Saracens have given their backing to the Herts county girls rugby squads. Players from Sarries met the first ever county girls under-14 team and provided the under-17s with an opportunity to show off their first ever full kit, paid for with a grant from

Saracens have given their backing to the Herts county girls' rugby squads.

Players from Sarries met the first ever county girls' under-14 team and provided the under-17s with an opportunity to show off their first ever full kit, paid for with a grant from the Local Network Fund (LNF).

The teams are made up of players from clubs such as Hitchin, Letchworth and Stevenage as well as Fullerians (Watford), Hertford, Old Albanians (St Albans), Saracens, Watford and Welwyn.

The kits are being worn for the first time on November 12 for a county tournament.

Under-17 head coach Vicky Lowe said: "This is a very exciting season for Herts girls' county rugby.

"The funding we have received from LNF has not only provided us with extensive kit and equipment but has allowed us to have additional training sessions throughout the season at the Herts Sports Village.

"Due to increasing numbers we are also running a Herts Barbarians under-17 team for those not in the county squad, plus we have set up the first ever under-14 county team."

Girls' rugby is developing fast but does not yet attract the sponsorship that boys' rugby commands.

Any business willing to work in partnership with girls' rugby should contact the county development officer Amanda Bate on A.1.Bate@herts.ac.uk

She can arrange advertising on shirts and equipment in clubs across the county and even the region!

To encourage businesses, the government, via Sportsmatch, will match this business sponsorship pound for pound.