Rhona Lloyd won an award this week and now she is encouraging women’s and girls’ rugby sections from clubs throughout Scotland to apply for an exciting award themselves.
Royal London, the only Founding Partner of The British & Irish Lions Women’s rugby team, has announced that applications are open for its annual Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award.
The award celebrates clubs that are making a meaningful impact in growing women’s and girls’ rugby, strengthening their communities and creating inclusive opportunities both on and off the pitch.
Applications are open until 12pm on Monday, July 20 2026 via the Lions website.
And Scotland winger Lloyd – the Sale Shark who on Wednesday shared the PWR top try scorer of the season award with Mia Venner from Gloucester Hartpury, Bo Westcombe-Evans from Loughborough Lightning and Scottish born England cap May Campbell from Saracens after they all crossed the whitewash 12 times – wants as many clubs as possible from north of the border to apply for Royal London’s award.
The 29-year-old knows just how much of a difference the award can make because, after Greenock Wanderers were named the Scottish winners of the prestigious prize last time out in late 2025, she was able to visit them earlier this year.
“Greenock Wanderers were the recipients of the award from Scotland last year, and I was lucky enough to get to go along to their Fort Matilda ground to see what they do there and how the award has helped them and it was just so inspiring,” she said.
“It was so cool to see so many girls getting involved in rugby there, enjoying rugby there and just to see how much the club were investing in their women’s and girls’ set up off the back of getting the award.
“For example, now they’ve got women’s only changing rooms and, in terms of accessibility at the grassroots level, that is huge and Greenock are making sure that everybody in the club feels valued.
“Greenock Wonders were so deserving of the award last time and now I’m excited to see who applies this year and who the recipient’s going to be.
“It really can make an impact and I’d encourage as many clubs to apply as possible.”
‘Lloyd, who was speaking to help launch Royal London’s annual Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award that has been mentioned, added: “So many clubs are growing their women’s and girls’ section so any help they can get from external sources to grow that is brilliant.
“Being able to facilitate the numbers of new women and girls getting involved in the sport is key and Royal London are helping to do that.”
Royal London, the only Founding Partner of The British & Irish Lions Women’s rugby team, has announced that applications are open for its annual Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award – applications are open until 12pm on Monday, July 20 2026 via the Lions website
Royal London ambassador Rhona Lloyd is pictured speaking to Lesley Cadenhead about how Greenock Wanderers’ maternity policy has helped her both during and after her pregnancy