Following an appeal for a kit sponsor Pete and Karen Garman, owners of the Hair & Beauty Emporium, stepped forward and put up the money for a brand new set of shirts for Exeter Saracens girls.

The shirts replace a set of second hand shirts that was over two years old and was last worn by under 16 boys! Coach Dave Turner said: "On behalf of myself and all the girls I would like to thank Pete and Karen for their generosity. This is a big boost for the team as we finally have something that is ours. It helps give us our own identity within the club rather than relying on hand me downs for everything."

The appeal also brought about other good news with offers of help from Allways Mini Travel and the HSBC Bank who, in the near future, look set to provide team polo shirts and an additional set of shirts for the under 14s squad.

Exeter Saracens only formed a girls’ squad last season on the back of the success of tag rugby tournament in the cities schools. Through the help of local club coaches, RFU and RFUW rugby development officers, England women internationals Susie Appleby and Alex Pilkington and the City Council Turner was able to run rugby fun days at the club, which led to the formation of the Exeter Saracens Girls.

Turner added: “Girls rugby is very new in Devon and Cornwall and there are only about eight clubs with sides but we all co-operate and lend each other players when we get together for fixtures so that we can play meaningful games.”

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