Cinque Ports Rugby Football Club

Promoters of

International Women’s Rugby

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Belgian National Women’s XV

-v-

South Select XV

Saturday, 26^th April 2008, Kick Off 2.30 pm

The Grove School, St.Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN38 9JP 

Cinque Ports Rugby Football Club has arranged for the Belgian National Women’s XV to play a selected squad from the South and South East Regions of the country on the club’s pitch at The Grove School, St Leonards-on-Sea. The Belgian Women’s squad will be using the match hosted by the Cinque Ports Rugby as a serious test and as a warm-up game before they play in the 2008 European Cup in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 17^th to 25^th May 2008.

Belgium will again play in Pool B in 2008 against Russia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Romania and Luxembourg. They have every hope of winning the pool in 2008 and progressing to Pool A for the 2009 European Cup Competition.  This is one of the main reasons for the team to travel to Sussex to undertake this important fixture at CPR‘s home pitch at the Grove School. 

Dany Roelands, the President of the FBRB (Belgian Rugby Union), said “We are hoping to top Pool B in this year's FIRA/AER European Cup. This level of game against such a strong team is critical for our women as part of their preparation for this very tough competition this May in Amsterdam”.

Peter Silk, Hon Sec of CPR said “We are absolutely delighted to have been given the chance to showcase women’s rugby at the highest level in Sussex. We have always wanted to promote the women’s game, and it is a target for our club to found and run a sustainable women’s club XV”. Mr. Silk went on to say: “We are hoping to attract a lot of media and sponsorship interest. If this goes well next year we are looking to invite Belgium back again in 2009”. As a new club, Cinque Ports Rugby, is delighted at the help and assistance given to promote the club by its President, Dany Roelands, the former 1991 RWC and International referee and FBRB President.

Clare Cooper, RFUW Women's Rugby Development Manager for the South, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Senior players in the South East of England to test themselves against an International team. Mal Chumbley (RFU RDO Sussex) is coaching the South East Regional Team this season and will be leading the Coaching Team for this exciting encounter. Selection will be made after the RFUW Regional Finals on Saturday 15^th March. For more details on the Regional Programme and this fixture please see www.rfu.com  / Womens

Photo Gallery of 2007 Final

Photos by “Montain Witters © Montain”. (Photos of the Belgium National Ladies in action in the Belgium v France game, 2007 European Women’s Cup, in Brussels. The Cup was won overall by England, represented by the England A XV. The Belgian Women were runners up in Pool B losing narrowly to France, represented by the French Universities XV, 7 points to 13 in a hard fought march in Brussels). 

The Belgium Team 

The South Select team will be announced after their training session on 14th April

Cinque Ports Rugby Club, play rugby in the towns of Hastings, St. Leonards and Bexhill. Based at The Grove School, St.Leonards-on-Sea, East SussexCPR is the newest and most progressive rugby club in the area, formed in 2006 now compete in Sussex Division Three League and a Sussex Knockout competition. Mr Roelands is also the President of CPR, and as a way of acknowledging this honour CPR jerseys reflect the colours of the Belgium flag. 

Photo by Roger Vaughan © www.kentpixs.co.uk”. (Photos are of South v South East in last year’s Regional Programme).  Picture 004 - South East (Navy/Sky/Pink) Tracy Pettingale attempts to bring down South’s Sarah Wakeford. Picture 27 - Clair Richardson from South East is beaten by South’s Sally Greenway

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