AN ENGLAND rugby legend has encouraged girls in Cheshire West to try rugby at Helsby Rugby Club's Allianz Inner Warrior Camp.

Following England’s triumph in the inaugural WXV1 and with the TikTok Women’s Six Nations approaching fast, Red Rose legend Emily Scarratt has urged prospective players to get involved with clubs like Helsby hoping to capitalise on the sport's momentum.

The Allianz Inner Warrior camp is part of an RFU programme which has helped introduce more than 25,000 women and girls to the game of rugby since 2017.

With World Rugby stating that the women’s game is the single biggest opportunity to grow the sport globally, 2023 has seen a refreshed design and new imagery to support more women to play rugby than ever before.

The Red Roses are positioned at the top of the world rankings following their WXV victory, and have been inspiring women and girls around the country to take up rugby union. Red Rose legend Emily Scarratt recommends England Rugby’s Allianz Inner Warrior camps as a fun way to introduce people to the game.

"They’re brilliant, they’ve been going for a few years now. I’ve been lucky enough over previous years to get down to some camps and help out," she said.

"Some of the stories you hear about people who take part are inspiring, from the young girl to the 40-year-old mum of three who had never played rugby before and everything in between."

The women’s and girls’ game in England has enjoyed an average year-on-year increase in participation of 12 percent over the past 10 years thanks to initiatives such as the Allianz Inner Warrior Camps. With England hosting Rugby World Cup 2025, the aim is to reach 100,000 registered female players by 2027.

Scarratt will hope to be part of the Red Roses’ squad at Rugby World Cup 2025 and believes the Allianz Inner Warrior campaign could unearth new internationals, as well as being an invaluable opportunity for women and girls to try rugby for the first time.

"These camps are designed to welcome women and girls into rugby, with no judgement and no pressure. It’s a great opportunity to try something different, meet new people and get active with likeminded people.

"The reactions you get from those camps and days are amazing. I haven’t seen anyone who hasn’t had a brilliant experience and didn’t want to go back. They’ve made friends and had a new appreciation for rugby.

"Take a friend, just go and give it a try; you’ll feel great for setting yourself a new challenge. The great thing about rugby is there are a number of ways to play. If you don’t want to play full-contact rugby, you can play non-contact or get involved in volunteering."

The Allianz Inner Warrior camp will take place at Helsby Rugby Club on Sunday, January 28, from 10.30am to 12.30pm for girls aged 11 to 17 (years 7 to 11 at school).