Girls Just Wanna Scrum!

Throughout Limerick and Cork a number of events were organised through the schools and clubs in collaboration with Munster Rugby to entice even more girls to discover the joy of playing the game and being part of a team scenario.

Five events have taken place over the months of February March and April drawing nearly 1000 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 in to playing rugby.
The initial suggestion to their participation in these events was met with somewhat dubious suspicions of the reality of girls actually playing at the same levels as their male counterparts!

When all of their doubts had been quickly put to bed the enthusiasm rapidly began to appear and the game was on!!!

The events to be held were.
1. Munster School Girls Leprechaun League
2. 6th class girls Skills day
3. Rugby Skills day Secondary schools part 1.
4. Rugby skills day Secondary schools part 2.
5. Primary School girls blitz.

Munster School Girls Leprechaun League
The Munster schoolgirls league was a first for secondary schools, it’s objective to take the game to a new level with the introduction of Leprechaun Rugby, now the girls would be taught the concepts of Scrums, Lineout and how these were used within a game structure.  The only thing missing was contact.
The uptake on this was amazing 15 schools participated between North and South Munster with a total of over 300 girls playing.
The talent on both days was awesome and reassured what we already knew, the abundance of rugby skills that was possessed by girls in Munster.
They say from tiny acorns grow mighty oak and that has held true the interest the competition has created is now strongly evident as club numbers increase and amazingly the demand for a full contact competition structure for girls.
The exciting final is set for April 22nd as these incredible girls go to battle for the pride of there schools and rugby.

Sixth Class Girls Skills Day
The development of the game depends heavily on the girls becoming involved in the U-13’s age grade as soon as possible and then development forward to U-15’s.
It is with this objective we set about to run a 6th class girls skills day, girls who were just about to enter secondary level and are still at such a highly influential age.
To influence activity levels at this age will not only identify talent but also mould the participation the girls will make in the game.
The skills day held in limerick attracted 200 girls aged 11-12years and was a massive success.
Enjoyed by all the feedback was one of positive levels of interest in the game and the local clubs.
Many skills were worked on, on the day and as with previous days talent was awesome.

Rugby Skills Day – Secondary Schools
To continue the good work to another level a Skills day for U-15 girls was held a week later.
There was no doubt that rugby was of key interest to all a slightly wary group of young women turned up…… this time they would learn the fantastic skills of Tackling and Rucking.
Time now for some real Rugby.
The day was wet the ground soaked in mud, yet spirits were soaring and eagerness to get stuck in filled the air.
Three hours of skills were worked on with 100 girls who had never played before and the consensus on the day………. RUGBY ROCKS

Girls rugby is alive and growing and no longer are they content to sit and watch there male counterparts.
They are talented, motivated and ready to Ruck Roll and Maul!!!!!!!.