Reading Abbey Rugby Club are leading the way as they encourage mothers to return to playing after having children.
The club have devised pioneering postpartum support and a women’s health campaign that has led them to form a Maa Maas team made up entirely of mums.
The Berkshire club have benefited from £15,000 of National Lottery funding to build dedicated women’s and girls’ changing facilities, which are currently under development.
And on the eve of England’s second Women’s Rugby World Cup match, they also welcomed former Red Roses captain Catherine Spencer to learn more about their ground-breaking initiatives.
“They have got strength in numbers of women and girls right through from minis to their senior team,” Spencer said.
“They have also really started to support mums who want to come back into playing rugby as well, which, as a mother myself, I can really enjoy.
“They have supported that programme and provided support for those people both emotionally and with the facilities as well.
“It is fantastic to see the way they support their women and girls in the context of the wider club as well.
“I was speaking to Sam [Wallis Robinson], the chair, and they just want to see people play rugby and make sure there are no barriers for anyone.”
Spencer retired from rugby in 2011, having led England to the World Cup final in 2010, and went on to have her daughter six years ago.
Since her playing days, she has seen the women’s game transform, in part due to The National Lottery’s funding.
Since 2009, nearly £50 million has been invested in women’s and girls’ rugby in England, while £6 billion has gone into grassroots clubs and organisations across the last 30 years, meaning The National Lottery has been game-changing for women and girls’ sport.
Furthermore, the RFU’s initiatives are driving participation at every level: from non-contact rugby for 14–18-year-olds and schools’ programmes, to recruiting more female coaches and providing dedicated resources to grow the women’s game.
Spencer added: “I have been talking here about why it is that England are so successful, and in part it is because there are specific facilities at clubs for women and girls, more changing rooms or changing room access, pitch access.
“It means that young girls and boys are watching rugby on the telly, and there is a local rugby club they can go to.
“The strength of our England team, as cliché as it might sound, is built on really strong foundations, and the National Lottery is hugely helping to build those foundations.”
More than £6 billion of National Lottery funding has been invested into grassroots sport. More than £170 million of National Lottery funding has transformed grassroots rugby across the UK, including vital investment into the women and girls’ game and creating the infrastructure that’s now producing world-class female players.
By Milly McEvoy, Sportsbeat
