June 14th, 2006

Girls’ rugby is Hertfordshire has been recognised for the first time by the Athlete Support Programme, with 20 girls from the county selected to participate in the scheme.

The county's Sports Partnership programme launched the scheme in 2004, but until now the programme had been restricted to members of the county’s boys’ team only.

Rugby is one of six sports, which sees the most promising young players benefit from the programme and following the growth and success of girls' rugby in the region now half of the programme places are being offered to the leading girls in the county.

The girls, aged between 13 and 15-years-old, have been selected by the county coaching team and come from five different clubs - Fullerians, Hertford, Letchworth, Saracens and Welwyn. 

The girls 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 Premiership 1 winners, Saracens Ladies.

Lead by the university's sports and social science officer, Fiona Castree, all the students will receive advice on nutrition, sports psychology and lifestyle management for the remainder of the year.

Girls selected:

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),
Megan Williams (Welwyn)

Ends…