Thurrock T-Birds

Thurrock T-Birds, also called Thurrock Rugby Football Club Ladies,[1] is a women's rugby club in Grays, Essex, England.[2] The club began as a union side in 1988,[3] however have also operated a league side since 2023.[4] The union side plays in Championship 1 South after being relegated from the Women's Premiership in 2013,[5] while the league side plays in the RFL Women's Super League South.

Thurrock T-Birds
Full nameThurrock Rugby Football Club Ladies
UnionEngland RFU and RFL
Nickname(s)T-Birds

History

In 2009, Thurrock T-Birds made it to the promotion playoffs in Championship 2 South East but lost in the final. In 2011, they defeated Oakmeadians Ladies in the playoff to be promoted to Championship 1 South.[1] The following season, Thurrock T-Birds were promoted into the Women's Premiership after defeating Championship 1 North champions, Camp Hill[6] in the promotion playoff.[7] In doing so, they became the first Essex based team to play at the top level of English rugby union.[8] In 2013, they finished bottom of the Women's Premiership which meant they took part in the promotion-relegation playoff against Aylesford Bulls Ladies. They lost and were relegated to Championship 1 South for two years due to there being no promotion or relegation in the next season because of the next season preceding the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.[5] In 2014, they appealed against this rule to the Rugby Football Union for Women, claiming that Women's Premiership clubs Saracens Women and Richmond Women were attempting to block Thurrock from being promoted if they won Championship 1.[9]

In 2012, Thurrock T-Birds set a world record for the largest scrum with 584 participants.[10]

In 2023, the club announced a rugby league side that would compete in the RFL Women's Super League South.[4]

Notable players

Thurrock T-Birds have provided players for the England women's national rugby union team. Mercedes Foy, Emily Scott and Georgia Cook all played for England women and Thurrock.[2]

See also

References
  1. "T-Birds promoted!". Your Thurrock. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  2. "Thurrock rugby pair's international joy". Echo News. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  3. "Thurrock Ladies".
  4. "RFL reveal exciting national pyramid for growing women's game". 31 January 2023.
  5. "Thurrock Ladies relegated from rugby's top tier - but borough's proud of team achievements". Thurrock Gazette. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  6. Named after Camp Hill, West Midlands; club website.
  7. "It's promotion for the T-Birds after tight match against Camp Hill (From Thurrock Gazette)". Thurrock Gazette. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  8. "Premiership Rugby Next season for T-Birds". Essex RFU. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  9. Clark, Frazer (29 January 2014). "Saracens and Richmond Borough to blame for T-Birds". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  10. Hugh Godwin (22 April 2012). "Ruck and Maul: Twickenham's ticketing policy smacks of segregation for fans". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
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