Dad says 'no pathway' for women's North East rugby

Stephen said his daughter Gen moved down south because of better rugby opportunities

A father has urged for more investment in women's rugby clubs in the North East after his daughter chose to move south because of better opportunities.

Stephen Portlock said there was "no pathway" for young women in rugby after his daughter Gen left their home in County Durham to chose a southern university.

It comes after North East Women's XV club chief said women's rugby in north-east England was at risk of losing its best players due to a "lack of opportunities and sponsorship".

Mr Portlock said while his daughter was "really happy" in Gloucester, he said "talented young women were moving away from their homes to pursue their rugby careers in other parts of the country".

Following the demise of Darlington Mowden Park Sharks in 2024, North East Women's XV has been trying to raise funding for an elite team.

Mr Portlock, who is from Willington in County Durham, said his daughter travelled to Gloucester Hartpury for better rugby opportunities.

Gen plays for Gloucester Hartpury University team while studying

"When we had Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, who were in the Premiership, the girls had something to look up to and aspire to," he said.

"There is not really anywhere north of Manchester, which is another region our girls are leaving for.

"Our talented young women are moving away from their homes to pursue their rugby careers in other parts of the country – even though our universities here, like Durham and Newcastle, are just as good as their counterparts in the south."

The father said Gen was five hours away playing rugby for Gloucester Hartpury University team and added there were "hundreds more women" in a similar situation.

North East Women's XV "just need investment", its chair Francesca Johnson-Harding said

He continued: "My daughter has been playing rugby since she was under 10 and that's all she wants to do, so she is happy where she is."

Mr Portlock said through his own business he had provided £3,500 sponsorship towards kits and training kit for North East Women's XV, who are to next to play at Newcastle Falcons for a charity game on 21 June.

"Our sponsorship amount helps in the short term but it is not going to dramatically change things going forward, if we are going to prevent them from taking their skills elsewhere and contributing to a brain drain here in the North East," he added.