Cambridge Rubies celebrate to sign off sparkling season on a high

The end of an era was celebrated by Cambridge Rubies at their first end-of-season ball.

The girls’ section of Cambridge Rugby Club had a campaign to remember during 2021/22, but will also be saying goodbye to some of their inaugural members as they head off to university.

Across the under-13, under-15 and under-18 teams, they had regular and convincing wins in competitive matches against close rivals, one player is now training with the England Deaf women’s team, two players have joined the Saracens under-18 centre of excellence and 16 Rubies represented Eastern Counties in the under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Sam Sandercock, Rubies under-18 coach, said: “It’s been a fantastic season for the Rubies across our three age groups and we wanted to give the girls a way to celebrate their successes.

“Many of our under-18 players are heading off to university this September – some of whom joined the Rubies when they were just 11 or 12 years old. These founding members of the club’s first ever girls’ team will be sorely missed – but we are sure the team will go from strength to strength.

“Over the last seven years, the girls have built a great team culture – forging friendships for life and learning valuable life skills that will stand them in good stead at college and in the workplace.”

All team members received a medal, a range of awards were given on the night, while each under-18 player received an engraved glass and each leaving player received a shirt with their number on.

The Rubies train twice a week at Cambridge Rugby Club on Grantchester Road. Sessions take place on Wednesday nights from 6pm to 7.30pm, and on Sunday mornings from 11am to 12:30pm.

The club has under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 girls’ teams, and a women’s team that also train on Wednesdays and Sundays. Training restarts for next season on Sunday, September 4, while there is friendly touch rugby training on Monday evenings from 6pm.

For more information email rubies@crufc.co.uk.

Rubies awards: Coaches Rays of Sunshine Awards – Jasmin Nam and Lola Wilkes-Read (under-13s), Lotty Logan and Amelia Wood (under-15s), Lilla Berry and Elllie Ratcliffe (under-18s); Newcomers awards – Ruby Clayton, Scarlett Ramage and Izzy Schumacher; Growth award – Phoebe McLachlan, Kitty Barker; Team player awards – Sheetal Chopra, Louise Hamilton; Coach the coach award – Scarlett Atkinson; Smiling assassin award – Katie Dening; Mature beyond her years awards – Ella Trowell, Grace Strickland; Rubies Achievement Award – Kacey Tuck.