Satellite Rugby Club Success

East Staffordshire Girls School Rugby – A Sport England Satellite Club Success

As the winter nights draw in, the East Staffs girls rugby satellite clubs have been in action with the first school games of the season.  Wednesday 16th November saw John Taylor HS, Barton under Needwood travel to Thomas Alleynes HS, Uttoxeter, for an under 15’s (years 9 and 10) girls’ match.  The teams were a mixed group of novices playing their first game and more experienced club players who play for Burton RFC.  The match was closely contested with some fantastic passages of play from both sides and outstanding levels of commitment and bravery from all. Well done.

To round off the busy week, Oldfield’s Hall Middle School hosted the under 13’s (years 7 and 8) girls rugby tournament on Friday 18th December.  What started off as a plan for a single match soon escalated to a full tournament with schools from all over Staffordshire making the journey. Represented were, Windsor Park Middle School (Uttoxeter),  John Taylor High School, St Edward’s Middle School (Leek), Blythe Bridge High School and of course Oldfield’s Hall. The most amazing fact of the afternoon is that Oldfield’s Hall MS, ran out with four teams, over forty girls, and could have selected a fifth.  A truly amazing effort. The girls played numerous matches so that all involved played each other.  Again a fantastic spectacle to see so many young ladies playing with such passion.

Thanks to the Sport England Satellite Club initiative, girls rugby is firmly established within the East Staffordshire schools, the pleasure that the girls and staff get was plain to see on Friday afternoon, so who knows, perhaps some future England stars in the mix.

Mark Tolley
Staffordshire Girls Rugby u15 & u18 Manager
tolleym@sky.com