RugBees - Rugby league sessions for Primary School-aged Girls aged 7 to 11-years-old!

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York RLFC Foundation are delighted to announce our RugBees Programme will return for 2026 starting with a Mini RugBees Camp this Easter.

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In today’s modern world, girls as young as five years old are being bombarded by messages and labels that undermine their self-belief, crush their confidence, and make them feel as though sport is not a place for them, hearing and seeing messages on a daily basis which imply they are not as good as boys and they don’t belong in sport.

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The brand of RugBees is aiming to tackle these stereotypes and redefine what Rugby League means to girls. Sessions offer a fun introduction to rugby league, developing skills and confidence in an environment designed to help young girls thrive. Weekly sessions will be delivered in partnership with our club foundations, with no need for memberships, just a small fee per session.

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There is evidence to support that playing sport in a mixed gender setting isn’t right for all young girls and can be a barrier to participation which is why we are introducing RugBees to help tackle this.

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The RugBees Programme aims to tackle stereotypes and redefine what rugby league means to girls by offering a fun introduction to the sport through developing skills and confidence in an environment designed to help young girls thrive.

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Girls and boys can play community rugby league within the same team up until Under-11s (final year of Primary School). This is something we still support and encourage for girls wishing to do so.

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After such age, girls and boys must play separately. We see this new venture as a way of promoting the sport to a wider audience and help encourage more girls into the sport.

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The sessions will give girls a fun and enjoyable environment to play Rugby League and build their confidence up to a place where hopefully they will then want to join a team and play competitively.

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Sessions aim to help girls develop their confidence in areas such as catching, passing and kicking – whilst having plenty of fun and being able to enjoy sport for all that it offers.

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The additional playing opportunities in York now open to girls is now wider than ever through the York RLFC RISE Programme and the York Valkyrie Under-19s.

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RugBees sessions take place at the same facilities as our RISE programme, U19 girls squad and the 2023 and 2024 Betfred Super League Champions, York Valkyrie. 

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We launch our RugBees programme by holding a RugBees Camp on Tuesday 31st March 2026 with engaging fun rugby skills and games. Joining us on this camp will be England and York Valkyrie player Eboni Partington.

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What: RugBees – Girls Rugby League Sessions

About: Rugby league skills & fun for primary school-aged girls this October half term. No previous playing experience necessary!

Where: York St John University Sports Park, YO31 8TA

When: Tuesday 14th April 2026. We will then take a two week break and resume on Tuesday 28th April.

Time: 10.30-12.30 pm

Who: Girls aged 7-11 years

Cost: £6

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To book, please click here

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*Please note booking is essential for this session! Girls are asked to bring their own packed lunch to eat at the session. 

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Following on from our RugBees camp we will then return to Tuesday evening Rugbees Sessions:

 

What: RugBees – Girls Rugby League Sessions

About: Rugby league skills & fun for primary school-aged girls. No previous playing experience necessary!

Where: York St John University Sports Park, YO31 8TA

Starts: Tuesday 7th April 2026

Time: 6-7pm

Who: Girls aged 7-11 years

Cost: £3

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For more information on RugBees, please email inclusion@yorkrlfc.com or call 01904 670 880 and ask to speak to the Foundation team. 

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