WARRINGTON Wolves have been confirmed as part of an expanded Women’s Super League for the 2020 season.

The Wire Women earned the right to compete in Super League by winning promotion from the Championship in their inaugural campaign this year.

Their place in the top-flight has now been rubber-stamped, with the league expanding from eight teams to 10 from next season.

Huddersfield Giants, who were beaten by The Wire in the Championship play-offs, have also been accepted into Super League, with both teams being granted two-season memberships for 2020 and 2021.

Head coach Lee Westwood said the team would continue to be run by the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation next year.

He is also looking forward to welcoming the best women’s teams in the country to Victoria Park.

“It’s fantastic to have been promoted to the Women’s Super League after a very successful year in the Championship,” he said.

“We look forward to playing the other Super League teams over at the Asics Stadium, which is a one of the best facilities in the town and one that the ladies made their home last season.

“We will continue to run under the Foundation next year, which allows us to continue the growth of both the women's and girls games in the Warrington area after a very successful first season both on and off the field.”

Warrington Guardian:

Wire Women will be joined in the Women's Super League by Huddersfield Giants, whom they beat in the Championship play-offs. Picture by Mike Boden

Thomas Brindle, the RFL’s head of growth, says this move is part of a concerted effort to ensure the growth of the women’s game before the 2021 World Cup on home soil “This is another positive step in the Betfred Women’s Super League success story,” he said.

“Congratulations are due to Huddersfield and Warrington for the progress they have made in a relatively short period of time to be able to meet the standards required.

“It’s also testament to all involved in the thriving Championship competition.

“The expansion to seven clubs in 2018 and eight in 2019 has undoubtedly enhanced the stature of the competition and of women’s rugby league, as we’ve seen so excitingly this year with our first title sponsors in Betfred, a number of significant attendance milestones, regular coverage on Our League and Twitch, and live Friday night coverage of the Grand Final on Sky Sports.

“We have a significant goal of increasing the number of women and girls playing rugby league to 21,000 by 2021 – when England will host the Women’s World Cup alongside Men’s and Wheelchair competitions.

“The England team are currently in Papua New Guinea on a ground-breaking tour which is an important part of their World Cup preparations, following their appearance in the World Cup Nines in Sydney last month.

“The Betfred Women’s Super League is another key part of that wider strategy of inspiring a generation.

“The number of women’s and girls teams has doubled in the last two years, and it’s great to add another two committed rugby league clubs into the Super League mix.

“The expansion will provide a few additional challenges around the fixture schedule, but we are working on a solution to that which we hope to announce, along with details of the 2020 BWSL Grand Final, before the end of the year.”