Following a thrilling series of qualifying rounds, Leicestershire Rugby Union are delighted to be in a unique position where both the men’s and ladies representative sides will be playing in final matches of the Bill Beaumont County Championship and Gill Burns County Championship at Twickenham on Saturday 8th June. This will be the sixth time in nine years for the men and the second for the ladies, both winning in 2017. With both teams making the finals only two years after winning, it will be unprecedented if they win either or both matches again.
The men’s campaign began with a home walkover against Staffordshire who were sadly unable to raise a squad. Their second game was away to Warwickshire which resulted in a 0-78 score. Making the finals all hinged on the third and final match for the men which was at home to East Midlands. This was a much tighter match with the full time score 29-22. With a change to the qualifying rounds this year, the men went straight through to the finals. Leon Brown, team manager says:
“The men’s team are incredibly proud and honoured to be able to represent the county at Twickenham. This is only enhanced by the fact that with them on the same day in their own final are the ladies; broadcasting the quality and value of rugby to all people within our great county. Despite only having two games to get there, the path was far from easy with a high level of commitment needed in a small window, which at the end of the season, is a lot to ask to those who choose to play county because they want to. This leads to the “club mentality” within the squad of 30+ for whom many have not had the chance to play but continued to train and aid the wider team in their objectives. Without a doubt Leicestershire are en route to Twickenham with a win in site, but the journey and evidence again of two teams there, on the same day; reiterates the product for rugby in Leicestershire, is a product for everyone to enjoy and flourish within.”
The ladies route to the final began with their first match away to our neighbours Warwickshire. They comfortably won this match 5-31. Next was to be the ladies only guaranteed home match which was against Staffordshire. The ladies successfully won this 52-0. They went on to play Cheshire away and came home with another victory with the final score 12-26. As Leicestershire had won all three games, they qualified for the semi-finals with a home fixture to Hertfordshire. This was a much tighter game with Hertfordshire leading most of the game and hungry for the win and chance to play in the finals for the first time at Twickenham. But Leicestershire ladies did not give up and with a Herts player receiving a red card in the final minutes of the game, Leicestershire score the last try to win and make it to their second final. Final score 24-22.
Trevor Goddard, Ladies Team Manager comments:
“Leicestershire Ladies are incredibly proud of there achievements over the past three years in the Gill Burns Div 2 County Cup Competition. Having reached the Final in the 2016/17 season the team remarkably came from a 29-12 deficit at half time to score 20 unanswered points to beat Essex at Richmond RFC at their first attempt.
The following year they reached the Semi Finals losing to Eastern Counties.
This year after topping our pool we drew a home Semi Final game against a very strong Hertfordshire. In a superbly contested and physical match Leicestershire were always having to come from behind and with no quarter being given by either side it took till the last play of the game for us to overcome the visitors and in doing so reach the Final again and the icing on the cake for all of the girls involved in this campaign is that it will be contested at Twickenham the home of English Rugby on 8th of June.
A superb achievement by all concerned and showing that Leicestershire Women’s Rugby is continually growing and improving with the aim to provide a quality environment and opportunity for all to play this game.
We are pleased to be appearing at Twickenham alongside the Leicestershire men as they again reach their Final and we wish them luck and hope to repeat the double winner’s accolade of 2016/17 with the same this year.
We thank Leicestershire Rugby Union, our sponsors Principle Financial Services for their continued support, and Birstall RFC which has been our home for the past two seasons for training and games.”
Squads will be announced after both teams have finished their final training sessions this week, with everyone keen for a spot.
With both finals on the same day, both at Twickenham, Leicestershire supporters have really got behind the teams and have filled a number of supporter’s coaches to travel down to the game. Entry to watch the games is FREE and all supporters are welcome to come and show their support. For more details please see our website http://leicestershirerugbyunion.co.uk/news/we-are-off-to-twickenham-match-and-travel-information
Both matches will be live streamed on the RFU website also.
Ladies match – KO 1pm
Men’s match – KO 3pm