Edge Hill University Forges High-Performance Partnership with St Helens Women's RFC
Edge Hill University has established a significant partnership with St Helens Women's Rugby Football Club as they gear up for the 2026 Betfred Women's Super League season. This collaboration grants the Saints regular access to world-class facilities for training and recovery, offering both the First Team and age-development squads a high-performance training base that is typically unavailable to non-professional teams.
Elite Support Services Enhance Player Development
The squad benefits extensively from the University's elite support services, including advanced sports science insights and comprehensive musculoskeletal assessments. These resources are crucial for injury prevention and facilitating safer rehabilitation, enabling players to maximize their potential on the field.
Derek Hardman, joint head coach alongside Craig Richards, emphasized the positive impact of this partnership on both players and staff. He stated, "We're really blessed to have such a great facility on our doorstep and we're really grateful to Edge Hill for supporting us. The facilities are second to none and as a group and a squad, with the nature of what we are looking for, this is perfect."
Club Leadership Praises University's Commitment
Jodie Cunningham, club captain and head of women's pathways and performance, lauded the "fantastic" facilities available for the first-team and academy sides. During a recent visit to the Ormskirk campus, she remarked, "Edge Hill have been so supportive of our women's section and our pathway for our academy teams and under 16s, so it's just great to get out on the field here, ready for the season ahead."
Cunningham added, "It's such a good sports university and having professional teams like ourselves here just proves how good the facilities are and how passionate Edge Hill is about encouraging young girls to take part in sport. We've got girls from the team who study here so being able to see that relationship and how fantastic the University is, is brilliant."
Student-Athletes Balance Rugby with Academic Pursuits
Several Edge Hill students are key members of the 'Red V' squad, successfully combining their rugby careers with academic studies:
- Alyx Bridge, a back row player studying BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, noted, "Having access to Edge Hill's pitches means we've been able to play 13-a-side and under 19s on grass pitches, even though we train at night."
- Caitlin Barrow, pursuing a BSc (Hons) Educational Psychology degree, highlighted, "There is such a wide range of facilities, like the video room, so we can share opinions, see different strategies and how we can utilise each other's skills, putting it into practice on the field."
- Amy Taylor, a half back and PGCE secondary teacher training student, added, "Edge Hill staff are all very supportive of our study and playing rugby alongside, it's really helpful to have the University behind you."
Comprehensive Sports Department and Facilities
Edge Hill's Department of Sport and Physical Activity offers diverse pathways to meaningful careers in sport, ranging from teaching and coaching to sports development and therapy. These academic opportunities are supported by outstanding facilities, including:
- A state-of-the-art sport centre
- A 25-metre swimming pool
- A competition-standard athletics track
- Multiple sports halls
- Grass and 3G pitches
All these facilities are available for public use, underscoring the University's commitment to community engagement.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Athletes
Andrew Hampson, sports services manager, expressed enthusiasm about the growing partnership. He said, "We work very closely with St Helens, and it's brilliant to see this partnership continue to grow, particularly with several Edge Hill students proudly representing the club as players. Having an elite women's rugby team regularly training at our Sport Centre not only highlights the standard of our facilities but also reinforces the clear pathways available within the women's game."
Hampson also commended the Grounds Maintenance team for maintaining grass pitches at an elite level, ensuring optimal training surfaces. He concluded, "By bringing elite sport into Edge Hill, we hope to inspire the next generation of female athletes and demonstrate what is possible in a truly world-class sporting environment."
