Becky Scanlon-Brown wasn’t able to play rugby when she was growing up.

The just-turned 49-year-old played hockey and netball and did athletics when she was at school - rugby for girls was not part of the curriculum back in those days.

But Becky is determined that the girls of today are given the chance that she never had and at Minchinhampton Rugby Club there are plenty of girls who are enjoying the opportunities being given to them.

Becky is head of girls’ rugby at the club and the numbers have increased dramatically since she took up the role at the start of last season.

“We started 2022/23 with just a handful of players,” she said. “Now we’re running girls’ teams at under-12, 14. 16 and 18 age groups. The growth has been incredible.”

Becky’s daughter Mimi is one of the many girls who is now getting the chance to play the great game that is rugby.

The Crypt School pupil is a hooker in the under-14s and Becky said: “My son Monty was playing at Minchinhampton, it was brilliant for him, so after two or three weeks I said to Mimi, ‘Why don’t you give it a go?’

“So she did and she enjoyed absolutely every second.”

That was for the under-10s – Mimi is a year younger than her brother – but although she was loving it there was also a problem.

And the problem was that youngsters are allowed to play mixed rugby only up to under-11s, so as things stood back then Mimi would have had to continue her rugby journey away from Minchinhampton as there was no girls’ section.

Fortunately, her mum stepped in to help Tom Nurse, the previous head of women’s and girls’ rugby at the club.

“We wanted to create a pathway for girls who had been playing mixed rugby,” explained Becky.

“We’re all volunteers, we like to give our time to providing opportunities to girls to play rugby. We’re lucky that we have a very progressive and supportive management team at the club.

“It’s so important that girls get the same opportunities as boys. Rugby is such a good sport for fitness, for laughs and for the social element.”

And the girls’ section is certainly thriving at Minchinhampton, something that has been recognised by the RFU.

“They have allocated Red Rose player Mackenzie Carson to work with us,” said Becky.

That involves coaching the up-and-coming players at Minchinhampton with Becky adding: “It’s so inspirational, not just for the women and girls but for the boys as well.”

Becky does not get involved with the coaching but devotes many hours a week on the administrative side, something that includes working closely with other clubs.

“We’ve formed the Cotswold Lionesses, which is a hub with Cirencester and Faringdon,” she said. “We’ve more than 100 players in the hub but ultimately the aim is to grow all our clubs so that we can all play each other.”

And the hope is that those players will go on to play adult rugby in years to come, of course.

Minchinhampton have a women’s team and they are playing their first season of league rugby.

They are competing in the eight-strong Women’s NC 3 South West (North) alongside the likes of Fairford, Cheltenham North and Cheltenham Civil Service  and Becky added: “We’ve got a squad of more than 30 players which is fantastic.”

Becky has never played rugby but she said: “I keep getting asked if I’ll play for them, I am occasionally tempted!”

But as the number of girls playing rugby at Minchinhampton continues to grow, that’s a question she may not be asked for too much longer.

And such is the success of the women’s and girls’ section that the club, whose men’s team play in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North, are looking to expand their facilities.

“We’re fundraising to build another changing room,” said Becky, whose husband Mark is a big supporter of the club. “We’ve so many players now, we haven’t got enough room.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the girls’ rugby at Minchinhampton or wanting more information can call Becky on 07768 034901, email rebecca.scanlonbrown@gmail.com or visit www.minchrugby.com