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Rugby club celebrates new girls' changing rooms

Alastair Mckee,Wiltshireand
Alexandra Bassingham,West of England
News imageBBC Four girls in their Swindon Roses purple rugby tops. They are smiling at the camera and standing in front of the a Swindon RFC banner. BBC
About £4,000 was raised over six months to build the changing rooms

A rugby club's under-12s girls' team is celebrating the opening of new changing rooms following six months of successful fundraising and a hands-on effort from club volunteers.

Coach Kevin Goacher and The Roses girls' team at Swindon Rugby Football Club raised about £4,000 over six months, with around a quarter coming through grants.

"This isn't just about rugby, this is about becoming a young woman. This is their safe place - no boys," Goacher said.

The team hope the female facilities will support the girls' development in the game, and also bring closer the goal of having a first Swindon ladies' team.

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News imageLisa White has long blonde hair and black glases with big frames. She is looking at the camera and has dimples in her cheeks and is wearing gold hoop earrings. She is wearing a purple and navy blue club top and out of focus behind her is grass and some poeple standing chatting.
Lisa White said the support from the whole Swindon Rugby Club community made it possible

Goacher said there was a lot of safeguarding involved previously, waiting for the men and boys to leave the changing rooms before the girls could go in.

Lisa White, Chair of Age Grade Rugby, said going from the initial idea of getting girls' changing rooms to having them ready to use was only possible because of everyone's support.

"From plumbers within the club [to] the girls picking up a paint brush, grants... we've done cake sales and everybody gave every hour of the day to make it happen," she added.

News imageAnna and Maisie Jane, with one wearing a turquoise attitude t shirt and the other in a Swindon Roses top. They both have their hair up and are smiling at the camera. There is a rugby pitch behind them which is out of focus.
Girls on the home and away teams will benefit from the facilities, the club says

Players Anna and Maisie Jane said having the new changing rooms was "really exciting".

"They weren't good before, and I love the showers," said Anna.

Goacher said with the club taking in players from ages six to 13, the new facilities are for "all the girls coming up and all the new girls coming in".

And now the girls can have earlier kick offs as they "don't have to wait till after lunch [for the boys changing rooms] when they can feel lethargic, fatigued".

"It's been one big group effort for the whole club," he added.

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