May 1st, 2008

 
Loughborough women’s rugby team are celebrating after gaining promotion to a national league at the weekend (27 April).

The Loughborough 1st XV beat North West team Altrincham Kersal 29-7 on Sunday in the promotion play-offs to secure their place in Championship North next season.

The win caps a fantastic year for the women’s section, which merged with Loughborough Students at the start of the season in a bid to strengthen women’s rugby in the region. Loughborough beat league rivals Olney two weeks ago to win the Midlands league with 11 wins in 12 and leave their points tally at 546.

Loughborough player-coach Jenna Studley was a key component in Sunday’s success and is delighted the club has achieved its promotion dream.

“At the start of the season we made it our goal to achieve promotion and I’m so pleased we’ve realised that,” she said. “It’s a massive achievement for the club in our first year as a combined team and it proves the merge was a success. Thanks to everyone at Loughborough University and Loughborough RFC that supported us and made it possible.

“It was a closely contested game against Altrincham at the weekend but we were confident we were the better team and stuck to our game plan. The set pieces were competitive but in the open our back play was too strong for them. 

“Loughborough has had a bad record in past playoffs and the Students took a risk to pursue the merger so the win was an emotional occasion for everyone involved. 

“Our promotion will hopefully help us attract a good quality of player to the University and keep those girls that want to play a good standard of rugby in the area. Our next goal is to be the only Premiership team in the East Midlands, though that might take a little longer to achieve.”

Loughborough RFC runs two women’s teams as well as a girls under-15 side and is always looking for new players. Anyone interested in joining should contact club captain Laura-Jane Adams on 07966 082157.

-ENDS-