super League 109103767419 1st Won in Grand Final SF Nines SF [27][28][29][67]

    Honours

    References

    1. 1 2 Martini, Peter (17 May 2016). "New York City Knights Ladies team is launched on back of York Ladies' league and cup double". The Press. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    2. 1 2 Martini, Peter (29 June 2022). "FEATURE: New high for York City Knights Ladies as women's rugby league continues to grow". The Press. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    3. 1 2 3 "Knights Ladies primed for home debut". York City Knights. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021.
    4. ↑ "Clubs - York Ladies - About". York & District ARL. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
    5. 1 2 3 Powell, Jennie (1 August 2017). "Bradford Bulls take the Challenge Cup and York City the Shield". 4 The Love of Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    6. 1 2 Martini, Peter (10 September 2018). "York City Knights Ladies defy critics to bag maiden Super League win". The Press. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    7. ↑ "Sports | York City Knights Ladies need you!". York St John Students' Union. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    8. ↑ Willacy, Gavin (19 April 2018). "Rugby league finally has a national women's competition to celebrate". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    9. 1 2 "Leeds to take on Castleford in Women's Challenge Cup Final". Rugby-League.com. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    10. ↑ "REPLAY | Army Rugby League 40-4 York City Knights | Women's Challenge Shield". Rugby-League.com. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
    11. 1 2 3 McKenna, Ben (20 November 2021). "York City Knights Ladies showing their ambition on and off the field". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    12. ↑ "York Valkyrie Co-Captain Katie Langan announces retirement after 14 years". Rugby-League.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
    13. ↑ "York City Knights Ladies come leaps and bounds ahead of 2020 season!". York RLFC. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    14. ↑ "Momentous day for York! Anfield, Cuthbertson and Windley join ladies' performance staff". York City Knights. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021.
    15. ↑ Smith, Peter (7 May 2021). "Five players leave Castleford Tigers women's side - England stars join former coach at York City Knights". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
    16. ↑ Sternik, Seb (24 May 2021). "York City Knights Ladies into Challenge Cup final with 32-4 win over Castleford Tigers". The Press. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    17. ↑ "Betfred WSL Preview | Play-Off Semi-Finals". Rugby-League.com. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
    18. 1 2 3 Pattison, Cam (24 July 2022). "Leeds Rhinos and St Helens come up short as York City Knights win Women's Nines competition". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    19. 1 2 "York City Knights claim Betfred Women's Super League Leaders' Shield". Rugby-League.com. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    20. ↑ "York's Tara-Jane Stanley is named Woman of Steel". Rugby-League.com. 22 September 2022.
    21. ↑ "York City Knights Ladies star wins 2022 young player of year". The Press. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
    22. 1 2 "Sinead Peach to captain York Valkyrie in 2023". Rugby-League.com. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    23. ↑ "First Bus becomes York RLFC Partner for third season". York RLFC. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
    24. ↑ "#RiseUp". York RLFC. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
    25. ↑ "Paying players another step in the right direction for women's rugby league". Love Rugby League. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
    26. ↑ "York Valkyrie players to be paid from 2023 season, chairman reveals". The Press. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
    27. 1 2 "Leeds Rhinos lift first Women's Rugby League trophy of 2023". Rugby-League.com. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
    28. 1 2 "Women's Challenge Cup: St Helens 17-16 York Valkyrie - Saints secure Wembley trip with late drop-goal". BBC Sport. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
    29. 1 2 3 "Women's Super League Grand Final: York Valkyrie 16-2 Leeds Rhinos - Lindsay Anfield ends wait for glory". BBC Sport. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
    30. ↑ "Bevan French: Wigan Warriors stand-off wins 2023 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award". BBC Sport. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    31. ↑ "Women's Super League champions York Valkyrie make history as players sign professional contracts". Sky Sports. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
    32. ↑ "York Valkyrie: Women's Super League champions extend number of professional deals to 12". BBC Sport. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    33. ↑ "Eight more players sign professional deals with York Valkyrie". The Press. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
    34. ↑ "Eagles Make Two Major Announcements". Sheffield Eagles. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
    35. ↑ "York St John announces major acquisition of sports park and theatre". York St John University. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    36. ↑ Prest, Victoria (8 January 2015). "York St John University submits plans for new sports hub on Haxby Road". The Press. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    37. 1 2 "York St John University extend partnership with Knights". Rugby-League.com. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    38. ↑ Powell, Jennie (25 April 2017). "Women's Rugby League Results 23 April : Fixtures for 30 April". 4 The Love of Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    39. ↑ "Our League to show PDRL Grand Final". Everything Rugby League. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    40. ↑ "York St John to host international women's team during Rugby League World Cup". York St John University. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    41. ↑ "Boss hails 'international-like' experience for York Valkyrie". The Press. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
    42. ↑ "York's long-delayed 8,000-seat stadium completed". BBC News. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
    43. 1 2 "Betfred Women's Super League 2021". York City Knights. 11 April 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022.
    44. ↑ Richardson, Joe (13 May 2021). "York City Knights Ladies to play Challenge Cup semi-final at Community Stadium". The Press. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    45. ↑ "York and St Helens in Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final". Rugby-League.com. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
    46. ↑ "Promising signs for the Knights in LNER Community Stadium debut: Thursday 11th March - pre-season". York City Knights. 15 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021.
    47. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup: Eight matches confirmed for York – tickets now on sale". YorkMix. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    48. ↑ "York Valkyrie win first Betfred Women's Super League title in front of record Grand Final crowd". Rugby-League.com. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
    49. 1 2 3 4 "Knights International Watch". York RLFC. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    50. 1 2 3 "Wales 6–32 England". European Rugby League. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    51. ↑ "England 60–0 Wales". European Rugby League. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    52. ↑ "Ladies trio involved in international RL". York RLFC. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    53. ↑ "Head Coach Stuart Barrow names 19-player squad to face Wales on Saturday". Rugby-League.com. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    54. ↑ "England 60-0 Wales: Lacey Owen scores on debut as clinical hosts run in 11 tries". BBC Sport. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
    55. 1 2 "Record six Valkyrie stars feature for England in 64-0 win over France". York RLFC. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
    56. ↑ "Italy 6–30 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    57. ↑ "France 14-4 Wales - Hosts too strong in Carcassonne". BBC Sport. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
    58. 1 2 3 4 "Match Centre". Rugby-League.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
    59. ↑ "Women's Super League 2019". LeagueUnlimited. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    60. ↑ Sternik, Sebastian (28 May 2019). "Favourites all progress in Women's Challenge Cup". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    61. ↑ "Women's Super League 2021". LeagueUnlimited. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    62. ↑ "St Helens outclass York to take Women's Challenge Cup with Woosey double". The Guardian. 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    63. ↑ "Saints and Leeds to meet in Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final". Rugby-League.com. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
    64. ↑ "Betfred Women's Super League Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
    65. ↑ "Women's Super League Grand Final: York City Knights 4-12 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    66. ↑ Heptinstall, Steve (29 April 2022). "York City Knights 26 Leeds Rhinos Women 28: Late penalty puts Rhinos in Challenge Cup final". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
    67. ↑ "Betfred Women's Super League Table". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
    68. ↑ "Women's Super League: York Valkyrie secure top spot to retain Leaders' Shield". BBC Sport. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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