BWSL: Five must-see Rounds in 2024

With just days to go until Round 1 of the revamped 2024 Betfred Women's Super League, it vows to be another extraordinary season.

Can York Valkyrie retain their Super League crown for a third consecutive year? Will another team contest with the best and lift the League Leaders' Shield this time around? And how will newly-promoted sides Barrow Raiders and Featherstone Rovers survive in their debut Super League seasons, following their impressive promotions last year?

We've compiled five enticing fixtures and the rounds to watch out for in 2024.

ROUND 1 

York Valkyrie v St Helens (Grand Final Winners v Challenge Cup Winners)

The new Women's Super League season will kick-off in emphatic fashion when the two sides who currently hold the sport's biggest trophies go head-to-head in Round 1.

2023 Grand Final winners York Valkyrie will host a strong St Helens side - and will step out onto home soil for the first time since their magnificent Grand Final victory, which was in front of a record-breaking crowd. 

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— York RLFC Valkyrie (@YorkValkyrie) October 8, 2023

York enjoyed a successful season both on and off the field last year, becoming the first team in the Women's Super League to offer their players professional contracts - their captain and 2023 Woman of Steel Sinead Peach the first to pen a deal, as well as Valkyrie's vice-captain, Tara Jane Stanley and England international Liv Wood, highlighting a rapid rise and growth in the profile of women's rugby league.

St Helens, who bagged their third consecutive Challenge Cup win last year, will be keen to kickstart their 2024 Super League season with a win and will no doubt be targeting this mouth-watering first round clash. The Valkyrie completed the double over St Helens last season, going on to lift the League Leaders' Shield and finishing five points clear at the top of table.

The team that would follow in second place happened to be the St Helens side, and therefore, the points at stake in Round 1 and in Round 6 in their reverse leg, could prove to be valuable come the end of the campaign.

Leeds Rhinos v Huddersfield Giants (Derby day)

There is also a hotly-anticipated West Yorkshire derby taking place in Round 1, with Leeds Rhinos hosting Huddersfield Giants. It will be an extremely tough test for the Giants Women who finished on just two points and at the bottom in last season's league standings, but could they be on for a better year in 2024? There is no better way to start than a local derby to gear themselves up for!

ROUND 3

York Valkyrie v Leeds Rhinos (Grand Final re-match)

Onto Round 3 and an electrifying Grand Final re-match will take place between York Valkyrie and Leeds at the same venue. 

It was celebrations for the Valkyrie as they wrapped up a 16-6 win back in October to become the Champions, whereas Leeds suffered double heartbreak, following their Challenge Cup Final loss earlier on in the year. This fixture will be the first time the sides have met since the Grand Final showdown and it is predicted to be a blockbuster encounter.

During the off-season, Leeds made a statement with their strong recruitment drive, showing they could be a force to be reckoned with in 2024. The Rhinos snapped up Valkyrie duo Grace Field and Liv Whitehead, who both assisted with York's 2022 and 2023 League Leaders' Shield wins and could be set to make their Rhinos debuts against their former side.

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We are delighted to announce that @livwhiteheadx and Grace Field have joined Leeds Rhinos Women for the 2024 season.
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) October 31, 2023

As the two semi-professional clubs of the Women's Super League meet again in this Round 3 encounter, fans can expect not only a brutal derby clash, but hopefully a thrilling game of rugby league with an array of talent on display. But who will take the two points?

ROUND 4

Barrow Raiders v Featherstone (Newly-promoted sides)

The Women's Super League has undergone a restructure for the 2024 competition, now consisting of eight teams, instead of six. This decision to change will see both Barrow Raiders and Featherstone Rovers compete in the top tier this year, who will be hoping they can cause a few upsets along the way.

The Rovers gained automatic promotion following a remarkable season in Women's Super League Group 2 last year, whereas Barrow produced a spirited performance to come from behind and clinch a decisive victory over Leigh Leopards in the league's Promotion Final.

The two sides will first meet in May in Round 4 before the return leg in August, and neither of the newly-promoted will want to be the ones who finish at the bottom, so may look to target these set of fixtures in particular. But firstly, the Raiders and Rovers should be relishing the thought of competing in Super League, as they prepare to test themselves with best in the top flight.

Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors (Derby day)

Similar to their male counterparts over in the Betfred Super League, a fierce local derby is also on the cards in Round 4 when Warrington Wolves take on Wigan Warriors at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Finishing in fourth (Wigan) and fifth positions (Warrington) respectively last year, both will be looking to flourish this time around and capitalise where they can. And both sides should certainly look to capitalise in this rivals round when they come face to face at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. It is Wigan who currently have the spoils after a 20-12 home victory in July, but all of this could be set to change in the fourth round.

ROUND 7

Leeds Rhinos v St Helens (Challenge Cup re-match)

Another rematch is on the cards when Leeds Rhinos host St Helens at AMT Headingley Stadium in Round 7 (the reverse fixture is in Round 4).

The Rhinos could be out for revenge on home soil, after Matty Smith's Saints side have prevented them from lifting the Challenge Cup trophy for two years running.

A dominant Saints side went on to defend the Challenge Cup for a third consecutive year in 2023, securing a phenomenal 22-8 victory over the Rhinos at Wembley.

Therefore, fans can expect a tense, but quality encounter, where one of Leeds' key signings in England international Shona Hoyle could face her former side.

Saints will travel to the Rhinos in search of a vital win, as they will not want to lose focus on the league in 2024. Leeds will also be seeking a dominant performance and the two points, whilst laying a marker down to the rest of the competition that they mean business this year.

ROUND 13

Barrow Raiders v Huddersfield Giants (2023 strugglers v 2024 newcomers)

In Round 13, last year's Super League strugglers Huddersfield travel to one of the newly-promoted sides, Barrow Raiders, and it will be interesting to see how the Giants perform against the likes of Barrow and Featherstone (who are also newcomers for the 2024 campaign).

As the regular league competition will be reaching its climax in this penultimate round, the result from this match could end up having an influence on the final 2024 league standings, so a win here for both sides could be key for a number of reasons.

The full list of Betfred Women's Super League fixtures can be found here.