Caithness RFC Granted £10K Funding From Women & Girls’ Rugby Award

The £10k funding will support the club’s ambitions to continue to grow its women’s and girls’ offering to ensure that rugby is accessible to as many people as possible in the Scottish Highlands.

The spread of women’s rugby in Scotland is clear with the success of Caithness RFC‘s structured programme for girls, beginning with early participation and extending through to senior rugby in such a rural area.

While the women’s game continues to grow locally, the club will use this funding to actively strengthen the transition between junior and senior levels to ensure a complete and sustainable pathway and enhance player retention.

The club is committed to engaging the wider community and creating accessible, welcoming entry points for women and girls through a range of outreach initiatives. This includes the delivery of girls’ rugby sessions in local schools by the club’s Development Officer and Community Coaches, as well as women’s and girls’ taster sessions, open days, and ‘come and try’ events throughout the year.

Caithness RFC is also focused on inclusion and increasing the number of women in leadership, coaching and referee positions. Coaches utilise adaptable, player centered approaches across all age groups to support different learning styles, abilities, and confidence levels.

Sessions are modified for players with physical disabilities, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or confidence related barriers. Women at the club are also encouraged to undertake coaching and refereeing courses to strengthen the club’s capacity and ensure female role models are visible at every level.

Jenny Dunnet, Secretary at Caithness RFC, said: “We are delighted to be selected as the Scottish recipient of the Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award. On behalf of our players, volunteers and wider community, we extend our sincere thanks for recognising both our ambition and the unique challenges of delivering opportunities for women and girls in a rural area. This grant will have a transformative impact on our ability to build a fully integrated pathway, strengthen access to the sport, and ensure that every girl and woman in Caithness has the chance to thrive in rugby. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited for the future it will help us create.

“Our Women’s team was only established six years ago, and having a clear pathway for our girls to progress through has made an enormous difference, especially for those who would otherwise lose the opportunity to continue to play, unless they moved away for university. Living so far north means every away match is a road trip, whether it’s down to the Borders or up to Shetland, and the first question is always ‘what time is the bus leaving’. They are an amazing bunch of players, and this award will help us to continue giving them the opportunities they deserve.”

Rhona Lloyd, Rugby Ambassador for Royal London and award judge comments: “The passion and ambition at Caithness RFC to grow their women’s section despite the geographical challenges in this part of Scotland really stood out in their application. I loved that the Women’s team already have their own identity as ‘The Krakens’ and it is evident that they are already well integrated in the wider community in Caithness.

“Their goals to up-skill women’s referees and coaches in the highland area will have a lasting impact across the region and is why Caithness RFC are very deserving winners of this award. I can’t wait to visit them and see how they’re putting their plans into action.”

The Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award is a flagship element of Royal London’s sponsorship as Founding Partner of the first ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Team.  One winning club in each home union receives a trophy and £10k to invest in their women’s and girls’ rugby programmes.

Royal London is also investing £3 million into elite women’s rugby across the four home unions through the ‘Levelling the Playing Field Grant’ to drive positive, long-term change for women’s rugby through development that supports women’s player and coach pathways.