April 25, 2006

Girls’ rugby teams from across the country will have their chance to compete at the Royal & SunAlliance National Youth Rugby Festival at Rugby School this Bank Holiday weekend (April 30th & May 1st).

After the successful introduction of girls under 14s rugby last year, under 17s teams have now been invited to take part in the festival staged where William Webb Ellis first picked up and ran with a football.

The festival is a major national event which gives many youngsters their first taste of representative rugby on a national stage. This year it’s bigger and better with four separate strands to the competition with the girls’ festivals joining the boys Constituency Festival and the boys Development Festival. This will see a total of 1080 players, playing in 60 teams, looked after by 380 coaches, referees and other volunteers and playing on 12 pitches over the two days.   

22 girls teams in total will take part in the regional tournament which is now in its fifth year, with 11 teams competing in ten-aside games at under 14s level and 11 teams competing at under 17s level.

South West North, a team comprising of players from BANES, Dorset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, won the inaugural Girls Under-14 title a year ago and will again be defending their title over the two-day tournament, which starts on Sunday.

Jason Leonard, the retired NEC Harlequins, England and British Lions prop, will present the prizes on the final day. Leonard will be joined by England Women internationals and Six Nations Grand Slam winners Jo Yapp and Rachel Vickers.

RFUW Under-14s and Under-17s Girls Festivals Teams: South West North, London & SE North, West Midlands, North West, North East, South West South, Thames Valley, East, East Midlands, Yorkshire, London & SE South.

Ends…