Cats Making a Comeback
The Valley Cats of Chew Valley RFC in Bristol looked likely to fold last season but, far from using up their nine lives, they have bounced back, increased numbers and are loving their rugby.
Captain Ally Stevens, who is appropriately a veterinary care assistant, credits “a lot of work from a lot of people” for saving the Valley Cats.
A summer boot camp attracted local women and, despite not expecting to take up the sport, several women in their 30s and 40s took up rugby for the first time having enjoyed working out with the Cats.
Inner Warrior Recruitment
Ally said: “People have seen us promoting the team on Facebook and social media and we are running an Allianz Inner Warrior camp this autumn to help with recruitment. We were able to involve 22 players at our last match and drew the game.
“That’s fantastic when we thought last season might be our last. We also have the girls’ Kittens team developing players, which will eventually see some of them join the women’s team. One of the former Kittens was last season’s player of the year but has gone to university now.
“With youngsters leaving for university, and older players having babies, we are really proud to have kept the Cats on the pitch and are grateful for the club’s support of women’s rugby.”
Based in the countryside between Bath and Bristol the team is recruiting from a limited pool, so fitness camps and social media have really made a difference.
Team manager Eloise Brown said: “I would recommend any other teams struggling with recruitment to step outside their comfort zone and think of different ways to recruit. When it comes to social media it’s worth asking the younger people in your club for help. We also match the men’s offer for our players, including free dinners after training and, for the first time, we have female-fitted shirts.”
Women’s rugby on the rise
“We have also noticed an increase in women wanting to play the sport thanks to the success of the Red Roses, with women’s rugby now having a bigger platform and being promoted more, it is really opening up the sport,” continued Eloise. “Not only to women but people in general too. With the success of the Red Roses, the World Cup and their success in recent games, you are going to see mass popularity in the women's game. Clubs need to be ready now for a mass increase of women and girls playing within the next 10 years. Actively as a club we are gearing ourselves up for a lot of females in our club in the near future.
“We have our inspirations here too. This summer saw the completion of our ‘Porge Terrace’, in memory of Porge Bryant who died from cancer after reforming the Cats team in 2015, 13 years after the team previously played. We held an opening day in July where the Cats played a game in 28 degrees heat and raised £1300 for young lives vs cancer.
“The next Chew club event is on the 4th of November with our show-stopping fireworks night, with Valley Cats helping and socialising with the local community – and most likely recruiting new players.”
Check out Facebook @chewvalleycatsrfc and their Instagram page @chewvalleycats to see updates, games, team lineups, and their next Allianz Inner Warrior event.
