College students play major role in Challenge Cup final

Several elite women’s rugby players from Loughborough College played key roles for their clubs in the Rugby League Women’s Challenge Cup Final.

Six current and former Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) learners played their part for both St Helens and Leeds Rhinos in the Rugby League Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Elland Road Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 7th May in front of a record-breaking crowd for a women’s Rugby league fixture in the UK.

Eboni Partington, a DiSE Graduate from the first cohort of RFL learners in 2019-21, scored two tries to help St Helens lift the trophy. Her fellow DiSE graduate Megan Bragg, and current DiSE learners Amy Taylor and Katie Mottershead are also part of the St Helens squad. All have played key roles over the course of the season so far.

On the opposing Leeds Rhinos team, former DiSE graduates Fran Goldthorp and Keara Bennett both put in strong performances in a losing cause.

More DiSE graduates and current students were in action last week representing England Students against a Great Britain Teachers XIII as part of the RFL President’s Cup competition.

The squad was captained by DiSE graduate Megan Bragg and featured fellow graduates Jess Harrap and Amy Bennett, alongside current students Pippa Curley, Katlin Hilton, Amelia Brown, Bella Sykes, Katie Motershead and Emma Kershaw.

The RFL’s women’s DiSE programme includes the top 30 players from across the sport, and is delivered by The Rugby Football League in conjunction with Loughborough College.

Martin Webdale, DiSE RFL Coordinator for the College, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for a number of our DiSE learners, who despite their young age, are making a real impact on the women’s game. With the World Cup coming up later in the year we hope that some of these players will earn the right to represent their country on the highest stage.”