Farmer’s daughter defying stereotypes to blaze a trail for women’s rugby

As England’s Red Roses look forward the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham on Sunday, Bideford Rugby Club is celebrating its own pioneering role in the women’s game – thanks to the vision, grit and determination of one remarkable woman: Sarah-Jane “Griggy” Palmer.

Sarah-Jane grew up on a North Devon farm, where her father – a committed Bideford RFC player and supporter – passed on the rugby values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

Those values sparked her passion for the game, but when she announced her ambition to play and form a women’s side, he was far from convinced. Like many at the time, he didn’t believe rugby was for women.

Undeterred, Sarah-Jane pushed ahead and in her early twenties founded Bideford Ladies RFC, overcoming scepticism from many stalwarts of the club.

With sheer force of will, she pulled together a team, secured support from allies like coach Jon Cox (later club president), and established a women’s side in a very male-dominated era.

Her enthusiasm and determination proved irresistible. Within a few years, not only had she built a squad that was competing across the South West, but she also managed to bring many at the club firmly onside.

In those early years the squad was small, sometimes having to lend and borrow players to and from other clubs just to get a game. But under Sarah-Jane’s captaincy, the team began to thrive.

In the 1990s, the Bideford Ladies even went on tour with the men’s side, creating many “memorable” moments and cementing their place in club life!

A hugely talented athlete, Sarah-Jane was selected to play for Devon, the South West, The South, The Midlands (whilst training to become a nurse in Worcester), and in 1999 she represented Emerging England (a set up designed to foster talent to feed the full England squad).

That same year she was also invited to a training weekend with the England squad, although she unfortunately missed out on a cap. During her time training as a nurse away from North Devon she played for Worcester Ladies, a Premiership side, before returning to Bideford to resume her captaincy.

On returning to North Devon Sarah-Jane became an intensive care nurse at North Devon District Hospital, where she is currently a Sister, while also raising two daughters, Emily and Alice.

Both have followed her onto the pitch – Emily already playing for Devon and Alice showing the same promise. Inspired by her own girls, Sarah-Jane founded the junior girls’ section at Bideford, giving girls aged 9+ the chance to play.

Today, the ladies’ and girls’ squads combined involve more than 90 women and girls and Bideford RFC is the only club in North Devon with a full ‘suite’ of female teams with under 12’s, 14’s, 16’s, 18’s and a full senior women’s squad.

Though largely retired as a player (she made an appearance last season in a vets v current players game scoring a try!), Sarah-Jane is still the heartbeat of women’s rugby at Bideford. She is lead of the Ladies’ Section, a director of Bideford RFC and the first and only woman ever voted into the club’s prestigious “Bideford Clubmen” – a testament to her contribution and the respect she commands.

“I just wanted to play the sport I loved – but seeing how far women’s rugby has come is incredible,” said Sarah-Jane.

“The friendships, the confidence, the skills – rugby has given me so much, and I’m proud to have helped create those same opportunities for so many women and girls in North Devon. Rugby really is a sport for everyone and I am passionate about encouraging girls to give it a try.”

To mark the Rugby World Cup Final on Saturday 27 September, Bideford RFC will host a Women’s Rugby Celebration Day, including a ‘Join the Pack’ session for girls and ladies who would like to find out more or give rugby a try, a free outdoor watch party, and a silent disco in the evening.