Women's Origin
Women's Origin describes matches between the Lancashire and Yorkshire women's rugby league teams.
The first women's game between the two sides was in 2014. The series was usually held before the domestic club season and grew from a one-game to a three-game competition. The tournament was held annually until the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
In 2024 the fixture returned as a way of developing the England women's national rugby league team.
Country of Origin series
History
In 2014, a pilot County Origin game between Lancashire Ladies and Yorkshire Ladies was held in Wigan. The trophy was won by Lancashire.The following year, the RFL announced that the 2015 County Origin Series would take place at Thatto Heath Crusaders, St. Helens with the game seeing the sides share the honours after a 22–22 draw, with an attendance of around 500. The match, held on 18 October 2015, followed a Lancashire Girls vs Yorkshire Girls under 18s match, which finished 34–0 in favour of the Yorkshire side.
Lancashire retained the series title following the previous year's draw in 2016, and again in 2018 after no game was played the year prior.
In 2019, the competition was expanded two a two game series. Despite Lancashire hosting both matches, Yorkshire claimed their inaugural title with a 2-0 series victory.
In the competition's final edition, the series was further expanded to three games with Lancashire reclaiming the title, winning two games and drawing the other.
England training
June 2024
In 2024, the Rugby Football League announced the County of Origin fixture returned would in 2024 ahead of England's mid-season friendly again France. England head coach, Stuart Barlow, selected Lancashire and Yorkshire squads and ran regional training sessions with each culminating in the Origin fixture a week before the England fixture. Match day performances in Origin, and performances in regional training were used to selected the national squad going into the final week of England training.- Note: Game featured no conversion and unlimited substitutions.
October 2024
Ahead of England's post-season friendly against Wales similar regional training camps were used leading up to an Origin game held two weeks before the England international.- Note: Game featured no conversion and unlimited substitutions.