Sheffield RUFC Women’s topped off a highly successful personal season by helping Yorkshire lift the trophy in the final of the Gill Burns Division 1 County Championship against a physical Surrey side, to be the icing on the cake for the 2023/24 season.

Liz ‘Monty’ Cook (129 Sheffield XV caps), Amy Gould (38 Sheffield XV caps), Katie Patrick (18 Sheffield XV caps) and Megan Dugdale (91 Sheffield XV caps) all played a part in a highly physical contest at HQ. The team travelled down Friday night to stay in Milton Keynes to make the most of the weekend and to soak up the experience. After a team dinner and a chilled evening, it was all go Saturday morning. This was the maiden campaign for Katie, the second Yorkshire campaign for Liz, the third campaign for Amy and the fifth campaign for stalwart Megan.

The day started with a match day shirt presentation, with each player receiving it from a fellow squad member, together with keepsakes for the day. It was then to Twickenham with the atmosphere building where the team were greeted by the Yorkshire supporters bus to walk into the ground to a chorus of “Yorkshire, Yorkshire”. If you weren’t sure who had arrived, you were now.

The vibe in the Yorkshire group was to just enjoy the day and let the rugby flow. This was especially prevalent in the changing room before kick off when a chorus of Pedro was cracked out to get the girls in the mood.

Running out of the tunnel onto the hallowed turf of Twickenham is a special memory that will live long in the memory. And the game that followed didn’t disappoint. After an unsettling first ten minutes where Yorkshire suffered two injuries to the centres, the team rallied together and displayed a complete performance. Amy was rewarded for her big carries, with Yorkshire’s second try, doing some individual work and crashing the through defenders to put Yorkshire 10-0 up. The team headed into the second half 15-0 to the good, just as the heavens opened to bring in a rainy start to the second half.

However, despite the weather trying to put a stop to the free flowing rugby, the second half started in the same fashion as the first half finished. Yorkshire were hammering the Surrey line, and a determined Surrey defence plus some handling errors kept Yorkshire at bay. But eventually the pressure had to give. Further tries saw Yorkshire the victors at 37-7, bringing home the cup, and with each player swinging a gold medal to commemorate their efforts.

Across the Yorkshire season, there have been 7 Sheffield players involved in the wider Yorkshire women’s squad. This is the biggest representation that Sheffield has had in the women’s set up for a long time. It’s a testament to the coaching and commitment that the players have put in over the last few years to get to this level and to experience this amazing day. Long may it continue and long may our players continue to inspire the next generation.

About the day, the players said:

Liz Cook - "Sheffield has had a phenomenal season with the women’s section going undefeated and deservedly being promoted back into Championship 1. Running out at Twickenham was the icing on the cake for me personally, as it’s something I never thought I’d get to do given I last represented Yorkshire 10 years ago. And to do it with a strong Sheffield contingent was perfection. It’ll live in the memory for a long, long time, and it’s just made me excited for what next season has in store."

Megan Dugdale - "Playing for Yorkshire and winning at the home of English Rugby with other players from Sheffield was a very special experience. A perfect end to my first season back playing following injury."

Amy Gould - "This year's Yorkshire campaign has been a fantastic experience, having seven women's players representing Sheffield RUFC is a huge testament to the club. It reflects the hard work that has been put in throughout a very successful season, bring on Champ 1!"

Katie Patrick - "It was just the most amazing experience to play alongside my Sheffield teammates for Yorkshire at Twickenham! Going down the tunnel and out onto the pitch was so surreal and a memory I will cherish forever. I have made such great friends and memories, and for it all to come together and culminate in a fantastic game with Yorkshire putting in a huge performance to win the county cup was just incredible! I can’t wait for next season with Sheffield, and to bring everything I have learned from this fantastic experience into our upcoming Champ 1 campaign!"