This page commemorates women who have been involved in rugby league since its inception, those women who have often been the engine rooms of the clubs, communities, and players but their stories never told. 

In 2018 Women in Rugby League secured their first Heritage Lottery and Arts funding to uncover and tell the stories of women who have been involved in rugby league from the 1950s to the present day. 

Ref; Crossing the Line was a collaborative project involving Julia Lee’s social enterprise, Common-sense Initiative, Helen Peyton, Founder and Artist in resident for Smart Gallery, Space2 an Arts and Social Change Charity and playwright  and Academic Dr Sarah Jane Dickenson 

The project used Ref! a play, written by Sarah Jane Dickenson and produced by Space2 Leeds to inspire women to tell their stories. Ref! is about Hull-born Julia Lee who became the first woman to referee a men’s rugby match of any code in 1991 and was used to inspire other women to tell their stories.

Ref! Crossing the line focus on four rugby league areas Batley, Castleford, Featherstone and Hull and talks to women about their memories and experiences in rugby league 

The participants co-curate an exhibition, curated by Helen Peyton, of memories and artefacts, collected through workshops and hosted on this page allowing the stories and histories to be shared.

Find out more about the women behind the scenes, those who support, administrate or simply put up with it.