SNAP are heavily involved in supporting the grassroots game and want to see rugby move forward!
Our primary focus is to create new revenue and sustainable management for grass roots clubs to thrive.
We have recently been involved with supporting players such as Vicky Fleetwood (England International) and would like to create a legacy within grassroots clubs for girls and women to continue to play rugby at all levels.
The article below covers some of the recent successes in the women's game and some of the challenges to increasing participation.
Growing the Grassroots game for Girls and Women - Article by Michelle Harvey
Over the last few years, especially since the women won the (previous) world cup, we have seen an increase in girls and women taking up the sport.
Being an avid supporter of the game for both men and women, I am keen to see how we can grow and develop the game even more.
Women’s RFU is identical to the men’s game…. Same rules, same sized pitch etc. However, thanks to social media, financial investment and international televised tournaments, the game is getting a much higher profile, and women are finding it a brilliant game to get involved with. A fantastic way of keeping fit and healthy, they can let off a bit of steam and there is the social aspect to it too.
But to keep the game growing, we need to be doing so much more.
In a world where equality between men and women is becoming so much more acceptable, and rightly so, this great game needs to pick up a bit more speed if it wants to keep in line with everything else that is ticking the “equality” box right now.
The RFU has done wonders, as have the Red Roses. We have just watched in awe as the WRWC in Ireland showed us some amazing rugby matches, with demon tackling, great ball skills and respect all round for the women who took part. (Many of those women hold down careers as well, as there just aren’t the funds to keep them as full-time rugby players). But more nations need to be taking part, otherwise we are just going to keep on seeing the main players in these events, like England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, to name a few. Let’s shake it up a bit, and see those smaller nations promote the game, and enter these big events.
But taking it back to the grassroots level, what can we do? Schools need to push the game, and get Rugby on the timetable as it is for boys. We have some superb ambassadors for the game, Rachel Burford for one, she runs a local Rugby Academy for girls, and she comes herself, pitches up and coaches. This is good, but we need more of these up and down the country, pitch up academies, taster sessions in schools, let’s get the BUZZ for rugby going, and invite everyone to give it a try.
I go into schools regularly, and meet with the heads of PE departments, to see if we can encourage girls between 13 & 18 years to have a go at rugby. This is the hardest age group to infiltrate when it comes to sports. If they haven’t been sporty from primary school, then it’s an uphill struggle getting them into sports as a teenager. We offer the girls the chance to come down to the rugby club, see what it’s all about, we don’t charge anything for the first few weeks, to see if they like it. We promote the “bring a friend” week, and this sometimes produces a few new faces, but we have a long way to go.
Area Ambassadors for Women and Girls Rugby is what I feel would help. Throughout the premiership and championship rugby clubs, up and down the country, there should be a nominated “Ambassador” for girl’s rugby. It would be their job to visit their local rugby clubs, that have women and girl’s teams. Just showing their faces, maybe taking a specialist coaching session, or answering a few questions would be a start. Girls need a role model, and rugby produces some of the best.
SNAP already have connections to several role models and rugby connections.
If your local club or team needs our support - please get in touch with us and let us know how we can help
