GHA Rugby Club marked a significant milestone on Sunday 31 May as it took an important step towards establishing a thriving junior girls’ section and reintroducing senior women’s rugby at Braidholm.
The club’s inaugural “Gals All In” taster session welcomed 35 participants aged between 5 and 54, representing a broad mix of playing experience, from complete beginners to former players. Participants enthusiastically took part in fun skills sessions and match play activities, demonstrating the strong appetite for girls’ and women’s rugby within the local community.
GHA Rugby Club extends its sincere thanks to coaches and organisers Dameon Chaney, Lara Bardelli, and Lucy MacDonald whose leadership and commitment helped deliver a successful, welcoming and inclusive event.
Lucy MacDonald, Community Director, commented:
“The response to our first women and girls session has been fantastic and has massively exceeded anything we had hoped for. It’s great to see our enthusiasm for women’s rugby shared by so many others and bringing this back to Braidholm. We are continuing to grow the range of opportunities for female players of all ages, from primary school through to senior rugby, and this is an exciting first step towards building a strong and sustainable community girls and women’s rugby programme at GHA.”
Dameon Chaney, Director of Youth Performance, continued:
“We know how much the game can give players – not just in terms of fitness and skills, but in confidence, friendships and personal development and we believe it is important that girls and women have every opportunity to enjoy and benefit from sport.”
Building on the momentum generated by the launch, the club is committed to expanding opportunities for female players of all ages. Further taster sessions and regular training opportunities are currently being developed for players from Primary 1 through to senior women’s rugby.
Registration is now open for GHA’s popular Summer Rugby Camps, taking place from 6–10 July and 3–7 August. Open to all children from P1 to U16, the camps are available to both members and non-members. This year, GHA is offering free introductory places for girls who are new to rugby, helping to remove barriers and encourage more young people to experience the sport. Led by experienced coaches and supported by GHA players, the camps provide high-quality coaching in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.
For female players from S1 through to seniors, registration is open for those wishing to receive information about forthcoming girls’ and women’s touch rugby and skills sessions. Designed to be fun and accessible to all abilities, these sessions will provide an opportunity to develop skills, meet new teammates and be part of the growth of women’s rugby at GHA
Coach Lara Bardelli added:
“GHA always brings people together, and we want every girl and woman who’s ever thought about giving rugby a go to know there’s a place for them at Braidholm. The buzz at our first Gals All In event was amazing, and it proved there’s real enthusiasm for getting involved. This is just the start, and we can’t wait to grow the women’s and girls’ game even further at GHA.”
For all players, GHA Minis Rugby continues to welcome both boys and girls at primary school age, with the Sunday morning training sessions resuming again in August and children are welcome to come and try before signing up. Meanwhile, players from S1 through to senior level are encouraged to register their interest with the club.
This launch represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for GHA Rugby Club. With growing interest, strong community support and a clear commitment to female player development, the future of girls’ and women’s rugby at Braidholm is bright. The club looks forward to welcoming many more new and returning players to the GHA family in the months ahead.
Further information and registration details can be found at:
Summer camp details: www.gharugby.co.uk/events/y Club
For girls and women’s rugby: www.gharugby.co.uk/gha-girls-womens-rugby/
or by contacting: [email protected]
