Winning a cap has been the standard way of recognising achievements in sport for many years, but they aren’t exactly practical things and certainly not much use to the average player.

So when Letchworth Garden City RFC wanted to acknowledge and reward the efforts of their growing band of young female players an alternative was required – something eye-catching, popular and practical that would also help increase the profile of the game.

The result has been a unique ‘hoody’ designed for Letchworth Girls by leading international women’s website tacklegirls.com.

“You won’t be able to buy this anywhere, not even in the club shop” said team manager John Birch. “The only way to own one is to win it on the field. The idea has been hugely popular with the girls.”

There is also a serious intent. Girls’ rugby is expanding rapidly in Letchworth – the number of players at the club has quadrupled since the start of last season. The enthusiasm of the game from the girls has to be seen to be believed and Letchworth are eager to spread the game of rugby to more girls. Therefore, giving the girls something fashionable that they will wear at the club as well as casually is just another way of raising the profile of the team and the game in the area.

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