Girls Rugby

Biggar Rugby Club girls are disproving the theory that playing good rugby is all about having massive physical power and sheer brute strength.

For the 15 young ladies, aged from 11 to 17, who regularly attend 90 minute training sessions on Wednesday evenings at Hartree Mill are all slightly built and only an average height of 5’ 5”.

Their coach, Joanne Robertson, a former Biggar RFC Ladies player, is delighted that the girls are progressing at the sport, despite their modest frames, for they are there, week after week, whether it is fair, rains, is cold, etc. “We concentrate on running about with the ball for the majority of the time but also do some press-ups and other muscle building exercises” she says.

Biggar Girls compete at Murrayfield - 1st June, 2008.

of experienced heads playing in the maroon shirts rather than any failing on the part of the Biggar side.
Next up was Carrick Academy’s A team. Carrick secured a win as a result of being able to make good use of loose ball. Biggar came close to scoring a try towards the end of the tie during a phase of play that involved four players. However, the referee blew up for a knock-on and Biggar’s hard work went unrewarded.
After a short break Biggar prepared to take on Monklands in the final round of the preliminary fixtures. On another day Biggar would have been able to hold their own against “the Monkeys”. However, a combination of their heads being down following the previous two losses, tired legs and a change in the shape of the team resulted in another loss.
Having failed to qualify from their pool the girls from Biggar were matched against Carrick Academy’s B team. With the pressure of qualification lifted the girls in black started the game with renewed confidence. The older members of the team were able to convert possession into tries and all worked hard to maintain a clean sheet in their final game of the day. With a win under their belt Biggar made their way into the Stadium in time to see Scotland secure an impressive win against Australia.
Whilst the older girls contributed admirably to the overall team performance special mention should be made to the younger girls of the team showing great energy and enthusiasm for the game.
Whereas the 2008 IRB Sevens World Series may have concluded at Murrayfield at the weekend, girls’ rugby at Hartree Mill will hopefully be well placed to move forward as the Club strives to provide them with the support that they deserve.   
Any girls that are interested in training with the team, even if it is just to work on their fitness, should call into the Club for more details or call Joanne on 01899 229 039.

As Scotland prepared to take to the field at Murrayfield on the first day of the Emirates’ Airline Edinburgh Sevens, the girls’ team of Biggar RFC were competing on the back pitches in the National under 15s’ Festival of Rugby.
Progression in the tournament was never going to be easy for Biggar after drawing a well drilled Gala squad in the first round of the tournament. To their credit, however, Biggar put in a spirited defence during the first three quarters of the tie. The final score-line of four tries to nil in favour of Gala was largely due to the ability of a couple

Joanne played for the Club for 8 years, mainly for the social aspects associated with the game, at a time when Biggar could put out a good ladies team. That team included Donna Kennedy for a period, who has gained more caps for Scotland than any other woman has for any nation (more on Donna shortly) as well as Una Stewart (nee Lavery) who played in the Irish Ladies squad. Una, along with Shona Dale, assists Joanne train the girls.

The team have only had a few games so far but the coaches believe that the squad has tremendous potential and they have plans to enter the team into a national girls league.

A number of young girls play at Mini level and they too show great promise.

If any young ladies out there would like to come along and try the sport then they are invited to call Joanne for more information - on 01 899 229 039.