Women’s rugby team impress at Rosslyn Park national sevens

Our women’s rugby team delivered an outstanding performance at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens, showcasing not only their talent and determination but also the strength of the growing women’s rugby pathway in the North East.

The squad played several games across the tournament, building momentum with every match. A standout moment came in the semi final, where the team produced a superb display to secure a convincing 31–10 victory and book their place in the final.

In a hard fought final, the players pushed right to the very end and narrowly missed out on the title in the closing minutes. While the result didn’t quite go their way, the team didn’t come home empty handed. Their conduct on and off the pitch was recognised with the tournament’s Fair Play Award – a fantastic achievement that reflects their values, teamwork and professionalism.

Holly Jackson, team captain, Durham County player and sports and exercise science student, highlighted just how important these experiences are for both performance and player development.

“Competing at events like the England 7s and Rosslyn Park is a huge opportunity for us. The support from local businesses means we can travel, prepare and perform at a higher level. Being part of the academy has given me confidence in my game and shown that there is a serious pathway for women’s rugby in the North East. We want to prove that teams from this region can compete nationally.”

The success at Rosslyn Park comes as we continue to strengthen our women’s rugby academy, supported by a group of North East businesses committed to helping the programme thrive. Companies including Straightline NE, Strive Physio, Inspire IDP and MW/Eco are sponsoring the academy as the squad competes in the England 7s competition across March and April.

This backing plays a vital role in providing players with a high‑quality competitive experience, from travel and preparation to recovery and performance support.

A huge congratulations to all the players on an exceptional tournament performance and thank you to the staff who supported the team throughout. We’re incredibly proud of what this group has achieved and excited to see what’s next for women’s rugby here at the college.