Halifax-based Old Brodleians RUFC were selected as one of the few clubs across England to be visited by a Women’s Rugby World Cup champion as part of the RugbyFest weekend.

The club, who currently have a ladies' team as well as U14, U16 and U18 girls' sides, are hoping that their open day will introduce the sport and club to more girls in the local community who can join the club from 3 years old.

On taking part in RugbyFest, Old Brodleians’ Girls section team manager Diane Parkin said, “We’re completely honoured and privileged to be one of 22 clubs chosen by the RFU to host a player.”

“12 years ago we didn’t have a girls’ or a ladies’ section, and over the years coaches have really pushed hard to continue the girls’ section. Our ladies’ team is fully fledged now, and it’s just a really exciting time for women’s sport in general, but certainly on the back of the Rugby World Cup it’s a great honour.”

Old Brodleians were one of hundreds of clubs who participated in RugbyFest over the weekend as people from across England came together to celebrate the Red Roses winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the third time in the country’s history.

The weekend saw the Red Roses squad go to grassroots clubs across the country who were hosting taster sessions, family fun days and mini festivals, with Old Brodleians hosting a taster event for girls in school years 3 to 8.

On the day and what it will mean for the club, Parkin said, “We’ve got such a wonderful community club, and I think at the heart of it all, it is a game to be enjoyed by everyone.”

“I think it’s a really exciting time for the whole country, and here we are, a small club at a set of traffic lights in Hipperholme, and to be recognised is just a really exciting time for girls in Calderdale and beyond in Yorkshire as well.”

The Red Roses’ and grassroots clubs’ aim for the weekend is that it will introduce more players, supporters and volunteers to all levels of rugby after the record-breaking World Cup in which over 80,000 supporters watched England defeat Canada to claim the title for the first time since 2014.

It is hoped that the playing squad’s return to grassroots clubs will bring the ‘magic’ of the World Cup to different communities around the country as the players share their experiences with the future stars of the game in England.

On what winning the World Cup meant to her, centre Tatyana Heard said, “It’s incredible. It’s really hard to put into words, and I think the biggest thing for me is to be able to come back to clubs, especially in the north.”

“To come back to where I started is really special because if I didn’t have that, I would never have got to where I am today, so I’m really grateful to be able to come here and see the young kids that are going to follow that path.”

The RugbyFest weekend also taps into the Red Roses’ ‘For The Girls’ campaign, which was launched in August and looks to use the success of the team and its players to inspire every single woman and girl in England.

England has seen multiple sporting successes in recent years, with the Lionesses claiming back-to-back Euros titles and the Red Roses, who are now on a 33-match winning streak, will also look to use the success to continue the advancement of women’s sport across the country and around the world.

On the current success of women’s sport and how much it means to her to be a part of it, Heard said, “I think women’s sport is just getting bigger and bigger. I think there’s so much more scope for it to grow even more, but it’s amazing how far it’s already come.”

“It’s amazing, and it’s so empowering as well for us to follow in the footsteps of the Lionesses, and to get that trophy was amazing, but equally for women to feel empowered and feel inspired and know that they can do anything they want to do is a great place to be.”

Anyone who wants to get involved in women’s rugby union can use FindRugby.com to find out about local opportunities for them to get involved in the sport.