Warriors unleashed

Women’s rugby

Canterbury Ladies unleashed their Inner Warrior at a training day designed to generate women’s interest in rugby.

The club’s Marine Travel Ground on Merton Lane was the venue for a Warrior Camp, which attracted new and existing members keen to take part in the sport.

Developed by England Rugby, Meet Your Inner Warrior is a new campaign aimed at women aged 18-35, encouraging greater female participation in contact rugby across the country.

Between May 12-21, more than 150 Warrior Camps took place at rugby clubs across England with the hope of attracting over 1,000 players to the sport – with sports kit and trainers the only equipment needed.

The women’s side of Canterbury have been going for more than 15 years and vice-captain Hannah Batley was delighted with the response of the new starters and existing players who took part in the camp.

She said: “We had quite a few new girls – young girls especially – turn up – it was successful.

“A couple of people from the RFU were down and we had a lot of fun and showed what rugby has to offer both off and on the pitch.

“A couple of the girls were a bit shy at the start but they just forgot themselves and got into it. You could tell people were enjoying it.”

With women’s rugby hot on the agenda as the countdown begins to the Women’s Rugby World Cup later this summer, Batley is banking on increased interest in the women’s game to help boost Canterbury numbers.

She said: “In terms of the younger girls, about 15 turned up, there were older ones over 18 and a couple of girls who had turned up to a training session last season who came to try it again.

“It was a friendly day, something different for people to just turn up and get to know everyone and the game.

“Rugby is quite a family thing. We all know each other so it’s nice to get people in and see how much fun you can have throwing the ball around for a day.

details on how to Meet Your Inner Warrior and register your interest in an upcoming Warrior Camp, head to www.englandrugby. com/innerwarrior.

FM4783660 Emily Bennett has war paint applied by Hannah Batley