Ayr RFC appoints dedicated W&G DO

Ayr RFC is delighted to be the first Scottish club to appoint a dedicated women and girls' development officer, Catherine Shennan.

With Ayr Ladies about to embark on their first season in the top tier BT Premier League, and the increased awareness of the sport thanks to the inclusion of rugby 7s at the Rio Olympics, now is the ideal time for Ayr RFC to cement its commitment to growing women's rugby in South Ayrshire.

Catherine, 20, first began playing rugby in sixth year at Girvan Academy when the Ayr RFC development team visited the school. She soon joined Ayr Ladies U18s before progressing to the senior side, and was capped for Scotland Women U20s last season.

Catherine worked as a Scottish Rugby modern apprentice for two years.

"I will continue to use the skills I have learned as an MA when coaching women and girls this year," she says. "The courses I went on in my two years as an MA were very useful and gave me more ideas and knowledge of the game."

Catherine's main aim will be to increase the number of women and girls involved in rugby in South Ayrshire, but she also has hopes for the sport throughout the country after the announcement of Jade Konkel as Scotland's first female full-time player.

"I'd like to see women's rugby in Scotland continue to develop and see more women get professional contracts."

With the increasing popularity of the sport and the efforts of clubs like Ayr, that will hopefully happen sooner rather than later.

For now, Catherine is focused on her new role as Ayr RFC women and girls' development officer.

"It's an honour to be given this opportunity. It comes with a lot of responsibility but it's also hugely rewarding."

Head of development at Ayr RFC, Stuart Fenwick, is certain Catherine's role will have a positive impact on rugby in the county.

"With more girls and women playing rugby in the area - not just at Ayr RFC but taking part in the South Ayrshire Schools Conference - we needed someone dedicated to developing the women's game.

"Catherine's training as a Scottish Rugby MA, as well as her passion and knowledge gained from playing stand-off with Ayr Ladies, mean she is the perfect candidate to encourage women of all ages and abilities to embrace the sport of rugby.

"The Ayr RFC development team is very proud to have the first women and girls' DO of any club in Scotland. It's not only a feather in our cap, but a boost for the whole sport."

Catherine and Stuart with MAs Paddy Dewhirst and Connie Griffiths.

Stuart Fenwick leads the Ayr RFC development team, with officers Frazier Climo and Catherine Shennan, and four Scottish Rugby modern apprentices. They are supported by the Ayr Community Rugby Trust.