GRASSROOTS RUGBY SIDES WIN TWICKENHAM TRIP AFTER DEFENDER RISING STARS CUP SUCCESS
Three grassroots rugby teams are heading to Twickenham after triumphing at this season’s Defender Rising Stars Cup.
The event, held at Manchester Rugby Club, marked a significant milestone for girls’ rugby, featuring a dedicated Girls’ Under-12 category for the first time.
Valkyrie Rugby Hub, based in Wrexham, won the inaugural girls’ competition and will attend the PREM Final alongside Sefton RUFC Under-11s and Fylde RFC Under-12 boys.
Delivered by Sale Sharks Foundation, the festival brought together 32 teams and 640 young players, including eight Girls’ U12 teams.
The Defender Rising Stars Cup celebrates rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship (TREDS), with the three winning teams achieving maximum scores against those values.
Sharks players Luke James, Marius Louw, Vicky Irwin and Tom O’Flaherty were on hand to watch the action and present trophies to the winning sides.
Dave Dixon, coach of Valkyrie Rugby Hub’s Under-12 girls, said:
“The girls were so excited to take part. Some played in a mixed Under-11 side last year, so it’s fantastic to see an established girls’ category now in place and to witness the standard of girls’ rugby on display.
“The girls are delighted to have won the award, and the opportunity to visit Twickenham and watch the PREM Final will be an unforgettable experience for them. It’s a fitting reward for their efforts and reflects Valkyrie Rugby Hub’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for girls in rugby.
“We’d like to thank Sale Sharks Foundation for delivering such a brilliant Defender Rising Stars Cup and Manchester Rugby Club for hosting. It was a fantastic day that showcased the true values of rugby.”
Alex Lambie, Head of Rugby Development at Sale Sharks Foundation, added:
“The standard of rugby throughout the day was outstanding, and it was great to see such a positive response to the introduction of a Girls’ Under-12 category. Opportunities like this help to grow the grassroots game and inspire future generations.
“We had a fantastic turnout across all tournament categories, with each of the three winning teams scoring maximum points against rugby’s TREDS values. We now look forward to welcoming them to Twickenham for the PREM Final in June.”
Held nationwide by PREM Rugby clubs throughout the season, the Defender Rising Stars Cup is a highlight of the grassroots rugby calendar for Under-11 and Under-12 teams.
Since its launch in 2008, the competition has given more than 125,000 children the opportunity to discover rugby and take part in competitive fixtures designed to support their development, with some participants going on to play professionally in PREM Rugby.
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