Fancy being an important cog in the wheel of the development of an aspiring England international rugby star, well now here’s your chance!

In October RFUW academy coach Gary Street announced his squad of 26 under 19s players to tour Canada for their first-ever overseas tour but the England young-guns are all looking for sponsors to help them on their journey to Vancouver.

Street will lead the under 19s, assisted by former England Academy assistant coaches Andy Paton and Ian Griffin, for the two-test tour to Vancouver against Canada Under 19s from 26th February to 6th March and he said: “This will be the first opportunity for the players to compete overseas, but with the women’s game being a developing sport the girls need some help off the field with funding.

“Sponsoring a player is a fantastic opportunity for a company or an individual to make a difference to a young player’s career. For all the 26 players this will be their first run on the international ladder and with some added support it could make a massive difference to the development of their own international career as well as the development of women’s rugby as a whole.”

From its beginnings in 1994 the RFUW now has 11,000 registered players across the country and over 410 clubs comprising of 170 Senior clubs, 80 student sides, 29 Under 18’s sides, 103 Under 16’s sides and 40 Schools.  Women’s rugby is one of the most popular growing sports in the country and Team England, who will contest the Rugby World Cup in 2006, are currently ranked second in the world.

This is therefore your chance to get involved and help develop some of the best young players English rugby has to offer – all of whom have a fighting chance of being involved in the 2010 World Cup.

In return for a sponsorship fee of approximately £300 you’ll company or name will get a mention in an RFUW press release issued to the English national and regional media (over 1000 contacts), coverage on rfu.com and in the RFU’s official magazine Touchline. You’ll also receive a DVD of your player in action and be included in the tour programme.

For more information please contact Gary Street on 0208 831 7478,
07813 915 453 or email garystreet@rfu.com.

England Under 19 players
 
Laura Keates   Greyhound (West Midlands)
Ollie Poore   Lichfield
Roz Crowley   Lichfield
Stephanie Cousins Worcester   
Sara Anastasi  Henley
Lucinda Howland Folkstone  
Aimee Procter Chester   (Sponsors: Flowcrete UK Ltd) 
Sam Cornborough  Richmond
Kate Hall   Blaydon
Rebecca Roby Fullerians (East)
Jo McBain  North Tawton  (Devon)
Hannah Sheild  Thirsk Sharks
Helen Clewer  Thirsk Sharks
Abi Mowbray  Thirsk Sharks
Cathy Freeman  Fullerians
Tina Lee   Richmond
Holly Le Grave  Basildon 
Lorna Smith   Thirsk
April Brown  Sudbury 
Roz Lambe   Thornbury (Gloucestershire) 
Fiona Pocock  Petersfield     
Meg Youdan   Chester
Justina De Brett Crawley   
Fran Matthews  Camberley   
Sarah McKenna Fullerians  
Kelly Wallis   Thirsk Sharks

Ends…