Why I Love my Sport: Rugby

Hailey-Eris Reader talks about what made her get into rugby and what it means to her.

Why I love my sport

• I love Rugby because of the community that it creates. During training and in games you know you can rely on your teammates to support you, everyone works together to improve as a team and everyone wants to see you succeed. The level of sportsmanship in the sport is unparalleled, you need everyone and you can guarantee that everyone needs you. 

How did you get into your sport?

• I’ve been playing rugby for 6 years, I got into it when I was 11 when my secondary school held something called Northern 6 day. They had many sports there, not just rugby but for me the rugby coaches really sold it to me. Both my younger brother and my dad play/played rugby and it’s a big part of my life with us all supporting teams.
• I joined Ramsey Rugby club and played for their junior girls team for around four years, unfortunately I had to stop after I turned 15 because I was too old for the juniors and too young for the women’s side. I have been training with Vagabonds womens since turning 17 and have been there for just under a year.

What’s the best thing about your sport?

• The best thing about women’s rugby is that everyone is enthusiastic, because it is still relatively new, everyone involved really wants to be there. There is passion that I rarely see, and I think that that really comes across in the games and during training. 

Best moment you’ve experienced in your sport?

• At the end of last year and the beginning of this one, I helped coach the Under 10s rugby team in Ramsey. I was very fortunate to go away with them on their Rugby tour, whilst I was away one of the kids hurt themself, they were a man down during one of the games, but that didn’t stop the rest of the team. They worked even harder and managed to win even though they were at a disadvantage. That moment made me insanely proud as a coach and as a player.

What improvement would you make to your sport on the island?

• I feel like there could be more of it, there is only one junior girls side on the Island and one women’s side, I don’t think it is advertised enough to young girls. I also think that because there are only two teams it limits the amount of involvement because it means that there has to be a considerable amount of travel to get to the two locations (Ramsey or Douglas)

How can people get involved?

• If women’s rugby is something you want to get involved in (and you’re 16+) then come down to Vagabonds rugby club (aka finch hill cricket club) and take part in a training session, which happens every Monday and Wednesday at 6:30pm and starts back up next Monday.
• Training at Ramsey is for 11-14 year olds and is on Saturday morning. There is a Facebook group which has more information called Girls – Ramsey Rugby Club.
• If you are younger and want to get involved mixed rugby can be played up to the age of 11, and this can be played at any of the 6 clubs all across the island.

Let us Know

Why do you love your sport? Let us know by answering these questions and sending us a picture of you or your club to hello@gef.im.

Why I love my sport?

How did you get into your sport?

What’s the best thing about your sport?

Best moment you’ve experienced in your sport?

What improvement would you make to your sport in the island?

How can people get involved?