This Sunday 24^th April, Derby Rugby Football Club will play host to some of the England Women’s Rugby squad as they attend the Rugby Football Union for Women’s (RFUW’s) Regional Festival for the under 17s age group.  England squad members Claire Frost, Shauna Vetch and Lois Moulding will be at Derby to provide encouragement to those girls hoping to impress the coaches and help their region to the title.

The annual festival is part of the pathway for development for junior rugby players to make the step up to the junior England squads and possibly the senior squads in the future. Those girls that do well this weekend will be invited to participate in the England Performance Camps held over the summer.

However, it is not only a festival for the development of girls and women’s rugby. It is also a highly competitive day, as eleven regional squads are divided into two pools with the winners facing each other for the title of Regional U17s Champions.

Keeley Fathers, event organiser and Competitions Director at the Rugby Football Union for Women commented:

“Whilst one of the key aims of the event is to identify the younger talent that we believe will have an impact on England Women’s Rugby in the future, the festival is also a great day out. All eleven squads at Derby Rugby Club will be keen to show what they can do on the rugby field. With only two progressing through the pool stages I am sure we will be in for some tough and exciting encounters."

The first round of matches is due to start at 10.30am on Sunday morning. Games will be played all day with the final scheduled for mid afternoon.

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