My Why: Dani McGifford

This weekend (Sunday 5 October), Wigan Warriors will face St Helens in the Betfred Women’s Super League Grand Final. 

As they look ahead to the epic event, players have been encouraged to reflect on the reasons behind their passion for playing Rugby League in the “My Why” campaign. 

The women's reasons are emotional, heartfelt and truly courageous, and earlier this week, we caught up with Saints winger Dani McGifford on her “why” in the sport and the drivers behind her game.  

And it is a very special story.

McGifford’s Rugby League career started relatively late in comparison to most. A former heptathlete, the winger grew up watching St Helens with her ‘Gangan’ [Grandad] and her family, before picking up the ball herself just two years ago, aged 28.  

She credits her late Grandad for inspiring her to get involved with Rugby League, after his kind words of encouragement: 

"I used to watch St Helens rugby with my Gangan and my family. We were all season ticket holders," McGifford said as she bravely opened up for the first time.

Dani McGifford and her Gangan at the 2019 Betfred Super League Grand Final

“My Gangan loved rugby and was a massive advocate for women’s sport in general. He loved watching women’s football on the telly and then when Saints Women started to play at the stadium, we went and watched the women’s game together," McGifford said.

Dani McGifford's Nana and Gangan at the men's team's End of Season Awards

“At the time I was competing in athletics, which I had been doing for most of my life. 

“One day I was just sat there watching the rugby when he turned and said to me ‘One day I reckon I could see you running down this touchline.’ 

“I laughed at him and said, ‘I think there’s a bit more to it than that, you know, just running down the touchline!’ 

“A couple of years passed, COVID-19 came, and we sadly lost him; he passed away just a couple of years after that conversation. 

“I’ve never actually spoken about ‘My Why’ before, but this is it. After he passed away, I had a few years trying to find myself in sport and really struggled with my athletics – it wasn’t for me anymore. 

“Then an opportunity came up at Saints and I thought I’ll give it a go. I wanted to do it for him, my Gangan. 

“And that is still ‘My Why’ today and why I’m enjoying doing what I’m doing so much. Everything is for him, but also for young girls to show that it is possible to work your way up and play in such iconic venues. 

Dani McGifford's Mum and Sister supporting St Helens at the 2023 Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final - the first to be played at Wembley Stadium

“It’s just such a special sport to be involved in. Having been involved in an individual sport for so long and then coming into a family sport – I feel so, so lucky."

And if only her Gangan could see her now, he would be ever so proud.

Cemeting a starting spot in 2025, the 30-year-old speedster finished the regular season as the team’s top try scorer, adding 19 tries to Saints’ total. And although she is super proud of her achievement, McGifford gives plenty of credit to her team for helping her get there: 

“I love pulling on this shirt. It’s really special to me. It is a closeness, especially when I get to play at Saints’ stadium. That's where we had a lot of our best memories as a family. 

“I worked really hard over pre-season and look where I am now! The fact that I’m the top try scorer is a bit mental! I only realised it was a thing towards the back end of the year. I think a game came up on Sky Sports and people were saying ‘don't you know that you’re the top try scorer?’ and I said, ‘I didn’t have a clue!’ 

“I still can’t believe it if I’m honest, but it genuinely is a credit to everyone around me at the club. 

“When a winger ends up being top try scorer, it's because everybody on the inside has done their job right, and it's a testament to the work that Saints have put into me and the amount of help and support I've had from all the girls that I take to the field with."

Saints and Wigan have had their fair share of battles in 2025, but McGifford is keen to show Saints have what it takes to overcome the Warriors once again in Sunday's Grand Final - especially after the men’s team’s shock victory against Leeds Rhinos in last weekend’s Play-Off Eliminators:

“I’m excited for Sunday. We have fallen short [against Wigan] on previous occasions, but I think that has just fuelled the fire more than anything. 

.@saints1890women strike first through Dani McGifford ??#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/mtn1HjnkpU

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 29, 2025

“The last game we played was the Shield Decider, which could have been anyone’s game. 

“Hopefully this time we manage to pull it all together. And after watching the men at the weekend just gone…well…never write off the Saints, right?

“I think there have been occasions this year where we have been written off and we've been branded the old days of the league and you know, and we're past it almost.

“But the men have shown this weekend that they’re here to fight and so are we, so never write us off. If we grind it out and keep fighting until the bitter end, then anything can happen. 

“We’re going to give it everything we’ve got and hopefully we get to lift that trophy.

“I’ve not had chance to play at The Brick Community Stadium before, so I’m really excited to take to that field. I spent a lot of time in the stands watching Wigan versus Saints derbies and now I’m going to be playing it in a Women’s Grand Final!"

As the ‘My Why’ theme returns to the Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final this year, each player will also select a young girl or person who is special to them to be their game day mascot.  

This is McGifford's:

“My mascot is a little girl called Sophie. Her mum, Sharon, is my athletics coach and has been with me since the age of 13.

"She's pretty much a second mum to me and a massive role model in my life. Everything I've done in my athletics career was down to her and everything she did for me. 

“It’s going to be really special to walk out with her [Sophie] at the weekend and have Sharon watching as well. Just her having my name on the back of her shirt too – it’s a bit of a full circle moment."

McGifford hopes that seeing her play the sport inspires other girls to get involved with the game, no matter what their age:

“You’ve got people who I'm playing with and against who have done this since the age of like six and have absolutely loved it from that age. 

“But then you've got my story, which is slightly different. There's not many people that have come into the game so late. I know there's a couple that have gone from union to league, but I don't think there's too many that have come from a completely different sport.  

“I used to compete against Wigan’s Anna Davies in hurdles though! Anna was also influential in my decision to try rugby league, and now we’ll be going head-to-head at the weekend! 

“Seeing the young girls in the crowd is amazing. And I hope they know that they have all these options – whether that’s starting young or in later life. It used to be a pipe dream, but it’s not anymore and anything can be a reality if you work hard enough!"

And as she herself looks ahead at her future, the winger still has plenty of goals she wants to achieve: 

“A big goal for mine would be to make that World Cup squad next year for Wales. 

“My aim is pre-season is to work really hard and hopefully I get the chance to pull on the Saints shirt again, which means so much to me. Having a chance to go to Australia for the World Cup would be my ultimate goal.

"But let's get the job done on Sunday first."

The Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final will take place at The Brick Community Stadium on Sunday 5 October (K.O. 5:30pm), live on Sky Sports.

Get your tickets for the BWSL's season finale here!