On Friday night the newly formed Morley RUFC Mathildas U13s girls take the field for their first competitive home game v Castleford RUFC 7pm ko. [The name Mathilda means “Strong in Battle”]
This will be the start of hopefully a successful and constantly growing girls section. Female rugby union & league are two of the fastest growing sports in the country.
Batley Bulldogs women & girls’ coach Craig Taylor was guided to approach Morley by the RFU, to get the team up and running after taking his league girls to Castleford RUFC for a rugby union friendly.
Craig said “I would like to thank Morley for taking the step forward to get a girls section up and running. They have been extremely welcoming . It’s a really friendly club, and has a real family feel about the place, the girls love it. I’m sure it will be a great success. Who knows in a few year we may have a Morley lass or two in the Olympics.
“I have been out to Australia and New Zealand twice in the past 12 months through girls’ rugby league, with my U16s from Batley Bulldogs. While out there I got involved with some coaching, and it was very interesting to see that the league girls played union 7’s and 10’s. It worked really well together, and the head coach of the Female rugby program at Merrimac High Gold Coast stated that by playing both codes the numbers of girls playing had increased.
“Merrimac are the leading school for female rugby in Australia and run a scholarship program in the sport. This got me wondering why can’t that happen here, and we do the same with girls in the UK? Play league in summer union in winter.
“I honestly think within the female game both codes will see participation rates and core skill levels increase from girls league and union teams forming working partnerships. The fundamental core skills are the same, both league and union start with the same word RUGBY.
“I feel really excited about becoming part of the Morley club who have a great history, and a thriving junior section. I’m in the process of taking my RFU level 2 qualification. For me the code is irrelevant it’s about getting girls out, active, making friends and playing rugby.
“I’ve recently been out to Pakistan promoting the female game, I did some coaching and was invited to a female festival in Islamabad. The standard was very good and the army team could compete with our U18s union teams in the UK.
“The Morley club are getting started at the right time as the female game is ready to boom both here and abroad. The RFU promote the female game really well.”
The girls train Monday 6:30-7:30 at Morley RUFC new players are welcome at both u13 and u15 age groups. Here are the girls enjoying the mud and a scrum session at training last night.
So if you’re looking for something to do Friday night nip up to Morley 7pm take a look at hopefully the next generation of England’s roses.
