Member Article

NE accountancy practice lends support to key Northern ladies rugby event

North East accountants Rowlands are supporting a unique rugby tournament for women and girls that is attracting entries from across the North – as well as backing from some top female rugby stars.

The organisers of the Rowlands’ Ladies Sevens Tournament, who include England and DMP Sharks player and community rugby coach Tamara Taylor, are expecting around 200 players at the event on Sunday 13 July.

The tournament, at Bishop Auckland RUFC, features sections for adults, under-18s, under-15s and under-13s and has already received entries from Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Steve Colwell, senior coach at the Bishop Auckland club and one of the event’s organisers, said: “This is the first Ladies Sevens day for teams and individuals that we’ve run. “It’s being organised to continue the promotion of ladies’ rugby union in the North. Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and we have a swiftly expanding ladies and girls’ section.

“We started off with six players and having just celebrated our second anniversary, we now have 65 people playing regularly. There is huge amounts of enthusiasm, and what’s clear from our schools’ campaign is that girls enjoy rugby and no longer equate it with the big butch image it used to have.”

Rowlands Accountants, which is one of the North’s largest independent accountancy firms, has been working with Steve to encourage the uptake of rugby among women and girls in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding areas.

Rowlands’ partner, Don Taylor, said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring the Ladies Sevens Tournament and we’re looking forward to the event.

“Rugby is a great way to keep fit and meet new friends and it’s great to see more women and girls taking up the sport. “It’s extremely positive the event has won the backing of England star Tamara Taylor and we’re expecting other female rugby celebrities along to join her on the day.”

Rowlands has provided professional advice to Bishop Auckland RUFC and Steve says the firm’s backing has allowed the tournament to take place. “We couldn’t do this without Rowlands’ support,” he said.

“Not only have they helped us at the rugby club as professional advisors, but they have taken a real interest generally and genuinely care. They have provided financial support for the event and professional advice on how we can grow. We now have a robust set up and their additional support with marketing and promotion is proving invaluable.”

Rowlands Accountants has offices in Hexham, Ponteland, Sunderland, Yarm, Crook and Birtley. The firm offers taxation and planning, audit and accountancy, restructuring and insolvency and development and consultancy services.

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