Car Stevenson, Scottish women’s rugby development manager, is driving forward a number of initiatives to try and encourage more girls to take up the oval ball sport.  

This season, 12 clusters with an assigned rugby co-ordinator have been established around Scotland and the aim is to get in early – at primary school level – and then build on the programmes as the players head into secondary school and beyond.  

“This month we have organised get-togethers and tournaments in Perth and Glasgow and we had almost 200 players sign up,” said Stevenson. “We staged ten-aside matches and the numbers are growing all the time. 

“We have more than doubled the numbers taking part in women’s rugby in the past couple of years and we want to oversee the girls’ development and get into schools. We are starting at Primary six level and then moving upwards.” 

Not surprisingly, the Borders is one area where girls’ rugby has taken a foothold. Ian Millar, a Youth Development Officer based in Galashiels, has been working in the schools in his home area and the sport has grown on the back of the men’s game. 

“We have a Borders Ladies” team based in Melrose, an Under-18 side in Gala and an Under-15 line-up in Langholm,” explained Millar, who is has been in the post for five years. “We try and work them all together so if there is an under-15 player in Gala then she can play for the Langholm team .  

“During my time, we really have seen the numbers grow in the girls’ game. We have lots of training and fun sessions and women’s rugby is now becoming very popular. The biggest problem is trying to get regular fixtures that will help the players take the next step to national level.” 

Another new tactic is taking the game to the very youngest primary pupils. “I work in 11 Primary Schools and this year,” Millar continued. “We’ve started taking the girls and boys from P1. Up until now, we’ve not started until P3. It’s just basic running and catching. But if we get kids started at a young age it will hopefully increase the interest and boost numbers.” 

This month, Millar and his Borders team are hosting Come and Try sessions at Kelso and Langholm (November 21). Both are staged from 12-2pm and are open to Under-18 and Under-15s. 

“Depending on who turns up, we can stage seven a-side tournaments or just have training and some fun games,” he said.  

Next year, there will be further Come and Try days at Galashiels (January 23rd), Duns (February 6) and Hawick (March 6).  

This summer’s World Cup in England helped raise the profile of the game – Scotland finished a creditable eighth – and the push is now on to further increase awareness in the build-up to next year’s Six nations Tournament.  

Nicola Halfpenny, who was in the World Cup team, is a member of Melrose Ladies’ and Millar is grateful for the help she provides in the girls’ game. Hopefully, she will bean inspiration to future Scottish caps.  

The 12 clusters are in Highlands and Island, Grampian, Tayside, Fife, Central, Edinburgh and Midlothian, East Lothian, Borders, Argyll and Bute, Glasgow, Angus and Dumfries and Galloway. So every corner is covered.    

The future appears to be bright for the women’s and girls’ game with numbers and interest increasing year by year. “The profile has certainly been raised,” said Millar. “I’m sure it will just get better and better in the years ahead.”

EB

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