Q&A with Schalk van Lill, Youth Girls Convenor at Virginia RFC
How long has the girls' rugby programme been running at the club? What was the inspiration behind starting it?
The girls’ rugby programme at Virginia RFC has been running for over 10 years now. At that time, we had a number of girls playing mini rugby and they would have had to quit rugby unless the club supported them and provided them with a pathway into youth rugby. The club did exactly that and we’ve never looked back.
How many girls participate in the programme? Do they range in age and experience levels?
We currently have 82 girls playing rugby at the U12 to U18 age groups. There are more girls at the younger age groups playing with the boys. We also have a great senior women’s setup with 36 players. Many of those who started their rugby journey when we started the girls’ rugby programme have now returned to play as adults. This means that we have girls playing rugby from ages 6 to 50.
The great thing about girls’ rugby is that every season you get new players who have never played rugby before. Every season we also have Spanish exchange students joining our U16 team and really adding value. We hope that they go home and continue their relationship with rugby. But we also have some old heads that started playing minis rugby and have a lot of experience. They share their knowledge with anyone new and this really helps to build team spirit.
How did it feel winning the U16 league this season?
It was absolutely amazing! The core of this team has been playing together for a while now and they are committed to the team and the club. They put in SO much effort and have such a great attitude, and it is great to see them reaping the rewards. Our goal this season was to beat our nemesis, Enniskillen (the rivalry between Virginia and Enniskillen is a friendly one as we challenge each other every time to get better), anything after that is a bonus!
Beyond playing matches, does the club organise any social events or activities for girls and young women?
Yes, we do. The club regularly organise trips to the Women’s Six Nations for the whole girls’ section. We also have a youth appreciation evening where we celebrate our youth section in fun way with some very special and unique awards. At the end of each season the girls’ youth section organise a fun day that normally involves water and an adventure centre.
What message would you give to girls who are interested in trying out rugby?
Give It A Try! At Virginia RFC we are delighted to see new players giving rugby a go and all our coaches will actively support you and help you. The main benefit you’ll find is that you will be part of a team of a diverse group of girls, with different backgrounds, coming from different towns, all part of one team. You are guaranteed to make friends very quickly. Also, remember, rugby is the only sport in the world where body shape or size does not matter. There is a space on the team for the smallest pocket rockets to the fiercest, strongest girls. This combination definitely benefitted our U16 team this season.
What are your aspirations for the future of the girls' rugby programme and women's rugby in general?
We have great plans at Virginia RFC. We want Virginia RFC to be an inspiration to any other club that are developing their girls’ rugby programme. We want to grow the numbers of girls playing rugby with us, so that our girls’ section is as big as the boys’ or bigger. We want our senior women to challenge at the highest level in Ulster and continue being successful in all competitions. It would be amazing to see one of our girls play for the senior Ireland teams (15s or 7s). For women’s rugby in general, we would love to see the number of players grow, feeding into a high-performance set-up that will help to put the Irish Women’s team back on top of the world.
Q&A with Elinor van Lill, U16 Player at Virginia RFC
What first made you interested in playing rugby? What makes you stick with it?
When I was small, my parents made me try out all sports. The deal always was that if I didn’t like it, I didn’t have to go back. After my first training session I was buzzing. I think my parents still have a video of me in the back of the car, covered in muck, saying “I’m going back next week”.
What are some things you've learned and gained from playing rugby, both personally and socially?
I’ve learned how to work as a team and with people of different levels of skill. I’ve learned not to get frustrated if things don’t go my way. I’m still working on that one. I’ve also learned how to make friends with girls I never would have thought of talking to, never mind becoming friends with. This is true for club level and higher levels. I now have a network of friends throughout Ulster and we regularly catch up. When travelling on a bus, stops at Applegreen in Castlebellingham or Lisburn is recommended for teambuilding too.
How does the team create a supportive and welcoming environment for girls of all backgrounds and abilities?
When we have somebody new or someone returns after a season or two, the coaches introduce everyone to the team. We have a very encouraging, helpful and fun atmosphere at training which keeps the girls coming back, purely for the laugh. They ask the senior girls to help the new ones in training and on the pitch. They also have a rule, if you show up for training and you show up for a match, you will get on the pitch.
How did it feel winning the U16 league this season?
It felt amazing. We put in a lot of training in all types of weather. Like a lot of clubs in Ulster, we spend a lot of time travelling to games which is a big time commitment and coming out on top will definitely keep us coming back for more.
