Tennent’s Women’s League – Restructure

Scottish Rugby has confirmed the league placings for the 2019 Tennent’s Women’s Leagues and opened up a consultation process with women’s clubs from across Scotland to develop the structure for new league and cup competitions.

This follows a robust process undertaken by Scottish Rugby’s Rugby Development Team, Competitions and Compliance team, Scottish Rugby’s Performance Department and key stakeholders including Council Representatives and the Women’s Championship Committee.

Following an extensive consultation process with clubs that started in 2017, clubs were invited to apply for the league they felt their women’s teams would be best placed to compete in.

After the initial applications were received, a process of assessment was carried out and the submitted information was scrutinised. League places were offered, and a subsequent appeals process was undertaken.

Scottish Rugby can now confirm the final league placings for the Tennent’s Women’s League 2019 will be as follows:

Premiership:

Ayr, Cartha Queens Park, Corstorphine Cougars, Hillhead Jordanhill, Stirling County and Watsonians.

National 1:

Annan, Broughton, Garioch, Glasgow University, Heriot’s, Howe of Fife, Oban Lorne and Stewartry.

The remaining teams that submitted a league application have been regionalised to be part of the East (Falkirk, Grangemouth, Kelso, Kirkcaldy, Liberton, Lismore, Livingston and RDVC);

North (Aberdeenshire, Huntly, Inverness, Orkney, Peterhead, Shetland and Stornoway); or

West Leagues (Ardrossan Academicals, Biggar, Greenock, Hamilton, West of Scotland and Wigtownshire).

Clubs have now been asked to review two viable options for how the league and cup competitions will be run. This includes agreeing on start dates for the respective competitions, as well as if cup competitions should be run as national or regional pools.

Scottish Rugby is keen to ensure stakeholders feel part of the process, therefore all clubs have been asked to respond promptly so that the next stage in the process can be delivered.

Head of Girl’s and Women’s Rugby, Gemma Fay said,

Our clubs have been involved since we started this process in 2017. The proposal for the changes in the season structure has been shaped by the feedback we have received from our clubs and we want them to continue to have an opportunity to be part of this important process.

“When making a change of this significance we need to consult all key stakeholders. As with any change, we know that we will need to have ongoing evaluation to determine the success of these changes.

“We anticipate all our stakeholders, including the clubs, will be heavily involved in this process and we look forward to working with them as we continue to grow and develop our game.