Several hundred players from rugby clubs across the province took part in a celebration of the women and girls’ game at City of Derry RFC on Sunday afternoon.
The hugely successful Festival of Women and Girls’ Rugby was hosted by the North West Sporting Pathways programme, funded by the North West Regional Development Group, in conjunction with and supported by The Executive Office and the Irish Government. The progamme is aimed at strengthening the athletic pathways from grassroots participation to talent across the region.
The event included an open training session with the Ulster U18 girls’ team, and a blitz-style competition, which represented the culmination of months of work to develop a women and girls’ rugby programme in the North West region of Ulster.📸 Some of the girls participating in today's blitz with Ulster Rugby CEO Jonny Petrie, representatives from @niexecutive, @dcsdcouncil and @donegalcouncil #IWD2020 #growingURgame pic.twitter.com/kHEGiMWtaC
— Rugby in Ulster (@UlsterBranch) March 8, 2020
The day was topped off by a highly competitive game of rugby between City of Derry and Queen’s University in the semi-final of the Deloitte Women’s Junior Cup - featuring all-woman match officials - in which the hosts emerged 10-0 winners.🌧 The rain won't dampen the girls' spirits! Being put through their paces with the Ulster U18s. @CityOfDerryRFC #IWD2020 #growingURgame pic.twitter.com/PBXZD27Rtz
— Rugby in Ulster (@UlsterBranch) March 8, 2020
For the full gallery, see below.What better way to end the day than with the @DeloitteNI Women's Junior Cup semi-final between @derry_of and @qubrfcladies, with an all-woman match official lineup 🙌 #IWD2020 #growingURgame pic.twitter.com/AnXzU1C7z4
— Rugby in Ulster (@UlsterBranch) March 8, 2020