Women's Rugby League World Cup

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Australia vs. New Zealand in 2005

The Women's Rugby League World Cup is an international tournament for women to determine the best Rugby League playing nation in the world. It was first held in 2000 in Great Britain coinciding with the men's Rugby League World Cup, and will next be contested in Australia in 2008, where current champions New Zealand will defend their title.

In the 2005 tournament in New Zealand, teams from Australia, France, Great Britain and New Zealand competed for the title which was eventually taken out by the New Zealander's.

New Zealand are currently the only team to have won the Women's Rugby League World Cup winning both the 2000 and 2005 competitions.

For the 2008 tournament they are hoping for several more nations participation in the tournament. At the completion of the 2008 World Cup the next official tournament will be held in 2013 and then held every four years after.

[edit] History

Women's Rugby League had been played in both Oceania and the United Kingdom for several years but it was not until 1985 in Britain and 1993 in Australia and New Zealand where female only organizations and governing bodies were established and while the Rugby Football League recognized the British women in 1985 it took another five years for the Australian Rugby League to officially recognize the Australian Womens' rugby league. This is partially the reason for no Women's World Cup being held until the year 2000 when these organizations collectively came together to organize it.