Reading Ladies rugby team celebrate silver anniversary

Second-row Nicola Brooks and record-appearance holder Emma Sparks both met their husbands at the club.

Nicola still turns out for the team at the age of 40, her hubby Nick, a former first-teamer, is in the veterans, while their sons Ollie and Harry are in the junior section. Eight-year-old Ollie was even running touch when Reading Ladies lost 12-10 at home to Richmond thirds in the South East West 1 league last Sunday.

Holme Park in Sonning is like a second home, says Nicola, who cherishes the club’s strong family values along with the RFU’s core foundations of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

She said: “It is such a friendly happy atmosphere and I can bring the kids up any time.

“It is a really safe environment. I love the discipline about it. I love the fact that when Ollie plays for the  under-9s he calls the officials ‘sir’ and would not  dare argue with a referee.”

Head coach Alun Thomas claims women often make keener students of the game than their male counterparts.

He said: “They want to learn and improve. You can take a complete beginner in September and by April she can be playing at county standard.”

Reading Rugby club also run under-13s, under-15s and under-18s girls teams, and the recent World Cup has led to a dozen new members, many enthusiastic beginners keen to try out the game.

Thomas said: “The challenge now is to keep them all interested. Nobody is too big or too small. We welcome them all and they love the atmosphere.

“The camaraderie is infectious and the ribbing is what you get in the men’s dressing-room, but with knobs on!”

Retired No. 8 Emma can attest to that after being stuck with the nickname L’Oreal since her team-mates spotted her sponge bag full of body creams and post-match mascara.

In between giving birth to daughters Eloise, 12, Clara, 10, Beth, 8, and Hope, 6, she notched up more than 150 appearances.

She said: “I returned after six weeks the first time, but I remember Beth wouldn’t take a bottle so the whole family had to come along to games then.”

So hubby Graham, a former first-team captain, was literally left holding the baby on the sidelines.

The couple’s girls are keen tag rugby players and scrum-half Rachel Chidgey, 30, said: “We joke that L’Oreal is supplying the team’s next generation of players.”

Rachel, whose triplet sister Hannah has also played for Reading Ladies, finds rugby appealing for many reasons.

She said: “There is a place for speed and power, but you get to use your brain too. You can get muddy and take out all the weekly frustrations and then there is the feeling of contributing to a team.”

Interest in women’s rugby has grown hugely since Phil Merrin set up what was the only female team in Berkshire in 1990.

Founder member Clare Swadling, whose husband Andy also played at the club, said: “It all started when a group of girls who were always up at the club because their parents were heavily involved decided to give it a go.

“The first season was just learning the basics, the second season we got annihilated in six friendlies against well established teams without scoring a try.

“But we stuck at it, entered a league the following year and it built from there.”

The club are now flying high in the women’s NC South East West 1 league and proud to have several players going on to represent their countries at various levels, including England international Hannah Field.

Kevin Rackley, who helped run the ladies team in the early years and now manages the men’s first-team squad, said: “I made many great friends. Three of the team are godmothers to my children.”

Past and present players will be meeting up again at the anniversary dinner on April 2. There will doubtless be tales of mud, sweat and the occasional tears, but as L’Oreal will tell you: “It’s worth it!”

For more information about Reading Ladies rugby team ring the club on 0118 969 6592.

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