Girls' rugby showcase introduces the sport to 400 new players
School Rugby Managers in the southwest recently teamed up to deliver the Love Rugby x Continental Tyres Girls Regional Showcase.
Organised by School Rugby Managers Dan Lugg, Jane Clark and Ella Fielding, the event brought together nearly 400 Year 7 girls from 25 schools for a day of rugby.
The event was supported by Continental Tyres, who provided a DJ, an announcer, and branding, which, according to Lugg, made the day “amazing”.
It also involved collaboration with the Exeter Chiefs Community Foundation and Exeter College, who hosted the event and provided coaches from their recent ACE Girls League-winning side.
Lugg said: “I’ve been working in school sports for nine years, and this event was the best I’ve ever been involved in.
“The take-up from schools, the vibe on the day, and the collaboration between multiple parties – it ticked all the boxes we needed it to!
“It was really cool to see some girls pick up a rugby ball for the first time, particularly as Exeter is one of the host cities for the Women’s Rugby World Cup later this year.”
The event was split into morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning, each school rotated around 10 coaching stations to learn different rugby skills. Each station was run by a coach from either the Exeter Chiefs foundation, the RFU or an Exeter College student.
A highlight for many was the Exeter Chiefs’ high ball machine, which launched balls into the air for the girls to catch.
In the afternoon, the venue was divided into eight pitches where schools played T1 games officiated by Exeter College students.
Lugg added: “We didn’t score the afternoon games, and we treated each game individually based on what kind of experience each school had. We just wanted enjoyment to be the main factor of the day.
“At one point, the DJ put on the Macarena and the whole event stopped to dance, completely unplanned!”
Sian Brooks, Devon RFU Girls Lead, also attended the event and gifted each participant a t-shirt with a ‘Find your club’ QR code, which had over 150 scans shortly after the event.
The event showcased the power of partnership in growing girls' rugby across schools, clubs and the wider community.
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