WORCESTER Ladies Rugby Club are searching for sponsors to help them maintain their proud tradition of producing international players.

The Sixways side have been established for 16 years and have worked their way up through the leagues to the top-flight, where they have plyed their trade in the Premiership for nine seasons.

During their time, Worcester Ladies have produced no less than 18 internationals at various levels and each week they field two teams as well as under 18 and under 15 sides.

Jo Hubbleday (nee Yapp) has captained England as well as being named her country’s player-of-the-year in 2002/03, the same award that was bestowed on her team-mate Nicky Crawford the previous season.

Alongside this duo, Catherine Spencer, Kat Merchant, Sam Dale and Gemma Sharples have also all won full international honours.

Sarah Guest has represented England ‘A’, while she was also joint-captain of the under 20s with Worcester’s Laura Keates. Jenny Mills, Helen Price and Sam Bree have all played for the under 20s too.

In order to maintain this conveyor belt of talent, Worcester Ladies, who remain an amateur side, are looking for sponsors to come on board.

Club chairman Niall Crawford explained: “To run a top-flight ladies team, as well as a second team, is an ever-increasing financial juggling act.

“As a section, we are totally self-funding and have to annually find £7,500 to make sure we stay financially viable.

“The main draws on our finances are for travel, after-match food and officials fees. Our annual travel bill alone is projected to top £3,500 this season.

“We believe that we can give any sponsor value for money in terms of exposure and branding opportunities.”

If you are interested in sponsoring Worcester Ladies RFC or would like more information, contact Wendy Mills on millswendy@hotmail.co.uk.

Meanwhile, things have been going well on the pitch for Worcester Ladies, including a 10-0 success over Lichfield on Sunday. Playing their first home game under floodlights and watched by an excellent crowd, Worcester deservedly ran out winners in the local derby.

Lichfield started strongly and the hosts were forced to defend their line in the early minutes, conceding a penalty as Lichfield drove for line.

However, Lichfield were forced back from the resulting set move and, once Worcester settled, the visitors were not a real threaten again.

Abi Chamberlain gave Worcester the lead with a close-range penalty after eight minutes, which gave the home team confidence.

Merchant, who had a barnstorming game at full-back, scored following a devastating run. Chamberlain converted brilliantly from five metres off the touch-line.

Lichfield did have an opportunity to reduce the deficit late in the game, but the usually-trusty boot of Emily Scaritt proved wanting.

For Worcester, Guest and Donna Kennedy gave the opposition little time to play the ball and were a constant thorn in their side.

Kerry Barber also returned to first-team duty after a two-year retirement.