Ukrainian girls get call up as Red Roses mascots
From Odesa to playing rugby in Somerset, Asya and Amelia Strutinska have been befriended by the Saracens players including England Women’s captain Marlie Packer. On Saturday, Asya and Amelia ran out with the team before England's victory over Canada at the StoneX Stadium.
Long standing Saracens supporters, the Donner family who divide their time between London and Taunton were watching Russia’s war in Ukraine unfold on TV.
“We thought we have the space, and we can and should help,” says Deborah Donner. “We just thought we’d hope someone would do the same if it were us.”
Deborah searched for a Ukrainian family on Facebook and involved several friends in the search. Mila Strutinska and her two daughters, plus their larger dog, kept being flagged. Introductory texts were followed by video messages and, after negotiating challenging bureaucracy covering individual visas and residents permits, the family of three arrived at Bristol Airport on 9 May 2022 with three small suitcases and the girls tired and apprehensive.
Playing and training at their local clubs
Asya, now aged 12, and Amelia, aged eight, were soon playing rugby at North Petherton RFC between Bridgwater and Taunton, as well as training at nearby Taunton RFC. They were also fundraising for Nowzad Ukraine which is helping the animals who are homeless or injured because of the war.
Asya, having always loved sport, was a national level gymnast in Ukraine and already spoke some English, as well as German, Russian and Ukrainian. Amelia enjoys sport too but also drama, music and art.
The girls were soon immersed in not just the English language with help from their host family, but also rugby at Saracens, getting to know their players and running out at StoneX as mascots when Saracens took on Harlequins in their home semi-final in 2022. It was their first ever rugby match! They also got to know the RFU’s Head of Performance Pathways and Programmes, Don Barrell who is a friend of the Donners.
Asya, having just joined Wellington School, is hoping to help coach younger players as she develops her own skills.
“She’s used to being coached and taking instruction and is very fit, agile and quick. The players and everyone at Saracens have been incredibly supportive and Marlie came to visit the girls in Somerset,” says Deborah. “I was almost in tears as Marlie told her ‘One day when you’re playing for England I’ll come and be your mascot!’”
Ambitions to play for England
Says Aysa: “I love all the skills you need to have as a rugby player. I have been watching Alex Goode and trying to understand what he does and when and why he does it! I want to be a full back for England one day. Marlie showed me how to tackle and present the ball, and some basic kicking skills, but I have to practise hard! I broke my finger a few weeks ago – so it’s a bit difficult at the moment!”
Amelia also loves her rugby. “It’s such fun and it’s so exciting. I love shouting ‘heave!’ when they maul and one of the first things I learnt in English was to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’!”
The girls’ mum Mila is equally passionate about rugby. “I love the fact that everyone is so welcoming even if you support different teams. Even at men’s games there are lots of women and children and everywhere we go, whether it is in our local clubs at North Petherton and Taunton, or at Sarries, we have made wonderful friends. When you go to women’s matches it is just so fantastic to hear a crowd with so many ladies’ voices – all loving rugby. And we do too!”
Said Marlie Packer: “It was a fantastic opportunity for the girls after a really tough period in their lives. Before coming to England, they had never picked up a rugby ball and now they are fully invested in the game which is amazing. It was special to have them run out with us at StoneX Stadium and hopefully it will inspire them to want to be Red Roses in the future.”
