The Women's Nines returns for 2025 as the best teams from Women's competitions head to West Park Leeds on Saturday for an action-packed day of action, kick off at 10am.

Lois Forsell's Leeds Rhinos, who won the 2023 competition, are part of the next look tournament in 2025, which sees the Qualifying and Play Off games played at one venue for the first time. The morning session sees all teams play their group matches before heading into the Championship, Cup or Shield Play Offs in the afternoon, depending where teams finish in their group.

The Rhinos are hoping to book their place in the Championship bracket as they face Warrington, Swinton, North Wales and Scotland in Group A, whilst the reigning Nines Champions Wigan Warriors head up Group C. York Valkyrie were the competition's inaugural winners back in 2022 and have been drawn in Group D, whilst St Helens leads Group B along with Huddersfield, who have made a notably strong start to their Super League campaign. 

There are also first appearances for Scotland Women, Northumbria University, Swinton Lionesses, North Wales Crusaders and Wakefield Trinity as they take part in their first Nines tournament too.

Find out more about the day below:

How it works

Here is a breakdown of the key rules ahead of the Nines Festival:

- The first games of the day are for qualification to the Play Offs. There are four groups (one of five teams, and the others of four teams). Each team will play the others in their group once.

- Wins are worth two points and a draw is worth one point. By the end of the morning, the top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the Championship Bracket. The third-place teams in each group meet in Cup competition whilst the fourth and fifth placed teams battle it out in the Shield Play Offs.

- Matches last for eighteen minutes in total and consist of nine-minute halves. There is no designated half-time period.

- Teams are made up of 15 players for each match. Only nine players are allowed on the field at one time, with the other six players coming off the bench. Games have unlimited interchanges.

- All tries count for four points, but there is an extra 'Bonus Zone' where tries count for five points. Conversions are two points but have to be taken as drop kicks, as opposed to off a kicking tee. Penalty kicks are also taken as drop kicks and count for two, and drop goals are one point.

- Just like a standard Rugby League match, the tackle count remains at six.

- Scrums consist of five players, with only a maximum of four players allowed in the backs positions.

- Kick-offs and restarts are taken as drop kicks and must travel ten metres. After a try has been scored, the restart must be taken by the scoring team, with the side that conceded receiving.

- Sin bins last for three minutes and temporary suspensions last until the end of each individual fixture.

Group Draw

Here is how this year's teams have been split ahead of the morning's round-robin style qualifying stage. All eight Betfred Women's Super League sides will be involved, with two being placed in each group. There is also one Northern Championship team included in each group as well as 1-2 invitational teams. 

The groups are:

Group A

Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, Swinton Lionesses, North Wales Crusaders, Scotland Women

Group B

St Helens, Huddersfield Giants, London Broncos, Leamington Royals

Group C

Wigan Warriors, Barrow Raiders, Hull KR, Northumbria University

Group D

York Valkyrie, Leigh Leopards, Cardiff Demons, Wakefield Trinity.

Nines 2024 Recap

Watch all the tries from last year's Finals Day as the Rhinos lost their Nine's title against Wigan Warriors.

More information

Returning as a highlight of the summer for Women’s Rugby League following the Challenge Cup, this year’s festival will feature an exciting new format that combines the full tournament and finals into a single action-packed day. Expect thrilling matches, vibrant festivities, and plenty of off-field fun.