During the summer the Club had an Independent Review of Women and Girls Rugby undertaken by Garnet Mackinder from the RFU as the Club is committed to growing and developing both sections during the 2024/2025 season and beyond with the Women’s World Cup being held in England in 2025.

The club may have challenges with its facilities but until we are able to undertake the Redevelopment Project there is still plenty the club can do to improve the rugby experience for Women and Girls at Windsor RFC which can only help to grow both sections.
As a result of the review the club can now announce the following changes that will come into effect for the 2024/2025 season.

1. Facility Development and Usage:
It is widely recognised that the club’s current infra-structure is not ‘fit for purpose’ for the modern game and the club are committed to the Redevelopment Project.
In the short term the club will continue to work with all sections of the club to improve the rugby experience for everybody.
For example, the Club’ Referees Room has been converted into a Physio Room. It will be used still as a referees rooms when changing room space is a premium. One of the main changing rooms will become the Women’s Home Changing Room. This means that the Men’s 1st XV and the Women’s 1st XV have their own changing rooms when playing home matches.
Both changing rooms will be used again for Junior Matches. If the Damsels are at home and use the changing rooms they will use the Dames changing room.

2. Board Composition:
Sharon Richards has been co-opted onto the Board at Windsor RFC in her role as D&I Lead. Sharon will also provide the Board with much needed HR advice when managing people issues.

3. Women and Girls Rugby:
In April a review of Women and Girls Rugby was undertaken by Garnet Mackinder from the RFU to look at the current status of Women and Girls Rugby and to make recommendations on how Windsor RFC could improve the playing experience for Women and Girls at Windsor RFC.
Following the feedback from the review Windsor RFC will be making some changes for the 2024/2025 season as regards Women and Girls Rugby.
Key Changes:
1. The Chair of Women and Girls and Dames Manager Roles will be replaced by:
1. Head of Women
2. Head of Girls
2. Both roles will be advertised with Job Descriptions enabling anybody to apply.
3. The Women’s 1st XV Captain will be invited to join the General Management Committee alongside the Men 1st XV Captain to ensuring that both sets of players are represented.

In addition a Women and Girls Committee has been set up to focus on developing Women and Girls Rugby at Windsor RFC and for working on an effective pathway for girls to successfully move from the Minis Age Groups into Girls Rugby and then into Adult Women’s Rugby. This is again one of Garnet’s recommendations. James Brayshaw, Club’s Vice Chair, will be responsible and will chair the meetings. With the Women’s World Cup in 2025, it is an ideal time to have an effective campaign in place to drive both Women and Girls Rugby.

Other areas that were identified included the need to improve communication throughout the club as well as identifying the roles that Board Members and General Management Committee Members undertake as well as identifying any training areas that are required.

Further changes will be briefed in due course.

Regards

Michael Crawshaw
Windsor RFC Chair on behalf of the Board of Windsor RFC