IN THE build-up to the start of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand on October 8, the National Lottery has highlighted its support for grassroots projects.

Projects like Ceirw Nant Rugby Club in North Wales are among the funded projects working their magic at grassroots level to develop women and girls' rugby thanks to the support of National Lottery funding.

The Llanrwst-based club have been growing their girls’ teams, from a handful of female participants to several age-grade squads competing in local competitions.

National Lottery funding distributed via Sport Wales over the years has seen thousands of projects that develop women and girl’s rugby supported throughout Wales - from grassroots to elite.

North Wales Pioneer: Ceirw Nant players celebrate.Ceirw Nant players celebrate. (Image: Ceirw Nant players celebrate.)

Before the formation of their Under-11 and Under-9s girl only teams, players like Wales Under-18 international Nel Metcalfe played alongside the boys and could have been without a team when they moved to secondary school.

Ceirw Nant received more than £1,000 of National Lottery funding and Metcalfe had the opportunity to play at the Principality Stadium after Ceirw Nant squeezed through a semi-final 19-17 against Nelson Belles.

“We played them at home in Nant Conwy and that was just a crazy experience,” recalled Metcalfe. “We had so many people come to watch.

“We have a little stand in the club now, it wasn't a nice day but still the club put it out on Instagram and everything and a bunch of people came to support us.

“That's another thing that's good about the club, everyone's so supportive of each other, whether it be the men's first team or us, so many people came to watch and support us.

“It was a rainy day, it was awful, but we just about won.”

North Wales Pioneer: Ceirw Nant players compete at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.Ceirw Nant players compete at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. (Image: Ceirw Nant players compete at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.)

Ceirw Nant lost to Cardiff Quins in the final, but the experience gave Hartpury College student Metcalfe an insight into her dream career as a professional rugby player.

“I remember like when I was growing up, rugby has always been the thing that I've known I wanted to do,” said Metcalfe. “And the National Lottery funding in Wales is helping people achieve their goals and dreams.

“It's never really been like a possibility until recently because these contracts have come out.

“So many more people are getting involved and I really hope the WRU can use the World Cup and these contracts to get more and more girls involved because it will only help and grow the sport.

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“The more girls we can get playing, the better it will be.”

At the end of a year in which the Welsh Rugby Union awarded its female players professional contracts for the first time, Ioan Cunningham’s squad have headed to New Zealand dreaming of glory at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

However, this success at elite level for women’s sport is built on the strong foundations of grassroots projects up and down the country which help develop and nurture talent across all age grades.

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.