THE fledgling girls’ section at Basildon Rugby Club are gearing up for their first season of competitive rugby.

The group have been together for around seven months but will start the campaign in the national cup this autumn.

Coach Keith Hill has high hopes for the season following some promising showings in tournaments.

“We managed a couple of games against Thanet and Medway and narrowly lost to established girls’ clubs,” said Hill.

“And we entered a festival and won game and drew the other, so things have been going well.”

The section was set up after teacher Leanne Nancolas started teaching the girls rugby at Woodlands School in Basildon.

Nancolas, who now teaches at Gable Hall School in Corringham, brought them to the Gardiners Close club where their numbers have grown from six players to 16.

The National Cup competition will see the team play 12 games in their eastern section, with the winners progressing to the national knock-out stages.

Basildon are looking to add more players to their squad and possibly start a second team.

Girls aged between 11 and 15 can join the squad, which trains on Wednesdays betrween 7pm to 8.30pm at the club’s base in Gardiners Close, Basildon.

Contact Keith Hill for details on 07769 666675 or go along to the training sessions.