Cooke Women’s Rugby club proves that Rugby Union is certainly not just for the boys after a selection of successful tournaments over the summer.

Being the only Women’s Rugby club in Northern Ireland who hold a place in the esteemed All Ireland One Division the team boasts a wide number of current and ex International and Provincial players as well as encouraging those who purely play for fun.

The Cooke girls’ summer was kick started by their storming victory at the Carrick Sevens Rugby Festival. In the Lombard Ladies International Ten-a-side tournament Cooke came top out of eight teams from across the United Kingdom winning all of their pool games and their semi-final without conceding a try! The team only had their line crossed once in the concluding stage of the final, when victory was beyond doubt. Not only did the girls win the FLP Cup, by 26-5 but it was Cooke (Ulster and International) player Rachel Boyd who was awarded The "Most Valuable Player" of the tournament.
Cooke also took the first place trophy at Derry Rugby Club on the 23rd June when they held their first Women’s Tournament with Cooke’s Emma Lowe (Ulster) being awarded “Senior Player of the Tournament”.

With the taste of triumph still fresh on their lips the girls decided success at home just didn’t satisfy and a squad of 24 headed to France under the sponsorship of Diageo to take part in the Bonneville Tournament hosted by Le Mole Rugby Club. The team fought hard notably beating the Swiss International Team and drawing with Bath. The team came a much deserved third runner up in the highly prestigious European Tournament which attracts teams from all over Europe as well as being awarded a further trophy for being the best team off the pitch!

Off the back of their triumphant summer the girls look set to cause a stir in their division in the coming season and as training starts back on Tuesday nights at Shaw’s Bridge they encourage girls of all ages to come along and give girls rugby a try and share in their future successes – “the only game you’ll lose is the one you don’t play”!