Words by Lottie Whelan
Founded in 2010, the University of Sussex Women’s Rugby Club, affectionately known as ‘Sugby’, is a flourishing sports society consisting of two dedicated and passionate teams. We are an inclusive club, and we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming environment for players of all abilities. Rugby is a sport where women are still under-represented, and we strive to change that one tackle at a time. Our training sessions take place on Mondays from 6:30 – 8:00 pm and Fridays from 5:00 – 6:30 pm; we are always accepting new members.
The Commitee
Our club is run by a devoted committee, headed by President Katie Brandwood-Fiander, who recently returned from a year abroad in Australia, making her an international player. Supporting Katie, we have Vice President Alice ‘Jonesy’ Jones, who last year managed to balance the roles of social sec and 2nd Team (2XV) Vice Captain. This year we are lucky to have four knowledgeable and committed coaches: James Trevis, Tom Bowen, Joe Oakes and Jas Cory. Under their guidance, both teams are aiming to have very successful seasons. In the very capable hands of our coaches and committee, the club is thriving.
The Team
Our 1XV team is in the South Eastern Tier 2. Led by co-captains Beth ‘PowWow’ Powell and Maddy Hemsley, the 1XV team is setting up for what we hope will be a very successful season. Following the disappointment of relegation, our 1XV team are intending to dominate their league this year. Based on the commitment and intensity we have seen from our 1XV players in every training session, we do not doubt that they will have a great year. Their first match of the season was a win against Essex Women’s 1XV on the 13th November.
Our 2XV team, captained by myself and Ella Goodchild, is in the Women’s South Eastern Tier 3. As a development team, our 2XV team aims to create space for beginners to learn the basics of the game while also pushing our more experienced players to learn and progress. We are very proud to be the only second team in our league. Based on the dedication and perseverance of our 2XV players, we are excited to see how the season will go.
Social Sugby
Off the pitch, we have a thriving social scene with weekly themed socials every Wednesday night, featuring games, songs and DIY costumes. These have been taking place at our new venue, New Unity, following the tragic closure of Pryzm. Highlights so far this year have been our joint ‘Men in Black’ themed social with Women’s football and our wholesome sober social at Build-A-Bear.
A Safe Space
Care for our community is at the core of Sugby’s values and this year we are planning on carrying out an array of charity events. This year, our chosen charities are The Oasis Project and Rugby Against Cancer. As always, we will be holding our annual Karaoke Auction in which every member of the club gets creative and offers up an item or skill for auction. Past auction offerings have included a hand-painted tote bag, 100 homemade cookies, tickets to watch an England rugby match and free entry into Pryzm for the rest of the year. Furthermore, we have many members who will be running the Brighton Half Marathon next year for our chosen charities.
The club also has some exciting fundraising opportunities coming up. We will be partaking in the SU’s challenge week, which took place between the 25th and 31st of November. with There’s plenty of exciting challenges planned such as a piggyback race across campus, live “Where’s Wally?” and kicking a rugby ball the distance between campus and Twickenham Stadium.
Another article you may enjoy: How the Sussex Tennis Society is Bringing Women Back into Tennis