Girls from across England to feature in Sainsbury's Schools Games
Aug
Rugby Sevens will be making its debut at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Sheffield this week, with 60 Under 18s girls from England and Wales taking part.
The Sainsbury’s UK Schools Games is a multi-sport event for the UK’s elite young athletes of school age. Athletes will contest for honours over 12 sports in a four-day games environment designed to replicate the feel of major events such as the Olympics Games.
England will be represented in Rugby Sevens with an England North, England Midlands, England South West and an England London & South East team whilst Wales will field two teams. The England players have been selected from the RFUW Under 18s Divisional Programme, a pathway developed to provide competitive rugby for the best junior talent around.
With Rugby Sevens set to join the Olympic Games family in 2016 the RFUW’s Head of Performance Nicola Ponsford believes the Sainsbury’s UK Schools Games is an important stepping stone to develop the women’s game for the future. Ponsford said: “Rugby Sevens is a game growing in popularity all the time and the Sainsbury’s UK Sports Games is a really positive opportunity to move forward and develop Rugby Sevens at this age group. With the inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympics some of these players might well be on the international stage at that event.
“The games are also a perfect opportunity for the athletes to take part in a quality event alongside other sports. The players will have the chance to learn from one another but also from the other sports, and sample a taste of what it is like to be an elite athlete.”
Rugby Sevens is one of just 12 sports in the Sainsbury’s UK Schools Games, with athletes also competing for medals in sports such as athletics, badminton, fencing, hockey and judo. Each athlete will also get to sample the other sports as well as receive elite performance educational advice. The 1600 young people will also be sharing an athletes village, there will be an opening and closing ceremony and they will have access to athletes mentors who have experienced world class competitions, all in all providing the closest experience these youngsters are going to get to participate in a major competition such as a Commonwealth Games or the Olympics at this level.
Mark Saltmarsh, the RFU’s National Schools Development Manager, added: “Having rugby union included in this annual Olympic style competition for young people in the build up to London 2012 is fantastic. Planning is well underway to ensure an outstanding and memorable experience for all involved and to give rugby in Sheffield a real boost.”
The Games will run from the 1st to 4th September, with Rugby Sevens based at Abbeydale, home of Sheffield RFC.
England London and South East Rugby Sevens team
Emma Swords, Winston Churchill Sch, London Irish RFC
Florence Williams, Maidstone Girls Grammar Sch, Aylesford Bulls
Lydia Beard, Sandwich Technology Sch, Aylesford Bulls
Madeleine Lockwood, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls Sch, Rochford Hundred RFC
Rochelle Smith, Epsom College, London Irish RFC
Serena Carter, Nonsuch High School for Girls, London Irish RFC
Shira Kilgallon, Richard Hale Sch, Welwyn RFC
Siobhan Longdon-Hughes, Hartpury Col, London Irish RFC
Sydney Gregson, The Knights Templar Sch, London Irish RFC
Zoe Barber, Kings’ Winchester, Solent Sirens RFC
England Midlands Rugby Sevens team
Alice Tinn, Spalding High Sch, Paviors RFC
Bethany James, Manor Sch, Paviors RFC
Carys Williams, Moulton College, Lichfield RFC
Chelsey Fuggle, Hartpury College, Lichfield RFC
Emma Harbage, Chase Terrace Technology College, Lichfield RFC
Izzy Moore, Worcester Sixth Form College, Worcester RFC
Jenny Maxwell, Bosworth Community College, Paviors RFC
Lark Davies, Wigmore Sch, Worcester RFC
Libby Clark, North Bromsgrove High Sch, Worcester RFC
Rachel Jones, Burleigh Community College, Midlands
England North Rugby Sevens team
Claire Hutchinson, Ulverston Victoria High Sch, Vale of Lune RFC
Emma Hutchinson, Ulverston Victoria High Sch, Vale of Lune RFC
Gina Lamb, Queen Elizabeth High Sch, Tynedale RFC
Jo Brown, Loreto College, Glossop RFC
Laura Vaillant, Keswick Sch, Keswick RFC
Laura Riches, Leigh College, Tyldelsey RFC
Rachel Lund, Lady Lumley’s Sch, Malton and Norton RFC
Sian McGuinness, Holy Cross College, Tyldesley RFC
Suzie Todd, Joseph Swan Sch, Rockcliffe RFC
Trudi Mercer, Calday Grange Grammar Sch, Calday RFC
England South West Rugby Sevens team
Alex Smith, Launceston Col, Launceston RFC
Alice Stean, Truro Col, Newquay Queen Bees RFC
Devon Holt, The Willink Sch, Reading RFC
Holly Molesworth, Hartpury College, Plymouth Albion Women
Katie Faith, Turnbull Hartpury College, Thornbury RFC
Lauren Chenoweth, Truro College, Newquay Queen Bees
Mary-Ann Gittings, Hartpury College, Worcester Ladies
Megan Goddard, Hartpury College, Gloucester Reds
Miguela Kerins, The Henley College, Reading RFC
Sophie Lee, Berkhmsted Sch, Aylesbury RFC
