The names of the first twenty girls who are to take part in the rugby section of the Hertfordshire's "Athlete Support Programme" have been announced.

The county's Sports Partnership launched the scheme in 2004. Since then rugby has been one of six sports whose most promising young payers have benefited from the programme, but up until now all the places have been restricted to members of the county's boys' teams.

However, following the growth and success of girls' rugby in the county the organiser of the rugby section of the programme, Peter Engledow of Herts RFU, has changed the policy and offered half of the places for 2006/7 to the leading twenty girls in the county.

The girls - aged between 13 and 15 - have been selected by the county coaching team and come from five different clubs – Fullerians, Hertford, Letchworth, Saracens, and Welwyn – in itself an indication of the strength of the game in the county.

Some of the girls have only just completed their first season of rugby, but all have already played for either Hertfordshire or East Region.

The girls chosen for the scheme are:

Nikki Alcock (Letchworth), Emma Burgess (Hertford), Megan Childs (Saracens), Francis Dawson (Welwyn), Rebecca Dawson (Welwyn), Amanda Finch (Saracens), Milly Fuggles (Hertford), Hannah Gallagher (Welwyn), Hayley Guilder (Letchworth), Carla Kelly (Letchworth), Harriet Lilley (Welwyn), Hannah Marques (Welwyn), Alex Robertson (Saracens), Jess Robinson (Letchworth), Claire Shutler (Saracens), Gerry Thomas (Fullerians), Natalie Threlfall (Letchworth), Emily Vivian (Letchworth), Melissa Waite (Hertford), and Megan Williams (Welwyn)

The twenty will now take part in a series of fitness and conditioning evenings in June and July at the University of Hertfordshire's Sports Village, which is also the training base for Saracens.

Lead by the University's Sports and Social Science Officer, Fiona Castree, they and their parents will also receive advice on nutrition, sports psychology, and lifestyle management (balancing school life with training) throughout the rest of the year.