Oldham women's team leadership group is announced

Katy Crosby has been named captain of the Roughyeds women’s team.

In head coach Ste Fitzmartin's newly-announced leadership group, Paige Garvey has been awarded the vice-captain role, and Sinead Fletcher and Rachael Muir make up the rest of the group.

Said Fitzmartin: “I’ve been watching in the background how they talk to each other - I didn’t tell anybody I was looking for people to be in a leadership group, and they all showed natural leadership qualities.

“In the first ever training session when they were running, Katy was the one who was grabbing hold of others and helping them get through it.

“She showed natural leadership qualities helping others off her own back, and she’s got rugby skill as well.

“Paige is my vice-captain because she has experience playing rugby before and she is a big presence in the group and the girls look up to her.

“Sinead is the loudest voice on the field and she helps to motivate others and Rachael is really good with the ones who are new to the sport with her coaching and teaching experience.”

Katy, who was born in Spain, has eight years’ experience playing rugby union after she started playing the sport at university.

She grew up watching Salford Red Devils when they played at The Willows and has always wanted to try her hand playing rugby league.

She also plays for Oldham RUFC, and brings versatility to Roughyeds as she can play a range of positions including prop, hooker and second row.

Paige, a Senior Finance Officer away from rugby, got involved with Roughyeds to give rugby league a go and she is another from Oldham Rugby Union who she has played for since 2020.

Sinead will be the spokesperson of the side, and she got into the sport watching her brother play for Oldham St Anne's.

She has also played for Oldham RUFC, who she joined in 2018.

Said 20-year-old Sinead: “I knew it was time to take a dive into rugby league, and when I found out about this women’s side I jumped in with both feet, and I absolutely love it.

“I’m very driven with big ambitions in the sport; I want to inspire others to play rugby too.

"Once you get the knack for it, it never leaves you.”

Rachael tried the sport for the first time last year and played for Rochdale Hornets, but tore her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in a cup game against Whitby.

She played netball for over ten years and has experience playing rugby union for Leeds Metropolitan University, Ilkley Ladies, Yorkshire and Oldham RUFC.

She is a trained sports coach and has taught PE in Lancashire, Yorkshire and even abroad.

“I was excited to get involved in rugby league again with Oldham as it’s a brand new team,” said Rachael.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to use my skills to help women and girls enjoy the sport as much as I do.”

The women’s team train at Melrose playing fields every Tuesday and Thursday between 6 and 7pm and anybody interested in joining - regardless of abilities - is encouraged to do so.

Email: oldhamwomenrlfc@outlook.com or contact the club on social media to get involved.

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