Tarsha_Gale_Cup
Tarsha Gale Cup
Gale Cup is an elite under-18s women's rugby league competition
The Tarsha Gale Cup is an elite under-18s Women's rugby league competition in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The competition was named after former captain of Australia and current NRLW commentator, Tarsha Gale, in honour of her impact on Women's rugby league as a pioneer of the sport.
Current season or competition: 2023 New South Wales Rugby League | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2017 |
| Inaugural season | 2017 |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Country |  Australia |
| Premiers |  Illawarra Steelers (2024) |
| Most titles |  Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy Illawarra Steelers (2 titles) |
| Website | Tarsha Gale Cup |
| Related competition | NRL Women's Premiership NSWRL Women's Premiership |
In 2017, the New South Wales Rugby League announced the creation of a nine-a-side under-18s women's league, named the Tarsha Gale Nines after the former Australian Jillaroos and New South Wales captain of the 1990s.[1][2][3]
However, since 2020, the tournament has been played as a full 13-a-side game, and is the main bridge between juniors and the NSWRL Women's Premiership in the state of New South Wales.
![[icon]](./File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2022) |
The Tarsha Gale Cup operates on a single table system, with no divisions, conferences nor promotion and relegation from other leagues. In 2018, the St. George Dragons and the Newcastle Knights entered teams into the competition for the first time.
Current clubs
| This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (November 2019) |
Pre-season
Prior to the commencement of the home-and-away season teams are paired off to play an exhibition trial match. In 2017 these matches took place during varying weeks of January.
Premiership season
Grand final
The two highest-place teams at the conclusion of the home-and-away season will qualify for the grand final. The winner of this match is determined the competition's premier.
| No. | Club | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indigenous Academy |
2 (2022, 2023) |
| 1 | Illawarra Steelers |
2 (2019, 2024) |
| 3 |  St George Dragons |
1 (2021) |
| 3 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
1 (2018) |
| 3 |  Penrith Panthers |
1 (2017) |
Bold means the team still currently plays in the competition.
The following major individual awards and accolades are presented each season
Television
TBA
Online
Selected games each week via NSWRL TV.
Sponsorship
Westpac is the league's current naming rights partner.
Merchandising
Official match day attire together with other club merchandise is sold through the NRL's stores and website as well through the clubs and through some retailers.
- "New comp a 'gamechanger' for women". 24 August 2016.
- Media, NRL Digital (24 August 2016). "NSWRL Announces Tarsha Gale Nines".
- Shamon, John (6 May 2017). "TG Cup Panthers make history". Penrith Panthers. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- Buxton, Matt (5 May 2018). "Sharks Hold off Knights to win Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup". NSWRL. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- Honeysett, Stuart (4 May 2019). "Illawarra win the Tarsha Gale Cup". NSWRL. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- "Dragons too strong for Roosters in Tarsha Cup GF". NSWRL. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- Honeysett, Stuart (30 April 2022). "Pule brilliance helps Roosters to Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final glory". NSWRL. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "Roosters make history with back-to-back Tarsha Gale Cups". NSWRL. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- Beatton, Joel (27 April 2024). "Tarsha Gale Cup: Perfect Steelers march to Grand Final glory". Dragons.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- "Reh steers Steelers to Tarsha Gale Cup Grand Final glory". NSWRL. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.