Red Roses return to roots with community visits
The Red Roses visited community rugby clubs around the country to acknowledge the role of grassroots rugby.
Following a sixth successive Guinness Women’s Six Nations title, the Red Roses returned to their roots by visiting community rugby clubs.
To give back to the fans that supported them throughout their Grand Slam-winning campaign, players spent the last few months visiting the clubs that helped mould them into the athlete they are today.
The visiting players led training drills, hosted Q&A sessions, and took part in autograph signings and photo opportunities.
Meg Jones, who is currently at the Paris Olympics representing Team GB in Sevens, returned to Loughborough - having studied at the University - and helped support one of the club’s summer recruitment sessions for girls, where more than 40 girls aged between five and 14 turned up.
Women and girls lead at Loughborough RFC, Jenna Bonser, said: “Megan turned up early, she just chatted with the girls and straight away made them feel really comfortable.
“We did a Q&A in the clubhouse and there were actually some boys’ sessions going on too, but they all came in for the Q&A so the clubhouse was packed!”
After the session, Jenna got a message from one of the parents saying her daughter is quite shy, but that Jones “picked up on it straight away and was so lovely and encouraging.” As a result, her daughter’s birthday list now includes a season ticket to both Leicester Tigers and Loughborough Lightning!
Abbie Ward’s visit to Keswick Rugby Club was just as successful, and the club’s women and girls representative, Leanne Grave, said: “The girls and women always benefit from these interactions with a world class player.
“It’s great to see someone who has come from our club achieve so much take the time to come back and encourage others to keep playing the game we all love.
“Many of the young women have aspirations like Abbie did and what better way to encourage them than to be told they can do it from one of the best. It’s always quite relaxed having Abbie around as she knows so many faces personally and we can’t wait to be following her and the Red Roses’ journey next season and at the home World Cup!”
England are currently positioned as the number one ranked side in the world, and with a home Rugby World Cup approaching, there is huge excitement and increased interest around women’s rugby union at present.
During the Six Nations, the Red Roses reached over a million broadcast viewers in three of their games, including reaching a peak audience of 1.9 million with their Grand Slam-securing win over France.
The side was also followed passionately by fans in stadia too, with almost 70,000 supporters packing into Ashton Gate and Twickenham in total for the Red Roses’ home fixtures.
With this level of support, the Red Roses were keen to acknowledge the crucial role played by grassroots clubs and their loyal supporters during their Six Nations campaign, by visiting their community clubs. It is hoped that these visits will also help to inspire girls and women to take up the sport and grow the game in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2025 and beyond.
Red Roses' club visits
Alex Matthews – Camberley RFC
Zoe Harrison – HUEL Tring RFC
Katie Buchanan – Mansfield RUFC
Sadia Kabeya – Streatham-Croydon RFC
Tatyana Heard – Malton and Norton RUFC
Natasha Hunt – Drybrook RFC
Claudia MacDonald – Sutton & Epsom RFC
Maud Muir – Cheltenham North RFC
Lilli Ives Campion - Telford Hornets RFC
Emily Scarratt - Leicester Forest RFC
Amy Cokayne - Lichfield RUFC Ltd
Emma Sing - Crediton RFC
Rosie Galligan - Aylesford Bulls RFC
Amber Reed - North Bristol RFC
Morwenna Talling - West Park Leeds RUFC
Connie Powell - Sudbury RFC
Lizzie Duffy - West Park (St Helens) RFC
Mackenzie Carson - Minchinhampton RFC
Lark Atkin Davies - Luctonians RFC
Abby Dow - Andover RFC Ltd
Ella Wrywas - Saracens Amateur RFC Ltd
Hannah Botterman - Datchworth RFC
Jess Breach - Pulborough RFC
Nancy McGillivary - Exeter Saracens RFC
Maisy Allen - Oakmeadians RFC
Kelsey Clifford - Old Albanian RFC
Sarah Beckett - Firwood Waterloo RFC
Zoe Aldcroft - Scarborough RFC
Megan Jones - Loughborough RFC
Marlie Packer - Yeovil Rugby Club
Poppy Cleall - Wasps FC
Abbie Ward - Keswick RFC
Catherine O’Donnell - Egremont RFC
