Sherwood Wolf Hunt launch three year plan to grow female rugby league in Mansfield

A Mansfield-based rugby league team has launched an ambitious three-year plan to grow the sport for females in the area.
Emma Chapman, left, and Victoria Fagen at the club's Debdale Park home, where it is hoped female rugby league will soon be a regular fixture.Emma Chapman, left, and Victoria Fagen at the club's Debdale Park home, where it is hoped female rugby league will soon be a regular fixture.
Emma Chapman, left, and Victoria Fagen at the club's Debdale Park home, where it is hoped female rugby league will soon be a regular fixture.

Sherwood Wolf Hunt have seen the male section of their club thrive and grow following their formation back in 2014.

Now the Debdale Park club are looking to do the same again with their new female set-up.

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Club chairman Adam Bates said: “The RFL wants to see more teams get involved with female rugby.

“We decided it would be good to go ahead and give it a go. We don’t have any player base so we will be starting from scratch.

“We have already got coaches and now we just need a manager.

“We are confident that with the amount of rugby union that goes on around here for women, that we can create a pool of players that will come to us in the summer.

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“It will be just like we did with the men’s team so we won’t be stepping on anyone’s toes or pinching players.

“We want players to just come, have a go and hopefully enjoy it.”

Funding from the RFL for equipment and kit has already been received with the club now in the process of applying for grants from the RFL World Cup fund.

Wolf Hunt plan to run a 12 week structured programme this summer with a couple of games, introducing the sport to new players.

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They then hope to expand it next summer to 14-16 weeks, before looking to move into a structured league format in 2023.

“We would be the first team to set up a women’s team aimed for the Mansfield area,” he added.

“I don’t think there has ever been a ladies team in North Notts before so it is exciting.

“The women’s Super League has been very popular since it was created and this is a great chance to inspire women to play rugby league.

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“There are female teams in Nottingham and two in South Yorkshire, so there is a small pool of teams who we can play.

“We have set our standards high so when the women come, the culture and experience they will get will be better than anything they have had before.

“We have nothing to lose. We have a responsibility to make rugby league work in this area.

“If there is interest then let’s just pursue it and give it a go.

“It is exciting and is probably the most significant thing we have done.”

Visit https://www.wolfhuntrl.co.uk/ for more information on the club.

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