Girls rugby has been a particular focus for development at Haywards Heath Rugby Club over the last five years. One of the Club’s key goals in raising over £2.4m to build a fabulous new Clubhouse at Whitemans Green has been to be able to develop girls and women’s rugby, providing the right environment for it to grow and flourish.
This initiative has been recognised alongside the success each of the girls’ squads achieved last season on the pitch as they received the Sporting Team Award at this year’s Child of Sussex Awards last Friday evening.

The fabulous new HHRFC Clubhouse offers vastly improved accessibility and inclusivity with six new changing rooms, which can be segregated to create a changing area dedicated to girls only. It also boasts an amazing social space and viewing balcony that has been designed with inclusivity front of mind.

With this new facility operating since December 2024 the Club has been able to encourage increased participation for girls across all three dedicated girls’ squads – Under 12s, U14s, and U16s - and launch a women’s senior squad last season, providing a complete pathway for girls wanting to play rugby from Under 6 through to adult women at Whitemans Green. The result has been an increasing number of girls playing rugby, a vibrant women’s team and developing skills evidenced by success on the pitch, new friendships and fun for all age groups.

The mission to grow girls rugby continues at Heath with free girls touch rugby sessions at Whitemans Green every Thursday evening throughout the summer providing a safe, friendly and inclusive space for girls of all ages to try out something new. Women’s pre-season rugby training starts weekly from early July and is open to everyone regardless of age or experience.

The new Clubhouse demonstrates the importance of inclusive facilities to encourage sport for everyone regardless of gender or ability since it has created a “home” that provides improved accessibility and inclusivity to sports for young and old, providing an environment where all feel welcome and want to return time and again.

The mental and physical health benefits of sport for all children are clear and in addition girls rugby at Haywards Heath provides an opportunity for improved social integration and development of a team mentality - both vitally important life skills.

To ensure inclusivity for all, the Club operates a Rugby for All initiative to make sure no one misses out on playing rugby for financial reasons, supporting subsidised membership, kit and travel where appropriate. It makes sure that all children aged up to 18, students and adults who want to play rugby at Heath can do so should financial circumstances otherwise prevent them from playing.

Anyone interested in finding out more about youth or girls rugby at HHRFC for ages U6 to U16 and Colts should email youth@hhrfc.co.uk . New or returning senior rugby players contact rugby@hhrfc.co.uk.

Check out the latest events taking place at the HHRFC Clubhouse in July and August at WGSC website You’ll find a Karaoke evening, a special book lovers event, Pig Racing and Live Music plus a Sussex 7s final’s day featuring rugby on the pitch, food and DJs on Saturday 11 July. Live international sport is on the big screens all day every day.