'We want a girls changing room,' says rugby coach

Swindon Rugby Football Club's Under-12 girls rugby team is raising money for its own changing rooms

A rugby club's under-12s girls' team is trying to raise money for its own changing room.

Kevin Goacher, who coaches The Roses girls' team at Swindon Rugby Football Club, said his players "struggled" without a changing room at home, and often away.

He said the issue was a matter of inclusion as well as comfort as the team tries to raise £10,000 to create a "safe space" for the girls.

"It's not just for the girls on our team but for every girl up and down the country," Mr Goacher added.

He said: "We've got a sport that we're saying 'girls, you can come to train and be part of this club, but you haven't got a changing room'.

"It's not right - it's not fair," he added. "It's hard - we do have changing rooms but we want them to have their own space."

The club has been running its under-12s girls' team for two years, with young women turning up every Friday to take part in the sport.

Mr Goacher, who also runs a Tiny Tacklers team for five and six year olds, said the team had a "healthy" season of fixtures coming up in September.

He said: "The women's side of the sport is absolutely rocketing at the minute.

"I'd love to see one of our girls putting on an international jersey in the future."

Mr Goacher has been coaching the U12 girls team for two years

The club will be hosting two 'Love Rugby' tournaments this year for younger players to go to the Swindon pitch and see what the sport is about.

The proceeds of the tournaments will go towards the changing rooms, alongside money raised by club sponsors and bake sales put on by the team.

The coach said: "The sport may have rocketed but unfortunately clubs have just been slow on the uptake.

"There is a lack of funding from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) up for grabs and clubs, ours included, are having to try and fundraise [for changing facilities]."

'Empowering'

A spokesperson from the RFU said it was in the final year of a four-year, £14.5.m investment programme.

"This includes a £7m investment into facilities at clubs across the country – 573 to date – enhancing the female club experience by improving toilets and changing rooms and developing social spaces," they added.

The RFU also said the Women's Rugby World Cup presented a "huge opportunity" to accelerate its work.

"The World Cup will play a central role in empowering real change, enriching local communities, championing gender equity and inspiring people at all levels of the game through our domestic legacy programme Impact'25," the spokesperson added.