WIN - Exclusive Women's World Cup Club Competition – Enter now

WIN - Exclusive Women's World Cup Club Competition – Enter now

To celebrate the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Paris we are rewarding all those clubs who have been so supportive of the team with a range of great prizes. All you have to do is tweet or email the best pictures or videos of your club supporting England Women and you could be in with a chance of winning. We really appreciate your backing of England Women so this is our chance to show our thanks. The best tweet will win the opportunity to have two England Women come to their club to run a training session along with a signed Men’s and Women’s England Shirt. There are also up to 30 limited edition Women’s Rugby World Cup ball’s to give away and 10 Canterbury base layers for the best of the other tweets. Tweet @EnglandRugby and use the unique hashtag #WRWCwin or email your picture to EnglandWomen@webershandwick.com making note of your contact details and club. Whether it’s a giant team selfie, homemade banners and t-shirts, an inspired video of women’s rugby or all your players and staff crammed into the clubhouse ready to support the girls, we want to see your pictures. The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicked off on the 1st August and all England’s fixtures are live on Sky Sports. Be sure to tune in and support the girls. For more information visit englandrugby.com/england/england-women Good luck and Come on England! Terms and Conditions apply - First prize - Two England Women come to the winning club and conduct a training session and a signed Men’s and Women’s England Shirt. Other best of tweets -  have the chance to win a limited edition WRWC ball – up to 20 to giveaway and Canterbury base layers (x10) To enter either tweet your picture to @EnglandRugby using the unique hashtag #WRWCwin Or Send an email, by clicking here, with your unique picture and your contact details and details of your local club

Venus announce new sponsor!

I am delighted to announce a new sponsor for the Venus team.

The Canary Wharf Group has supported the club for a long time and now the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund is going to help the ladies team in a key period of growth. 

This is in return for having their logo printed on to the current match shirts, ready for next season, and to have their logo on the Venus section of the website.

Scott and I went to collect the cheque at a special presentation in Canary Wharf Group's One Canada Square offices on Tuesday evening.

Cormac MacCrann of the Canary Wharf Contractors Fund (also pictured) said “Canary Wharf Contractors Fund is delighted to add Millwall Ladies to the wide range of local sports clubs which, along with Canary Wharf Group, it supports. Millwall Rugby Club already does great work in Tower Hamlets and beyond by providing sports opportunities for local people and the developing Ladies team will significantly enhance their profile in the community. We wish the Ladies team every success in the coming season.”

Canary Wharf Contractors Fund (CWCF) is a charity established by Canary Wharf Contractors (CWC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Canary Wharf Group Plc, in 2001. CWCF  is administered by representatives of CWC and its supply chain and together it raises funds to support local and national causes with particular emphasis on children, the local community, sport and the construction industry.

If you know of any business that you think could sponsor another area of the club, please let me know.

Sophie Morris

Development Officer & Press Officer

Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Venus dominate the sports pages!

Millwall Venus were dominating the sports pages this week for being shortlisted at the Canary Wharf Sports Awards and for their win over LSE at the weekend.

Sophie Morris

Development Officer & Press Officer

Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Canary Wharf Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012

Millwall Venus were shortlisted for Senior Team of the Year award at the Canary Wharf Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012, held last Thursday evening, 31st January.

The main award went to a futsal team (who have been national champions for the last five years) but Venus were presented with a trophy for their outstanding achievements in rugby. 

Their presence at the awards evening itself attracted the attention of some potential new players, including Baroness Oona King, who was the Special Guest of the evening. 

Her interest in the Venus team was surprising given that the Women's Chair, Caroline Dieleman, made her think we were a wheelchair rugby team by saying she wasn't able to stand (she's currently on crutches) when taking the microphone in a Question and Answer session with the Baroness! The audience were a little shocked when the otherwise able-bodied team walked (not wheeled) up on stage to collect their trophy. 

The team's nomination and being shortlisted for the award was a well deserved acknowledgement of the dedication and hard work put in by all the players, management, volunteers and coaching staff who turn up every week and have helped to get the Venus team into an established league for the first time in their history. Congratulations!

(Left to right) Scott Vinnicombe, Kiki Oyemhen, Adrienne Meehan, Andrea Bielska,
Ellaine Gelman, Johanna Sicler, Louise Norris, Caroline Dieleman, Sophie Morris,
Edna Schweizer, Tim McDonagh and Kirstie Hargreaves.

Sophie Morris
Development Officer & Press Officer
Millwall Rugby Club

sophiemorris@millwallrugby.com

Millwall vs. East London

Millwall Venus vs Kilburn

Playing at Millwall Park in the first home game of the season, each team managed ten (eventually becoming eleven) players for the Millwall Venus vs Kilburn Cosmos Ladies game. It was an open, flowing game. With strong direction from their flyhalf, Kilburn struck three times in the first half but Millwall kept at it and were unlucky not to get a breakaway try through Jen Faithfull. The first successful play came just before half time through an insightful quick tap by halfback Nandana Thomas (in just her second appearance in this position), who was able to dive over in the corner after Millwall was awarded a penalty near the 22m line.

The second half found more aggressive defence and a greater share of possession by Millwall. A brilliant try was scored from halfway by Millwall's Jen Faithfull, breaking through the midfield and having her thermal sleeve nearly torn off as she eluded the would-be tacklers. Unfortunately one try was also conceded in the second half, leaving the final score 10-22.

Special mentions went to winger Abi Denison's first appearance, Michelle Gavagan's great all around game as lock and number eight rolled into one and a triumphant return from injury by Andrea Bielska. Most importantly, these three (or their nominated replacements) absolutely smoked the MVPs from Kilburn in the clubrooms drinkoff following the match.

Millwall Venus v Old Dunstonians - Girls on top!

Venus Ladies 37-12 Old Dunstonians. With numbers fewer than expected the teams played 10's, with Michelle Gavagan nobly volunteering to be the 10th (wo)man for the opposition.

The game plan was to keep it simple, and stick to the solid drills and techniques that had been practised in training. Ruth Hartley kick started the proceedings with a try run in from the half way line, and Caroline Dieleman rounded this off with a conversion.

After a punchy start to the game the backs tore up the space, with further tries from Caroline and Michelle Ryan, who carved a sharp line through the opposition before sprinting away with the ball.

After some good defensive practice and the points gap being reduced, the backs once again made the most of opportunities presented to them by the forwards in what was a cream crackering second half with further tries from Ruth and Louise Norris.

Huge thanks go to Scott who stepped in when needed and provided the girls with a formula they can work with and improve on in future games.

The game also made the newpapers, Click here and go to page 39!