Valkyries Rugby Hub: Revolution Takes Flight
Valkyries Rugby Hub has transformed women’s rugby in North East Wales, growing from a handful of players in 2019 to nearly 250 girls today. With National Lottery funding, the hub has inspired cup finalists, national representatives and award-winning volunteers, becoming a true beacon of grassroots rugby.
While Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have put Wrexham on the global football map, another sporting revolution is quietly unfolding. Valkyries Rugby Hub has grown from a handful of enthusiastic players to a beacon of women's rugby in North East Wales.
The Valkyries' story began in April 2019, when girls' rugby returned to Wrexham RFC for the first time in nearly 20 years, following National Lottery funding distributed through Sport Wales. The hub has received £3,000 of National Lottery funding, with grants of £1,500 for initial establishment and £1,500 for U13's development.
"We wouldn't be here now without that initial funding from The National Lottery. It's what helped us get off the ground," says Chris Wright, Hub Leader. "We used this funding to help us pay for coaching education and provided us with the essential equipment that we didn't have access to."
The hub's achievements include reaching cup finals, with the U16s reaching the final of the RGC Cup, and having girls represent the North Wales rugby team. The U10s made history by travelling to England to take part in mixed rugby tournaments.
Recognition has come for volunteers too. Charlie Parry received Young Volunteer of the Year 2024, while David Dixon was awarded volunteer of the year for his work with Wrexham and Valkyries.
On 6th March 2024, Valkyries hosted one of the biggest celebrations of women's rugby in North East Wales, with nearly 250 players participating. In their first year alone, the hub saw three girls earn a WRU Girl Guiding badge and had girls act as flag bearers for Wales Women in Cardiff.
For 13-year-old player Poppy Hebden-Jacks, elite connections provide inspiration: "Some of them came down to train. When I was younger, I used to go to these camps and Rachel Taylor came down and trained some of us for a day. It was amazing, it was good because she's a massive rugby player and I really do look up to her."
As England hosts the Women's Rugby World Cup this summer, we're witnessing the culmination of three decades of National Lottery support that has transformed women and girls' rugby from the grassroots up. This transformation exemplifies how over the last 30 years, by investing over £6 billion into more than 90,000 grassroots clubs and organisations, The National Lottery has been game-changing for women and girls' sport, creating lasting change in communities and building from humble beginnings to creating history with cup finals and representative honours.
