AFTER her official induction into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, Warrington’s Jane Banks has spoken about what it means to her.
Banks was a pioneer in women’s rugby league, being part of the 1996 Great Britain Lionesses team that became the first team to be added to the Rugby League Hall of Fame, while she also received this honor as an individual.
She was among 24 players and four coaches at the ceremony at The Edge, Wigan, to receive a scroll marking their induction.
This all comes 28 years after the team secured a 2-1 victory in Australia – a feat no British team has achieved since.
Only two years ago, they finally received their caps.
Banks was the youngest member of the team, turning 17 during the tour.
Women’s football has since come a long way in terms of professionalism, including in this country its allegiance to Super League clubs, paid players, big matches on big stages, including the Challenge Cup final at Wembley , and the international progression which features more nations. and a World Cup calendar whose standards continually reach new standards.
Proudly sporting a Hall of Fame tattoo on her arm, Banks recalls the moment she learned of her double induction via a phone call from Julia Lee, founder of Women in Rugby League.
She said: “I just remember Julia calling me and I was walking around the garden with my head in my hands going ‘I can’t believe it’ and she said ‘there’s more news’ and she also told us about the team.
“It took me a good week or two to figure it out. I knew it was a huge honor and privilege to be inducted, but it took me a while to get wow.
“But also, to realize what we have done, where we have come from and where we are now and how the game has developed.
“We were kind of the pioneers and without what we did, who knows where the game would have gone?”
She began playing senior rugby league at age 13 and played for Warrington, Wigan St Pats, Hindley Pumas and Bradford Thunderbirds.
As a player and manager, Banks made a huge contribution to the city’s women’s game, establishing herself as a star of the British team in the late 1990s.
Her achievements also saw her named Warrington Sports Personality of the Year in 2001, while her role with the Warrington Wolves Foundation has seen her coach and mentor hundreds of girls in the town, including including current England stars Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge.
Jane Banks, Great Britain women’s rugby league player in 2004 (Image: Newsquest)
Former Halifax player Lisa McIntosh was captain of the 1996 tour and said the team was unaware they were blazing a trail and setting in motion a legacy for women’s football that evolved into beyond all recognition.
“We were just playing the game, we had no idea,” McIntosh said.
“It was 28 years ago.
“We went out there, went out to do well, won 2-1, came back and got on with our lives.
“Back to work, back to club rugby until the next tour.
“Now you see the girls playing rugby today and it’s grown so much and we were part of it so it’s a real honour, a real privilege.”