Term 1 2025 highlights

Term 1 at Empire was filled with some truly incredible moments, welcoming many new and returning faces into our growing community.

Across the 10-week block, the girls trained with real intent and commitment, and we were fortunate to welcome a range of high-quality performance specialists who helped enhance each player’s rugby journey both on and off the pitch.

Throughout the term, we were proud to welcome:

• High Performance Systems, who delivered two excellent nutrition and mindset workshops. These sessions supported the girls in understanding the importance of fuelling their bodies correctly and learning how to maximise their potential through positive performance habits.

• The return of Kylie Masur, who recently welcomed her second baby, Ellie. We were delighted to have Kylie back from Week 3, continuing to push standards and drive progression within our strength and conditioning programme.

• Tommy Ramdhan, GB athlete, who joined us twice during the term to deliver exceptional and highly valuable speed workshops, focusing on sprint mechanics and explosive movement.

• Combat Trainers Will, Angel, and Virginia, who returned to further develop the girls’ contact and combat skills, teaching key transferable techniques essential for performance on the rugby pitch.

• Peter Stringer, former Irish international, who delivered an inspiring talk to both players and parents. He shared powerful insights, career experiences, and lessons that shaped his journey at the highest level of the game.

  
  

In addition to our Dubai programme, we successfully delivered three fantastic camps at 321 sports, welcoming many new girls to experience what Empire is all about.

We also celebrated some important Empire milestones:

• The launch of Empire’s very first Trainer of the Month awards, proudly awarded to Neve Lamont and Esmé Walker

• The launch of our first trial for our international tour to Portugal, taking place in March 2026

  
  

The term concluded with a brilliant Week 10 finale, where we welcomed clubs from across the UAE for a morning of competitive games, bringing girls together to celebrate the game. The day finished with a powerful and thought-provoking talk from Sofie Fella on body image and female athletes in sport.

Term 1 was an incredible 10-week journey, and we are extremely excited to see what Term 2 of 2026 has in store for Empire and our girls.