Rugby star returns home for 'special' workshop

An England rugby star has said encouraging girls from her home county to play the sport was "special" to her.

The Red Roses' Maud Muir is hosting a workshop aiming to inspire the next generation of female players at Chinnor Rugby Club in Thame, Oxfordshire, on Sunday.

She will be joined by teammates Ellie Kildunne and Lucy Packer.

The prop said it was "really important" to get grassroot clubs to "enjoy playing as well as watching" the games.

Muir made her way through the youth ranks of Oxford Harlequins and Gosford All Blacks before joining Gloucester-Hartpury.

She admitted she initially "just played rugby because I loved the game".

"The fact that I somehow managed to make it a full-time job is crazy to look back on," she said.

"I definitely didn't expect it when I was younger."

With the Women's Rugby World Club in England later this year, the squad are eager to encourage interest in the game at all levels.

"I've always been coaching on the side ... and I worked with Maidenhead ... with the girl's team," Muir said.

"They very kindly semi-named the club Maudenhead, which was quite funny."

Her workshop in Chinnor will be first one she has run with other teammates.

"I'm very passionate about Oxford ... so to have people from the area that I grew up in playing and be coached by some Red Roses, it's more in touching distance," she said.

"It will be very special and I hope the girls get a lot out of it."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.