Businesses urged to support women’s rugby

Women’s rugby in the North East is facing a critical challenge as talented players are leaving the region due to a lack of opportunities and sponsorship. 

Francesca Johnson-Harding, chair of Rugby NE Women’s Rugby, is calling on local businesses to help prevent a “brain drain” to the North West and the South of England and ensure the sport thrives in the region. 

The demise of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, once the region’s top team, has left a gap in the women’s rugby pathway. 

Francesca, who has acted in the role of Durham County pathway manager for girls for the last five years, said: “Each year in Durham alone we have over 100 girls from the age of 14 upwards who are involved in the RFU pathway designed to accelerate their skill levels and to help produce strong athletes.

“Yorkshire and Northumberland have similar numbers – but there is no ability for any of them to continue to play at the highest level unless they leave our region and move to Southern clubs.”

“It’s heartbreaking watching all the girls we’ve developed, all the talent we have, leave to play rugby down south when your nearest premiership offering is Sale Sharks, in Manchester, or Loughborough Lightning.

“These girls are leaving our region to attend universities elsewhere to play the level of rugby they need and that means we lose students and graduates, we lose engineers, we lose doctors, we lose educated young women and we face a brain drain in the North of England.”

She adds the knock-on effect is that North East businesses and even families suffer as “young girls at 16 years old are making decisions to move away from their homes just to play the sport that they love at the level that they deserve is heartbreaking”.

In an attempt to tackle the problem, Francesca is working with Steven Colwell of Bishop Auckland Ladies – the highest-level club in the North East at Championship level – to organise two matches and potentially a third game, with sponsorship opportunities available to support a North East Women’s XV team.

Francesca added: “This year we see the North East Women’s XV team take part in three matches, the first on May 3 as the curtain raiser for Durham University Men’s 150th anniversary game against the Barbarians.

“The North East Women’s team will play the Durham University Super BUCS alumni and current first team.

“The second match is a game for Military versus Cancer against an even stronger UK armed forces female team on June 21 at Newcastle Falcons.

“We can’t thank Military v Cancer enough for allowing us the opportunity to play with their badge on our chest against the UK armed forces.

“There is also the potential for a further third match later in the season if we can get suitable sponsorship in these two matches for the team and for the charity.”

If you or your organisation are interested in sponsoring the North East Women’s XV team, contact Sarah Walker at SASS media.

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