WOMEN are being urged to find their 'inner warrior' and take to the rugby field in Purbeck this autumn.

Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club is calling for women to take part in a special trial session, as part of England Rugby's Inner Warrior campaign.

England Rugby international Katy Daley-McLean, who is backing the campaign to get more women playing, said: "Rugby is incredibly inclusive, with the range of positions on the pitch requiring different attributes and skills to be played successfully.

"It encourages women from all backgrounds and physical statures to come together and bond through the sport.

"One of the best aspects of rugby is the variety of people you meet through the sport, the different characters and backgrounds of your teammates fosters a fun and sociable atmosphere which helps to strengthen the bonds between yourself and your teammates."

England Rugby’s Inner Warrior campaign has been designed to increase the number of women engaging in rugby, whether that is through playing, coaching or refereeing.

The camps encourage women to step off the touchline and onto the field, transitioning from watching family and friends to playing contact rugby themselves and developing their passion for the sport.

Rugby also enables participants to develop mental toughness, a Swanage & Wareham Rubgy Club spokesman said, which in turns helps build resilience and self-confidence, furthering their ability to manage the everyday stresses of life.

The spokesman added: "The strong bonds that are formed between teammates, and the support of others can help build the individuals self-esteem through the supportive environment that is bred amongst the players.

"Through the warrior camps, women of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels can meet and bond with like-minded individuals through a shared love of exercise and a challenge. The warrior camps offer a great outlet for women to express themselves and their inner strength through sport, whether that is through a passion for rugby or their desire to get fit."

The warrior camp training session, which is open to all women, is scheduled for Swanage & Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Road, Wareham, from 6.30-8.30pm on Friday, August 31.