Girls hijack the hallowed turf

In beautiful sunshine, on the national pitch of Wales, 44 teams from schools representing every Unitary Authority in Wales played in the U14 and U18 Tag Rugby Competitions on the hallowed turf.

The day was the culmination of a National girls’ school rugby programme. Every secondary school across Wales was invited to participate in a Unitary Authority tournament organised by their rugby development officers with the lucky winners at each age group attending the finals.

After more than 100 games, Ysgol Plasmawr (Cardiff) defeated Ysgol Preseli (Pembrokeshire) in the final of the U14 competition and Neath Port Talbot College (Neath Port Talbot) were victorious over Ysgol Cwm Rhymni (Caerphilly) in the U18 final. Presentations were made by Wales Women’s Captain Mellissa Berry.

This year also saw the introduction of the ‘Nomis Player of the Tournament’ sponsored by Nomis, boot supplier to the Wales Women’s National Squad. U14 winner, Marianne Dupuy (Ysgol Plasmawr, Cardiff) and U18 winner Sara Ladd (Ysgol Preseli, Pembrokeshire) will were awarded with Nomis boots, a sweat shirt, t-shirt and tracksuit trousers. The presentations were made by Gill Sandford, Nomis’s marketing and sponsorship manager.

Nicola Smith, WWRU Community Rugby Manager commented: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and the level of skills the girls showed throughout was really impressive. I hope that many of them have now caught the rugby bug and continue to play both for their school and for one of the girls’ club teams in Wales.

“I would like to thank all the rugby development officers, community coaches, teachers and volunteers for their hard work over the past few months. I would also like to thank the Dragons Trust for their fantastic support of the schools programme throughout the season and Nomis for supporting the finals day.”

Action and team photographs, courtesy of DEphoto, are available at http://www.dephoto.co.uk/. For further information about taking up girls’ rugby, please visit www.wru.co.uk/women.

Finalists of U14 Competition
Bishopston Comprehensive, Newtown High School, St Cyres Comprehensive, Tredegar and Brynmawr Comprehensives, Ysgol Plasmawr, Harwarden High School, Cynffig Comprehensive, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, Coedcae School, Abersychan Comprehensive, Bryncelynnog Comprehensive, Ysgol John Bright, Newbridge Comprehensive, Ysgol Botwnnog, Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi, Bishop Hedley RC High School, Caerleon Comprehensive, Ysgol Dinas Bran, King Henrey VIII Comprehensive, Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, Llangatwg Comprehensive, Ysgol-y-Preseli, Rhosnesni High School

Finalists of U18 Competition
Ysgol Plasmawr, Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Lampeter Comprehensive, Ogmore Comprehensive, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Pen-y-Dre, Abersychan Comprehensive, Ysgol Dinas Bran, Ysgol-y-Preseli, King Henry VIII Comprehensive, Llantwit major Comprehensive, Argoed High School, Coleg Powys, Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, Neath Port Talbot College, Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Brynmawr Comprehensive, Bassaleg Comprehensive, Bryncelynnog Comprehensive, Birchgrove Comprehensive, Holyhead High School