EIGHT players from Barnsley RUFC Ladies are due to play at Twickenham tomorrow as Yorkshire try to retain their County Championship title.
The Shaw Laners play in the second tier of English women’s rugby and are one of the main contributors of players to the successful county team.
The players involved this year are Jasmin Brankin, the Yorkshire captain, Becky Patrick, Hailey Swann, Amy Needham, Beth Arnold and Ellie Erskine plus married couple Jessica and Alix Taylor-Roberts.
Lauren Bolger, who played last year, is now involved in the management team.
Yorkshire won their group after beating Northumberland 64-7, Staffordshire 76-0 and Lancashire 26-3 so now face Buckinghamshire in the final at Twickenham from midday on Saturday.
Arnold, Alix Taylor-Roberts, Brankin and Patrick were all part of the squad which won the title last year, with Patrick scoring two tries in the final.
Alix Taylor-Roberts, from Royston, is the vice-captain and, at 35 years old, this is her last match before retiring. She said: “It’s such an achievement to make it to Twickenham again as a county and I can’t wait to experience another final.
“It’ll be an extra special one for me as it’s my final game before I retire.”
Scrum half and Wales international Jessica Taylor-Roberts, 31, added: “I am super excited to get the opportunity to play at Twickenham again, with such a talented group of girls.
“I am not only pulling on the Yorkshire shirt with some Barnsley Ladies players, but I get to do it with my wife as well.”
Number eight Patrick, 31, from Grimethorpe, said: “I can’t wait to play at Twickenham again for the second year running, especially alongside seven of my club team-mates.”
Flanker Brankin, who will skipper the side aged 23, said: “I am extremely honoured to be leading such a special and talented group of girls into another final at Twickenham and I have every confidence in the team that we’ll come away with the win.”
Flanker Swann, 29, from Cudworth, added: “From being a supporter of the girls that went last year, I am really excited to be a part of the Yorkshire squad this year.”
Prop Needham, 31, who lives in Mapplewell, said: “I am so happy to be part of the Yorkshire team this year and to play at Twickenham is what every rugby player dreams of.
“It’s always special to pull on the Yorkshire shirt and even better to do it with the girls from Barnsley.
“It’s always a privilege to play alongside these girls and even more of a privilege to be able to share the pitch one last time with Alix Taylor-Roberts before she hangs up her boots.”
Prop Arnold, 26, said: “I am so excited to play at Twickenham again, especially with this group of girls.”
Winger Erskine, 28, said: “This campaign has been so different personally from last year. Moving from scrum half to winger and feeling so much more integrated in the Yorkshire team having spent time this season with Barnsley Ladies. I can’t wait for a Twickenham north versus south showdown.
“Let’s go Yorkshire.”
Former Barnsley player Will Smith and James Sanderson, from Wath, are in the men’s squad for their final.
They take on Kent at 5.15pm.
