Latest news with #PapaJohnsCommunityCup
Powys County Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Head coach bursting with joy after dramatic cup win
Buckingham Swans 2nds head coach Michael Clark was bursting with joy after watching his side capture the Papa Johns Women's Junior Cup with a dramatic 33-27 victory over Winscombe Ladies at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Having led for most of the match, Swans found themselves behind with less than a minute left on the clock but had Carys Coletta to thank after the fly-half dotted down at the death to secure the trophy for her side. A jubilant Clark was full of praise for his side and was unequivocal in stressing just how much victory in the competition would mean to the future of Swans - who are partnered with Premiership Women's Rugby outfit Loughborough Lightning. He said: 'I'm ecstatic in the way that we did it. To lead for most of the game and then to concede a try with two minutes until the end and then to nick it at the death is unbelievable. 'Our partnership with Lightning is fantastic and what this does is attract more young talent and you can see that in the balance of the team. 'Some of them have had Championship experience and I'm sure off the back of this some of them will get more game time.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Clark added: 'We spoke all week about the occasion and I have tried to not let it get the better of us and just keeping heads cool and calm but it is brilliant. 'We spoke about having a legacy this season and the second team holding up for themselves. They've won their league and they've won the cup now and it shows that we value the second team players as much as the players in the first team so we're in a fantastic place with our women and girls' section.'
South Wales Guardian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.' For a round up of all the Papa Johns Community Cup Final action and to watch the games back follow @RFU on X or search for #PapaJohnsCommunityCup
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.' For a round up of all the Papa Johns Community Cup Final action and to watch the games back follow @RFU on X or search for #PapaJohnsCommunityCup
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ladies coach jubilant after watching his side win cup
And with Thurrock having triumphed in last year's Women's Junior Cup, Steward was delighted to see his side lift yet another trophy on the hallowed Twickenham turf. 'It was a fantastic game,' he said. 'Sefton brought absolute power and physicality to our game but we didn't back down and we got it. We've now won it for the second year in a row and words can't describe how happy I am right now to do it at HQ. 'Can we do it three years in a row? I don't know but we can always dream. 'Today was incredible, the girls deserve everything. They give 110-150 per cent every Wednesday and Sunday and some of the ladies travel from near and far so for them it's incredible. 'Rosie [Bennett] has had a really tough season this year with injuries so for her to get on after having a scare on Wednesday to score a second try at Twickenham after doing it last year is unbelievable for her.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. Steward added: 'Even as a Welshman, to lead your team out at HQ and one of the best stadiums in the world is a dream come true. It would be better if it was at a Welsh stadium! 'Just seeing outside how there were hundreds and hundreds of fans from different clubs coming together to support their local grassroots teams was unbelievable. 'They've brought everything to make it an incredible day.'
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Rugby coach delighted to see her side run out winners
Having represented the Red Roses during her playing days, McKenna knows a thing or two about elite level rugby and she expressed her delight at watching her side rise to the occasion at HQ. 'What a game to demonstrate the quality of this Championship,' she said. 'That's the thing that everyone involved can be most proud of. The way the game was played by both teams, the skill level and the ambition on the field is a brilliant advert for what the league is doing. 'It's an unbelievably special competition and we have got a whole multitude of people who are playing in this Championship and making it the best it can be. 'The opportunity to come and play here at Twickenham is a huge motivator for these players and getting to play out on that turf on a May afternoon with the sun shining and two big crowds behind those teams is what dreams are made of.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. McKenna added: 'We wanted to enjoy this moment and share it with the community. That's not just those with us who were there with us on the day but those who contributed to getting us here. 'The biggest thing that we enjoy the moment regardless of the result and I think they did. 'I like to use the phrase a rising tide lifts all ships and if the grassroots game grows, the top tier of English rugby grows, whether that's the Red Roses or the Premiership. It all starts at grassroots.'
