Rugby league dreams came true for a Bradford girls’ team when they faced off against international opponents from Down Under
The Birkenshaw Blue Dogs under-15s squad took on the Australian Wanderers in a special friendly match at their home ground earlier this month.
The opportunity arose after the Australian club contacted the Rugby Football League (RFL) to arrange matches for their girls’, boys’, and women’s teams during their visit to the UK.
A spokesperson for Birkenshaw Blue Dogs said: "We thought it was an absolute honour to be asked and such a unique experience.
"We jumped at the chance."
The team had been preparing for the event since they were asked to play in May, with dates and times arranged from there.
Birkenshaw hosted a double-header on their new 3G pitch, with their under-15s playing first, before Knottingley Mustangs went up another Wanderers side.
The Birkenshaw spokesperson added: "Our girls were incredibly excited and nervous about playing Australia.
"It was a buzz to be selected as only a handful of teams to play them, so they felt very privileged.
"The girls knew full well their skill set would be extremely high and that it was going to be a tough game."
The two teams pose side-by-side before their match, which was won by the Wanderers. (Image: Birkenshaw Blue Dogs Women & Girls)
Although Birkenshaw put in a strong performance, the Australian side claimed victory on what was their first game in England, their first game as a team and their first game on an artificial surface.
The Birkenshaw spokesperson said: "We gave their girls a good game but their talent really shone, especially in the second half as you could see them getting used to each other and how to best use each player."
After the game, all four teams gathered at Birkenshaw Liberal Club for post-match presentations and a meal prepared by club steward Ben Goulding.
Players exchanged souvenirs, with Australian girls receiving Birkenshaw Blue Dogs badges and the English players gifted koala or kangaroo keyrings.
And perhaps a rematch could be on the cards, with Birkenshaw's spokesperson saying: "If we could raise enough money, through fundraising we would love to send our girls to Australia and experience playing Down Under, improving their skills, making new friends and memories that would be treasured for a lifetime."