Warriors climbing the pyramid

Girls from Welwyn Warriors dominated the recent county trials.

Six players from the WGC rugby club made the grade and will make up a quarter of the newly formed county U17 squad.

All six girls played for the East Region last year. Due to a re-organisation of girls rugby a new pyramid structure for the girls game has been created. The structure is Club - County - Region - England. Although they played for the East of England last season, the change meant that the girls from Welwyn Warriors had to trial for the County side as a first step on the pyramid. What made it  difficult for the Warriors girls was the change in age bands that meant the girls were in the lower end on the age banding but 6 of the Welwyn Girls made the County squad, Charlie White, Emma Cramphorn, Hannah Marques, Michelle Brophy, Jess Lane and Megan Williams.
 
54 U17 girls turned up from clubs across Hertfordshire at the trial at Hitchin RFC. County Coach Vicky Cooke cast her eyes over proceedings and was clearly impressed with what the Warriors girls offered. The 54 were whittled down to just 24, 25% of which come from the Welwyn club! They form the Hertfordshire squad. At U14 level no County squad is yet formed but Welwyn would be hopeful of having several of their younger girls in that squad when it is created.
 
Warriors Manager June White said 'I'm absolutely delighted for the girls, through their determination and the skills and the commitment of their coaches, they are succeeding in what still remains a largely male dominated sport and despite the small pockets of opinion that would suggest rugby is not a sport for girls, they continue to go from strength to strength. Welwyn Warriors are THE Premier girls team in Hertfordshire and any girls wishing to join will be most welcome! Please contact me here for more details'.