Spirit of 2012 funds Spirit of Rugby – a partnership with England Rugby that builds on the inspiration of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and inclusion of Rugby in the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. The programme seeks to increase participation and volunteering in Rugby Union, together with changing perceptions of the sport.
Women and girls in Darlington had the chance to try something new when England Rugby and Rugby World Cup winner and TV personality Maggie Alphonsi descended on Market Square for Spirit of Rugby’s Scrub Up, Scrum Down event.
At a massively exciting time for women’s rugby – with Rugby Sevens set to make its Olympic Games debut in Rio next month, growth in the game at an all time high and for the first time professional contracts being awarded to England’s 15s players – Alphonsi was in town to showcase the game and encourage more women and girls to give rugby a try. The excited participants got to take on the former England international- capped 74 times for her country- in an inflatable passing cage, a throwing tower, a kicking cage and the gauntlet run as well as learning some top tips.
Maggie Alphonsi explained: “I’ve had a fantastic day. It has been terrific to see so many women and girls trying out rugby, and trying out something new! Women’s rugby is a game like no other. I hope today that I have helped show people what fun this sport can be. Rugby has certainly had a massive positive effect on my life and I want to see other people benefit from the sport too.”
“Women’s rugby is a game like no other. I hope today that I have helped show people what fun this sport can be. Rugby has certainly had a massive positive effect on my life and I want to see other people benefit from the sport too.”
– Maggie Alphonsi
Alphonsi is the official ambassador for the Spirit of Rugby, a nationwide project funded by Spirit of 2012. The project, which includes over 100 young volunteers from across 15 communities, aims to ensure the spirit that radiated from London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is felt across the UK.
The Spirit of Rugby projects are uniquely led and devised by 16-24 year-olds, with the aim of increasing participation through new and innovative events, which engage groups not traditionally involved in rugby. In Darlington, the Spirit of Rugby group have been focusing on increasing rugby participation in a football dominated area by showing that women and girls can be both feminine and play rugby through the ‘Scrum Down, Scrub Up’ campaign. The group has held popular rugby master classes, followed by beauty sessions.
Darlington Spirit of Rugby Project Lead, Mark Moss, said: “It has been a great day. The aim was to get more people, especially girls, giving rugby a go in the area. We’ve had a great variety of people of all ages, abilities, boys and girls attending and enjoying themselves and getting to see and experience what community rugby is all about.
“This has also been a great opportunity for both Darlington and Mowden Park rugby clubs to grow their youth and women’s divisions through fairly simple activities which are not only fun but have great health benefits too.”
Further information:
For more information about women’s rugby and how to get involved, visit: findrugby.com
For more information on the Spirit of Rugby projects taking place across England: go to englandrugby.com/spiritofrugby