Bermuda Rugby Football Union are aiming to encourage more women to take up the sport with the launch of the ‘Try Rugby’ campaign.

Building on the success of the ‘Inner Warrior’ Campaign in 2019, Bermuda Women's Rugby are trying to inspire women of all ages to come and try the sport out with weekly training sessions, which started this week at Berkeley Institute and run each Monday through to February 6.

“I never saw myself playing rugby before but after joining the Inner Warrior boot camp in 2019, something just awoke in me,” said 44 year-old Andrea Ottley, who now represents the national women’s team.

“Women’s rugby brought out a confidence and strength in me that I never knew I had. I would encourage any woman of any age to try rugby”.

Those sentiments were echoed by national team-mate Camille Chin-Gurret, who highlighted the inclusive nature of the sport.

“I started playing rugby when I was 14 and it was the best decision of my life,” said the 22-year-old. “I have an amazing group of friends in my team-mates. Rugby has a position for all girls no matter what shape or size you are.”

As part of its player development pathway, the BRFU is looking to significantly expand the number of women and girls participating at the grassroots level, with the hope that the success of such campaigns will greatly support the growth in the game.

"Women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world with more than 2.7 million women and girls playing in professional leagues,“ said Gemma Godfrey, vice president of the BRFU.

“The Inner Warrior campaign saw a record-breaking number of more than 40 women and girls in Bermuda attend at least one boot-camp session and encouraged more women and girls to play contact rugby, teaching participant’s key introductory skills and drills for rugby within a noncommittal, social and fun environment.

“Sadly women’s rugby participation in Bermuda, like a lot of other sports, suffered during the pandemic but we fully intend to return with a bang and make 2023 the biggest and most exciting year for Bermuda women’s rugby.

“For any ladies, I encourage you to come along and learn some new skills alongside other like-minded females.”

At its core, the campaign is a fun-packed, commitment-free way for women and girls to get outside, get fit and experience the sport for the first time.

Coaches and experienced players will be on hand to help teach participants the basics of rugby – passing, kicking and tackling – coupled with enjoyable fitness routines.

Rugby also enables participants to develop mental toughness, which in turns helps build resilience and self-confidence, furthering their ability to manage the everyday stresses of life.

"Rugby is a unique sport in that there is such a diversity in players due to the range of positions in the game requiring different attributes and skills which allows every player to be integral in the success of the team,“ said Dzuri Gill, head coach for the Try Rugby campaign.

“It encourages women from all backgrounds and physical statures to come together and bond on the field and is a great outlet for women to express themselves and their inner strength through sport”.

For more information contact bermudarugbywomensmanager@gmail.com or visit www.brfu.bm.