Dartfordians hosted their first girls Pitch up and Play festival on Sunday following on from their very successful start to girls rugby last June. Darts have about 40 girls playing under the chairmanship of former Emerging England and Saracens player Sandra Soler-Gomez and she was instrumental in organising this event.

Dartfordians were fortunate to have Gary Street, World Cup winning England Ladies coach and Amy Wilson Hardy who is a current full time professional England 7's player to lend a hand with some excellent coaching sessions. The festival catered for U13, U15 and U18 girls and was open to clubs and schools as well as any girls who just wanted to turn up and try the game.

The matches were played in great spirit despite there being no record of scores or trophies to win it was a great opportunity for girls to take part and judging by the smiles on the faces of players , coaches, parents and helpers at the end of the day it was a great success.

Between all matches the players were given coaching sessions by Gary and Amy alongside the other coaches who attended. A total of over 240 girls attended, a bit of a record for such an event and showed the enormous potential for girls rugby and Dartfordians will try and boost this by continuing the work they are doing at the club and in locals schools. T

Thanks go to Keith Forward and Lucy Callingham, both RFU YDO's, for their support and assistance and to everyone that helped make this such a successfully event.