Tynedale RFC is proud to host Women in Sport, a special pre-match lunch celebrating women who love playing, supporting and being involved in sport, whatever your background, role or level.

For everyone joining us, we wish you a fantastic afternoon of connection, conversation, rugby and celebration at Tynedale RFC.

The Women in Sport Lunch is a chance for like-minded women from across the Tynedale District and surrounding areas to come together, socialise, network, share stories and enjoy great food and drink in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you’re a player, coach, volunteer, official, supporter, or simply passionate about any sport, you’re warmly welcomed. The aim is simple: to celebrate the contribution women make to sport at every level, and to strengthen the community that makes it all possible.

This year’s lunch is made even more special by two guests whose journeys underline what rugby can do when talent meets opportunity and a club community backs its own: Caity Mattinson and Gemma Bell.

Special guest: Caity Mattinson

We are delighted to welcome Caity Mattinson, whose rugby story began right here at Tynedale RFC. From mini and junior rugby at the club, Caity progressed all the way to the top of the women’s game.

A dynamic and intelligent scrum-half, she went on to represent England before qualifying for and earning international honours with Scotland, becoming one of the few players to achieve the rare distinction of playing Test rugby for two nations. Over the course of her career, she competed in the Women’s Six Nations, the World Cup & represented clubs including Loughborough Lightning and Worcester Warriors, and earned a reputation for leadership, game management and professionalism on and off the field.

But for those who saw her early years, the most impressive part is how clearly the habits were there from the start. Amy Muir, who coached Caity in the Tynedale Panthers, remembers a player who never waited to be told what excellence looked like.

“She was always the first to show up to weekend training. Always the one to help pack away the kit. Often found smashing a ball off the side of the club house so her left hand was as strong as her right hand. She encouraged and inspired players around her. A pleasure to coach as she had a tactical rugby brain at a young age and always wanted to improve,” recalls Amy.

Following her retirement from elite rugby, Caity has continued to give back to the sport. She has worked in rugby development and education, most recently as a Schools Rugby Manager in Oxfordshire, helping inspire and support the next generation while championing the growth of the women’s game at grassroots level. It’s a journey defined by ambition and resilience and by staying connected to your roots.

Special guest: Gemma Bell

Alongside Caity, we’re equally proud to welcome Gemma Bell, another outstanding talent whose rugby journey started at Tynedale and has taken her to the international stage.

Gemma began at the club aged six, playing with the boys up to U12s, before moving into the Tynedale Panthers pathway through the U13s, U15s and U18s. She represented and captained Northumberland County U15s, quickly establishing herself as a player with serious potential.

Her U18s rugby was cut short by an ACL injury & the kind of setback that can derail a young athlete entirely. Instead, Gemma did what the best players do: she put the work in, came back stronger, and took her next step.

That step was Hartpury University, where she played for the 2nd team in her first year before earning opportunities with the 1st team in the BUCS play-offs and final. From there, she became a regular starter for Hartpury’s 1st XV across her second, third and fourth years, helping the programme win the BUCS Super Rugby League title for four consecutive years and the Championship for two years.

In 2024, Gemma was selected for Scotland U20s and played in the U20 Women’s Six Nations Summer Series in Italy, where she was named MVP of the tournament (https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/u6n/u20-womens/news/gemma-bell-mvp-2024). She was then selected for the Scotland extended training squad for WXV 2024 and the Women’s Six Nations 2025, earning her first senior international cap off the bench against England (April 2025).

Since then, she has been involved in Rugby World Cup training camps preparing the squad for the campaign, has been the starting No.7 for Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge from 2024 to the present day, and is currently with the Scotland squad training for the Women’s Six Nations 2026.

For those who coached her at Tynedale between 2012 and 2016, the trajectory makes perfect sense. Phil Sharman described Gemma as an absolute pleasure to coach, adding that being from good North Tyne farming stock she rolled her sleeves up and took on the challenge without any fuss, establishing herself as a key part of a successful junior mixed Tynedale team. He also credits the coaching group at the time led by Scott Ferguson, Dave Coldwell and Nigel Foreman and remembers how Gemma’s determination and work rate, alongside Lucy Thorpe, stood them out from the crowd even in those early mini and junior years.

Why this afternoon matters:

The Women in Sport Lunch is about more than a pre-match gathering. It’s about recognising the people who make sport happen, the players and the coaches, the volunteers and the officials, the supporters, parents and friends and creating space to meet new faces, reconnect with old ones, and share the stories that sit behind the results.

And it’s also about celebrating what’s possible. Caity Mattinson and Gemma Bell are proof that world-class journeys can start in the same places we all started: on cold training nights, on muddy pitches, and in a club community that expects you to work hard, look after each other, and keep getting better.

Enjoy the lunch, enjoy the rugby, and thank you for being part of a day that celebrates women in sport the Tynedale way.