By Jonathan Leask  January 11 2010

Women’s rugby is set to make a return in Mid Canterbury.

The Rakaia Rugby Club hoping to muster enough players to enter a team in the Christchurch competition.

 After some initial ground work has been put in place the club will be holding a meeting for any interested players tomorrow night to establish whether or not the have sufficient numbers to go ahead for what will be the first women’s rugby team out of the Rakaia club.

 Over the past few seasons Gemma Hislop has played for Marist Albion in the Christchurch competition before deciding that a local team should be put together.

 “I knew a few people who were keen to play from down here but weren’t keen to travel three times a week to do it,” Hislop said.

 Previously Mid Canterbury had a women’s rugby team out of the Tinwald club, which Hislop had played for, but since it dissolved any Mid Canterbury women that wished to play rugby would be forced to travel at least 30 minutes twice a week to trainings, and further travel on the Saturday for games.

 Gretchen McGuire is also behind organising the team. She also had to go further afield to play rugby before a ruptured Achilles meant a season on the sidelines.

 She previously played her rugby for Southbridge, but is excited at the prospect of having a team much closer to home, and is now right in behind getting the Rakaia women’s team up and running.

 “We tried in the past, about 10 years ago. But we couldn’t get the numbers.

 “At this stage we have about 15 names and that’s built up slowly. Some of those are dairy farmers so wont be able to get off work every week so we will be look to get around 25,” McGuire said.

 The Rakaia rugby club is also excited about adding a third senior team to its ranks.

 “(The club's) keen as mustard,” club captain Glenn Jamieson said. “They approached a committee member, who then presented the idea and the committee decided to back and it and try to get it going.”

 The team will initially compete in the second division of the Christchurch competition until it finds it feet over the next few seasons.

 The first division is a tough competition as it obviously has the Can-terbury representative players and a few national representatives.

 Before the team can compete they must first get organised which will begin at the meeting before training can hopefully begin at the start of February, McGuire said.

 The Rakaia women’s rugby team has the full club support and people in place to organise it. Now all they need is the numbers.

 Anyone interested can contact Glenn Jamieson 0210591840

Pictured: Gemma Hislop (left) and Gretchen McGuire are looking to get a Rakaia women’s rugby team together this season. - Photo Sarah Chamberlain 100110-SC-195