Page 7 - GRFC NEWS

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Ladies Captain Bronnie Jones looks forward to the new season...
GWERNYFED RFC
LADIES SECTION
The Ladies team faced another tough season in the Premiership this year which tested the true grit and determination of the team. Playing against strong established sides full of international players proved a tough test for the ladies but they have given the season their all and stuck it out as a team. With Gordon at the helm for his final season, the ladies managed to week in, week out, put in performances and made sure that Gwernyfed RFC didn’t go down without a fight.
Gordon has given his all to Gwernyfed ladies over the year and has been an outstanding member of Gwernyfed RFC. Without his commitment, patience, and determination the Ladies team wouldn’t have been able to run, so a massive thank you goes out to Gordon as he hangs up his coaching hat! The Ladies team will miss him tremendously but hope to still hear him cheering them on on the sidelines this season!
The upcoming season sees the Ladies team facing new tasks! This season introduces a new Head Coach, Izaak Duffy, who will put his years of playing experience, both for Gwernyfed RFC and a number of other teams, to practice! The ladies team look to an exciting new challenge now placed in division 1 and are revelling the chance to re-establish themselves with a big recruitment drive underway. This season sets to be an exciting one so please come down and support the ladies at Trefecca Road whenever you get the opportunity! Pre season will be starting soon so keep your eyes peeled for details and training is held Thursday evenings, 7-8, throughout the season. If you fancy giving rugby a try and being part of the green, white and black family then don’t hesitate to come along!
JUNIOR GIRLS
Red Kites welcome girls of all abilities from across the region and is open to girls aged from 6 through to 18 years. Whilst the younger age groups grew in numbers in 2019 with our under 9s often fielding two sides at festivals throughout the 2019 season, numbers were less buoyant across the older age groups as rugby competes with other sports, part-time work and education.
Throughout the 2019 season, which began in March level 1 and 2 qualified coaches have run training sessions on friday evenings for girls in all the age-groups and they have taken part in several rugby festivals throughout the Blues and Dragons regions. The Red Kites own festival of rugby held in June at the Brian Jones memorial field was a tremendous success once again with around 400 girls from hubs across the regions taking part. It was pleasing that Carys Phillips, Wales women’s captain continued as Ambassador to the Red Kites and attended our festival. During the day she got involved by supporting and interacting with players, coaches and referees and engaged with parents. Carys again proved to be a real inspiration to the girls.
We are grateful for the support of our sponsors to put together a programme for the season which is a valuable promotional tool. Hub Officers Bronnie Jones, Jonny Bowen and Gareth Bowen have been instrumental in the introduction and development of the game at primary and secondary schools across the region. The rugby Kites primary tag festival organised by the hub officers was attended by 180 girls and resulted in around 30 girls joining the Red Kites younger age-groups. Around 150 girls attended a Secondary schools’ tournament held at Gwernyfed. Sport Powys’ Community Sports Development Officer Nicola Jones organised the Gwernyfed primary cluster festival which was attended by 200 boys and girls.
SUMMER 2019