The Helensburgh Tigers will host their annual Ladies’ Day event this Saturday, 11th July, creating opportunities for women across the Illawarra to experience and celebrate rugby league.
This year’s rodeo-themed celebration at Rex Jackson Oval in Helensburgh will feature live music, food trucks, frozen cocktails, raffle prizes, and unique rugby league games where men will “trade their boots for frocks.”
Helensburgh Tigers women’s coordinator, Jade Brown, who has been involved in the event for five years, said the event is a celebration of women in rugby league.
“It’s all about recognising that rugby league is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute and celebrate with our women in league,” Brown said.
“You know, it’s not just about men anymore. There’s a lot of us women that are involved alongside our players, supporters, our local community, and the women themselves playing the sport.”
Numbers On The Rise
Brown said that over the five years the event has been held, women’s participation in rugby league has grown significantly across their competitions and within the club in other areas.
“We’re trying to encourage a pathway at the moment from the juniors to the seniors because obviously our future is going to come from our junior players, so we’re really trying to emphasise that as a pathway from the juniors to become the women on the senior field,” Brown said.
“It’s becoming very, very big.
“From the players who proudly wear the Tigers jersey to the women, the volunteers who put the countless hours, along with our coaches, the trainers, committee members, supporters and the young girls dreaming of one day playing on the senior field being a senior rugby league player.
“It’s not just about a woman in a rugby league jersey on a football field. It’s for everybody to be included for women in rugby league, not particularly just a player.”
Brown also said how proud she was to be involved with a club that promotes women in the game and how important it is to recognise their contributions.
“I’m just really proud to be involved and where it’s heading,” Brown said.
“This is becoming such a bigger thing with women and rugby league, and I’m proud to be a woman involved in the club myself and be a part of the women coming through the pathways and being with Helensburgh Tigers.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve got here and Ladies’ Day is open to everyone, not just the players. It’s women in our community and everyone that’s involved.”
The event will run from 12pm. Patrons can purchase tickets at $60 per person through the Helensburgh Tigers store.
Words: Harrison Mellare
Images: Helensburgh Tigers Facebook