With the Women’s Rugby World Cup held across England in 2025, including two games played in Brighton, this is a great opportunity to empower girls and show them what can be achieved. Our sponsorship is key to us as a school in supporting emerging sports for women and girls and Burgess Hill Rugby Football Club is at the forefront of encouraging girls in this exciting and dynamic sport. A growing number of out students are already members.
Recently the girls were presented with new warm-up t-shirts by our Marketing Director, Anne Pithie, to celebrate the partnership at the new Arc sports facility in Burgess Hill where the girls train on a Wednesday evening.
This collaboration also comes at a particularly exciting time for the rugby club, with the recent appointment of Shelley McComiskey as BHRFC’s first-ever Director of Women and Girls Rugby. President James Shillaker said: “Shelley has been a senior member of the women’s section for over a decade and her vision and energy for the growth of the women and girls’ game at BHRFC is unrivalled. These are exciting times. Under her leadership, the club’s women’s side are returning to NC3 for the first time in 5 years, and the thriving girls’ section will expand to two teams’ next season”.
Shelley McComiskey, Director of Women and Girls Rugby at BHRFC, said:
“I am passionate about creating a pathway for girls to progress in rugby, from their first experience of the sport through to competitive league play. Working with Burgess Hill Girls will help us reach more young players who will join some of the girls who already are members of the club, and I can’t wait to see this partnership flourish.”
Heather Cavanagh, Head of Burgess Hill Girls, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with Burgess Hill Rugby Football Club at such an exciting moment in their development. Rugby is a fantastic sport for building resilience, teamwork, and determination, and we are committed to giving our girls every opportunity to experience and enjoy it, joining several of our girls who are already playing at the club”.
Both parties are delighted to highlight the inspiring journey of two players from the club; Grace Clifford and Katie Shilllaker, who are now making their mark at the highest levels of women’s rugby. Their resilience and talent serve as a powerful example for new and current players demonstrating the heights that young players from Burgess Hill can achieve.
The club’s women’s and girls’ programmes welcome new players from Year 4 upwards with sessions for girls on Wednesdays and Sundays and families are encouraged to pop along. For more information, visit the club’s website: Burgess Hill Rugby Football Club.