Women's Performance Pathway
The RFU’s Women’s and Girls’ Player Pathway can see players progressing from club rugby to representing their county, their division and even their country. One of the programme’s most recent stars is Emily Braund, who made her England debut in the 2012 6 Nations. Just months earlier she was running out for the Midlands team.
With the aim of broadening the RFU’s female playing base and finding and developing England’s best rugby talent, the Player Pathway includes an enhanced Club Programme, a fully functional County Programme and a Divisional Programme.
Club Rugby
This is a hugely important stage of the Player Pathway, whether you are playing at Premiership level or for your local club side. It is the foundation of the Player Pathway and it is at this level where the core skills of the game are developed and where players can gain valuable competitive rugby experience. There is a strong focus on individual player development at this level of the pathway
CB Rugby
Through involvement in the County Programme not only will more players have access to the Player Pathway, more players will receive high-quality coaching and increased playing opportunities. The County Programme should be seen as a step-up from club rugby.
For more information on CB Rugby please visit your CB website or contact your local Women's Rugby Development Officer (WRDO) (MS Excel 43.5kB).
Divisional Rugby
Divisional Rugby consists of four Divisions: North, Midlands, London & South East and the South West – across three age groups: U15s, U18s and Senior. The programme is a 12-month combination of training, matches, camps and a festival for the U15s.
The overall aim of the Divisional Programme is to provide a challenging, high-quality performance environment which enables effective individual player development and provides players who have potential, ambition and commitment to become the best they can be.
Players are nominated for Divisional Trials by their County coaches who play a lead role in the nomination process. Players are assessed during training, matches and at festivals.
The RFU Divisional Talent Development Officers (DTDOs), as chair of selectors within the Divisional Forum, have the final say on which players are invited to trials. The DTDOs are available as support in this process but the CB coaches are expected to carry out the assessment and nomination process and forward it to the DTDOs through the county managers.
National Programmes
Following the conclusion of the competition phase of the Divisional Rugby programme, players can be nominated to attend England Trials or the U18s and U15s National Development Groups, moving that step closer to pulling on that illustrious England Rugby jersey.
Women’s and Girls RFU Player Pathway (MS Word 22kb)
Keep up to date with all of the CB & Divisional Programme fixtures & results.
Key Contacts
South West Divisional Talent Development Officer – Kevin Moggridge
Email: kevinmoggridge@rfu.com
Phone: 07912540950
Midlands Divisional Talent Development Officer – James Cooper
Email: jamescooper@rfu.com
Phone: 07809512738
North Divisional Talent Development Officer – Robert Thomson
Email: Robertthomson@rfu.com
Phone: 07912540949
London & South East Divisional Talent Development Officer - Alex Austerberry
Email: Alexausterberry@rfu.com
Phone: 07971950551
RFU Divisional Support Officer – Shelley Robinson
Email: shelleyrobinson@rfu.com
Phone: 0208 831 6788
Divisional Rugby
