Biggleswade RUFC

Rugby is a game for all, and Biggleswade RUFC is working hard to give young girls and women the chance to try out and improve their rugby skills.

The club’s Chair Teri Taylor, one of the few women chairs of rugby clubs in the country, is committed to making the club a welcoming place for everyone, and is keen to encourage more girls and women to take the plunge and get stuck into the ruck!

“Lots of girls or women think rugby somehow isn’t for them, but when they have a chance to try it out, just about everyone says they wish they’d got involved earlier!,” said Teri, who in addition to her role as chair is an experienced player with the Ladies.

Our Girls and Ladies sections have had some great success across the different age groups, with lots of female players representing the club at county level, and also showing great leadership qualities and potential.

Lauren Poole finished an outstanding season for Biggleswade Ladies with selection as Captain of the East Mids Ladies, and is now going great guns playing for Thurrock T-Birds, having used her time at Biggy as a launchpad for high level rugby in the Women’s Championship South 1 (one league below the Premiership).

Girls have made up a good proportion of Biggy’s minis teams for several years, and the club has recently grown the Girls’ section (girls and boys play together up to U12s [Year 7] when RFU rules mean they split into separate sides, with the girls sorted into various single and dual age bands).

Biggleswade Girls’ coaches Naomi Fullerton and Jimmy Caulfield have been working hard to build up the young players’ confidence and rugby skills. The squad’s talents are already being recognised: 15-year-old Phoebe Fullerton had the honour of captaining her club, school and county (East Mids) U15s sides in the 2021-2022 season, and Phoebe and Biggy teammates Niamh Neville, Bailey Dixon and Erin Etchels have all recently been selected for the first ever girls DPP (Development Player Pathway). This involves a higher level of region-wide training, potentially leading to places at Loughborough Lightning’s Centre of Excellence.

“We’ve got some really talented and enthusiastic young players, and this season we’re teaming up with Bedford Blues to ensure Biggy girls in the different age bands gain valuable game time, giving them just what they want - more rugby!” said Naomi, who thanked kit sponsors LF Jarvis and Son, Wilkins Chimney Sweep and Kustom Artworx.

PICTURED ABOVE: Lauren Poole and Phoebe Fullerton (both selected as Captains for their county sides), and Phoebe with Biggy Girls' teammate Niamh Neville in East Mids County kit.

Rugby Opportunities:

U6 to U12 - girls play alongside the boys in mixed teams (Training & Matches Sun mornings plus Wed eve training for older age groups)
U12 upwards - various single and dual age bands (Training & Matches Sun mornings plus Wed eve training)
Over 18s - Senior Ladies (Training Tue and Fri eve, Matches Sun afternoons)

For more details about minis rugby contact: minis@biggleswaderugby.co.uk

For Girls rugby, contact: girlsyouth@biggleswaderugby.co.uk

For Ladies, contact: ladies@biggleswaderugby.co.uk