St helens Women have promoted Katie Mottershead, Amy Taylor, Alyx Bridge and Megan Williams from the U19s to the senior squad ahead of the 2022 season whilst Derek Hardman has also bolstered his squad further by snapping up the highly rated back rower, Megan Bragg from rivals Wigan Warriors.
All four girls who have stepped up into the first team environment have progressed through the prestigious Thatto Heath Women’s pathway.
Katie is a hooker or half back who has been involved with the squad for the past 12 months, but is yet to make her debut for the first team. She has also progressed through the England DiSE programme – the RFL’s government-funded Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) which is a talent pathway for 16 to 18 olds hoping to perform at the highest level in the women’s game.
Amy Taylor is another to complete through the programme and has a great skill set. She will add further competition in the halves.
Alyx Bride is a powerful back rower who makes the step up and she will be joined by former Thatto U16s star Megan Williams who will fight it out for a spot in the back row.
Megan Bragg, is the most high profile of the names to sign for the Champions. She joins up from Wigan and is a talented, ball playing back rower, who like a number of the girls, has progressed from the DiSe pathway right through to the England Knights squad.
Bragg picked up the Warriors Young Player of the Year award in her debut season back in 2019 and has impressed since, including in performances against Saints.
Head Coach Derek Hardman said: “I am delighted to welcome these girls into our first team squad. It is great to develop and promote girls from within our Club and town and Megan Bragg is also a great signing for us.
“Our new U19s programme will hopefully continue to bring through the next set of talented young players and all the girls will add depth to our talented squad.”
Head of Women’s Rugby Craig Richards said: “The girls have developed through the Thatto Heath pathway. It is great to work closely with them as well as aligning with our Community Foundation.
“These are another set of players off the Thatto conveyor belt that will hopefully go on to be as successful as the current crop – including the likes of Jodie Cunningham, Emily Rudge and Chantelle Crowl.”