Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Tamara Taylor has kicked off a recruitment drive to find players for a new college rugby.
Bishop Auckland College has enlisted the support of the England second row number eight, who was in the team which beat Canada in Paris last month to win the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.
The college’s newly appointed sports development officer Rob Graham, who plays for Stockton Rugby Club, asked Tamara – who works for the RFU as South Durham’s Community Rugby Coach – if she would help him set up a new rugby 7s team.
Rob’s new post has been funded by a £70,000 grant from Sport England, after the college was named as one of 67 across the country to be successful in its bid for a share of the second round of the body’s £4m FE Activation Fund.
His remit is to increase participation in sport and fitness related activities and create new links with local sports clubs and associations. The funding will also provide investment and resources to further enhance and develop sporting enrichment opportunities for college students over the next three years. The new rugby team is the first such initiative.
Tamara, who also plays rugby for Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, was only too happy to lend her support. She said, “It’s great to see Bishop Auckland College investing in sport with the appointment of their Sports Development Officer Rob Graham.
“The 16+ age group is a big target for the RFU and I am looking forward to working with Rob to develop rugby across the college. I hope, with Rob, to inspire the students to try rugby, and also help develop those who are already playing, so that Bishop Auckland College can have a successful rugby team for years to come.”
Rob, a Leeds University sports graduate, added, “I’m very excited to be working here at Bishop Auckland College, and hope that my new role will enhance the overall student experience through sport and physical activity.”
The rugby team is open to both existing Bishop Auckland College students and non students from the wider community. If there is sufficient interest there will be both men’s and women’s teams.
Anyone interested in joining should email rob.graham@bacoll.ac.uk or call 01388 443000.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
