Sunday 16th November 2025 saw Salisbury Rugby Club host an array of Women and Girls rugby throughout the day with over 100 female rugby players form a variety of clubs, and across all age ranges to train, play and enjoy develop their skills, build their networks and enjoy seeing their friends.
Firstly, the U12 and U14 Spitfires hosted girls from Ravens girl’s rugby to play their first home matches of the season and to run out in their brand new match kit to represent SRFC Girls squad. Many of these girls only started training and playing contact rugby this season and were clearly ready for the challenge.
The U12 Spitfires are growing with confidence every week and are always smiling and ready to learn. The coaches ensured that the game was even and developmental so as to build confidence and pure enjoyment of playing sport.
They all put in an amazing shift and the girls just played better and better as the game progressed with some great tries scored and real confidence in their tackling skills being shown.

Over on the club’s main pitch the U14s showed big steps in some of the players development who have recently grown into the age group having been with the club for many years, as well as some raw talent from players who only came to the club in September.
According to Coach Matt Aldridge there was a: “Solid performance from all the girls until the very end. I’m super proud of all their efforts. There are a few things to work on to help us improve, but the foundations have firmly been laid for the U14 Spitfires.”
There were special mentions for players Flora Stewart and Nell Cooke, the 2 smallest players on the pitch but with gigantic efforts shown in defence and their tackling. There were also arching runs from player Felicity Smith, which saw the girls get onto the score sheet, as well as superb ball carrying from all the forwards especially Matilda Pallas. The Ravens proved to be fantastic opponents with real commitment and drive. Massive thanks to Saylor, Geoff, Lee and everyone involved in Ravens girl’s rugby for bringing the players along. We’ll hopefully see you again soon.

Unfortunately, the planned game against Frome Wildcats for the U16 was cancelled, however it didn’t stop them showing in in strength so as not to miss the opportunity to get some training in. Many of these players have been with the club for several years now and their wealth of experience which has developed through the age ranges is really starting to show. Coupled with the enthusiasm that is being shown every week many players who have only recently started playing makes them a future force to be reckoned with. The U16 team has the largest numbers currently with over 30 players registered with the club and playing with growing confidence in the Hampshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire (HOB) league. Many of the players have already been selected to play in the U16 Player Development Group (PDG) for Dorset and Wiltshire (D and W) which is the first step in girls rugby towards playing professional rugby in later life.

The U18 girls were able to welcome players from Tottonians, a team who also have players from Ellingham and Ringwood RFC for a mixed training session to ensure that the girls maintained match fitness. Due to 8 of the U18 Spitfires attending D and W county rugby training either having been already accepted to play county rugby this season, or for trial session, numbers were low for both teams, however the network of girl’s teams in the area are always keen to maintain development opportunities for players and learn from other coaches for their own CPD.
The U18 Spitfires are also in their second season playing in the HOB league and have many players who have been with the club for over 6 years. Their determination and love for the sport have seen more and more Spitfires being selected to play at county level each season (5 at the time of writing), with 1 player, Deborah Gauniqio being selected to play as part U18 PDG, a real step on the RFU’s player pathway for girls, and the path towards becoming a future England Red Roses player for girls in England.

Finally, the SRFC Women’s team hosted Petersfield in a great match that saw the women play with passion and confidence of a team that has been playing together for many years, despite having only come together as a squad earlier this year. Although many of the players have played together with other clubs, SRFC women only played their first game together in July 2025. Many of the squad only started playing this season or have found the confidence to return to the sport thanks to the team, and the opportunity to be had at the club. Salisbury took the win with a 21-0 score line, however, within the ranks of the team were former Spitfires Ellen Staines, Amelia Appleby and Lillie Marriot. These three players joined the club as U16 Spitfires and played with the girls squad until they graduated from the U18 team at the end of last season, and are still determined to progress with their rugby, even though Lillie is now developing at Hartpury university, Amelia at Cardiff and Ellen maintaining her skills before taking off on a gap year in early 2026.

With an U18 team who have shown the way forward and competing within the league and developing beyond the club, an U16 team with impressive numbers and massive future potential, an U14 team who have proved to be the biggest age for recruitment in successive years, and an U12 team that continue to impress and grow it begs the question as to who really won the Women’s Rugby world Cup 2025? Was it the Red Roses; or could it have been grassroots girl’s rugby across the country?
The girls squad joined forces with the new women’s team over the summer to host social events, open training sessions, welcoming women’s rugby legends The Golden Girls, and promoting rugby across the county by increasing their visibility to demonstrate how much opportunity there is for girls to play rugby in Salisbury, and the benefits of sport. With over 50 girls regularly attending training at the club every Sunday morning, and numbers growing week on week, and a clear pathway now established for girls from mini rugby to the Spitfires (junior rugby) and onto the senior women’s team SRFC have proved that the legacy of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup can be seen for many years to come. All coaches have been blown away with how much the girl’s squad has grown this year and seeing the progression of the graduates into the senior game, whether at the club, higher education or both.
When will we see the first Spitfire in the premiership, or at international level? Who knows. But the continued growth in numbers along with the determination and resilience shown by the players it may be closer than anyone could have thought. Post Covid the club had 8 regular girls attending training, and no women’s team. The continuing growth proves that there is a real passion for the sport amongst girls not just in Salisbury but across the country.

For more information for women and girl’s rugby at the club email:
Women’s rugby: womens@salisburyrfc.org
Junior Girls (school years 7 -13): headjuniorgirls@salisburyrfc.org
Minis rugby (school years R & 1 - 6): headminis@salisburyrfc.org.