As Illawarra Rugby League prepares to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, with a full round of action in senior and junior competitions, there’s a deeper story unfolding across the region.
What was once largely a male-dominated pathway is now being reshaped by the rise of women and girls’ participation, with the Illawarra emerging as one of the strongest regions in the state for female rugby league.
The numbers tell the story.
In 2026, Illawarra Rugby League has recorded 1,581 registered female participants, an increase of 4.2 per cent on last year, with women and girls now making up 38 per cent of the region’s overall registered player base of more than 4,100 participants.
At the community level, the growth has been impossible to ignore.
“The Open Women’s League Tag competition has expanded to 15 teams across two divisions, highlighting both the strength and depth of female participation throughout the district,” Illawarra Rugby League Head of Football Carlo Napolitano explains.
“Week to week, the standard continues to rise as clubs invest more heavily in their female programs and players respond with increasing skill and competitiveness.”
Meanwhile, girls tackle rugby league continues to grow, with dedicated competitions now established across multiple age groups including Under 12s (6 teams, including two from the Shire), Under 14s (5 teams) and Under 16s (6 teams).
These competitions are not only providing a genuine entry point into the game but are also creating clear development pathways for young female athletes to progress through the ranks.
“That pathway now extends all the way to the elite level through the Illawarra Steelers female program, which continues to go from strength to strength,” Napolitano said.
The Steelers now field teams in the Under 17 Lisa Fiaola Cup and Under 19 Tarsha Gale Cup both critical stepping stones in the state’s junior representative system, while also competing in the prestigious NSW Women’s Premiership. Winning the U19’s and Women’s competitions in 2024.
“The growth of these programs has been significant. Not only are more local players earning representative honours, but they are doing so within a clear, connected pathway that allows them to progress from grassroots competitions in the Illawarra through to elite-level rugby league without leaving the region.”
It’s a system that is already delivering results, and more importantly, inspiring the next generation.
The impact is visible every weekend, more teams, more players, and more families engaged in the game than ever before.
“Women not only support the game from the sidelines, they’re playing it, shaping it and leading it.
From grassroots volunteers and coaches to players wearing club colours with pride, their influence is being felt at every level of the sport.”
Napolitano says Mother’s Day provides the perfect moment to recognise that contribution.
“Across grounds this weekend, the celebration won’t just be about the traditional role mothers have played in getting players to training and games, though that remains invaluable, but also about the growing number of women and girls now pulling on the boots themselves.”
Photo Credits: Denis Ivaneza (Illawarra Steelers), Helensburgh Tigers Facebook