Girls get chance to learn from international stars

FEMALE players at Hucclecote RFC got the star treatment with coaching visits from international players.

Wasps Ladies scrum-half Claudia Macdonald and hooker Cliodhna Molloney ran an hour-long training session followed by a Q&A session at the clubhouse.

Claudia, who has been in the England Senior Women’s team since 2019, and Cliodhna, an Irish International, ran various drills, concentrating on individual player reaction time and the group’s team work, specifically timing and communication skills.

They then spent some time on a decision-making exercise working on the girls’ understanding of space and how to use it before completing the session with a game of touch rugby.

The following Sunday, local girl Kelly Smith, the Gloucester-hartpury and England wing who played at Hucclecote as a girl, came back to meet the next generation of girls hoping to follow in her footsteps.

Kelly and Huw Taylor of Pro14 side Dragons warmed the players up with a basic grid handling drill, which they developed into a decision-making exercise with the introduction of a defender. They progressed by moving onto a two on one and then three on two drill and concluded the session with a few games of touch rugby, changing the rules and conditions at each water break.

Afterwards the girls got an opportunity to take photos, sign rugby balls and ask Kelly questions about her career.

“Work hard, train well and above all enjoy yourselves,” she told them.

Hucclecote Girls head coach Kevin Morgan said: “It’s been such a great opportunity for our girls to train with

Claudia, Cliodhna and Kelly. They really do inspire the girls to keep working hard.

“We have some really talented girls here just starting out on their journey.

“Not all of them want to go on to play professional rugby, but having the chance to meet women that have been where they are and gone on to have a career in the sport that they love, is so motivational.”

Hucclecote Girls train every Sunday from 11am-12.30pm at the club in Churchdown Lane, Hucclecote.