Who are the Jillaroos in rugby league?
The Jillaroos are Australia's national women's rugby league team. They have won the Women's Rugby League World Cup several times, including in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Women's rugby league has grown rapidly in Australia. The Jillaroos name comes from the word jillaroo, meaning a young woman working on an outback station.
The NRL Women's Premiership, known as the NRLW, began in 2018, giving top players a professional pathway. Women's State of Origin between New South Wales and Queensland is also popular.
Success on the world stage
The Jillaroos beat New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup final in Brisbane. In the 2021 tournament, played in 2022, they beat New Zealand again in the final.
Star players have included Sam Bremner, Ali Brigginshaw and Isabelle Kelly.
Matches are broadcast on national television, and crowds continue to grow.
The team's success has inspired more girls to take up rugby league, and junior girls' competitions have expanded across New South Wales and Queensland. Players now juggle elite sport with careers less often, as professional contracts have improved.
Did You Know?
The Jillaroos and Kangaroos often play double-header Tests on the same day.