NRLW to expand to 10 teams for 2023 season

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has today announced the addition of four new teams to an expanded NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership competition from 2023.

The Commission has confirmed that Canberra Raiders, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers have been awarded licences for admission to the Premiership in 2023.

The fast-tracking of the four teams into the league will mean the NRLW competition will be represented from Townsville in far-north Queensland to Canberra, with three Clubs in Queensland, six in NSW and one in the ACT and will expand to ten teams for 2023 - trebling in size since its inaugural season in 2018.

Explaining the rapid expansion of the women's game, ARLC Chairman, Peter V'landys stated “we have a blueprint for investing in the women's game at all levels. We have seen from with the quality of the 2021 NRLW Premiership and the tremendous growth in female participation that we have capacity for sustainable growth.

"The Commission have again demonstrated that the women's game is a strategic priority. The quality of the club submissions was excellent.

"The Commission had always left the door open to expand to a 10-team competition based on the quality of the applicants, and we have seen that come through both in the success of the 2021 Premiership and the quality and applications made by clubs."

The league had initially planned to go to eight teams in 2023 and then 10 in 2024, but has decided to fast-track the competition's growth.

NRL Chief Executive, Andrew Abdo added “today is another exciting milestone in the growth of Women's Premiership.

"The Sharks and the Tigers have strong teams in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership, and the Raiders and the Cowboys already have strong participation bases.

"We will continue to work with all NRL Clubs on the plans for further expansion beyond 2023 and the right time for each club to potentially enter the NRLW Premiership."

The tournament, which started in 2018 with four clubs, added three further teams earlier this year as Newcastle, Parramatta and Gold Coast joined foundation clubs St George Illawarra, Brisbane and Sydney Roosters.

This year's second NRLW season is expected to kick off in late August.