Yesterday, under roaring sunshine, the Richmond Athletic Ground played host to an inspiring day of rugby for a group of young girls – some of whom were picking up a rugby ball for the very first time.

The day kicked off with motivational presentations from current players, including the influential Zainab Alema, and club legends such as Deborah Griffin, whose stories of resilience and achievement when forming the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991 to now being on the precipice of being the next/first female RFU President, set the tone for what followed. With enthusiasm running high, the girls then took to the pitch for skills rotations led by none other than England internationals Fiona Pocock and Abi Chamberlain.

From passing drills to mini-games, every participant got stuck in, showcasing grit and curiosity – making it a day to remember for all involved.

Reflecting on the event, Deborah Griffin said:
“It was wonderful to see so many girls enjoying the drills coached and inspired by our women players. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup only 50 days away, we want to have girls’ teams throughout all ages and will be having more events in the future to build on this.”

If you’d like to get involved and be part of the Richmond Rugby community, please contact:
Minis Chair, Laura Martin: minischair@richmondfc.co.uk
Youth Chair, Graham Neden-Watts: youthchair@richmondfc.co.uk