News / Community Reporter Scheme
A first for women’s rugby in Lockleaze
Excitement builds for a historic day in local rugby as Bristol & District Combination Rugby Football Club (B&DCRFC) kicks off its first ever women’s tournament.
Lockleaze Sports Centre will play host to the games on Sunday, April 21.
Francesca Golton, women’s rugby coordinator for the B&DCRFC, says the competition aims to “promote and celebrate the strong presence of women’s rugby in the local area”, but also “build awareness and support for the importance of women’s rugby across the district”.
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Sunday’s tournament will see teams compete in a round robin event, with the winners and runners-up playing a cup and plate final for annually presented trophies and participation awards as part of the Bristol & District Combination men’s and women’s finals day in Lockleaze on May 11.
Lockleaze Sports Centre will play host to the first ever Bristol & District Combination Rugby women’s tournament on Sunday – photo: Thornbury RFC
Francesca joined B&DCRFC, which previously had no women representation, last year.
In her role as women’s rugby coordinator, she aims to grow interest in women’s rugby and support local clubs that want to expand into providing women’s teams.
“I’m hoping that, in a few years, women will have their own Bristol league in the same way that men do,” Francesca tells Bristol24/7.
Formed in 1902, the B&DCRFC has 52 member clubs. It is a non-profit organisation for the promotion of rugby football and the mutual wellbeing of clubs. There are currently 11 active women’s teams in the area, with an additional two getting off the ground, including Yate RFC Ladies who joined their first league this season.
Francesca says clubs are losing great young women rugby players, who may have been affiliated with a club for many years, but they don’t have an established women’s team.
“We are seeing a massive increase in girls entering at grassroots level with projects such as Impact25 making rugby more accessible and appealing to girls,” says Francesca, adding that many girls have to stop playing when they get older as there isn’t anywhere for them to go.
“When you get to 12, you’re not able to play with the boys, so you can join under-fives, all the way through to under-12s and then you’ve got to go and find a different women’s team if your club doesn’t have one.”
Formed in 1902, the Bristol & District Combination Rugby is a non-profit organisation that has 52 member clubs and 11 active women’s teams – photo: Francesca Golton
Francesca believes rugby is a great way of instilling self-confidence, self-esteem and respect in girls and young women.
“People learn, see and follow. If you have women playing any type of sport, their children will follow in their footsteps, people need to have the opportunity to be a role model,” she tells Bristol24/7.
Francesca says that having the camaraderie of being in a team, going out on the pitch, committing and having something that isn’t home, family or studies is something she wants to encourage.
She continues: “Rugby is part of our culture and the South West is one of the most saturated areas for rugby in the country. But, I think women in rugby are pushing things forwards now. There’s more support in local clubs by bringing women in, creating women’s clubs allows clubs to be stronger. It’s going to secure the future of the rugby clubs.”
Francesca adds that rugby can be all-encompassing, whatever your gender, size or fitness, when you begin.
“When I first started playing, I was 22 stone, but in rugby there’s a position for everyone on the pitch and that’s why it speaks to so many people. We just need to ensure it’s available to everyone,” she says.
Francesca believes rugby is a great way of instilling self-confidence, self-esteem and respect in girls and young women – photo: Francesca Golton
Francesca says that many underestimate the benefits of being part of a rugby club. “If you’re a mum and you need to funnel your energy somewhere – go to your local rugby club. If you’re someone who’s feeling the need to expand socially, go to your local club. If you need to get your aggression out on something, go to your local club. If you just like watching, go to your local club – there’s always a bar open! For anybody, it’s a really good way to find who you are. You don’t know your strength until you have to dig deep on a rugby pitch, not just for you but for the 14 others on the pitch with you.”
This Sunday’s tournament is free entry for spectators and takes place at Lockleaze Sports Centre on Bonnington Walk from 2.15pm.
The local women’s rugby team for Lockleaze is Ashley Down Old Boys RFC, located at the Lockleaze Combination Ground, Bonnington Walk. To find out more, you can get in touch via email at adobwomen@gmail.com
Emily Shimell is reporting as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Chew Valley Cats/ Francesca Golton
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