Finborough Launches Girls' Rugby Partnership with Bury St Edmunds RUFC

Finborough School is proud to announce a new sponsorship agreement with Bury St. Edmunds Rugby Union Football Club (RUFC), becoming the club’s Official Girls Pathway Partner. This exciting partnership marks a significant step forward in promoting girls’ rugby and creating opportunities for young athletes to thrive.

Under this collaboration, Finborough School and Bury St. Edmunds RUFC will work closely to deliver a range of joint initiatives, including special events hosted at both the school and the club, as well as expert coaching sessions and training opportunities for pupils within the Girls Youth age bracket. Students will benefit from the club’s professional coaching expertise, gaining access to high-quality rugby development both at school and at the club’s facilities.

This partnership coincides with the launch of Finborough’s new girls’ rugby programme, designed to inspire and nurture the next generation of female players. Starting this academic year, structured rugby lessons have been introduced at Finborough School for girls in Years 5 to 8 as part of the core sports curriculum. In addition, an expanded extracurricular provision for Years 3 to 6 has been launched, with sessions held on Wednesday afternoons, providing younger pupils with early exposure to the sport in a fun and supportive environment.

Millie Collins, Director of Girls’ Sport at Finborough School, commented, “We are thrilled to be launching this programme. Rugby offers so much more than physical fitness; it builds resilience, teamwork, and confidence, and after seeing the success of our male pupils with England Rugby in recent years, we’ve created a female pathway. Partnering with Bury St Edmunds RUFC gives our girls an inspiring, sustainable route into the sport.”

Will Affleck, Commercial Manager at Bury St Edmunds RUFC, added, “We’re delighted to be working with Finborough School to grow the game for girls in our community. This partnership is about creating opportunities, nurturing talent, and making rugby accessible to everyone. We look forward to seeing the next generation of female players thrive.”