7 May 2025 | 3 min | 4

Scunthorpe RFC Women celebrate 30 years of rugby

Scunthorpe RFC recently marked 30 years since the formation of its women’s section with a day of celebration.

The day was celebrated by 110 people at the anniversary dinner, with 41 former and current players participating in a game, including three players from the original 1994 team.

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Becky Clark, one of the team’s current players, said: “We played a hybrid game, which was 20 minutes of touch and then the rest of the game of contact rugby.

“The ‘Oldies’ won the touch game, but then the current team ran rings around them in the contact!”

Scunthorpe RFC Women’s journey began in December 1994, inspired by England Women’s triumph in the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup earlier that year.

Just a few months later, in April 1995, the team played its first fixture and joined league competition for the 1995/96 season.

A female player from Scunthorpe RFC tries to avoid a tackle during a game of rugby

Scunthorpe RUFC's Women's side pose after a game of rugby

Scunthorpe's Women side from 1994 pose outside their clubhouse in their rugby kit

A press clipping on Scunthorpe Women's side from 1994

Scunthorpe Women's captains from the last 30 years pose in front of a giant illuminated 30.

That first season was far from easy, with no wins in the first ten league games, but one in a friendly against Riseholme College, but camaraderie and commitment kept the team going.

Becky continued: “It’s a real achievement. There have been challenges along the way. But we’ve held on and stuck through it.

“The teams have always enjoyed what they’ve been doing, and we’ve built a family that’s kept going through the years.”

Three decades on, Scunthorpe RFC Women continues to thrive, fuelled by the same determination, passion and sense of community that sparked the team.

Trisa Mahoney, Chair of Scunthorpe RFC Women, said: “We have a fantastic set-up here at Scunthorpe RFC, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built over the years.

“The pipeline of talent coming through from our thriving girls' section is especially exciting; it’s clear the future of women and girls’ rugby in Scunthorpe is in great hands.

“We’re also hugely excited to support England in the Rugby World Cup 2025 this summer, and we’re confident it will inspire even more women and girls to get involved in our amazing sport and our amazing club.”

This year also marks another historic milestone, as Trisa is set to become the first female President of Scunthorpe RFC for the upcoming season; a fitting achievement in a landmark year for women’s rugby.

For more information, get in touch at info@scunthorperugby.com.