Sale Sharks has welcomed the news that the club’s women’s team has been given a conditional offer of a place in the Premier 15s league for the 2023/24 season.
The club remains passionately and firmly committed to growing and developing the women’s game in the North and showing that Northern Rugby Matters.
A strong, sustainable women’s team playing at the top level of the game is central to that commitment.
Through community programmes including Mission Sharks Primary and Girls Tackle Rugby, as well as the Sale Sharks Women’s Centre of Excellence, the club is determined to provide opportunities for women and girls across the region to play rugby.
The club also welcomes the commitment from the RFU to provide additional funding and a package of support to grow the game in the North, and will announce further plans around funding for Sale Sharks Women in the coming weeks.
Sharks’ Co-Owner Michelle Orange said: “We’re delighted with the decision to offer our women’s team a conditional place in the Premier15s for next season, and as a club, we’re really excited about the future of both our women’s team and girls and women’s rugby in the North.
“An ambitious successful women’s team is a big part of the future of this club and our investment and commitment to Sale Sharks Women since its launch in 2020 speaks for itself.
“Enabling access to rugby for everyone is a big part of what we are trying to do as a club. No matter what your background, sport should be accessible and inclusive, and women’s sport should be no different.
“Northern Rugby Matters and that means doing all we can to grow both the men’s and women’s games and show off just how incredible this region is for rugby.
“Getting our supporters involved is going to be a key part of this and we’ll be announcing more plans in the coming weeks.”
Women’s Performance Coach Rachel Taylor said: “The players and coaching staff have put in so much work on the pitch this season and the progress is there for all to see.
“Results and performances are improving and just as importantly, we know the players are inspiring more and more young girls to play our wonderful game.
“This decision means that work and that progress can continue into next season and beyond.”
