Female rugby influencers / coaches for DD to follow?

[FusionChefGeoff]

DD(10) has played rugby for a few years but has a tough game at the weekend so I'm looking for some influencers or accounts we could encourage her to watch to get strong role model voices on top of ours?

People who can speak about their experiences of being a girl in a boys team / sport (they don't split sexes for another year or so)

Women who talk about the mindset to tackle / be tackled and the aggression and confidence needed to push through the stereotypes etc

Any ideas?

Firstly an amazing well done to your DD for participating in girls rugby. My DD has played for nearly 10 years and as well as developing her fitness and skills such as teamwork, discipline, respect and looking after your teammates , in that time she has also created an amazing solid social circle of friends where you are only judged on the content of your character and achievements and not your physical appearance or fashion. Plus at school no one tends to mess with the rugby girls!

I would strongly recommend that to start with you take your daughter to your nearest Premiership women's rugby match. The Women's Premiership Rugby is very different to the men's and where after the match (and despite being bloody knackered!) the women players take time to go round the fans to sign shirts and take selfies.

They really take time out to encourage the next generation of women players, it's amazing to see and I have nothing but massive respect and admiration for these women.

Twickenham for a Red Roses Match is great and you can stay in the Richmond Premier Inn it's just about walking distance.

USA rugby star Ilona Maher is DDs idol at the minute (and currently on Dancing with the stars and did a Luisa Encanto dance this week which was great at showing a strong women). She did lots of interviews during the Olympics and lots of SM coverage, although mostly talking about body image as well as some very funny bits

Other wise look at the Red Roses team page and follow the players / look them up on YouTube most have done inspirational talks at some stage or another.

Ella Wyras, Amelie Anstead, both knew/coached DD at Hertford RFC who's now studying to become a coach herself <preens>

You should take her to watch the "big girls" matches too.

Ask the age groups coach if she can go and talk to them about it. Our team does a Big sister / little sister day a couple of times a year and the minis are invited up to train with the older ones (non-contact obvs) and is great for them to see girls they know and relate to getting stuck in.

Thanks all - she's been to watch some women's rugby and will definitely seek out more of that - especially next summer!!

She starting to see that the boys just don't pass to her as much - despite her coaches best efforts there's this prevailing attitude that boys are better at rugby so she doesn't get a chance to show them what she's capable of. Plus she subconsciously is taking that attitude too I think which is horrible to see. We try so hard to big her up but it's true that she needs to be 50% better to just be seen as equal.

Ellie Kildunne
Red Roses (separate on Insta)
Ilona Maher
Maud thingy (prop)
Rocky Clarke
Marlie Packer

@Singleandproud that's a great idea - there is a girls section at her club but it doesn't really get going until 14 so there's a big gap! But it could be good for her to see them and / or maybe have a one off session with them - I know the coach I'll ask. Thank you!

Does her club have a women's team? Could you take her to watch them play?

I have a big issue with the RFU on this exact point. Currently girls do not split from the boys until U12 as a two year age group (so U11 and U12). Then going on to U14 and U16 etc.

Whilst U8 tag rugby and below certainly works as a mixed game, the problem starts with U9 and particularly U10 where in general (sweeping generalisation) the boys tend to be physically stronger and more aggressive. This means many girls that happily played rugby in U8 and below, kind of got through U9 then simply drop out of the sport for good at U10.

IMO - the girls should be split from the boys at U10 but the RFU thinks differently.

From overseas I think Ruby Tui (black ferns) and Ilona Maher (USA) are both great. From Red Roses there are a couple of podcasts she could listen to; Good, the Scaz and the Rugby and Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach just started one but can't remember the name as not listened to it yet.