Cumbria Women’s Rugby team has set its sights on Twickenham – but needs your help to get there.
The side is due to challenge for the Gill Burns County Championship title at the iconic ground on Sunday, June 16, after they defeated Essex in the competition.
It is the first time the team will compete at Twickenham in its history.
However, women’s sport is underfunded in general – and Cumbria Women’s rugby is no different, reliant on donations to help pay for them to take part.
The team were placed in a group with Staffordshire, Oxfordshire and Essex and its existing funding has barely been able to cover the costs of their journey in the tournament so far.
Cumbria RFU has launched an online campaign to help the team get to Twickenham and county music festival Kendal Calling, one of the team’s sponsors, has donated £2,000.
It said it was delighted to get behind the team as they set out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Andy Smith, co-founder of Kendal Calling, said: “We have been keeping an excitedly watchful eye on Cumbria Women’s Rugby team this season, cheering on their successes throughout the tournament. So it truly is an honour to be able to contribute in some way to the final push – the road to Twickenham. We will be willing you on, along with the rest of this wonderful county. Best of luck from all at Kendal Calling!”
Cumbria Women’s Rugby team has seen enormous success in the Gill Burns County Championship this season. The funds will also be used to help sustain rugby in the county, and propel the team and others to future seasons, training opportunities and more.
Chrissie Hadfield, of Cumbria’s Women’s Rugby, said: ‘’We are beyond thrilled to have the chance to play at Twickenham! This is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime privilege for so many of our players and we are honestly so excited to have this amazing opportunity.
“We are over the moon to be playing at Twickenham in the final. We can’t wait!”
Rugby fans can donate to Cumbria Women’s Rugby below:
