TWO sponsors have leapt at the chance to support women's rugby in Fakenham.Hot Stuff Catering and G R Building and Maintenance have separately sponsored the shirts and shorts for the Fakenham Foxes, a side of enthusiastic players working hard to establish this women's sport in the area, writes Peter Bird.

TWO sponsors have leapt at the chance to support women's rugby in Fakenham.

Hot Stuff Catering and G R Building and Maintenance have separately sponsored the shirts and shorts for the Fakenham Foxes, a side of enthusiastic players working hard to establish this women's sport in the area, writes Peter Bird.

Their new strip was on show for the first time on Sundaywhen they played Cambridge University on their home ground off Old Wells Road.

Captain Mandy Warren, was delighted with the extra sponsorship for a side she hopes will become a permanent part of the many sports played in the Fakenham area.

A women's team was formed in Fakenham several years ago but lack of numbers led to players combining with West Norfolk RCin King's Lynn and senior women's rugby temporally disappeared from Fakenham.

But a recent upsurge in interest and the enthusiasm of Warren and a small group of players led to the club re-establishing itself in Fakenham last year.

The club has gone from strength to strength. With some 20 seniors on the books, not only did the club win the majority of their friendly games last year, but an under-18 side, the Fox Cubs, was also formed.

"We already run seven mini-sides for boys and girls from under-seven to under-13 but previously we had nothing for the girls to do when they reach the age of 13," said Peter Colley, chairman of the senior men's selectors.

Now the club can cater for women right through their playing life.

The women's senior side have a new coach, Graham Moore, who previously coached at Norwich RUFC, and the plan is that when they become more experienced the women will apply to join the RFU Women's East 3 league.

"We get tremendous support from the men," said Warren. "We have a very enthusiastic bunch of players, but we need to create more interest in the sport locally. So we are always looking for more members."