Over the past few seasons, we’ve witnessed our women’s section grow from strength to strength, from climbing the league structure, adding a 2nd XV, and integrating with our girls' section. The upcoming season features an exciting development with an official partnership between us, Buckingham Rugby Club, and Premiership team Loughborough Lightning, who are in partnership with Northampton Saints.

What does this partnership mean?

With the Swans playing in the highest league outside of the Premiership, the Championship proves to be a growing environment for young, aspiring talent. The partnership with Loughborough Lightning opens an opportunity for players outside of the educational pathway for Lightning. Our aim as a section is to welcome aspiring female athletes into an environment where they are challenged, grow, and gain Championship experience, which will in turn aid the Lightning squad as we look to move talented players up the pathway. The partnership offers Buckingham Rugby Club dual-registered players. Some athletes in the Lightning camp not selected for Premiership games will come over to us and feature in green and white for league/cup fixtures where eligible. Therefore, I urge you as a member/supporter/parent/player at Buckingham Rugby Club to come and cheer the Swans on this season. You could be watching future stars of the game!

I will use this space to highlight that we are a club at the heart of the community, and whilst we have an elite performance pathway for our female athletes in a season which hosts the Women’s Rugby World Cup, there are many players who do not desire to play Premiership and International rugby but instead wish to try, learn, and form friendships for life, and we very much welcome players of all abilities within Buckingham Rugby Club – both male and female!

On behalf of the Exec Committee, I would like to pass on our thanks to David Toone, Director of Rugby, and Mikey Clark, Head Coach of the Swans, who have overseen this project and pulled together all the requirements necessary to complete this deal. Alongside all of the Swans' coaching/management group, and of course the Swans as players (past and present), for their overriding success over the years, allowing the club to get to this stage.

I look forward to hosting you all this season.

Best Wishes,
Dan Fellingham
Chairman, Buckingham Rugby Club