East” meets West” in new women’s Cup competition

East” meets West” in new women’s Cup competition

Scottish Rugby is today, 9th September, launching a regional cup to create a new annual fixture in the women’s rugby calendar. The Donna Kennedy Cup, named after Scotland’s most capped international, Donna Kennedy who represented her country 115 times, will see Glasgow & Caledonia regions play Edinburgh & The Borders at BT Murrayfield on Sunday 11th October. Both teams will be selected by appointed coaches who will choose players from respective teams in the two areas and the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy, as well as, rising stars who can use it to impress national women’s head coach, Shade Munro. Sheila Begbie, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Women’s & Girls’ Rugby said: There is already a very healthy rivalry between the West of the country and the East, which is currently best demonstrated in rugby terms with the contest for the 1872 Cup between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby each season.We wanted to generate a new level of competition within the women’s game that can generate good competition for places, becomes a fixture in the playing calendar and a matter of regional pride as to who holds the trophy. Our strategy for the women’s game in Scotland it to create a top down model, in that the international and senior players are the inspiration for new players to come into the game and through raising the quality of our existing players we can set new standards for the young girls and women that come in subsequently.” We think The Donna Kennedy Cup is unique in the international women’s game with it being the only regional fixture contested by select teams. It creates a new level of match intensity between the club game and internationals and gives players a chance to represent their region.” The best player in the fixture each year will also have a special honour of receiving an award in memory of Keri Holdsworth. Keri won 15 caps for Scotland and worked with a number of age-grade teams subsequently as a physiotherapist. She died at the age of 36 following a car accident in June 2014. Donna Kennedy said: I am very proud that Scottish Rugby have given me the honour of naming the new Cup competition after me. As a long term servant to women’s rugby in Scotland it is fantastic to see the game moving forwards with the development of the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academies and the appointment of Shade Munro as the full-time Scotland Women’s Coach. This new cup will showcase talented players from the Academies, national team and clubs and help to promote the women’s game in Scotland. I am looking forward to what should be a high-level, competitive match and I am really pleased that Keri Holdsworth’s memory is being honoured with the player of match award. It makes me even more proud to have my name associated with this event. The future of Scottish Women’s rugby is bright and I am excited to see how the women’s game develops over the next few years.” As an act of support teams in the BT Premier League have all agreed to re-schedule their fixtures for that weekend to enable players and fans to attend The Donna Kennedy Cup match. In a neat symmetry the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy final will be played at BT Murrayfield before the Cup match, with the U20 Academy teams from Edinburgh and Glasgow contesting the final.The 3/4 place play-off between the Border and Caledonia U20 Academy teams will be played on the back-pitches at BT Murrayfield on the same day.

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