Warriors Women have signed second-row Jemima Moss, the 18-year-old having progressed through the club’s Centre of Excellence to earn her chance to shine at Sixways.
The former King’s School pupil developed her talent at the Worcester Warriors Centre of Excellence and played for Worcester RFC from under-15s to under-18s, before being moved up to Warriors’ development squad during the 2018/19 season aged just 17.
Delighted to have joined up with the senior squad ahead of the 2020/21 Premier 15s season, Moss said: “I’m so grateful to have been given a first team contract and the coaching staff’s belief in me as a player has been key to my development. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and for the team.
“Warriors have played a significant role in my sports rehab since I contracted sepsis in 2018 and that gave me the confidence to come back to training once I had recovered.”
Representing North Midlands at under-15s, under-18s and senior level, Moss also played first team hockey for three years at King’s School as well as competing in the National Rowing Championships.
“We’re really proud of Jemima, who thoroughly deserves the opportunity to step up to the senior squad,” said Warriors Women Director of Rugby Jo Yapp, who is set to announce further new signings in the weeks ahead.
“Jemima has come through the system and she’s a great role model for girls wanting to progress through to playing senior rugby. She’s worked extremely hard remotely during lockdown and she’s proven to have the right work ethic and mentality to play at this level.”
Benny Williams, who is Head of Women’s Development at Warriors Women, added: “I’m really proud of Jemima for achieving her goal of being rewarded a Warriors Women contract thanks to her hard work and determination.
“She’s had a few hurdles to jump over with recovering from sepsis and having to adapt to a completely new position. When we visited her in hospital, all she could talk about was rugby and getting back on the field.
“You could tell from her mindset that she was going to achieve that and more. Jemima was part of our first cohort in the Centre of Excellence and it pleases me greatly to see how she has developed as a player and as a person.
“Our aim is to have more local talent such as Jemima coming through our system and achieving their goals.”