Worcester Warriors Women

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Worcester Warriors Women
Full nameWorcester Warriors Women
UnionRFU
Founded1993
Ground(s)Sixways Stadium, Worcester
League(s)Premier 15s

Worcester Warriors Women, formally known as Worcester Valkyries, are a women's rugby union club in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. They were founded in 1993, as Worcester Ladies, and play in the Women's Premiership.[1] They were originally created as the women's team of Worcester Wanderers, but became part of the English Premiership team Worcester Warriors' organisation ahead of the 2016/17 season.

History[]

Worcester Ladies were formed in 1993 by , who also set up women's rugby union teams at Droitwich RFC and Malvern RFC.[2] They initially played in the national leagues. In 1998, they were promoted into the Women's Premiership for the first time.[3] Worcester Ladies has close links with the University of Worcester with some players playing for both Worcester Ladies and the University of Worcester's women's rugby union team.[4] In 2013, Worcester Ladies won their first Women's Premiership title after a bonus-point victory against Wasps Ladies to stop Richmond Women winning a fourth consecutive title.[5]

Worcester Ladies have a local rivalry with Lichfield Ladies.[6] Being affiliated to Worcester Warriors, Worcester Ladies play their home matches at Worcester Warriors' Sixways Stadium.[3]

Notable players[]

Worcester Ladies have had a number of internationals play for them. and both played for the England women's national rugby union team. Former England women's captain, Catherine Spencer also played for Worcester.[7] Donna Kennedy played for both Worcester and the Scotland women's national rugby union team, whom she earned 100 caps for.[8] The current squad includes England internationals Lydia Thompson (rugby union), Laura Keates and Canadian international Paige Farries

Coaching[]

In 2010, Worcester Ladies hired former Jersey player, Luke Fisher as their head coach.[9]

In June 2017, the Valkyries appointed former Bristol Ladies Head Coach Roy Davies as Director of Rugby[10]

References[]

  1. ^ "Worcester Ladies". RFU. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  2. ^ "Tributes for a rugby veteran; DROITWICH County clubs mourning after player dies on pitch". Birmingham Mail (archived at Thefreelibrary.com). 2005-11-10. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  3. ^ a b "Worcester ladies are a knockout". Sunday Mercury (archived at Thefreelibrary.com). 2000-02-13. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  4. ^ "University student to coach at Ugandan Tag Rugby Tournament". University of Worcester. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  5. ^ "Worcester win Women's Premiership title". BBC Sport. 2013-04-29. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  6. ^ "Women's Premiership: Round One Wrap". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  7. ^ "Worcester Ladies in England win". BBC Sport. 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  8. ^ "A salute to Scottish rugby's only centurion, Donna Kennedy". The Herald (archived at Highbeam). Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  9. ^ "Luke Fisher gets Worcester Ladies job". BBC Sport. 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  10. ^ "Former Bristol boss Davies is new Valkyries director of rugby". Worcester News. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
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