New Partnership in Action 🐴 🤝 🐝

Broncos Pair Feature in Historic Hornets Debut

Two of our London Broncos players made the trip north to join Rochdale Hornets for their opening game of the season—Round 1 of the Women’s Challenge Shield.

It was a tough debut for the newly relaunched Hornets women’s team, who suffered a 0–62 defeat against Fryston Warriors. But the day was still a momentous one—marking not only the team’s first competitive outing but also the beginning of an exciting new partnership between Rochdale and London.

The match took place at the Hornets’ home ground, Balderstone Park community hub—affectionately known as ‘The Hive’—and was played in front of an enthusiastic local crowd. Despite coming up against a well-established side from a higher division (Fryston Warriors compete in the Women’s Northern League 1), the occasion was a milestone worth celebrating.

Photos by Edward Hampson

Joining the Hornets for the weekend were Broncos players Emily Bell, sponsored by Kev's Place, and Erin Richards. Both made an immediate impact—slotting seamlessly into the team and delivering strong performances.

Hornets Head Coach Ben Bird praised their contributions:

“Bell was the confident pair of hands at the back that we needed. She gave us an out in pretty much every set with her footwork and speed. Richards was really solid with and without the ball. They both brought a sense of stability to our back line. I couldn't be any more thankful for them both, and for London’s support.”

The partnership between the two clubs is designed to offer more playing opportunities and support development across both squads. We’re excited to see how this collaboration evolves throughout the season.

👉 Learn more about Rochdale Hornets: hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk