Her First Try
At Ruaraka Rugby Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, a small campaign is trying to give more girls the chance to discover rugby. For Head Coach Sammy Odhiambo, that starts with something very simple: giving them the opportunity to try.
Josephine, Natasha and Atieno. (L-R)Sometimes the biggest barrier to playing rugby isn't whether someone wants to play.
It's whether they ever get the chance.
At Ruaraka Rugby Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, girls have been joining training sessions, but their numbers have remained low.
As Sammy Odhiambo, one of the people behind the academy, tells us, some girls are interested in rugby but don't always have the equipment, encouragement or opportunities to take that first step.
That is where Her First Try came from.
The idea is simple.
Give more girls the chance to pick up a rugby ball, step onto the field and discover that rugby can be their game too.
Ruaraka Rugby Academy is a grassroots age-grade programme working with young players from Ruaraka and the surrounding communities.
“Give more girls the chance to pick up a rugby ball, step onto the field and discover that rugby can be their game too.”
For Sammy, rugby has always been about more than what happens on the field.
Rugby has been a big part of Sammy's life. Through the academy, Sammy has seen how much the game can give young people. It teaches discipline, confidence and teamwork, while giving young people something to believe in.
Now Sammy wants more girls to experience some of those possibilities.
Her First Try is still at the beginning.
There are already a few girls taking part, and watching them train, learn and grow in confidence has encouraged the academy to keep going.
The ambition is to build the girls' side of the academy so that, eventually, there can be regular girls' training, matches and opportunities to take part in tournaments.
Maureen taking part in a rugby training session with Ruaraka Rugby Academy.But getting girls onto the field is only part of the challenge.
For some families, the cost of rugby equipment can be difficult.
Boots, shorts, shirts, socks and other training equipment all have to be found. There are also the practical costs that come with taking part in rugby — transport, meals during activities and tournament fees.
For a young player, those things can be the difference between being interested in rugby and actually being able to play it.
That is why Her First Try is about creating opportunity in more than one sense.
As the campaign grows, the academy would also like to connect the girls with female rugby players and coaches who can mentor them, share their experiences and show them what might be possible.
Because sometimes seeing someone else do something is enough to make you wonder whether you could do it too.
And perhaps that's particularly important when you're a girl taking your first steps into a sport where you may not yet see many people like yourself.
There is no way of knowing where those journeys will lead.
And that's rather the point.
“But first, she needs the opportunity to try.”
Sammy says Her First Try isn't just about rugby.
It is about giving a girl the confidence to try something she may never have thought was possible for her.
That first opportunity could lead to a rugby journey.
It could lead to new friendships, education opportunities or leadership.
Or perhaps it simply leads to a stronger belief in herself.
Nobody knows yet.
But first, she needs the opportunity to try.
And that's what Ruaraka Rugby Academy is trying to create with Her First Try.
XV STYLE REFLECTION:
All around the world, from one grassroots community to another, the challenges may be different, but the ambition is often the same: creating opportunities for more girls and women to find their place in rugby.
WITH THANKS TO
Sammy Odhiambo
Head Coach, Ruaraka Rugby Academy
Thank you for sharing Her First Try with XV Style.
Follow Ruaraka Rugby Academy on Instagram →
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