SUPERMARINE Rugby Club are extending an invitation to local women to meet their Inner Warrior at a free rugby taster event.

Developed by England Rugby, the Meet Your Inner Warrior campaign is aimed at women and girls to encourage greater female participation in contact rugby across the country.

From May 12-21, more than 150 Warrior Camps will take place at rugby clubs across England, with the hope of attracting over 1,000 players to the sport – sports kit and trainers will be the only equipment needed.

Marine will be holding their event at their Supermarine Road home on Saturday, May 20, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with players of all abilities welcome and a free barbecue taking place once the session ends.

Vice chair Claire Legg, who also plays for the club’s women’s team and manages the junior girls section, is hoping that this month’s Warrior Camp will inspire a host of newcomers to fall in love with rugby.

“I started playing when I was 18. My first club was Yeovil Barbarians and I joined Supermarine when I moved to the area a little while ago,” said the 31-year-old, who works as a project management officer.

“The women’s section at Supermarine has been going for more than 30 years and, if we can get some good numbers joining the club, we’re looking to try and start a second team.

“The girls section started a year and a half ago and we’re starting an U13s team for the 2017-18 season.

“We really want to try and get more young girls involved because once they get to the Year Seven school year – 11 or 12-years-old – they can’t play mixed rugby anymore.

“We’ll have people learning the basics, like catching, passing and running with the ball, and we’ll play some touch, contact and tag rugby, and some of the basics of contact rugby as well.

“We just really want to try and increase participation, and hopefully people want to come and give it a go.”

The first round of Inner Warrior camps in January saw more than 1,500 women and girls enjoy their first taste of rugby, many of whom have continued their participation within the sport.

And as the RFU look to further expand the number of females involved in the sport, the continued success of the Inner Warrior campaign is a top priority.

England Women’s player Sarah McKenna said: “The Warrior Camps are perfect for those keen to get involved, get outdoors, keep fit and make friends.

“I’ve gained so much from rugby, both on and off the pitch, and would challenge everyone to step out of their comfort zone and meet their Inner Warrior.”

To sign up or register your interest, head to www.englandrugby.com/innerwarrior