Sixteen players from Harpenden Rugby Club’s ladies section have been selected to represent Hertfordshire Rugby at county level.

It is yet more success for the club who have had a meteoric rise since their inception three years ago.

The section has increased its membership year on year and now has a firm base from which to push on even further over the next few years.

And its reputation is such, together with the standard of rugby on offer, that the county selectors have sat up and took notice.

The five representing the club at U18 level are Charlie Webb, Courtney Akers-Webb, Ella Whytock, Harriet Murray and Izzy Bowran.

And there are 11 involved in the U15 group. These are: Annabel Pidgeon, Charlotte Dorney, Charlotte Gurney, Ciara Evans, Emily-Cate Tattersall, Hannah Browne, India King, Laura Gifford, Lily Hughes, Sophie Veal and Vicki Fruen.

A spokeswoman for the club said: “This year we are fielding two teams in the same age group for the first time as numbers are continuing to grow.

“It is also interesting to note here that at one of our schools in Harpenden, more girls play rugby than netball.

“A decade ago this would have been unthinkable.”

The last 12 months have seen the club achieve other milestones.

In April the section won the U15 Area Two Bowl beating Trojans in the final over two legs.

They came back from the first leg in Eastleigh with a deficit of 13 points following a 37-24 defeat.

But a 27-12 victory back at Redbourn Lane gave Harpenden the title by just two points on aggregate.

And in August the club was one of only three invited to go to Heathrow very early in the morning and wave goodbye to the England Women’s rugby team, the Red Roses, on their World Cup Campaign.

The spokeswoman continued: “It was an amazing experience watching our girls as their heroines set off for Ireland in what ultimately was an ill-fated defence of the World Cup.”

The senior side are also faring well and host Sutton & Epsom Ladies 2nds on Sunday in a league fixture.

For more information on the club and the section, visit www.hrfc.com/ladies_page.php