Barge in, join the fray, get into a maul – it might lead to a scrum, and that’s bound to end up with a few players in the bloodbin. It doesn’t sound very ladylike. Women playing rugby? Yes, Hastings Rugby Club has its own women’s team and its doors are open to new members! If you’re bored of running the treadmill to nowhere but you want to keep fit and have a great conversation piece to-boot, get up to Hastings Rugby Club. |
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When I meet the team at their weekly training night, I’m a bit surprised. These girls come in all shapes and sizes and there are no crutches or missing teeth. The laughter is raucous and there’s obviously a great team-spirit. Is it really full-contact, like men’s rugby, I ask? Yes, they really do barge each other on the pitch and minor injuries to knees, shoulders and backs aren’t unheard of, although noses and teeth are generally safe. I’m relieved – at least they don’t aim for the face. Some of them started judo training the night before, and they’re complaining more about aches and pains from that than the rugby. Heidi, AKA Rocky (each team member has a nickname chosen for reasons they don’t reveal), is the captain. “I played rugby a bit at school,” she says, “And then I played again in the Navy, mostly to get out of duties during afternoon practise!” Years later, she’s a keen advocate and eager to spread the news that rugby for girls is a force worth reckoning with. “It’s a fantastic way to keep fit.” Most joined because they wanted to get involved in a team sport, find a new way to socialise. Some tried rugby at university, others weren’t even spectators before they came to the club. They all enthuse about the great venue at William Parker, and tell me being part of the team is like having extended family. “The great thing about rugby is there’s a position for everyone,” says Donna. “Heavy and strong and good for the scrum, right through to small, light and fast. Everyone can join in.” |
Nationally, the game for women is growing. Most towns have their own women’s team. It’s the lack of publicity that makes it difficult to recruit new players. But things are changing. Some girls are even playing rugby at school. One member of the team is a PE teacher and, next year, she’ll be teaching it to her girls. Like every sport, rugby has it own clichés. I wonder, do they apply to the girls? “We’d like to celebrate and commiserate in true rugby fashion, but our matches are always on a Sunday so there’s no lie-in the next day.” Sounds sensibly un-cliched to me. And on the pitch – rugby has a reputation for better behaviour than football? Spinelli laughs “Well, at least we respect the referee,” she says. “His word is final.” Round the table, we have a formidably named bunch: Minger, Rocky, Spinelli, Bob, Blee Blah Blough, and Mouth – the Jonny Wilkinson of the team. But they belie their labels when they sum up why they want new players to come up to the club and try it out. “It’s sociable, interesting and brilliant for stress relief!” says Spinelli. They’re good mates off the pitch as well as on. “We get involved in charity activities as a team, too,” adds Rocky, “Such as Race for Life, Tug of War during Old Town Week, barbeques and all sorts of other events.” As I leave, I feel a bit weedy next to these rugby girls. I wonder, would there be a position for me on the team? But I don’t dare ask...  |
To join in, you don’t need any special kit. Just turn up in trainers and sports clothes for practise at 7pm to 9pm. Or ring Heidi first on 07715 117 640 |
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Hastings Women’s Rugby Team train every Wednesday at Hastings Rugby Club, William Parker School. 
