Reading Ladies RFC recently celebrated their 20th anniversary

Reading Ladies Rugby Club are aiming for a top-four finish in the South West Championship this season, captain Rhian Evans has told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We want to finish in the top four and improve on our performances.

"The Championship is a real step up and it'll be a challenge. We want the other teams to know we have arrived."

Reading Ladies were set up 20 years ago and were promoted to the South West Championship at the end of last season.

"The Club has been built up from a grassroots level and now we've got to a pretty high standard. We are essentially two leagues below the Premiership where the likes of Wasps and Saracens play."

However the Reading ladies captain, who has been at the club for over 10 years, did admit that it took awhile to get the team established.

"Women's rugby was unheard of in this area as it's a male dominated sport, so it was a challenge to get going and to get new players in and make sure they didn't go to the new London clubs."

But Evans is confident the club have the right attitude to attract more support and get more girls involved in rugby.

"We are welcoming and pride ourselves on being friendly to new girls that turn up. We've got a great sense of community and spirit but play hard when we get on the pitch.

"It's about building people's confidence so that when they go out on the pitch they do the job that we need them to do and enjoy it which is really important."

Reading Ladies rugby club train every Wednesday night 1900-2100 at Home Park in Sonning.

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