THOSE involved in women’s rugby – and numbers are growing all the time – will be interested in a function taking place this Wednesday, September 27, at Reading RFC in Sonning Lane.

Get Berkshire Active are hosting an interactive and insightful event around the rise to prominence of the female game.

They have booked three speakers – Giselle Mather, director of rugby at Wasps, RFU women’s rugby development officer Clare Cooper and Clare Daniels, who has refereed more women’s Test matches than anyone else and the first female assistant referee in a Premiership Rugby match.

The event starts at 7pm and admission is free.

  • PREPARATIONS are well underway for Reading’s annual walk to raise money to help local sportsmen and women experiencing mental health problems.

It will take place on Saturday, October 7, starting in Reading town centre and finishing at the Cunning Man public house in Burghfield. The distance is around 5.5k, but for the more energetic there will also be a 11k option.

There is a £5 registration donation and more details are available from Laura at info@sportinmind.org

  • JACQUI Salazar chaired what was said to be “a very positive” meeting at Reading Cricket Club last week.

She outlined plans to take the club forward following the first team’s relegation to the Thames Valley League.

High on the list are ways to bring more revenue into the club, mainly through finding sponsorship.

The club are also hoping to attract back one or two of their former players, but two of this season’s first-team regulars have told team-mates they are “looking for a fresh challenge” away from the club.

  • HOCKEY fans will be disappointed to hear the future of The Hockey Paper appears uncertain.

The weekly publication ceased during the summer, but was due to resume on August 16. It still hasn’t appeared, however.

The publishers claim the problems are due to “a lack of interest and investment from other parties,” including it’s claimed, England Hockey.