JUNIOR Sirens co-ordinator Luke Simpson believes it shows Rams' commitment to girls' rugby as a new kit for the three junior age groups was unveiled.

The stunning new shirts have been donated by Courtiers, and Luke was delighted after seeing it for the first time on Wednesday evening.

He said: "It's fantastic and proves the club is fully behind the girls. We've been making excellent progress regarding the numbers during the last five years and the growth has been very positive.

"The target moving forwards is to have enough numbers to put out a full team for fixtures at all ages (Under 13, U15 and U18).

"The Minis (U6-U12) play a big part of that, because if the girls are already engaged with the club, it is more likely they will come through. Then the club can sustain itself without having to go on mass recruitment drives every other year or every few years."

He continued: "The involvement the girls have in the club, doing the ball-girling (for 1st XV fixtures) with the boys on match days and the inclusivity is just amazing.

"I haven't got the words to say how grateful I am to Courtiers and hopefully when they see the smiling faces of the girls playing in games, that is where the payback will come."

The youngsters have been back at Old Bath Road for the past few weeks, and Simpson revealed: "We've played lots of skill games, including touch and 'Ready for Rugby' and within that there are lots of little tweaks you can make to keep it entertaining and fresh."

Among the girls who have been taking part is Under 15 Izzy Bruton, who goes to Piggott School.

She said: "We're really happy to be given the new kit and want to say a big 'thank you' to Courtiers. We're really excited for whenever we can play a few games."

Her teammate and fellow Piggott School pupil, Lucy Simpson, added: "It's a really nice new design and it should make us stand-out a bit more. Being back at the club, it's been really nice to see people again after a long six months."

Gary Reynolds, CFO at Courtiers and CEO at Rams, said girls and women's rugby is a crucial part of the club's future.

He commented: "I'm fully behind ladies rugby, but perhaps even more so my wife (Cath) is, so as a club we will have to make it happen!

"The development of the female sides here has been tremendous and it was the one thing which was missing from the club six years ago.

"The girls' teams deserve the new kit because they've worked really hard, and anybody who has watched them, they take their rugby seriously just like the boys do. There are some really good skills in those teams."

He continued: "I'm really excited about the future for Sirens rugby and hopefully in the longer run we'll be running two (adult) ladies teams - one perhaps slightly more social and one perhaps elite and competitive. That would be a fantastic achievement for the club."

While times remain uncertain about a full return to rugby, Gary concluded: "Whatever happens with getting games back, the one thing I really hope is we can at least keep people training.

"Especially with the juniors, when you come up here you see a lot of very happy faces and it's important, because you never get that time back.

"If we lock them up, and they can't spend time with their friends and play a sport they've grown to love, then that's to the detriment of those kids."

If you are interested in joining the Junior Sirens at any age level, please email Luke at luke3615@btinternet.com