LLANIDLOES Rugby Club has launched a new women’s section.
Thirteen players braved sub-zero conditions to take part in the club’s first training session at Cae Hafren last month.
With a mix of former players, ones who had played touch rugby at school, and others who had never touched a rugby ball before, the session focused on fun and fitness as well as rugby skills.
Rob Edison joined the club as head coach at the start of this season after moving to the area from England, where he ran women’s rugby at Kilburn Cosmos in London, and formed the women’s section at Championship side Cambridge.
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Rob said: “As well as taking charge of the men’s side at I was keen to help the club ensure rugby was available to everyone in the town.
“To help with cost of living, the club voted at this year’s annual to make membership free to all senior players, including those joining the new section.
“We’re committed to removing as many barriers as possible to access the sport.”
WRU Hub Officer Adam Price has been working with pupils at Llanidloes High School and several girls joined our second session.
A study by Women in Sport last year found that a fear of judgement and lack of confidence caused a drop in sport participation for teenage girls.
Rob added: “Our women and girls programme aims to provide girls with sporting role models, and women the opportunity to learn from girls who have benefited from less gendered sports provision in schools.
“Women’s rugby is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Our goal is to play our first friendly fixtures next year against other new teams before joining the league structure to ensure rugby can continue to be enjoyed by future generations of women and girls in Llanidloes.
Training is open to all on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm at Cae Hafren and more information can be found by emailing Rob headcoach.llanidloesrfc@gmail.com.
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