Worcester Valkyries have been confirmed as one of the ten teams accepted to be part of the new women’s domestic competition ahead of the inaugural 2017/18 campaign.
Women’s Super Rugby is a major development for the women’s game in England and will significantly raise the standards of rugby domestically and help support the Red Roses’ ambition to be the number one team in the world.
It is also expected to help grow participation and create new commercial partnerships to help underpin the competition.
The competition will receive a multi-million pound investment from the RFU over the next three years to help deliver the minimum standards expected and provide high-quality coaching, facilities, training environments and community engagement plans.
The announcement reflects the increasing popularity and success of women’s rugby in England following the Red Roses’ success of winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2014 and Great Britain playing in the first Sevens competition of the Olympic Games last year in Rio.
Valkyries, who play their home matches at Sixways, will play 18 league matches against teams from all across the country.
Following a rigorous and independently-chaired application process, the ten successful teams that have been offered a place in the Women’s Super Rugby, subject to contract, are:
• Bristol Ladies Rugby Ltd
• Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
• Firwood Waterloo Ladies
• Harlequin FC
• Gloucester-Hartpury Women’s RFC
• Loughborough Students (Lightning)
• Richmond FC
• Saracens Women
• Wasps FC Ladies
• Worcester Valkyries
Meanwhile, Valkyries will be looking for a new Director of Rugby ahead of the 2017/18 season as current boss Donna Kennedy will be stepping down.
To register your interest in becoming the Valkyries Director of Rugby please visit the Job Opportunities section of the Warriors website later this week.
Valkyries are also looking for new players to join the team as they aim to compete in the higher echelons of Women’s Super Rugby.
Valkyries have gone from strength to strength in recent years and remain the only side outside of London to win the Women’s Premiership after they claimed the title in 2013.
The side have nearly 20 current internationals and also boast some of the best facilities of any women’s rugby team in the country.
Valkyries Chair Karen Jones: “We are at a very exciting time for women’s rugby and the new Super Rugby competition will help to take the sport to the next level and give it greater recognition.
“Valkyries have ambitions to become the leading club side in women’s rugby and we are excited to be able to provide a genuine pathway for the most talented players in the country to progress in the game.”
Warriors Chief Executive Jim O’Toole said: “Women’s rugby has grown rapidly in recent years and the structure of the new league will ensure the sport continues to go from strength to strength.
“We have learnt a great deal in our first season of integrating the Valkyries into the Warriors organisation and plan to apply those lessons as we prepare for the first season of the new competition with the goal of making the Valkyries a competitive force in the new world of top-class women’s rugby.”
Valkyries will be hosting open trials in the summer ahead of pre-season training. Anyone interested in becoming a Valkyries player can turn up to the session. Full details and dates of the open trials will be announced closer to the time.