Local rugby club Sale Sharks have helped make history at a nearby college in the North West as they hosted their first-ever girls’ rugby union match last week.
Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College based over in Northwich has a strong sporting curriculum and is continuing to expand its offerings year upon year, with more than 150 students now taking part in various clubs every week.
Established back in 1557, making it one of the oldest in the UK, the school boasts a rich heritage in English education and now, more than half a millennia later, it’s taken another big step for female sport specifically by introducing its brand-new girls’ rugby union side.
Sharing a strong relationship with various clubs around Cheshire as well as Sale Sharks Women and their pathway programme, in particular (on which many members are already enrolled) Sir John Deane’s fielded their first-ever squad in a fixture against Lancaster Royal Grammar School.
As per the Northwich and Winsford Guardian, Deane’s everyged victorious from their inaugural fixture, notching three tries thanks to scorers Eve Spears, Mollie Stamper and Daisy Carroll.
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Taking place on the first-team pitch at Winnington Park Rugby Club in the village of Hartford – with whom the school enjoyed an “excellent community partnership” – the game itself was part of a wider ‘festival of rugby’ where student-players learned received first-class coaching and learned crucial skills.
Hoping to become the rising stars among a new generation of women’s rugby, which is seeing a growing interest nationwide, coach Paul Rees explained this important milestone for the college was about more than the result.
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“The purpose of this fixture was to provide an opportunity for girls rugby,” Rees told the outlet, “to grow the game at the grassroots level and for Sir John Deane’s to showcase the variety of sports they provide, significantly for girls.”
“I feel privileged to have been a part of this prestigious and historical event which was fully supported by the PE department at college.”
A huge thank you to @SaleSharksWomen who spent the afternoon training with our Women's Rugby Team here at the College yesterday. It was fantastic to see such a big turnout with a mixture of experienced and new players to the game – well done to all involved! 🏉 pic.twitter.com/P5yyl3Ghko
The full-contact clash saw a total of 38 players lace up their boots for the historic school moment after having first got to grips with the task ahead back in October 2024.
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Rees went on to credit the Greater Manchester outfit, specifically, for their continued support regarding the new team, who have proven a crucial outlet for those looking to enter girls rugby in the North West.
“Not only do they support the delivery of coaching [Matt Hulme], the coordination [Vicky Irwin] and link to provide the girls to represent regular Sale Sharks College fixtures”, says Rees, “this is invaluable to ensure all players are given the opportunity to represent Sale Sharks and their respected colleges.”
With the national focus as a whole being put on the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, the importance of initiatives like this cannot be overstated.
Featured Images — Sir John Dean’s Sixth Form College (via Facebook/X)
Sport
A ‘legacy walk’ in memory of the Joe Thompson is taking place across Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
The ‘Walk With Me for JT’, a.k.a Joe Thompson ‘Legacy Walk’, is back next month, and Greater Mancunians are being encouraged to take part.
Returning this year following his tragic passing last April, the now annual charity walk has already raised thousands for charity and is set for another big turnout.
Joe Thompson, an ex-Rochdale AFC and Bury FC player, sadly died at just 36 following a long battle with lymphoma, having been diagnosed three different times in 12 years.
While the young husband and father of two’s story is a heartbreaking one, it has also become a source of inspiration for so many across the North West and, indeed, across the UK, with people once again gearing up to complete a fundraising walk in his name.
Set to honour him by making the journey from his adopted home of Rochdale all the way to Old Trafford, with Thompson having come through Man United’s youth academy, the 15-mile trek will start at his former club’s Crown Oil Arena and stop at Bury’s Gigg Lane as well as Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.
First held in 2024 under the ‘Walk With Me for JT’ banner, the initial legacy walk saw the Bath-born footballer and countless others complete 21 miles in an effort to raise money for treatment.
Gone but never forgotten, the charity walk survives not only in the hearts and souls of his family, friends and other people’s lives he touched, but in the community spirit that his struggle and immense bravery in the face of illness helped spur on throughout the region and beyond.
Writing on social media, the Thompson family and the Foundation in his memory said, “Last year, he walked beside us. This year, we walk for him. This isn’t just a walk… It’s a promise. A promise to carry his strength, his belief, his light forward.
For every family facing illness. For everyone experiencing loss or hardship. For anyone who needs hope right now. Every step matters. Every mile has meaning. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first time. You won’t walk alone.”
Join the annual Joe Thompson legacy walk on Saturday 2nd May 💙
Departing from the Crown Oil Arena, the 15-mile walk will finish at Manchester United's Old Trafford 🏟️
They signed off by adding: “Be part of something bigger. Be part of Joe’s legacy. Be part of the movement. Get a team together, invite your friends, colleagues and family and let’s raise funds to support The Joe Thompson Foundation.”
With the event beginning at 11am on Saturday, 2 May, there have already been numerous sign-ups, and you can expect even more to lace up their shoes and pay tribute to a local hero.
If you want to join in the effort and help do your bit, you can register for the 2026 Joe Thompson Legacy Walk right HERE.
Tom Aspinall, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith and more set to join latest Fight Day 5k in Manchester
Danny Jones
Big names from the world of combat sports are returning to town, not just for the next boxing match happening in Greater Manchester, but for the now regular Fight Day 5k alongside it.
Organised with promoters Matchroom Boxing, local club Manchester Road Runners (MRR), along with a number of other sponsors like Everlast, they’re hoping to make this one of their biggest yet.
Plus, with the likes of Manc MMA star Tom Aspinall in tow and Eddie Hearn himself set to lead the route around central Manchester, there’s just as much reason to be excited by the morning run as there is the next fight.
This event has happened multiple times in 0161 before, but with more people expected to turn up than ever and a homegrown fighter following up later in the day, this one feels extra special.
Scheduled fresh on Good Friday, 3 April (after all, fighters get up earlier than most), the 5k jog around the city centre will be hosted from House of Social – who have been teaming up with MRR for weekly running events since last November – and a whole host of other familiar names are due to join in.
Better still, there’ll be lots of fun to be had later on too, with participants encouraged not only to turn up early and soak up the atmosphere, but to stick around afterwards for a chance to meet Matchroom talents, as well as enjoy a thoroughly deserved post-run drink and chill.
Plus, in case you haven’t tried it before, the scran at House of Social is top-notch and well worth a try.
This latest Fight Day 5k is, of course, being hosted ahead of Sale-born rising star Pat Brown taking on Vasil Ducar on Friday night.
Facing off against the Czech fighter at the Planet Ice arena in Altrincham, the native Team GB boxer couldn’t have put things plainer in his pre-match presser…
So much for trash-talk: he just told everyone how it is.
This will be just the 26-year-old’s sixth fight as a pro, but having won all of his first five fights last year by knockout, we have a sneaking suspicion 2026 is going to be his year.
In terms of his opponent, Ducar is a much more experienced challenge than he’s ever faced before, with a record of 19-7-2 – 14 of those wins also being KOs.
There are still tickets left for the fight, which will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN from 7pm (ringwalks at approximately 9:39pm), and for those of you who want to join in with the partnered Fight Day 5k, you can sign up completely free right HERE.
Danny Jones -
27th January 2025 
