In a year when Irish Women’s rugby took a huge step forward, Skerries RFC embarked on its first steps towards a fully functional Girls rugby section…
Thanks in the main to the Club CCRO, Michael Woods, a large turnout of over 50 girls attended the Clubs first all-girls blitz.
‘We were somewhat surprised by the numbers but hopefully it reflects the interest in the game amongst girl and thankfully a number of the Clubs youth coaches were in attendance and we were able to run a well-integrated session’, said Woods.
The girls took part in some warm up and handling exercises, then divided into six teams, playing two matches each initially, whereupon some correctional drills were done and the session finished with a final game. The feedback from the girls was overwhelmingly positive.
Incoming President, Pascal Byrne expressed himself delighted with the event. ‘We are very much a community Club, and not just for Skerries but also catering for the localities of Rush, Lusk and surrounding areas, and as such, are keen to encourage girl’s rugby through to full women’s rugby. However, space is at a premium, with over 300 youths using the two pitches and we are in desperate need of further playing and training facilities. If the appropriate authorities could allocate us pitch space we would deliver rugby to all who wish to play’.
Part of the success of the blitz was its timing, run prior to the Club’s All Ireland League match versus Clonakilty and similar plans are afoot to run another blitz on the day of the 1st Team’s last home AIL fixture against Sligo RFC on Saturday, 23rd March.
