Women’s Rugby League: ‘We Don’t Play Rugby at School’ – Wigan Warriors ‘Anna Davies Rejoices RL Girls’ Progress | News about rugby league

Wigan’s Anna Davies is happy to see the girls get a chance to play rugby that she didn’t

As part of her job, Anna Davies is helping to create opportunities for girls to play rugby that she didn’t have when she grew up.

Working for the Wigan Warriors Community Foundation by day and starring for Cherry and White in Betfred Women’s Super League by night, the 27-year-old is seeing more and more girls getting excited about the sport. this in the town and surrounding area.

It wasn’t until Davies was at university in Bath that the Nottingham-born former sprinter discovered rugby through her friends, but she only got to witness the game for herself. Girls are being well received in schools in one of the 13-a- hot-bed matches of the code party.

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“I refereed a Grade 10 girls’ school game and for me it was amazing because where I grew up we didn’t really play football at school and these girls we really went after it, it was amazing,” said Davies Sports sky.

“Some of the girls were then mascots for our next game, so then I shook hands with one of the girls that I refereed the day before. It was really exciting. and now the older girls in the academy can see that path and there’s more and more excitement that maybe being a rugby player can be a career.

“We’re not there yet, but some girls are talking about it and they can see it, and we’ve got links with schools.

“Then among the younger girls they can play rugby and have clubs to send them to. It’s nice to see them getting excited about sport and having the opportunity to play rugby.”

Anna Davies is helping inspire the next generation in her work with Wigan’s Community Foundation

It’s unbelievable that some of these girls might soon be playing with Davies as her teammates, even though the one she’ll soon be playing with her is her new housemate.

France international Laureane Biville is living with Davies after moving to Wigan during the second half of the Women’s Super League season to help her prepare for the Rugby World Cup in November.

Named player of the match in France’s 36-10 loss to England last month, the 23-year-old center or second row adds another dimension to the already international Warriors team, which includes American player Taylor White, and former rugby league players such as Davies and Freya Hellin.

They go hand in hand with tournament veterans such as England international Vicky Molyneaux, whose father Jim also played for Wigan’s men’s team from 1968 to 1972, plus Beth Hayes and Sophie Clarke – the official’s granddaughter. RFL match Keith Leyland and Wigan icon player and coach Colin Clarke respectively.

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Highlights of last month’s match between England Women and France Women.

Davies, who has moved to center in recent games after playing on the flanks until this year, has learned from Biville and her experience playing internationally and Australia’s NRLW for Gold Coast Titans, but knowing her home guests is like eagerly embracing her new surroundings.

“Laureane has said she wants to encourage the French players and show it’s something you can do as a woman to move countries and develop as a player, and at the same time had a different experience,” said Davies.

“She’s a front-runner in that and for me personally, not a lot of people move to this country to play rugby. But I think it’s an exciting league that’s attracting and if we make it.” that, it can help to show other people that, an opportunity and add to the culture in the club.

“Coming here as an outsider, it’s about adapting to the club’s culture, but you also bring your own culture that you can share with others.

“I’m sure for us it would be very beneficial for Laureane to have an insight into how she plays, but she’s also very studious to learn what Wigan’s culture is like and it’s well worth it. with hard work.”

Along with spreading the word that rugby is open to women and girls in her work, Davies and her Warriors teammates will introduce the Women’s Super League to the wider world tonight. Thursday when they face Leeds Rhinos at Headingley, live on Sports sky.

The match forms part of a duo between the two clubs’ men’s teams and will see Wigan aim to recover from a 48-10 defeat to Rhinos – a match in which Davies was one of the players. score – in their last match. July 3.

The regular televising and streaming of Women’s Super Cup games is another indication of how the tournament is progressing in the construction of the World Cup, but the next step to help this tournament will certainly be professionalization in some form.

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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos are shown on Sky Sports in June.

For now, it’s still an amateur competition, but Davies believes that won’t be long before that will change.

Davies, who is inspired to improve by seeing what levels St Helens and British star Amy Hardcastle are reaching, said. “We’re pushing each other, but we’re going to need outside help to keep increasing that level.

“Right now, people are balancing training and work, and maybe even childcare, to the point where we all have limited capabilities.

“We can all push our levels, but we can only push them so far before people start breaking. If you’re doing that level of practice, you have to have rest. .

“That may not have happened in our generation, but I think we’ll see it and the things we’re doing today hopefully pave the way for girls.”

Watch Leeds take on Wigan in the Women’s Super League as part of Thursday’s double at Headingley live on Sky Sports Arena from 5pm (5:30pm start).