Bournemouth Rugby’s introduce new women’s setup to the club

Bournemouth Rugby have announced that they are starting a women’s team, with training already underway.

This joins alongside their Men’s, touch rugby, and wheelchair rugby setup. 

The decision to introduce a women’s team was seemingly overdue for the club. 

Speaking to Will Croker, Director of Rugby at Bournemouth Rugby, he mentioned how many felt it was overdue.

“We were approached by the wider community saying “why’s Bournemouth not got a women’s team?””. 

“As a forward thinking club with aspirations of moving up the rugby pyramid, it felt like the right time”. 

Will also mentioned how the buzz from the recent World Cup had accelerated the excitement for the team. 

“The excitement of the World Cup has sped things up a little bit”.

Georgia Stone, coach and player at the club, said: “It was quite exciting, it was something that Bournemouth Rugby was missing”. 

The club already had a sector for girls in the mini and youth setup, for ages 10 to 18. 

The continuation for the girls in the youth setup into senior rugby was also discussed. 

Georgia added: “It’s so important you have that home club that they’ve grown up in and progressed”.

Will, also adding on the topic: “They didn’t want to play all of their girls (youth) rugby at Bournemouth and then have to go and find another club”. 

James Croker, Commercial Director for the club, offered some insight on how the women’s team can help the club progress commercially and financially. 

“We want to be the most equitable rugby club, and trying to do women’s rugby in the best possible way we can hopefully satisfy that”

“Doing the women’s rugby made sense, for being equitable and for the girls (youth) setup”.

James also mentioned the club is offering free memberships for the women’s setup to help get it off the ground. 

“The plan is to create a centre of excellence that means Bournemouth becomes a club of choice for those with aspirations to play good women’s rugby”, Will added. 

Training is at 5:45-7:15 every Tuesday at St. Peter’s School.