Ladies set stage with Scarlets clash

Rugby fans will be able to take in two matches this Friday when Scarlets come to town. Todd Blackadder’s side are due to host the Welsh outfit in their second pre-season fixture of the summer on Friday, the match kicking off at 7.30pm. Before that, however, Bath Rugby Ladies will also face their Scarlets counterparts at Rec, the match under way at 4pm. It will be the first game of the season for the club, who are about to enter their 15th season. The new coaching team, led by John Gould, will lead their side out to face a Scarlets squad that is made up of Welsh internationals, as part of the WRU development pool. The rest of the new management staff include Colin Bauld (assistant coach), John Fatiaki (2s coach), Russ Mellor (coaching assistant) and Ben Head (match day assistant). Entry to the game is free. It will be the first time Bath ladies have played at the Rec, having retained the Somerset Trophy there in March. Gemma Thorburn received a huge boost after she was nominated for the Rugby Club Volunteer of the Year award at the Crabbie’s National Rugby Awards. Gemma is a Bath Ladies legend – it needs a lot more than a few months on the sidelines with various injuries to dampen her spirits. When she is not able to be on the pitch, she is either behind the bar pulling pints, cleaning the changing rooms, cooking the post-match food or running water to the players. As Social Secretary for Bath Ladies, she works tirelessly to arrange a variety of social events, helps to run social media pages and directly assists with player recruitment and retention – all making her an indispensable member of the club. Gemma will have her moment in the spotlight at the Twickenham awards ceremony but faces stiff competition in the category with Shaun Davis, Avril Pearce, Oliver Hobdell, Cheryl Mcgauley and Mark Jordan also nominated. “Whether it’s professional players, or right through to the amateur stuff, the unsung heroes, the big club men or women – both sexes are involved in these awards,” said Harlequins’ Chris Robshaw, who helped start the awards in 2015. “It’s a great night for all to get involved. “It’s a ceremony that honours all levels, and not only on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. “That’s what makes a local rugby club tick, everyone on and off the pitch working together, whether it’s the person clearing up, or making sure all the meals are there, or the player scoring all the tries, they’re all important.” Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer passionately supports rugby at all levels. The brand returns as the Headline Sponsor for the 2018 National Rugby Awards after partnering with the event for the first time in 2016.