YORKSHIRE CRICKET FOUNDATION (YCF) has announced a major strategic development for women’s and girls’ cricket in the county, confirming that three affiliated Regional Women’s Premier Leagues will be introduced from the 2026 season.
Currently, the landscape includes the eight-team Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League — featuring Sessay, Saxton, Sheffield Collegiate, Doncaster Town, Yapham, Wrenthorpe, Tickhill, and Rockingham Colliery — along with the West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League, the South Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League, and competitions aligned with Yorkshire Premier League North (YPLN), comprising the Premier League, Championship East, and Championship North.
The move towards three Premier Leagues (North/East, West, and South) is aimed to “enhance opportunities, reduce barriers to participation, and strengthen the pathway between recreational and elite cricket,” according to YCF’s statement.
The restructure follows what YCF described as ‘extensive consultation between the YCF, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, club and league representatives and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’ highlighting the collaborative nature of the initiative and its long-term planning.
YCF head of women and girls Grace Pearson said, “This represents a pivotal moment for women’s and girls’ cricket in Yorkshire. The Regional Premier Leagues reflect our collective ambition to raise standards, reduce participation barriers, and strengthen connections between recreational and elite pathways. This structure has been developed through comprehensive consultation with clubs, volunteers, and players, and we are committed to working alongside YCCC and local leagues to build a sustainable and exciting future for the women’s game.”
