Bradford Bulls Women promotion would be huge boost to club

Sports marketing giant IMG have been brought in by the RFL and Super League on a 12-year deal to shake up the sport, with one of their main proposals being to reintroduce licensing to the sport in time for the 2025 season.

Clubs including Bulls are chasing an A licence, which would protect them against relegation from Super League going forward, regardless of their finishing position in the top flight.

And IMG have just announced that clubs must have a team in Women’s Super League to gain category A licence.

Running a physical disability (PDRL), learning disability (LDSL) and wheelchair team will also likely form part of the criteria according to Love Rugby League.

Bulls already have the above three teams, so that would be no barrier to a category A licence.

They also currently have a Women’s Super League side, who sit in group two of the competition.

But the number of sides in Women’s Super League will be reduced from 12 to eight after this season, with the six current sides in group one, Huddersfield, Leeds, St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and York, to be joined by the group two winners and play-off champions.

That means Bulls will need to be one of those two to get promoted in 2023, or they will lose their Women’s Super League spot, and cost the club any chance of gaining category A status.

It is expected that category A licences will be given to the likes of Saints, Wigan and Leeds, sides with established Super League pedigree that also have top women’s teams.

Bulls will most likely be targeting category B status for the time being, which could see them take any remaining Super League place not filled by a category A side.

But with re-assessments set to take place annually of all clubs, Bulls have the prospect of taking category A status down the line, though it looks like they will now need to have a Women’s Super League team to stand any chance of that.