Raise Your Game: Why rugby?

Claire Flowers: I have been fortunate enough to play a large variety of sports to a high standard. When I was in school I played netball for the under 16's squad and I played hockey for south Wales.

I find the demands of rugby exceed all other sports because you have to be fit, you have got to be skilful and you have to have mental and physical toughness. I really thrive on all of those qualities needed to be a rugby player and the challenges that rugby presents.

RYG: How did you start?

CF: I began playing in University. I was studying rugby for my level one and the girls' rugby team were short at the time and needed a player. My lecturer recommended me to the coach and they asked me to play.

I played my first game when I was in the first year at university, but at the time I was playing hockey to quite a high standard. Further on I went to Welsh University trials and got into the Welsh University Team. I was fortunate enough to captain them for that season and I just progressed from there. I started playing for a club in Wales, went on to a higher standard and played for England. I have found that the majority of girls playing now started through opportunities like playing at university.

RYG: What challenges did you have to overcome?

CF: The issues with starting were due to the stigma being attached to women playing what is perceived as a male-dominated sport. I am quite thick-skinned so I didn't pay much attention to that. I really took to the game, and I enjoyed it so much that the stigma and the lack of support given by some people didn't bother me at all.

As far as challenges to overcome, I have played many other sports so I was used to the training and the difficult schedules, such as making team training and doing my own individual training. It was a case of transferring skills from one sport to another purely for my love of the game.

RYG: How much training do you do to compete at professional level?

CF: It is very difficult because we are still playing an amateur sport, even though we are at the top level of our sport we are still amateurs and learning all the time.

I play for a club in Bristol so I have to travel which takes time and money. For example, on the weekend I had to play Darlington which is a 300 mile drive there, I played the match, then there was a 300 mile drive home.

When you are putting that much time and effort in you have to stay on top of your training to play at your best. It is very difficult. A general day for me is work, a club after school with the children then I go home. Following this I do a training session, go to my club, or do a speed session. That is my daily programme from Monday to Friday. On a Saturday we have our international squad sessions and matches.

Rarely do I give myself a day off. When I feel particularly tired I will take a day off. It is hard but if you want to be the best in your country and possibly the best in the world this is the commitment you have to give and therefore you have to do it.

RYG: How important is it for women to be playing their part in the sport of rugby?

CF: I think it is crucial. I'm a firm believer in equal opportunities. I am also a PE teacher and this is something I try to put across to the kids. There is a sport out there for absolutely everyone. Rugby is a great game for people of different shapes and sizes. There really is a position for everyone in rugby and I think there is huge potential for girls in the sport. Women's football has progressed over the last few years and they have a cup final on television. I think women being involved in rugby is crucial to the development of sport.

RYG: What skills and strength do you need to be a female rugby player?

CF: As far as physical skills go, obviously the fitter you are the better standard of rugby you can play. There is also the aerobic fitness, for your speed and strength. All of which can be developed through the learning of the game.

You do have to be mentally and physically tough because when you start playing contact games, which is inevitable, you will be hurt because of the general physicalties involved in tackling and so on.

Personally I find it a wonderful stress release. When I play or when I train, regardless of what I'm doing, I find that it helps me. So whilst it might require a mental and physical toughness the benefits are tremendous. You get the feel good factor and you feel fit when you play well. When you can see your physical fitness improving, working as part of a team spurs you on.

The pinnacle for me is playing for my country, and being lucky enough to have played in a World Cup. So many youngsters out there have these abilities and don't utilise them. Just give the game a try. It is within their reach if they are motivated, if they have got the basic skills and the drive and desire to succeed. The door really is open for girls to aspire to play for their country.

I suppose with netball and hockey there are more girls involved with that at the moment so that is the reason why there is more competition at professional level. The pathway to representing your country could be a little bit smoother actually.

RYG: Do you ever face prejudice?

