After the final training session on Tuesday last week (20 July), the girl’s rugby team marked this milestone, they took on the boys in a mixed game of tag, cooled down using super soakers and then finished the evening off with a hot dog or burger. The girls had been looking forward to this, they wanted to put everything they have learned over the last few months from coach Nick West-Oram to the test and they were up for it.
The aim of having a good, competitive and dedicated girls’ team has been on Marlborough Rugby Club’s ‘must do’ list for many years, but it was the passion of the Club’s Mini/Youth Chair, Amanda Palmer, who made it happen with support from Nick and some of the other coaches. On 20 April, a band of 15 girls who all go to different schools in Marlborough and the surrounding areas, aged between seven and twelve came together to learn to play rugby. Since then they have not only become a team, but they have become instant friends, having fun, and learning new skills, bringing a great deal of pleasure to the Club and especially to Amanda.
What the girls possibly lacked in experience and skill they more than made up for in heart and a desire to win.
Now that a start has been made for the girls, the aim is to grow and develop the teams in line with TREDS (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship) to ensure all girls develop to their full potential. If there are any girls who are interested in finding out more about playing rugby, then please email youthchair@mrfc.co.uk. Also, if you are interested in coaching or you would like to help with this journey then please get in touch. Now the girls have started, the only way they are going is forwards and the Marlborough Rugby community cannot wait to see what they achieve along the way.