birkEnhead PARK
panthers
for people and gave women the chance to play
to representative level rugby after having never
even held a rugby ball. I genuinely don't know
what I would do without rugby/training/games/
socials in my life -- well, I’d wear shorter skirts
as my legs wouldn't be quite so battered!”
We took pride back then, and still do, on our
diversity. Rugby provides a home to the tall,
the small, the well built and the whippets. But
we are also diverse of backgrounds and age.
A barrister rubs shoulders with skint students,
12
ISSUE 02
fresh faced 18 year olds put their bodies on the line for
“proper old birds” (their words) – all in the name of a
sport we have developed a real passion for, but more
importantly for one another – the Panthers.
Liz Walls, Panthers’ second row, says it all. “In 2009 I
heard that there was a women’s team at Park. At 19 I
was someone who hadn’t exercised since school so
initially decided to join to get fit. I didn’t intend to play
games. I trained through the summer and started to
really enjoy the rugby and fitness. I lost weight and felt
great. The main reason I kept going was because I had
met some great friends there,
friends I couldn’t imagine being
without now. Over the years we
have played some great games
and been on tours and made
some memories I will never
forget. It’s the best way to get
fit and meet new people. Five
years ago I couldn’t run a bath
and just recently I represented
my county playing rugby!”