Young rugby players are dreaming of starring for Wales with a bit of help from a top trailer maker.<\/p>\n
Ifor Williams Trailers, who have factories in Denbighshire and Deeside, are sponsoring the Under 18 girls team at RGC (Rugby Gogledd Cymru) which was set up to fast-track the region\u2019s brightest rugby talents.<\/p>\n
The club is based at Stadiwm CSM at Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay which also successfully hosts Wales Under 20s international matches.<\/p>\n
The RGC\u00a0 academy attracts players from across North Wales and Mid Wales, from as far afield as Newtown.<\/p>\n
The aim is for RGC players to make it all the way to the top, representing Wales in the senior game.<\/p>\n
According to RGC general manager Alun Pritchard, the investment is paying off with the Under 18 girls playing at an elite level and proving a match for their counterparts in the South Walian regions.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe\u2019re extremely grateful to Ifor Williams Trailers. They have supported the boys Under 16 and Under 18 pathway and now supporting the girls Under 18s pathway as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great help because we have girls from across the region who have the opportunity to develop their game and hopefully go on and push for Wales caps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the ultimate goal. Last year we had four girls who made it into the Wales Under 18s squad and we\u2019d like to get even more this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe women\u2019s game is expanding rapidly at the moment and this is about empowering these girls to reach for their dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese girls have had the opportunity to play with their hub clubs and are pushing on further with RGC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year is I feel the first time that we are on a par with the other regions. We beat the Ospreys at Cardiff Arms Park and we drew against the Dragons at Ystrad Mynach, before losing\u00a0 narrowly to Cardiff and drawing with Scarlets so we are currently 2nd<\/sup> in the table.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are playing at an elite level and everybody now has the same financial base and the same opportunities. We\u2019re enjoying the challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that women can now play the game professionally has inspired them massively. They are banging on the door at different age groups wanting to play, with the hope of going into a professional team and the national team in the long run.<\/p>\n \u201cWe ran skills centres once a week from September and they were open to anybody and then from November we\u2019ve been training twice a week, once in Bala and once at Parc Eirias.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a massive commitment and I am very proud of the dedication that they and the staff put in.\u201d<\/p>\n The club was originally founded as RGC 1404 in 2008 which is a nod to the date rebel prince Owain Glyndwr founded his Welsh Parliament in Machynlleth.<\/p>\n The kits of the male and female Under 18 sides along with the Under 16 team are\u00a0 emblazoned with the firm\u2019s distinctive logo.<\/p>\n Among those proud to wear the shirt is back row forward Catrin Stewart, 17, from Church Bay on Anglesey, said: \u201c I was in the RGC last year and this is my last year in the Under 18s. I am very proud of what we\u2019ve achieved so far.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all really want to do well and we give 100 per cent.<\/p>\n \u201cI played for the Wales Under 18s last year and I\u2019d really like to play for the Under 20s next and then work my way up to the women\u2019s team.\u201d<\/p>\n Flanker Branwen Melcalfe, 16, from Llanrwst, said: \u201cIt\u2019s going really well. It\u2019s been a good season so far and I\u2019m enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s brilliant that women can now play rugby professionally in Wales. There is now a path we can take to having a career in rugby. One day I hope I can play for Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n Llio Mutembo, 17, who lives in Llanfairfechan, added: \u201cI really love it with RGC. This is a brilliant opportunity, particularly for the girls.<\/p>\n \u201cThe facilities here are brilliant, the gym is fantastic and the coaches are excellent. It\u2019s a big step up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe women\u2019s game in Wales is growing and that is very encouraging. If I work hard, the ultimate ambition would be to hopefully play for Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n Winger Hannah Lane, 16, from St Asaph, said: \u201cI\u2019ve been playing for about two years. I started in PE in school and then went on to play for local team in Abergele and\u00a0 really enjoyed it. I now play in Chester.<\/p>\n \u201cI really enjoy it at RGC, there\u2019s a nice friendly environment. I get along with everybody and there are some really good coaches.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to hopefully play for Wales in the future and maybe go into rugby sevens as well as the 15 a side game. What I\u2019d really like to do is to play the game professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n Ifor Williams Trailers managing director John Williams said:\u00a0 \u201cWe feel it\u2019s very important to empower young women to reach for their dreams and enjoy a level playing field in sport.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is so important that women have the same opportunities as men so we were particularly pleased to be able to support RGS\u2019s\u00a0 girls Under 18 team.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are already playing at a really high level and the standard is getting better all the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe future of rugby in North Wales looks very bright and I hope we will see quite a few of this squad making it all the way to the Wales team and enjoy success with the national team.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an abundance of rugby talent and now there is a real pathway to play professionally and\u00a0 enjoy success and hopefully represent Wales in the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul Davies, an account manager with Ifor Williams Trailers, is particularly pleased the firm is sponsoring the Under 18 girls team because his daughter Kate, 19, came through the ranks at RGC and is now knocking on the door of the Wales squad.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cKate is having trials with Wales and goes to the Vale Resort for intense training sessions once a month.<\/p>\n \u201cShe lives and breathes rugby and we go and see her play every opportunity we have.<\/p>\n \u201cAs somebody who works for Ifor Williams Trailers, I\u2019m incredibly proud that we\u2019re supporting women\u2019s rugby in this way. It means a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n