Led by skipper and scrum half Rachel Chidgey, they are currently in a battling sixth place of the RFU Women's Championship South West 2 table and the highest ranked team of all the other Berkshire based clubs.

The current squad contains four players in their late 30's, while a constant problem never encountered by their male counterparts is that two of the girls are currently sidelined as they are pregnant.

The man tasked with getting the best out of them is coach Alun Thomas who openly admits that coaching the ladies is sometimes a darn sight easier than the mens' teams.

“They play as a team, always constantly learning and developing,” he says.

"And they like things to be technical and are always asking, why are we doing it? And what's the outcome if we do it this way?”

But, while his squad now numbers around the 30 mark, he confides that there are still the usual problems to contend with.

“It's keeping players fit and finding players for right positions,” he explains. “We're getting new players all of the time but we're always short of front-row and backs.

"But overall with every game they are improving and they are definitely getting better while some have been here a long time now.”

Reading's squad includes prop Yasmin `Yaz' Miller and ex Reading University No.8 Emma Smith while their 29-year-old skipper, Chidgey, has been with the club for the past eight years and has played a huge part in getting her side up the national leagues.

“It's a great achievement to by playing in the third tier of women's rugby," said Chidgey with pride. “We are, however, in a cycle of regrowth at the moment so the ethos is to remain where we are and to increase playing numbers and develop performance.”

She added: "I think that the women's game is still growing but not at the rate it was 10 years ago.

"We do quite well picking up players through our web-site but we've also made a pact with Grove RFC Ladies and we are coaching with them in return for making sure we fill our team for the league commitments.

"This also gives their players valuable experience at playing in a higher league.”

It also, certainly, ensures a lot of travelling, at times, for their away fixtures as the other teams in the league include Bath, Plymouth Albion and Supermarine Ladies while, nearer to home, they currently have to travel to Wasps, Rosslyn Park, London Welsh and Wimbledon Ladies.

And plans are currently in the pipeline to expand the number of teams in the league and also launch a 7s side.

Reading Ladies next game is this Sunday when they face Bath Ladies at Holme Park (2pm).

Training takes place at Holme Park on Wednesday evenings and newcomers are welcome. For more details call Alun Thomas on 07786 962631.