Rio Tinto Joins Forces with Female Country FootballWednesday, September 28, 2022 - 1:56 PM

 Rio Tinto has been revealed as the naming rights partner of the Women’s division for this month’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships in Mandurah.
 
The competition has expanded from five teams to eight in 2022, as more females are drawn to the game.
 
Brent Sheridan, Manager Country Football Development - West Australian Football Commission, has outlined the spike in interest from women in the regions.
 
“Female football has grown so quickly in Country WA.
 
We now have senior competitions in six of our eight regions, and this is reflected in the growth of the Rio Tinto Women’s Division.
 
The speed bump that was Covid hasn’t dampened the interest and we’re excited to see the Championships continue to grow,” Sheridan said.
 
This will be the third edition of the Rio Tinto Women’s Division after Covid forced the cancellation of the event in 2020.
 
“While we are only into our third year of the Championships, the interest and enthusiasm in the Women’s division continues to grow quickly, so much so that we hope to see an expansion in the future to include a youth girls division,” he said.

The 2022 Rio Tinto Women’s Division at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships welcomes a Kimberley team for the first time, with the Goldfields Football League and Esperance Football association having stand-alone sides for the first time.

Despite the excitement surrounding the introduction of new teams, one lineup has its sights on completing a hat-trick.

“The South-West has demonstrated at the last two championships that they are the team to beat, and I’d be expecting that t again be the case this year as they look to make it three in a row,” Sheridan said.
 
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Managing Director Rail, Port & Core Services Richard Cohen said, “It’s wonderful to be able to support such an important event and to see the growing interest in the women’s division not only from the participants but also from the community.”
 
The Rio Tinto Women’s Division at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships will be played in Mandurah on September 29 and 30.