Cardiff Demons and South Wales Jets have teamed up to help secure the future of women’s and girls’ rugby league in South Wales.
Together they will be running two development programmes.
One, for women and girls aged 15-19, at Cardiff University Sports Park, Mendip Road, Llanrumney, Cardiff, runs for ten weeks, starting next Wednesday 17th July
The second, for girls aged 11-14, at Penallta RFC near Caerphilly, runs for four weeks, starting on Sunday 4th August.
The Demons are currently participating in the RFL Championship South, hoping to win promotion to the Women’s Super League. Many of their players turned out for Wales this year to help them qualify for the Women’s World Cup at the first time of asking.
The youngest age that any women can play senior rugby league is 17 years old, whilst in the community clubs in Wales, girls and boys play alongside each other until the age of 12.
Therefore these clubs are now looking to bridge that gap by organising development programmes where eventually teams can be selected from and matches can be played.
Jets’ chairman Liam Price said: “We are delighted to bring together this partnership with Cardiff Demons. What they have achieved in women’s sport is a testament to the hard work they have put in.
“The effort that was put in to get to the World Cup should be recognised, but it means nothing unless we grow the game in Wales.
“Since the Jets started, a women’s and girls section has been at the forefront of our plans, and this is the first step along the way of achieving this.
“Women’s rugby league needs to be grown. We hope we can do our bit and create a thriving women’s and girls’ section for years to come.”
Cardiff Demons’ head coach Ian Newbury added: “Coming off the historic achievements of the current group of players, it’s now important that we look to the sustainability of the game. That means providing pathways for young aspiring athletes to be the next Leanne Burnell or Bethan Dainton.
“England have announced a game in Las Vegas against Australia, the NRLW is seeing unprecedented growth in viewership. We have to look to match this progress at home.
“Partnering with the Jets is the first step in this process. As a club, the progress they have made in such a short time is extraordinary. By offering the resources from our set-up, we hope to supply the part of the puzzle that can take time to organise.
“This will also be the starting point of our own female coach education pathway – offering an opportunity to start on their coaching journey, with the aim to increase the number of qualified female coaches in Wales.
“The ultimate goal is a Demons team led to Wembley by a Welsh female coach.”
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