COMMITTEE 2024/2025
- President – Flick Cook-Allen
- Vice President – Ellah Johnson
- Treasurer – Wendy Elkington
- BUCS 1XV Captain – Abbie Ambrose
- Co Vice captains – Anya Wilen & Harriet Heathcote-Wells
- Publicity Secretary – Amelia Dixon
- Social Secretaries – Sophia Pearce-Taams & Mimi Mendl
- Welfare Officer – Alexandra Ashby
- Sustainability Officer – Rosie Ralph
- S+C Coordinator – Jess Dury
- Community and Outreach Officer - Harriet Heathcote-Wells
- First Year Rep - Sharnti O'Connor
WHO ARE WE?
Women’s rugby is a group of individuals who have been brought together through our love of keeping fit, pushing ourselves and being social. Well known around campus for our inclusivity and positive energy, our team has created a safe and empowering environment for any women to strive to be the best that they can be both physically and mentally. A club that has designed itself to benefit all levels of talent, from beginners to premiership we tailor our training to benefit and improve everyone. Whether it is a love for playing the sport or watching it we involve every member through our socials, if you want to stay sober or not we make sure that our socials bring everyone together off the pitch in a safe and inclusive way.
TRAINING TIMES
Monday: 5:00pm - 7:00pm SportsPark
Tuesday: Team strength and conditioning - 8:00am - 9:00am
Friday: 7:00am - 8:30am SportsPark (Scholars Session) AND 6:30- 8:00pm SportsPark
Training takes place at SportsPark Athletics Track
We will meet in the SportsPark reception 10 minutes before training to walk to our allocated area :)
LEAGUES
Our BUCS team play matches regularly on a Wednesday and are in Midlands Tier 2. Their games are both at home and away.
Our UEA Valkaries team play regularly on a Sunday and are in a more local league. They are now a part of the Inner Warrior Series.
MEET THE COMMITTEE
President – Flick Cook-Allen
Hi I’m Flick, a Second year medical student and your president for the 2024-25 season. I have been playing rugby for just over 3 years now and have loved every minute of it. From playing 1 game before coming to university I have grown so much as a person and a player and can’t wait to give the amazing experiences that I have had, to others. Being part of this amazing team has really made my university experience and I can’t wait to continue playing the sport I love for UEA for my next 4 years at university. I am so excited to be your president this year and can’t wait to play again with this amazing team.
Degree: 2nd year medical student
Years playing: 3
Favourite rug moment: Bournemouth 7’s rugby festive - some Champaign rugby and some even better boogieing.
Most likely to: do a cartwheel on the rugby pitch
Vice President – Ellah Johnson
Hi I’m Ellah and I’m your vice president for this season! I started playing ruby when I joined university, and I can honestly say that it has made my uni experience. I’m really excited to see what the 24/25 season will bring; I can’t wait to make some memories with you all and play with this amazing team again.
Degree: 3rd year history
Years playing: 2
Favourite rugby moment: winning against notts
Most likely to: give off mum vibes
Treasurer – Wendy Elkington
Hey I’m Wendy and I’m your treasurer for 24/25!! I’ll be looking after the finance side of the club, so if you have any questions about your membership or anything don’t hesitate to find or contact me :)
Degree: 3rd year mathematics
Years playing: 1
Favourite rug moment: scoring my first try in our inner warriors match!
Most likely to: spell something wrong on the gc
BUCS 1XV Captain – Abbie Ambrose
Hi, I’m Abbie and I will be your BUCS captain! I’m looking forward to leading this group of amazing girls out onto the pitch this season. I’m excited to watch our progression both individually and as a team, all whilst making new memories alongside one another.
Degree: 2nd year Psychology
Years playing: 4
Favourite rugby moment: winning against notts 2s
Most likely to: buy everyone a drink on a night out…(and regret it the next day)
Co Vice Captain – Anya Wilen
Hi, I’m Anya. I am excited to be working with Harriet and Abbie this year to push the team further. Feel free to speak to me about any issue; especially surrounding training or coaching.
Degree: 2nd year geography with a placement year
Years playing: 6
Favourite rugby moment: playing a spontaneous game of rugby during a BBQ; resulting in my shirt being ripped in a rough tackle
Most likely to: be in a pub
Co Vice Captain & Community and Outreach Officer - Harriet Heathcote-Wells
Hey, I’m Harriet and I’m this years co vice captain and Community and Outreach Officer. I will be working on different fundraising projects and if you have any ideas or suggestions for a project, don’t hesitate to get in contact with me :)
Degree: 2nd year Physical Education, Sport and Health with a Year Abroad
Years playing: 11
Favourite rugby moment: Bournemouth 7s!!!
