Local women's rugby team, the Harlequins, is set to celebrate its 30^th birthday this weekend.

 The team played its first match this week in 1995, and Head Coach Ross Chisholm – who himself represented the men's side – expressed his pride at being part of the club's journey.

Speaking ahead of Quins Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) game against champions Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday (9 November), the ex-fullback said: "Being part of Harlequins' history is really exciting.

"It is a huge privilege and honour to be Head Coach of the club.

"To be celebrating thirty years is a great milestone and an excellent chapter in our history."

The side was founded following what Club Historian Graeme Roberts called "a chance meeting on a London train platform."

Vanessa Matthews and Kirsty Heslop - two of the squad's inaugural members - had recently arrived in London from Oxford University and were searching for a team to represent.

They encountered Pat Currie, the only woman on the Quins committee, who set up a meeting with Chairman David Brooks and Secretary Geoff Morey.

advertisement

Nicky Meston at Harlequins' first England Women's International (Credit: Harlequins)

The men's outlet leant its support and the rest, as they say, "is history".

But for all the excitement surrounding the anniversary, Chisholm is keen to point out that Sunday's main focus remains toppling Gloucester.

He said: "They're a top-quality side and have been for a number of years.

"But from our perspective it's about focusing on ourselves.

"We can't affect how Gloucester are gonna play and what they're gonna do, but we can affect the performance we put out at the weekend."

The Quarters has also attracted attention for having a significant number of foreign players in its squad.

The likes of Italy's Silvia Turani, Canada's Sara Svoboda, and Spain's Clàudia Peña and Laura Delgado all currently represent the side alongside Czechia's Tessina Braunerova and Sweden's Emma Wedervang.

advertisement

Svoboda believes such an internationalist approach evidences an increasing PWR trend and is helping to drive change in her homeland.

She said: "We've already seen it, there's so many Americans and Canadians in the PWR.

"Once we hit post-university age there isn't a next level for us, so it's so exciting to see so many North Americans have their name in lights.