Last year’s champions Ospreys take on RGC at Llandarcy on Saturday (3pm) in a double-header, with Scarlets v Blues taking place at 12noon and Lillicrap believes all the regions have been boosted by talented young players putting their hands up for regional and international selection.
She said, “We’ve had a shorter pre-season than last season but the standard of our sessions is higher, we were able to carry on where we left off.
“We won four games and drew one in the Super 12s day last Saturday. It was a productive day in terms of putting girls under pressure to play high-tempo rugby throughout the day, and it was clear that the standard of all the regional teams has increased so we are taking nothing for granted.
“We are now looking forward to playing some competitive 15-a-side rugby and putting our training into practice.”
As Swansea University Head of Rugby, Lillicrap is buoyed by the young talent bursting onto the scene.
“We have some exciting young players who’ve come up from the under 18 programme, such as back row Melissa Gnojek who is a real talent but also very coachable.
“We’ve seen so many girls playing rugby throughout the summer for the Female Hubs, it would be great to see some of them on Saturday, and produce a performance to be proud of.
“RGC have also clearly come on over the last two seasons, and it will be good to lock horns with Tails (Rachel Taylor) again, Rachel coaching from the side-lines while I’ll be on the pitch on the day. As a coaching team, Hugh Gustafson (forwards coach) and Neil Wood (backs coach) and I also work together at Swansea University so we all know our jobs and what is expected of us.”
Women’s Regional Championship
Round 1
Saturday 10 August, Llandarcy Academy of Sport
12 noon Scarlets v Blues
3pm Ospreys v RGC
£3 entry
Round 2
Friday 16 August Scarlets v Ospreys Parc Y Scarlets 7pm
Sunday 18 August RGC v Blues Rhyl & District RFC 2.30pm
Round 3
Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, Scarlets v RGC, more details to follow
