England Red Roses give rugby tips to young players

The next generation of rugby players in Keswick taking top tips from Abbie Ward

Young rugby stars of the future have been given playing tips from two of the current crop of England women's internationals.

Cath O'Donnell and Abbie Ward have been taking part in girls' and women’s training sessions in Egremont and Keswick, as part of the Red Roses Community Engagement Programme.

The programme aims to promote safe and inclusive spaces for women at rugby clubs and to encourage more women to visit clubs.

Former Keswick school pupil and rugby club member Ms Ward said her home town had all the ingredients to produce many more "top-flight players."

'She's one of us'

Ms Ward said: “It’s the perfect place for any young aspiring athlete to thrive in, if we get that and then add in the facilities, the resources, then why not?

"Why can’t more of these girls go on to be England internationals?

"I am sure they will do.”

Sophia Back and Claudia Airey, two members of the Keswick under-16 girls' team, said they felt inspired by Ms Ward.

Miss Back said: “It’s fantastic, it’s just like she’s one of us.”

Miss Airey said meeting the player gave young girls hope of playing on the international stage.

“It’s nice to look up to her as an inspiration because there’s lots of young girls who want to be like her when they are older," she added.

"Even though we’re from a small town, not many people know where we’re from."