Caithness rugby club has been named the Scottish winner of the 2026 Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award and the £10,000 prize is set to have a “transformative impact” at Millbank.
The funding – which has come via the award presented by Royal London and The British and Irish Lions – will support the club’s ambitions to continue to grow its women’s and girls’ offering to ensure that rugby is accessible to as many people as possible in the local area.
The Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award, now in its third year, will also provide funding to Keswick RFC (England), Fethard & District RFC (Ireland) and Clwb Rygbi Y Bala (Wales). Each of the four clubs will also receive a trophy.
East Kilbride and Greenock Wanderers are the previous Scottish recipients of the award.
Caithness have a structured programme already in place for girls, beginning with early participation and extending through to help them transition to senior rugby. While the women’s game continues to grow locally, the club will use this funding to actively strengthen the transition between junior and senior levels to ensure a complete and sustainable pathway and enhance player retention in the future.
The club is committed to engaging the wider community and creating accessible, welcoming entry points for women and girls through a range of outreach initiatives. This includes the delivery of girls’ rugby sessions in local schools by the club’s development officer and community coaches as well as women’s and girls’ taster sessions, open days and ‘come and try’ events throughout the year.
As a club, Caithness is also focused on inclusion and increasing the number of women in leadership, coaching and referee positions.
Exciting times then ahead of the 2026-27 campaign then and Jenny Dunnet, Caithness club secretary, said: “We are delighted to be selected as the Scottish recipient of the Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award.
“On behalf of our players, volunteers and wider community we extend our sincere thanks for recognising both our ambition and the unique challenges of delivering opportunities for women and girls in a rural area.
“This grant will have a transformative impact on our ability to build a fully integrated pathway, strengthen access to the sport and ensure that every girl and woman in Caithness has the chance to thrive through rugby.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited for the future it will help us create.”
Rhona Lloyd, Scotland cap, Rugby Ambassador for Royal London and award judge, commented: “The passion and ambition at Caithness to grow their women’s section despite the geographical challenges in their part of Scotland really stood out in their application.
“I can’t wait to visit them and see how they’re putting their plans into action.
“I played for the under-20s with Caitlin Harvey from Caithness and I know the travelling she did to play with us and the commitment she showed.
“That just shows the appetite that there was back then for players to play rugby up in that area of the country and, a few years later now, it is still the same.
“I really hope that this funding can help invest in the pathway at Caithness and can hopefully alleviate some of the issues and cost that come with lots of travel. It is great to hear that girls’ and women’s rugby is flourishing at Caithness.”
- Rhona Lloyd, Rugby Ambassador for Royal London and award judge, was speaking after Caithness Rugby Football Club was named the Scottish winner of the 2026 Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award presented by Royal London and The British and Irish Lions
- The £10,000 funding will support the club’s ambitions to continue to grow its women’s and girls’ offering to ensure that rugby is accessible to as many people as possible in the Scottish Highlands
Caithness’ women are pictured and the club are celebrating after winning an award
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk