Chester Rugby Club has a rich history, dating back to the 1920s. However, it was not until 12 years ago that the club started its women's team. Since then, the women’s and girl’s section at the club has gone from strength to strength. It has been a long journey, and the growth of W&G’s game at the club has not been an overnight success.

In the beginning, there were only a handful of girls playing in mixed age groups. However, six years ago, the club started a girls' section, and slowly but surely, the numbers started to grow. It took a lot of hard work and dedication from the coaches, parents, and players to build the section, but the effort has paid off.

The girls' section at Chester Rugby Club now boasts around 130 players, ranging from under 12s to senior women. The section offers a mixed rugby option for girls aged 5-10, as well as a girls-only option. The under 12s have just started their first season, and the older teams are going from strength to strength. The girls train regularly throughout the week, with the mini girls training on Sundays from 9-10 am. The training sessions consist of fun games to help the girls develop their skills and confidence and introduce them to rugby. The older teams train on Thursdays and Sundays, and they play standalone matches against other clubs as well as attending Pitch up and Play events across the county.

The under 16s played in the National Girls' Under 16s Cup competition this year, winning their pool. However, they bowed out in the last 16 of the competition after being defeated by a strong Liverpool St Helens side. It was still a proud moment for the girls, as they scored the most points of any club that has battled with LSH this season. The Devas also had a notable fixture, beating Vagabonds away. It was a tough match, and the girls had to leave home at 4 am to play on the Isle of Man. However, a last-minute penalty kicked over by the captain saw the Devas take the win.

Playing rugby has numerous benefits, and the girls at Chester Rugby Club have experienced them first hand. Rugby builds self-esteem and helps girls grow in confidence. It teaches them that there is a position for everyone, regardless of size, level of fitness or rugby knowledge. Rugby also builds friendships and a support network, and helps girls build resilience. Win or lose, lessons are always being learnt, and rugby empowers girls.

The growth of the women’s and girls' game at Chester Rugby Club would not be possible without the key driving forces behind it. The coaches, managers, and parents have all played a crucial role in building the section and supporting the girls. Leanne Duggan, in particular, is always ready to take on any task, and the coaches are constantly looking for new ways to keep things fresh in training and drive engagement during their sessions. The players themselves are amazing, taking on every challenge set before them. Finally, the parents are reliable and willing to go that extra mile to ensure their girls get every opportunity available to them.

The girls at Chester Rugby Club have not gone unnoticed, and many have received representative honours. Fourteen of the under 18s were selected to play for Cheshire RFU, and eight players are in the Sale Sharks Centre of Excellence. Three players have recently gained international caps with Wales under 18s.

If any women or girls would like to know more about getting involved we would be delighted to hear from you at chesterdevas@gmail.com