Mum and Son both playing 1st XV Rugby
Sarah Stevens and her son, Will, both play 1st team rugby at Aylesbury RFC
Will, who has played rugby since he was five years old and has been with Aylesbury RFC for his entire childhood as a mini and junior player, now runs out for the club’s 1st XV on a regular basis at either scrum half, fly half or fullback.
When the club started up a women’s side, Sarah, 39, was keen to help get it off the ground and began attending training sessions. Inspired by her son’s love of the sport, she soon became hooked by the sense of camaraderie and the fitness benefits that came with it.
Now, almost five years later, Sarah is a regular feature in Aylesbury’s Women’s side and also plays across the back line at fly half, fullback and occasionally scrum half.
Will said: “When my mum first started playing, I was in the junior section and I was a bit sceptical, as I’d seen her pass a ball before and she was terrible!
“She took it upon herself to follow in my footsteps as a scrum half, but shortly after she started, we went into lockdown, so I had the slightly painful experience of only being able to pass with her in the garden… But she slowly got better after taking on the advice I was giving her!
“My mum attends every home game and as many away games as possible and has been extremely supportive of me all through my youth with Wasps and now at Aylesbury as a senior. Aylesbury is a great club to be around and I’m so glad to be able to share it with my mum and my family.”
Aylesbury Women have grown through the years and now compete in National Conference 3 South West (East), with players of all ages running out for weekly fixtures. And with numbers growing, support for incoming players is something Sarah feels passionately about.
She said: “We have had lots of U18's come through recently, and when they have a tough game or need someone to take them under their wing, I always step forward reminding them that if an old lady like me can do it, then they definitely can!”
