A WOMEN’S rugby team joined the boys for the first time at the West Wales Rugby Union’s annual dinner.
Never before had the ladies been recognised for their achievements on the field on the same night as the men.
And Kim Hulance, team manager of Kidwelly Ladies Rugby team, said she was thrilled to join in.
She said it was growing recognition of the women’s game in South West Wales.
This season Kidwelly won their league and the Welsh Bowl Cup.
Not bad for a team which was set up in 2009, after a group of friends were inspired on a Saturday night.
In just three seasons, the girls progressed to top of their league and in 2012 had two girls playing for Wales under-20s.
This year, Kim, who started her managerial role at the start of the season, has doubled the amount of players from 12 to 24. The appeal for extra players came after a third of the original team became pregnant.
She said: “Kidwelly is affiliated to the West Wales Rugby Union, but the dinners have never presented the women with anything before.
“The club got in touch with them and said, our ladies section had been very successful this year, and could they present our awards to us again during the dinner. It’s the first time ladies have been included in the annual event.
“I think it’s really good that we have been officially recognised and it was good to see that they are putting us alongside the men.
“It’s still in development, you do struggle for players, but anything that helps get women’s rugby out there is great.
“Girls play with boys up until the age of 11, but then they aren’t allowed, so where do they go then? It needs to be looked at as a whole.”
Kim was also presented with an award for club personality at Kidwelly, while captain Keeley Evans was awarded player of the league, an accolade voted for by other teams in the league.
It was also a good year for Neath Athletic RFC, who won the WRU Women’s Cup against Pontyclun.
The news has been welcomed by Dawn Barrow, team manager of Gorseinon RFC ladies team, set up five years ago.
The team train every Wednesday at the club, from 6.30pm, but Dawn admitted it had been a tough season.
“Of course things like this help the game, it’s more recognition for the ladies,” she said. “It can only get better, at the moment it’s at the bottom of the pecking order, so any publicity is great. It’s been a struggle, but we’ve always managed to put a team out and hopefully this will help more come on board.”
Article source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ireland-huff-and-puff-their-way-to-series-win-in-argentina-1.1833146
Women"s rugby team attend West Wales Rugby Union"s annual dinner for the ...
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