When England International Amy Hardcastle travelled to Australia in 2019 to play in the World Cup Nines, little did she know that she would be participating in a tournament which would be a new benchmark for women’s rugby league. The Nines was completely integrated, with the men and women playing at the same venue, Bankwest Stadium, over two days. “When I came out to the Nines, that was the first time I have ever experienced something like that with the women being on the same platform as the men,” said Hardcastle. “That changed me because from that moment on, I could not accept anything less.