Barry RFC girls coach recognised by Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation

A former Barry RFC Ladies team player, turned girls coach, has been recognised as Volunteer of the Year by Cardiff Rugby Foundation.

Steph Williams-Canning received the award for her commitment to growing the game within the club's Girls' section.

Steph previously played with the Bombettes, but now coaches the under-8s and under-12s girls, seeing the number of girls participating in the two years since she began coaching.

Her daughter Olivia-Grace plays for the under-12s, with Steph initially helped out with the  girls’ section, “just as a parent. I just joined in and was then told ‘you’ll be a coach now’.

“When I first started coaching I had six under-10s, and now in the under-12s we’ve got 27 players. The under-8s are now up to 11 players, and hopefully by next season we’ll have enough players for under-8s, under-10s, under-12s and under-14s. It’s growing, the girls are lovely, and I do enjoy it. It’s hard at times, but they’re pretty good.”

Steph, who runs her own cleaning business, and works shifts on two nights in the town’s Asda supermarket, coaches Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with help from former senior player Danny Ryan, and her under-12s play matches on Sundays. On Saturdays she watches son Cameron in action in the club’s First XV.

On top of all that there are various social events for the players. The girls formed a guard of honour for a Cardiff fixture early in February, and the under-8s took part in a festival at the Arms Park before going to watch the Six Nations’ Wales v Scotland game.

The under-12s have reached the quarter-finals of their Plate competition and are aiming for a top four finish and play-off spot in the matrix (league). “They’ve worked hard this year, and just thrived throughout the season,” she said. “I want to keep progressing, and keep pushing for more players. They will be the next senior Ladies team if they keep going.”

Steph played for the Bombettes for two years before they folded. “A lot of the players just wanted fitness rather than games. But I wanted to play a game, so I went out on permit to Dowlais, and got a leg injury. I’ve got one last game in me, I think, and hopefully when I’ve got the time I think I’ll do it.”

Steph is the third Community Foundation award winner at Barry, following First team player Joe Gatt as Young Coach two years ago, and First team manager and club secretary Jo Evans as Club Person last year.