Sam Quek’s Inner Warrior
Sam Quek, former GB hockey player and Olympic gold medallist, joined in with an Allianz Inner Warrior Camp at Hove RFC recently. Allianz Inner Warrior camps are run by rugby clubs to encourage women and girls to play rugby.
Sessions are open to girls aged 11 to 18, and women over 18, and are a great introduction to rugby for all levels of experience, from those who have never played to those who want to get back involved in the game.
Sam said: “I’ve loved being part of Hove’s Allianz Inner Warrior camp. Everyone is so lovely and so welcoming. There are different abilities here – from club players to those who had never played rugby before - but, ultimately, we’ve all come together as one group and everyone’s having so much fun. I would definitely recommend finding your local club and getting involved.”
Since the launch of Allianz Inner Warrior camps six years ago, they have helped introduce more than 25,000 women and girls to the game.
Laura Gazzard from Portsmouth RFC had never touched a rugby ball when, in 2021, she went along to a local Allianz Inner Warrior camp.
“After a basic session with Portsmouth Valkyries, I decided I wanted to pursue rugby. For the past two seasons, I’ve played for the 2nd XV and was awarded Coach’s Players and Players’ Player at the end of last season. This is my third season and I’ve just made my debut as 2nd XV team captain,” she said.
“None of this would have been possible without Allianz Inner Warrior and the help it provided me with finding a local team for my experience level and running a session for beginners. It was instrumental in helping me to gain the confidence to pick up a rugby ball and join a club that catered to all experience levels.”
If you’re curious about trying rugby, or want to get back involved with the game, why not join one of the Allianz Inner Warrior camps near you? Click here to find your nearest camp.
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