Member Article

World Cup winner and Six Nations star Marlie coming to Preston for Sale Sharks all-girls’ rugby camp

Premiership Rugby side Sale Sharks is joining forces with England rugby star Marlie Packer and national home assistance provider HomeServe to give girls across the North West the chance to kick start a career in the sport.

Fresh from starring for England in the current Six Nations, Marlie will join coaches from the award-winning Sale Sharks Community Trust – the charitable arm of the rugby club – at a three-day, girls-only, residential camp at Myerscough College, near Preston.

The 55-cap flanker, who also works for HomeServe as a qualified plumber, will give the girls an insight into both the life of a professional rugby player and the many challenges she has had to overcome to reach the top.

And the Sharks coaches will take the girls – aged between 12 and 17 – through advanced rugby drills as well as coaching in healthy eating and keeping fit.

The girls will also get the chance to quiz one of the Sharks first team players at the camp, which is being run as part of the Premiership Rugby Academies scheme.

Darren Lamon is the lead coach for the camp, which runs from April 3-5. He said: “We can’t wait to come to Preston for our residential girls’ camp and we’re looking forward to introducing the girls to Marlie who is a perfect role model for all the young players in the region. We’re delighted to have her support as well as the backing of her employer, HomeServe.

“Marlie’s won the World Cup, played more than 50 times for her country and she’s playing in the Six Nations at the moment. She’s overcome plenty of challenges along the way so she should be a huge inspiration for them all.

“Thanks to Marlie and her teammates, women’s rugby is flourishing in this country and we’re really proud to be able to do our bit to give these girls a chance to play the game at a higher level.”

The Sharks Community Trust is currently taking bookings for the course, which costs 150 pounds per person. The price includes accommodation, food and all the coaching.

All participants will also receive a Sale Sharks gift and a ticket to a game at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Marlie, who plays for Saracens in the Premier15s competition, supports HomeServe customers across the South West of England as a plumber when she’s not playing the game at an elite level.

HomeServe also employs around 500 people in its contact centre in Fulwood, Preston, which is close to the camp location.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” Marlie said. “I’m passionate about coaching and helping the next generation of female rugby players reach their potential.

“I’ve had to overcome plenty of challenges, both in plumbing and rugby, and I want these girls to know that with determination, nothing is impossible. With the help of the Sale Sharks coaches I’m confident we can give these girls a really good stepping stone towards playing rugby at a higher level.

“The excitement and interest around women’s rugby at the moment is fantastic and we need to do all we can to maintain the momentum.”

HomeServe’s Brand Director John Greaves sits on the board of the Sale Sharks Community Trust. “This is a brilliant opportunity for HomeServe to support a fantastic inititative in an area in which our People live and work,” he said.

“We’re really proud of everything that Marlie achieves and we’re more than happy to give her a few days off the tools so she can work with the Sharks coaches to help the next generation of female players.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sale Sharks Community Trust .