It may have been a chilly Friday night, but that did not put off the impressive group of girls, all aged 12-16, that are the Harlequin Ladies Youth Academy.
Under the guidance of coaches, Sam Marshall and Dave Moloney, the girls were working through exactly the same 'see-saw' drill that can be seen at senior training. It is immediately obvious that these girls take their rugby very seriously indeed. The communication is excellent and the girls show discipline and motivation beyond their years.
As the drill is built up into more complex phases of play, the group show confidence in the contact situation and take the ball in with good body position to ensure possession is secure.
The session moves onto a game of 'corridor football,' giving the girls a chance to put the skills from the previous drill into practice. The support play was strong, as was the determination to keep possession and both coaches were on hand to develop awareness of the girls' lines of running in the game.
With the older girls encouraging the younger and the less experienced, there is a real sense of team work that is the hallmark of the Harlequin Ladies.
One proud parent, Hilary Blenman, has spent many chilly hours on the sidelines. Hilary noted that her daughter is much happier when she has a game to look forward to, and feels that rugby has really given her something to focus on.
But this is not just a team for the experienced girls. Newcomers, Charlie and Morgan have only been coming to the Youth Academy for a couple of weeks and have already noticed the welcoming atmosphere at the club.
"You do feel welcomed by the older girls and if you make a mistake, you're shown how to improve, not criticized."
As noted by another proud parent on the sidelines, this kind of opportunity is so vital for the girls who have outgrown minis rugby to keep them in the game. So for all budding players out there, come and give the Harlequin Ladies Youth Academy a try.
Want to Play Rugby for Harlequins?
Harlequin Ladies are always on the lookout for new players. Whether an old-hand or a complete novice, we look forward to hearing from you. The Harlequin Ladies train on Wednesday and Friday nights from 7.30pm to 9pm on the training pitch behind the 1st XV pitch at The Stoop and matches are played on Sunday. For younger players, the U16 and U18 Academy Squads train on Friday nights from 6.30pm till 7.30pm at the same venue.
