The North West’s newest girls’ Rugby Union teams are set to show off their stripes – and their new strip – when they turn out at training sessions this weekend.
The Tri-Counties Tigers, whose players are drawn from five North West of England clubs, now have their own distinctive team strip thanks to the generosity of sponsors who stepped up to the try-line to fund the girls’ striking shirts.
Created to increase opportunities for girls to enjoy rugby, the Tigers unite teams from across three neighbouring counties: Kendal RUFC and Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC in Cumbria; Garstang RUFC and Vale of Lune RUFC in Lancashire; and North Ribblesdale RUFC, based in Settle in North Yorkshire.
The shirts, which bear the logos of sponsors BDS Fuels, of Middleton, Carnforth, and RfM Accountants of Garstang on either shoulder, will have their first full public airing on Sunday, when the Tigers’ under-12, under-14 and under-16 squads wear them to training sessions.
Women’s rugby is enjoying a huge surge in popularity thanks to the inspirational achievements of the national England women’s rugby union team – the Red Roses – which reached the finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand.
The five Tri-Counties teams have each experienced a rise in interest in women’s rugby, and have successfully attracted girls to their under-12, under-14 and under-16 squads. None, however, had sufficient numbers to field a full squad and play matches with rival girls’ teams.
“Coaches from each of the teams got our heads together in 2021 to see how we could offer a better environment for training and playing,” said Kendal girls’ coach Jon Alexander. “The Tigers were formed that November, and began to share training sessions and realise strength in numbers. We laid down two fundamental principles: Firstly, the girls had fun. Secondly, the clubs are all equal and we share the work around.”
The teams are keen to attract additional players to their ranks and hope the national women’s side will inspire more to emulate their heroes.
“Both our Under-14 and Under-16 squads now have enough players for a full team, but neither has enough to field substitutes as well,” said Kendal’s Sarah-Jayne Muncaster, one of only a few women coaches currently in the sport. She was persuaded to sign-up and get involved when her daughter, who plays with the U-14 squad, fell in love with the game.
“We’d welcome more players, especially girls keen to play with the Under-12s, which doesn’t yet have quite enough players to field a full squad of fifteen. They don’t miss out on the fun, however, as we ensure they’re pitted against teams with balanced numbers so they can still enjoy a game.”
“In rugby, there’s a role within the team for everyone: fast and nimble runners might play as wingers, strong players might find a role in the pack, and all-rounders can contribute other skills to the teams’ efforts for success,” said Kirkby Lonsdale coach Steve Elliott. “The game is very rewarding – there’s a great camaraderie and it offers a good physical workout, as well as the opportunity to get muddy in the name of fun!”
“Rugby is still widely perceived as a male sport but that’s changing, thanks in no small part to the success of women’s national team last year, as well as the high-profile achievements of women in other once-male dominated sports such as cricket and football,” said Guy Heath, girls’ coach at Vale of Lune.
“We’re determined to break down any remaining barriers,” said North Ribblesdale girls’ coach Rob Willett. “For example, many clubs only have changing facilities for male teams, women sometimes struggle against the demands of male teams to secure pitches for games, and there’s a need for more people to stand up on their behalf, and to make a noise about such things.”
The clubs are working to ensure that each of the girls’ squads gets to play at least one game per month, while the pre-match training sessions are rotated between the different clubs.
To ensure the identity of each club isn’t subsumed within the Tigers squads, the girls play in their own clubs’ shorts and socks, while the new shirts bear each girl’s own club logo on the back.
“Each club also made a contribution to the shirts, and we agreed a policy that ‘no girl should be left behind’,” said Garstang coach Jim Procter. “Rugby Union is a sport that’s open and welcoming to all, and there shouldn’t be any barriers to their participation.”
“Because the clubs from which the Tigers are drawn play in three different counties, the teams against which they might find themselves playing are drawn from a vast area,” added fellow Garstang coach David Harwood. “The area stretches from Penrith, Netherhall and Keswick in Cumbria, to Burnley and Preston in Lancashire, to Richmondshire and Grassington in Yorkshire. For that reason, for matches, we try to ensure matches are played at grounds that are as central as possible, to minimise travel.”
Some of the older girls who play with the Under-16 squad have entered the RFU’s Developing Player Programme, a national initiative to get the girls on the ladder, from grass roots local clubs, to play at county and national level.
