January 30th, 2006

Rugby clubs and coaches in Hertfordshire will kick-off an afternoon of international rugby at Old Albanians RFC on Saturday with an under 14s curtain-raiser game ahead of England Women’s opening Six Nations clash against Wales (kick-off 5.30pm).

Girls’ rugby in the county has gone from strength to strength in recent years and the display just before England’s Welsh encounter will highlight the progress the youngsters have made.

Two teams of 12 girls, made up of under 14 girls from across the county, will play a seven minute each way game. The girls have been selected from teams such as Fullerians, who have produced five international women players in the past, Welwyn, Hertford, Hitchin, Old Albanians, Cheshunt, Stevenage, Letchworth, Saracens Amateurs and Bishop’s Stortford. The head coach for the day is Rachel Ansbro, a newly qualified coach at Letchworth Girls.

Chris Gallagher, a girls coach from Bishop's Stortford, will referee the match with Clive Cramphorn, a coach for Welwyn girls and Charlie White, a 16-year-old who plays for Welwyn Girls, acting as touch judges.
 
Amanda Bate, girls’ rugby development officer for Hertfordshire with the Hertfordshire Sports Partnership, said: “This is a great opportunity for girls’ rugby in Hertfordshire and the girls are really excited about being asked to play the curtain raiser match.
 
“Girls rugby has really taken off in the county over the last two seasons and with the Hertfordshire Under 17s county girls team’s recent success and that of the county development team, the opportunity to play before  the England women’s internationals can only highlight even further that Hertfordshire girls rugby is definitely on the map."
 
For ticket information please email: tickets@oarugby.com. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the gate and costs £5 for adults and £2 for under 16s.

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