A RUGBY club has been recognised for its pioneering role developing women's and girl's rugby.

Terry Burwell, the Hampshire representative on the RFU Council, made a presentation to Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Club to recognise their efforts.

Tom Ilube, the RFU Chair, commissioned an oil painting of the England women's team playing in last year's World Cup Final at Eden Park in Auckland.

The original oil painting is on display at Twickenham, but Tom also commissioned a number of prints to be presented to clubs who'd played key roles in developing women's and girl's rugby in England.

As Ellingham and Ringwood have been running women's and girl's rugby over a long period of time and have produced a number of internationals including Bryony and Poppy Cleall (England), Lisa Cockburn (Scotland), Donna Rose (Wales) and Alicia Maude (England and Great Britain 7's), they were selected to receive one of the prints.

Terry presented the print to Ellingham and Ringwood's women's captain Alice Elgar and former captains Libby Peak (who also represented England Under 20's) and Charlotte Smith after their National Challenge South West Division 1 (South West) fixture against Reading.