Chelmsford Rugby Football Club

Chelmsford RFC's Ladies 1st XV - the Bluebirds - are an enthusiastic and social rugby team based in Chelmsford, Essex and are now playing in the RFU Womens National Challenge 1 South East (North) league, having finished Runners Up in the Women's NC1 East in 2022/23.

This season sees a big challenge for us as we look to continue to consolidate our place at Level 4 of Women's Rugby. We retain consistency in the coaching team which remains the same as in the last 3 seasons, with Ade Cuthill and Stephen Rooney coaching the forwards, and Andy Pyne and Lee Wainwright overseeing the backs. All four of our coaches continue to show their shared passion and goal of pushing forward women's rugby at a grass roots level and getting as many ladies, whatever their experience, playing the game. This season the squad continues to be led by the Ladies Captain Ella Alderton, and we welcome Jess Matthews to the leadership group as Vice Captain. We are continuing to look to recruit players in all positions, in order to bolster our position in what is expected to be a very competitive league. As in previous years, we plan to work hard but, with multiple Bluebirds finding themselves conveniently on the Club's Social Committee, we plan to play hard too!

We may have big plans for our game this season but we are always keen to recruit newcomers, whether they have ever picked up a ball before or not. We believe that rugby is the best sport there is and we are so keen to share that sentiment far and wide! We believe that our beloved sport is the most inclusive one out there, it truly has something for every shape, size, skill set. Our squad has an age range of 18 to 48 at the moment and the range in shapes and sizes is just as vast. No two people are the same and we embrace that, utilising the different strengths of our wonderful team mates. We are super friendly and welcoming, largely because anyone who wants to get involved is our kind of person!

The Bluebirds were founded in 1995 by Clare St John-Coleman and Jackie Philips. At the time we were one the very few clubs in the county have a ladies team! After a few lean years, the Bluebirds were re-established in 2007, joining the Women's NC3 league for the 2008/09 season, and some 16 years on, we still keep in touch with our former team mates because we truly feel that once a Bluebird, always a Bluebird! We continue to host recruitment sessions but players are welcome to come along and join us at any point of the season.

If you fancy trying your hand at a new and physical sport, feel free to join us at training every Tuesday from 7.30pm (7:15 meet). You can be as involved in the sport as you like and if you want to just train with us and turn up to our socials then that's fine too! Training is on at Chelmsford Rugby Club, Coronation Park, Timsons Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6AG.

We welcome players of any ability and age (18+). Those under 18 please visit our Girls rugby page for more information. Keep an eye out for our recruitment and Inner Warrior events if you would prefer to not be the only beginner on your first go! Contact Ella and Jess on crfcladies@gmail.com for more details. You can also get in touch via our social media accounts:
Instagram @crfcladies
Facebook @chelmsfordladiesrugby
Twitter @crfcladies