Girls’ rugby in Suffolk is starting to thrive if this photo is anything to go by.

About 50 youngsters from five clubs attended a special session at Sudbury RFC to determine whether there was sufficient interest in the game among girls.

And judging by the numbers, the answer is a resounding yes!

Martin Peacock, honorary secretary of Suffolk RFU which organised the training, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the level of interest shown by the girls. They all loved the session and just want to know when the next one is.”

Teams from Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Newmarket, Sudbury and Haverhill attended the training day - the first held by the county body.

And while the action was restricted to tag rugby only, Peacock revealed that many of the girls were itching to make it a little more competitive.

He explained: “We wanted to keep the various matches played as tag as we felt it was important to introduce the girls to the game gradually. But some of them were desperate to start tackling.

“The girls themselves generated the interest, coming to us and saying they wanted to play the game beyond mini-rugby at schools and clubs. We just have to provide facilities and opportunities for them.”

The growing popularity is now expected to lead to further training sessions and a Suffolk girls’ match against Norfolk and Cambridgeshire at Under-15s and Under-18s level before the end of the season.

Peacock wanted to thank Jenny Stammers at Sudbury RFU for helping to host the session.