CF: You get the occasional comment. I find the majority of people who watch the women's game are impressed by the physical standard. The way that rugby for women has developed is great. A lot of referees comment on how the woman's game has improved itself. The women might not have the raw speed and power that the men have got. But we are improving all the time. Fitness and skills levels are increasing as well as the hits. I feel that women's rugby is certainly moving forward and I think this is preventing the prejudices that used to exist.

My department in school and the pupils I teach are unbelievably supportive. They pay attention to Wales playing and how it's progressing. A lot of them come to watch me and I really appreciate the support.

I can honestly say that I have been very lucky and I have had very little negative opinion or prejudice from anyone.

I think it is breaking down barriers for people who think that rugby is purely for males. I do definitely think it is taking away the stigma.

The media is an important tool in changing the way women's rugby is viewed. This kind of coverage is great because it shows our standard of games. For example Wales were second in the six nations last year. Out of all our games we won every game but England, and that was a close encounter. We had two minute slots at the end of sports programmes and news. I believe if there was a 20 minute slot of our coverage showing the best action it would encourage more sponsors to take notice of the sport and more females to take part in the sport.

We out performed the males in the Six Nations but they got far more media coverage than we did.

RYG: What have you learnt from practising this sport?

CF: I have made some of the best friends I'll ever have in my life because you go through so much together for your country with the highs and the lows.

As far as personal skills, I have learnt communication skills. These are absolutely crucial in people trying to work together as a team. If you are not communicating clearly with one another it can cause real problems. You spend a lot of time negotiating on things if certain players in the team want to play one way and others another. I have learnt to listen to other people's opinions a whole lot more.

I have been lucky enough to captain my club team, so leadership skills are crucial. You also act as a motivator. I am the person who encourages someone when something goes wrong. You also turn to those players around you for your own support and motivation.

I have learnt a lot of presentation skills having to make a lot of after match speeches and having to talk about the game. It helps you develop your tolerance and patience.

The skills you pick up through practising rugby are endless, not to mention the confidence it can bring a person.

RYG: Do you see many young girls getting into rugby?

CF: I think it's an area that Welsh Women's rugby is targeting at the moment. I'm not exactly sure what the figures are but I know that there are clubs starting at under 14 and under 16 level. I think it's great that these girls are being given the opportunities that I wasn't. There are numerous touch and tag competions. We have entered an under 16 and under 14 tag tournament which is towards the latter stages of the year, and the pupils are training for them now.

If we look at England I don't think we are really on a par with them. They have got all the systems in place. We are a little bit behind in the times but I know the Women's Rugby Union are doing what they can to push the opportunities forward for the girls.

There is a lot happening in schools. I know that the local schools around Cardiff enter the tag tournament. Wales used to have an under 19 team which I think was fantastic as it gave players something to aspire to. If there was an under 17 and under 19 squad that would really give them something to aim for.

The gates are starting to open. I predict in about 10 years time we will have a really healthy number of the female population taking part in women's rugby.

I have some pupils that love the idea of playing tag or touch but they don't want to play contact. This is because it is too rough. However, on the other side, I have some pupils who don't want to play tag and can't wait to start diving around the pitch. It all depends on the individual's personality. Even if girls don't want to play contact there are touch teams that are starting up.

It's a really open, running, flowing game whether it is tag or touch there is certainly something there that would appeal to anybody.

Once I had to teach the year 10 and 11 boys' rugby and they loved it and I loved it. It was fab getting a chance to coach the boys and they were great. They had respect knowing the standard I play at.

RYG: What advice would you give to young women who are interested in taking up rugby?

CF: Number one is ask your PE teacher because quite often PE staff will try and put on a club or some form of skills practices to introduce them.

Contact your local rugby club. Have a look on the Welsh women's rugby site as there is information on there as well as contact numbers.

For anyone that is interested I would say just have a go! I have had some fantastic opportunities. I have played in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong 7's. I have played in Bermuda and I have played in the World Cup. I have also played in European cups.

It has opened up door after door for me and there are opportunities that I have had that I never would if it hadn't been for rugby being in my life.