Among the many positives at the start of the new season is to see the enthusiastic and growing numbers attending the sessions for our women’s and girls groups.

Mark Dobb, who led the club’s triumphant girls age group squads to national success, is now the Head of Women’s Rugby and leads training every Wednesday night from 7pm. New players are always welcome to come along and have a go.

Mark is part of an experienced group of coaches and officials led by club secretary Ian Gooden who is acting Director of women’s and girls’ rugby.

The wider leadership team includes Sophie Hart (Head of Operations), Jane Parke (safe guarding) and Darren Gourley (Head of Girls’ Rugby). Head coaches for this season are Aaron Hart (U18 squad), Derren Sanders (U16 squad) and Jason Harrison (U12 & 14 squads).

The message from every squad is that we welcome all women and girls who want to enjoy rugby. Whether you are an experienced player, a lapsed player or someone who has been inspired to play for the first time after watching the Red Roses, we have a place in our squad for you.

The next goal for the Senior Women is to join the RFU’s Inner Warrior Series. The first competitive game is pencilled in for Sunday 14 January 2024 and we hope to play a series of friendly “development” games in the run up to that.

Please come down and watch – details will be on the Club website in the near future.

And finally, it’s good luck to Betsy Meads who has been selected for the England Rugby Under-18 Girls training camp.

Betsy, who is 16, has only been playing rugby for a few years, having dabbled in football before deciding rugby was the sport.

Since joining Newark RUFC in 2019, she was nominated to join the NLD Developing Players’ Pathway where she excelled in the U16s, and was then selected to join Loughborough Lightening Centre of Excellence this season.

She has been identified as having the potential to challenge for selection into the U18 squad, with the potential for further selection in the future.

Betsy's parents, Daisy and Tim Meads, are blown away by her drive and humility, and thank all at Newark RUFC, and the Girls' section in particular, for all the help in her rugby journey.
Training Times

Seniors: Wednesday at 7-8.30pm. Matches are likely to be played Friday nights or Sunday afternoons.

Girls (U12, U14, U16 and U18) train on Thursdays at 7-8.30pm.
They also train or have matches on a Sunday afternoon.

We also welcome younger girls into our minis section from U6 to U11. They train and play on a Sunday morning alongside the boys in mixed teams.

If you have any queries – or just want a general chat about joining one of our female teams -contact Sophie Hart
via the club’s website-scroll down the following link https://www.newarkrugby.com/contact
or
email: sophie.rugby@hotmail,com
She’ll link you up with the right team and arrange for you to come down and be introduced. You’ll be sure of a warm welcome.