FOLLOWING her official induction into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, Warrington’s Jane Banks has spoken of what it means to her.
Banks was a trailblazer in women’s rugby league, being part of the 1996 Great Britain Lionesses side that has become the first team to be added into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, while she has also received the honour on an individual basis.
She was among 24 players and four coaching staff who were present at the ceremony at The Edge, Wigan, to be presented with a scroll marking their induction.
This all comes 28 years after the team clinched a 2-1 series win in Australia – a feat no Great Britain side has since achieved.
It was only two years ago they finally received their caps.
Banks was the youngest team member, turning 17 during the tour.
The women’s game has come a long way since then in terms of its professionalism, including in this country its allegiance with Super League clubs, players being paid, big matches on big stages including the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and international progression that features more nations and a World Cup calendar with standards continually reaching new benchmarks.
Proudly sporting a Hall of Fame tattoo on her arm, Banks recalled 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 ringing me up and I was walking round the garden with my head in my hands going ‘I can’t believe this’ and she said ‘there’s more news’ and she told us about the team as well.
“It took me a good week or two for it even to sink in. I knew it was a huge honour and a privilege to be inducted but it did take quite a while for me to go wow.
“But also, to realise what we did, where we came from and where we are now and how the game has developed.
“We sort of were the pioneers and without what we did, who knows where the game would have gone?”
She started playing senior rugby league at 13 and starred for Warrington, Wigan St Pats, Hindley Pumas and Bradford Thunderbirds.
As both a player and a coach, Banks made a huge contribution to the women’s game in the town having established herself as a star of the Great Britain side in the late 1990s.
Her accomplishments also saw her named Warrington Sports Personality of the Year in 2001, while her role within the Warrington Wolves Foundation saw her coach and mentor hundreds of girls in the town, including current England stars Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge.
Great Britain women’s rugby league player Jane Banks in 2004 (Image: Newsquest)
Former Halifax player Lisa McIntosh was captain for the 1996 tour and she said the team were not conscious they were blazing a trail and had set in motion a legacy for the women’s game that has evolved beyond recognition.
“We were just playing the game, we had no idea,” said McIntosh.
“It was 28 years ago.
“We went out there, we went out to give a good account of ourselves, we won 2-1, we came back and moved on with our lives.
“Back to work, back to playing 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 that so it’s a real honour, a real privilege.”
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