Sunderland
Women
Sunderland
Women
Sunderland
Women
Sunderland Women’s RFC is a club that has been making a tremendous amount of
progress in recent times with their senior side just completing their first season in the
league. Rugby Club Magazine caught up with club representative Paul Geehan to find
out more about the good work that they have been doing.
Atmosphere
He started by telling
us about what the
atmosphere at the
club is like at the
moment, saying, “It’s
really positive here at
the moment.
The senior ladies team
have just finished their
first ever season in the
league and have loved
every minute of it.
Much was learnt
during the season
and they are looking
forward to learning
more over the summer
and then putting that
into practice in their
second season.
Things are also very
exciting for the newly
formed U 13’s girls’
team.
people with after
school clubs and we
are a Women’s and
girl’s focus club with
the RFU.
Developing young
players is an extremely
important part of
what we do.
If the children enjoy
playing at junior level
then we are much
more likely to retain
them when they reach
senior level age.
At present we have
no formal links with
other teams but as
the women’s game
develops and players
develop we make
sure everybody works
together within the
county.”
Potential
“It is a little too early
to say but we will have
a few ladies playing
county this year and
next season a few girls
also will be picked for
the county and who
knows the future may
bring international
caps. With both senior
women and junior
girls’ sides being newly
formed we have much
learning and growing
to do.
Both teams are
showing fantastic
progress and currently
we are working on
building up the team
skills as a whole rather
than focusing certain
individuals.”
Facilities
“We are currently
in the process of
improving and
expanding the
number of changing
rooms at our club.
We generally get
good feedback on our
changing facilities
and the actual bar
area of the club is very
well presented and
comfortable.
Importantly, it is also
big enough for both
sides to sit and enjoy
drinks after the game.”
Challenges/Ambitions
Over the coming years,
we want to continue
to learn and grow as
a women and girls
section.
The aim is also to have
U13, U15 and U18 girls
so that we will then
have a pathway into
the senior team.
The biggest challenges
I face are to increase
player’s knowledge
and making sure you
keep them focused on
the game.
The most rewarding
aspects are that you
get to see players
develop and enjoy the
game which is what
we are all about.”
“The biggest challenge
we see at the moment
is not having the
numbers of players we
would ideally need.
Trying to tempt
women and girls to
play is difficult as
many already have
pre-conceptions of
what rugby involves.
Northern Property Doctor are specialists in all
types of preservation and building works, based in
Sunderland but cover the whole of the North east
and beyond. The company are also sponsors of the
U13 and U16 teams at Sunderland RFC, and have
supported their fund-raising efforts to provide kit
and help them tour for the last few years.
Managing Director Graeme Edmundson has said
that as teams are responsible for obtaining their
own sponsors and raising funds he understands
ho ܁