New Girls-Only Rugby Side To Capitalise On 6 Nations Fever

A new touch rugby side is set to offer Vale of Glamorgan girls the chance to emulate their rugby heroes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Phoenix Touch is a new girls-only side aiming to offer girls between the ages of 9-11 (school years 5 and 6) the opportunity to take part in a non-contact form of the popular sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The team is being set up off the back of the success of Atomic Touch, a fast-paced game that has similarities to touch rugby, netball and ultimate Frisbee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Training for Phoenix Touch is set to take place every Monday – between 6.15pm-7.15pm – from Monday 06 March at Stanwell School, Penarth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The sessions will offer fun, skill-based activities in a friendly environment, one that aims to encourage more young girls to take part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This falls in line with the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Sports and Play Development team’s ‘Girls on the Move’ scheme. The scheme aims to increase female participation in sport and exercise across the Vale, and has, up to now, introduced ‘glowminton’ (a twist on badminton that uses glow-in-the-dark shuttlecocks and rackets) and a girls-only running group in Penarth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Gwyn John, Vale of Glamorgan Cabinet Member for Visible, Leisure and Regulatory Services, said: “The ‘Girls on the Move’ scheme has brought great opportunities to young Vale of Glamorgan girls looking to be more active, or join a friendly sports club. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are always looking to bring more sporting opportunities to residents and their children, and hope that the latest club – Phoenix Touch – will persuade more people to be active.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​