26th October 2026
Windy weather did little to dampen spirits at Chinnor Rugby Club on Sunday, as 100 girls took to the pitch for a special rugby festival bringing together players from across the club's girls' section, from Under 10s through to Under 18s, alongside mums, friends and players from the senior women's team, Chinnor Kites.
The 'Bring a Mum and a Friend' festival encouraged existing players to invite their friends along and discover what rugby has to offer. The event welcomed 15 newcomers, all friends of existing players, with experience ranging from complete beginners to girls who had played just a handful of games.
Alongside 10 mums who swapped the sidelines for the rugby pitch, participants were divided into evenly balanced teams, mixing ages, abilities and experience levels to create a fun, inclusive day of friendly competition.
The festival received fantastic support from across the wider Chinnor rugby community. Men's first-team player Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt joined the celebrations, alongside members of Chinnor Kites, the club's senior women's team, helping to demonstrate the opportunities available for girls to continue playing rugby as they progress through the age groups.
The day culminated in a trophy presentation by Chinnor RFC Chairman Nick Stainton, who congratulated the winning team.
Lisa Ranieri, Girls Section Chair at Chinnor RFC, said:
"Today has been absolutely fantastic. Despite the wind, everyone threw themselves into the spirit of the day, especially the mums, who were brilliant sports!
"For me, the biggest success was seeing 15 new faces come along and give rugby a go. They haven't signed up yet, but that's not what today was about. It was about making that first introduction, showing them how much fun rugby can be and hopefully encouraging them to come back.
"If we've inspired even a few of those girls to take up rugby, that's a fantastic result. Rugby is about friendship, confidence, teamwork and being part of something special, and we want every girl to know there's a place for her at Chinnor, regardless of her ability or experience."
Chinnor RFC's men's first team competes in the RFU Championship, one level below the Premiership, while the club continues to develop opportunities for girls to enjoy rugby and progress through the sport.
The success of Sunday's festival highlights the importance of grassroots initiatives in introducing young people to rugby and encouraging more girls to get involved.
Chinnor Girls Rugby welcomes new players of all abilities, including complete beginners, and encourages anyone interested in trying the sport to get in touch.
