With around 400 players of all ages, and their senior men’s team playing at level six in Regional Two Midlands, the club saw increasing interest in women’s rugby and determined to relaunch a senior women’s squad.

Last January regular training sessions were launched, bringing increasing numbers and a squad sufficient to play games took shape in the summer.

A determined effort to relaunch the team came to fruition in November when Derbyshire rivals Belper travelled for a friendly match which ended in the visitors winning a closely contested 22-19 match.

Captain Emile Rathbone takes up the story: “It was a very special occasion for all the team when we played Belper. Everyone had worked hard in training over the last nine months and for many this was a totally new sport. Though the final score didn’t go our way, the style and passion with which we ended the match was a triumph.
“We must thank our coaches for the incredible job they have done in helping us reach this milestone match. For me, as captain, it was an honour to lead the team out. They’re an amazing group of women, with a shared drive to learn something new, work hard together, encourage one another and above all else, enjoy it and have fun.”

The lead coach is Mark Dodd who led the club’s successful age group team who won national honours at under-15 and under-18 levels from 2015-19. That success helped Jess Weaver to start a senior career which has brought England Sevens honours.

Now Newark’s senior squad intends to play more games in the RFU’s Inner Warrior Series before deciding whether to apply for a place in the national league for season 2024-25.

With the development of a senior women’s squad, Newark now stage rugby for minis to seniors at the Kelham Road ground which continues to be improved following a £1.5 million redevelopment which was completed in 2018.

Situated on the River Trent flood plain, the redeveloped clubhouse was raised higher than the original building erected in the 1950s to withstand the expected higher water levels like those from the recent Storm Babet. The facilities, featuring modern changing rooms and an air-conditioned clubroom, remained a good few feet above the water.

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