Girls get Active at Hastings and Bexhill Rugby Club
Active Hastings have, since last October, been encouraging girls aged 5 to 18 to give rugby a try at Hastings and Bexhill RFC
Fun, friendly sessions have seen girls getting involved, enjoying sport and making friends. Now a number who never played before are keen to go with the club to watch the Red Roses take on France in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations at Twickenham.
Councillor Andy Batsford, lead councillor for Health and Culture at Hastings Borough Council, said: “With girls’ rugby on the rise, there are so many reasons why we are passionate about supporting the development of girls rugby in Hastings. Not only does the game have great physical benefits, but it also fosters courage, teamwork and resilience.
“We have been overwhelmed with how the local community has come together and engaged with the campaign, from our local primary and secondary schools to sports coaches and instructors and of course all the girls who have given rugby a try.”
Active Hastings, hosted by Hastings Borough Council in partnership with East Sussex County Council, wants to ensure that everyone in Hastings can get active by working with local providers of physical activity.
Hastings & Bexhill RFC are delighted with their new girls’ section and now have 18 girls attending their training sessions regularly. With thanks to funding from Active Sussex’s Youth Investment Fund, the club were able to partner with Active Hastings to deliver free girls’ rugby sessions to a local secondary school and ten primary schools. Following the success of these sessions, the secondary school, St Leonards Academy, now runs their own after school club.
Not only have they gained more girls to train and play, but they have also created a link with a local sports provider, who has expressed an interest in developing three female sports coaches to become qualified rugby coaches. These new roles will help develop the school delivery plan, so they can coach rugby in local schools to recruit even more players.
Active Hastings have also purchased new training tops for the team, and the girls’ subs have been paid for, until the end of the season. This approach ensures there are no financial barriers for girls to play.
Martin Sheppard, Junior Chairman for Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club said: “We really appreciate working with Active Hastings and Hastings Borough Council in getting rugby back into schools, as it not only provides the children with physical activity, but also teaches the core values or rugby which are Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.
“The club provides weekly coaching and matches for over 200 children, and we hope by getting into the schools we will build on these numbers to ensure rugby is in Hastings for future generations. We are especially pleased to be hosting a schools tournament later in March where some of the clubs coaching staff will be on hand.
The club is planning on taking 15 new players to the Red Roses game against France in April so that they will be inspired by watching the England players take on France.
Sarah Ruusuvuori, a parent involved in rugby has been heading up this new initiative and said: “The World Cup provided the ideal promotion of rugby for women and girls and with the next to be hosted in England it’s clear there needed to be more opportunities for girls locally. Following the excitement of the Rugby World Cup, the club have fully embraced the girls’ team, and have formed a sub-committee to ensure all voices are heard and all club members are represented.”
For more information visit this page.