Most likely to: get concussion at least once this season
Publicity Secretary – Amelia Dixon
Hi, I’m Amelia and I’ll be your Publicity Secretary this year! I will be the face behind all of our social media posts, so if you’ve got any questions feel free to come and speak to me, or message me on there!
Degree: 3rd year English literature
Years playing: 4
Favourite rugby moment: scoring my first try against Essex on derby day 2024
Most likely to: cry every match
Social Secretary – Sophia Pearce-Taams
Hiya, I'm Sophia and I am so excited to work with Mimi to organise all of our socials. Itinerary: dancing, games, dancing, food, dancing, etc. Laughter is advised.
Degree: 2nd year creative writing and English literature
Years playing: 1
Favourite rugby moment: rainy cold training sessions in the winter; we love a committed team
Most likely to: dance in an empty club after rocking up late to her own pres
Social Secretary – Mimi Mendl
Hi, I’m Mimi. I’m one of the social secs this year. My job is to create and run the socials and make sure everyone has a great time! I’m always down for a chat and a fun night out :)
Degree: 2nd year biological sciences
Years playing: 1
Favourite rugby moment: cheering on the team and celebrating our derby day win
Most likely to: agree to a night out when she said she wouldn’t
Welfare, Equality + Diversity Officer – Alexandra Ashby
Hi! I’m Alexandra and I’m your welfare officer for 24/25 women’s rugby committee. I’m super excited for this opportunity so please come to me if you have any problems or just want a friendly face to talk to. I can’t wait to meet you all!
Degree: 1st year in MA Social Work
Years playing: 1
Favourite rugby moment: Winning against Nottingham
Most likely to: reach into my bag for my vape instead of my inhaler
Sustainability Officer – Rosie Ralph
Hey, my name is Rosie. I'm the team's sustainability officer. I'll be working to help make our club more sustainable and reducing our carbon footprint! Let me know if you have any questions, I'm always happy to help!
Degree: 2nd year Physiotherapy
Years playing: 12
Favourite rugby moment: Playing at Bournemouth 7s, it was an amazing weekend of rugby!
Most likely to: get lost in a crowd
S+C Coordinator – Jess Dury
Hi I’m Jess, I’m currently completing my masters in psychology, while also being your strength and conditioning coordinator for the 24/25 season! My role is to ensure all members can utilise the training resources available to them, while feeling confident in doing so. As an individual, I’ll be a body you can use to ease the anxieties around going to the gym, or a mind you can delve into to deepen your understanding of rugby strength and conditioning, while also maintaining communications with our strength and conditioning coach, James Warren (the real brawn of the operation). Having a few years of experience behind me, I look forward to helping as many people as I can fall in love with any type of physical exercise next year!
Degree: 4th year/Masters in Psychology
Years playing: 2
Favourite rugby moment: derby day 2024, from day to night
Most likely to: be found in the sportspark
First Year Rep - Sharnti O'Connor
Hey, I’m Sharnti and I’m your first year rep for 24/25! I’ve been playing rugby for just under a year and it has helped build my confidence significantly and I’m excited to be the friendly face that can help the other first years do the same! Don’t hesitate to come to me with any questions rugby related or not :)
Degree: First Year physical Education
Years playing: 1
Favourite rugby moment: Winning our first BUCS game of the season
Most likely to: Get my lashes done the day before a match
WE CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!
The Real Cost of Sport
The 'Real Cost of Sport' initiative, a project reviewed and rebranded by the Students' Union in partnership with uea+sport, aims to provide prospective members with a comprehensive overview of the potential costs of joining their chosen sports club. This year, I have worked closely with the clubs to ensure these tables are as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
This guide is intended to serve as a general reference. The compulsory cost includes the uea+sport membership fee of £55, which is a one-time payment that covers membership across all clubs.
When considering additional expenses, it is important to note that some clubs may not have any extra costs, while others might incur additional fees. These costs often depend on the level of competitiveness within the sport; recreational or social participation is generally less expensive. Additionally, some equipment, such as shoes or gum shields, may be used across multiple sports, potentially reducing overall expenses.
For any specific questions or further information about a particular club, please contact the club directly or contact us at union.opportunities@uea.ac.uk for more details about the project.
All the best,
Olivia Hunt
Your Activities & Opportunities Officer 24/25