Didsbury Girls Rugby: Funding sparks club growth and sustained opportunities for teenage girls

By GreaterSport | 08 March 2023 | TAGS: Rugby, Case Study

In rugby, teams must become single sex at under-13. It can leave girls who enjoy playing mini mixed rugby with no means to continue participating in the sport as they move through their teenage years.

But it’s an issue volunteer Eve Murphy has successfully tackled at Didsbury Rugby Club where she’s encouraged young girls across three age groups to enjoy rugby throughout their teenage years.

Back in 2021, the club were successful in gaining Satellite Club funding from GreaterSport to support the creation of a girls-only section and provide a pathway through to their women’s team.

The investment has proved a turning point in girls’ rugby in the area with the club taking a collaborative approach to ensure the funding created new and sustained opportunities.

Work with Sale Sharks in the Community saw the charity deliver taster sessions in four schools close to the club: St Paul’s Primary, Cavendish Primary, Didsbury High School and Barlow High School.

The sessions, delivered by female professional coach India Perris Redding in PE Lessons, gave girls their first taste of rugby and allowed the sport to be shown in an accessible and appealing way.

India’s presence gave the girls the opportunity to see a strong female role model within the sport in an environment they knew and were comfortable within.

The club were then able to run three taster sessions with an open invite for girls aged 10-14 to come and try the sport with a further fun festival at Didsbury Toc H RFC in July 2021.

The club has since gone from strength to strength with 20 girls across under-12s, under-14s and under-16s taking part in weekly sessions on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Key partner Broughton Park RFC have supported the midweek training option by giving access to floodlit pitches ensuring that winter sessions could continue regardless of the weather.

With the girls spread across age groups, competitive opportunities via a traditional league setup were limited, but the club have found success with the Greater Manchester Girls’ Network.  

The network allows multiple clubs to come together every other week, make teams from whoever is available, and play competitive, supportive, and fun rugby.

It successfully allows girls to train and be connected to their local club and join a wider collaboration to have positive experiences through physical activity and sport.

The club’s successes have now led them to establishing an ambassador programme with seven girls set to volunteer in their local schools. The girls will discuss their role and liaise with their schools to launch the programme at the start of next season (autumn 2023).

This International Women’s Day, Didsbury Toc H RFC would like to thank Women in the Law UK for their continued sponsorship. For more information on the club, contact Eve Murphy.