Final bid North girls aiming to become national U15 champions

CHELTENHAM North’s Under-15 girls will battle it out for the England National Girls Under-15s title at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium on Sunday.

North have played six very competitive matches to get this far and face Old Reigatians in the final.

The Under-15s side was set up four years ago and have battled their way to the cup final despite having two years without playing due to the pandemic.

The squad of 29 players, who come from a range of local schools including All Saints, Tewkesbury, Cotswold, Balcarras, Ribston, Cleeve and Denmark Road entered the competition for the first time this season, have been coached by club volunteers Ian Parker, a teacher at Berkhamsted School and John Poulton, an IT specialist, who between them have more than 10 years of rugby coaching experience.

Poulton said: ”Our girls are exceptionally talented, hardworking and have performed beyond our expectations.”

North is an inclusive club who welcome diversity and enjoy offering the opportunity to become engaged with the sport at many levels, we have mini, junior, youth and adult sides playing regularly, and families are very welcome to come along, get involved and support.

The coaching set up is strong and their under 15’s section has a great coaching team that also includes Steve Crowe, Carrie Pierce and Craig Andrews who have all helped guide the on field success of this squad.

Parker added: “We are delighted to have made it to the finals and believe our under 15 girls have the passion to go all the way and bring home the cup - something that has never been achieved in the club’s history.”

North chairman Paul Carter said: “With so much passion and history at our club we are thrilled at the success of these young women who have already come so far and in my view that’s a win already.

“We would be delighted to welcome more players to the club, whether it’s our Didi Rugby, playing for our under 6/7 age group or the many other sections we run right up to adult ladies and men’s teams.”

The team and coaching staff will be meeting at the clubhouse at 9am to be greeted by club members, supporters and families and North are expecting a very large turnout to see them off, as they journey to Sixways on the official Gloucester Rugby team coach.

Win, lose or draw, there will be a celebration party on Sunday evening at Stoke Road, and everyone is welcome.

To find out more, to come along for a free trial rugby session with any of the rugby playing age groups, or to volunteer as a coach, manager or assistant coach at the club, call Dan Hodge on 07776 325628.

With so much passion and history at our club we are thrilled at the success of these young women who have already come so far and in my view that’s a win already Cheltenham North chairman Paul Carter