Lucy Garside had never played rugby in her life until six months ago when she got involved with the Huddersfield Laund Hill Ladies Rugby Roses team.
Now, as one of the converts to the sport, she wants to encourage more women to get involved and says it was one of the best decisions of her life giving rugby union a go.
Lucy, 23, instantly fell in love with the sport and hopes other women will give it a try too. Any woman over 18 can join and it’s a friendly and supportive atmosphere with the emphasis on fun and learning. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played the sport before.
“We’re encouraging ladies of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes to take a chance and have a go,” said Lucy. “We have around 25 women in the senior team and that’s a great amount.
“We play in a development league and so the games are competitive but more about having fun. We would love to see more women coming along to our sessions.
“We’re developmental so there’s no pressure to be perfect. Our main focus is enjoying the game, building confidence and reaching our potential.
“It’s a new year so why not take on something new and give us a try? All the ladies are welcoming and we have a really good fun time being with each other. It’s a chance to be outdoors, get some fresh air and exercise and also meet new people.
“We have teams for adults 18+ (Senior Roses) as well as Junior Roses aged between 12 and 17 and we have Mini Roses for young children aged between four and 12. We train Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30pm-8.30pm.”
Lucy said: “Rugby and football have always been seen as male sports but that has changed recently and you’d have to say there are more women’s clubs growing now.
“Rugby is a great sport but I’d hardly watched it six months ago, never mind played it! However, I just really fancied trying something new and so I went to the club and trained once and instantly loved it.
“It has made me feel really positive and it’s something I love doing. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made for sure.”
If you want to get involved with the club you can message them on social media HERE. Or just turn up to training at the Laund Hill Sports Complex on the days and times above.
