The WRLA committee would like you to introduce our 2016 Yorkshire and Lancashire Head Coaches; Craig Taylor and John Davenport.

Craig who will be coaching the Yorkshire side has been coaching in the Women and Girls game for 4 years with Batley Bulldogs Girls. His girl’s teams has been RFL League Champions for the last two seasons and have recently returned from an Australia Tour, where Craig had the opportunity to work closely with female development officers in the Australian game. Craig has been awarded Just last week with the Award of Man of The Year at the Her RL and press association awards evening for his outstanding commitment to the ladies game.

John who will be heading the Lancashire side is coaching Wigan St Judes Girls and Ladies teams. He was second place to winning the coach of the year at Wigan and Leigh Sports awards along with being the runner up to the RFL National Junior Coach of the Year.

John formed Wigan St Judes with 4 girls and they have now developed to Include all ages from U13's to U17's along with a Ladies team also running this year.

WRLA Chair Steve Manning,

“The game will culminate a double header of rugby league when the BARLA Yorkshire Cup Final takes place and is a great platform for the women of WRLA to show off their skills to a wider audience. As a league we are excited about the prospects of this game with the series currently level at two two.

“Both coaches will select their own coaching staff and an announcement will be made at a later date and all and will arrange the venues for their respective trials that will take place in December.

“Only registered players born in their respective counties playing in the WRLA Winter League 2015/16 can make themselves for that county whether they play for clubs in Yorkshire or Lancashire.

“WRLA clubs are aware of the procedure for nominating players to each county with only two stipulations. Any players that have been involved and played for England over the last twelve months will not be eligible to be put forward for the counties.

“Congratulations to Craig Taylor and John Davenport who have been appointed as Head Coaches of Yorkshire and Lancashire respectively. Their resumes say it all and WRLA are excited to have two experienced and dedicated people on board to coach their respective counties for Origin 5.

“I would like to thank BARLA who are running the 2015 BARLA Yorkshire Cups at Open Age and Youth and Junior the opportunity of playing our County of Origin on Sunday 31st January at as yet an unnamed venue.”