{"id":28673,"date":"2024-03-08T08:08:58","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T08:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/?p=28673"},"modified":"2024-03-08T08:08:58","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T08:08:58","slug":"celebrating-international-womens-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating International Women’s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Maj Gemma Pearson (RLC) and her wife Sgt Heidi Silcox (RAMC) have credited the amazing support received from coaches and teammates alike as they aim to make more history in this year\u2019s Inter-Services.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The duo, who became the first couple to play for the Red Shirts at Twickenham back in 2022, have since become mums to 10-month-old baby Louie with centre Gemma now back in the squad following a year out.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

And the 32-year-old, who has also represented both the Army and UKAF at netball, reflected on the newest addition to the family as she said: \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing, a bit of a baptism of fire because it\u2019s the first time we\u2019ve been around young babies, but I just can\u2019t imagine life without him now \u2013 he\u2019s part of our little tribe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe support we\u2019ve had from the girls has been fantastic \u2013 especially given how far away our parents live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balancing motherhood, work, sport and more has not been easy, but Gemma could not thank the Army Rugby Union enough for their help and understanding as she continued: \u201cIt has been difficult, but they have been beyond fantastic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe messaged (coach) Sarah Mitchelson early in the season and said, \u2018this is what we can offer, we\u2019re going to have to dip in and dip out and need a bit of flexibility\u2019, but she came back with such an incredible response.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe told us: \u2018We want you as part of the team, however much or little that can be for this season \u2013 it will never hinder selection and we want Louie at training, at games \u2013 bring the front-carrier because we\u2019ll strap him to anyone\u2019.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

\u201cAnd throughout the season it\u2019s just been fantastic. He\u2019s been at nearly every training session and game so far and the coaches and players all pitch in to help us whether that be helping with logistics, getting there and back to training or literally strapping him to their front so me and Heidi can get stuck in training.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think literally every player and member of the group has held him on the sidelines at some point already \u2013 we were saying the other day people believe it takes a village to raise a baby, well for us, it definitely takes a rugby team because they\u2019ve all been so great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heidi, who met Gemma through Army Rugby some five years ago and joked \u2018she was impressed with my skills,\u2019 added: \u201cIt\u2019s made us feel so welcome, but it also shows if you want to play this awesome game \u2013 if you\u2019re a bit unsure because you\u2019ve got a little one at home or other logistical nightmares \u2013 we want anyone who is keen to develop at rugby to come and play.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone in the squad makes each other as welcome as possible and it\u2019s an incredible environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Images \u00a9 Alligin Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Helping things run smoothly is Louie\u2019s temperament, Heidi, 31, explaining: \u201cHe\u2019s so chilled and just wants to be involved in everything. We\u2019ve taken him to the (United) States, Spain and he\u2019s just so flexible \u2013 he adapts to every environment and is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple, who were married on \u2018a great day\u2019 in Chester two years ago, have both been with the Army for more than a decade, with Heidi revealing as a medic it was the draw of deployments, availability of sporting participation and the team ethos which proved the key factors in signing up.<\/p>\n

Sharing similar reasons for joining the Forces, Gemma enrolled at Sandhurst following a degree at Lancaster University and a gap year, commenting: \u201cI wanted to be part of an environment where there\u2019s a shared focus and goals, and the Army is one of those organisations which still has that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all pulling in the same direction, whether it be sport, work, whatever it is, you are part of a team and I love that.\u201d<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Sport especially holds a passion for Gemma, who continued: \u201cI prioritised coming back to rugby because there\u2019s an age limit where my bones are going to hurt, whereas with netball I can probably do another 10 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always knew I wanted to return, and we tried to plan it so I\u2019d only miss one season.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

\u201cWe\u2019ve both always wanted to play for as long as we can, but we also knew we wanted a baby and we thought this is the right age to have him, come back for a couple more seasons and then look to have a second one when our boots are hung up.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Inter-Services now very much on the horizon, Army Women have enjoyed a steady build through the season having beaten Pacific Islanders and Brunel University before going down to a strong Sweden side.<\/p>\n

And Gemma was in confident mood as she said: \u201cI feel like we\u2019re moving in a good direction. We\u2019ve just had the training camp where we got to try new things, and now we\u2019re getting into the meat of the season \u2013 it\u2019s full steam ahead for Inter-Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got quite a few people deployed now which means some new girls, but it shows the strength in depth.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is building blocks towards IS and making sure for those two games we\u2019re cooking on gas.\u201d<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Further games are lined up against British Police, England Under 20s and Wales U20s before the Navy clash at the start of May, but Heidi concluded by reflecting on her two previous appearances at HQ, stating: \u201cTo play at Twickenham is unreal \u2013 when you get into that week everything becomes electric.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot many of us have played elite, national sport, but I can only imagine that\u2019s what the experience is like \u2013 having the coverage, the support, it\u2019s just brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

Words \u00a9 Richard Ashton<\/p>\n

Match action images \u00a9 Alligin Photography<\/p>\n

All other images provided by Gemma and Heidi Pearson-Silcox<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t

INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP<\/h3>\n

Tickets for the 2024 Inter Service Championship matches are on sale now!<\/p>\n

To purchase yours click the links below;<\/p>\n

Saturday 4th May | Army v Navy | Twickenham |\u00a0BUY TICKETS<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday 11th May | Army v RAF | Kingsholm |\u00a0BUY TICKETS<\/a><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Maj Gemma Pearson (RLC) and her wife Sgt Heidi Silcox (RAMC) have credited the amazing support received from coaches and teammates alike as they aim to make more history in...","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":28678,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nCelebrating International Women's Day - ARU<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celebrating International Women's Day - ARU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ARU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1070\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"716\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kimberley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kimberley\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/\",\"name\":\"Celebrating International Women's Day - ARU\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/928be04bf4ec6251a4f54e4e8690b20f\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg\",\"width\":1070,\"height\":716},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Celebrating International Women’s Day\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/\",\"name\":\"ARU\",\"description\":\"Official website of The Army Rugby Union\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/928be04bf4ec6251a4f54e4e8690b20f\",\"name\":\"Kimberley\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/author\/kunrhy857mg\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Celebrating International Women's Day - ARU","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Celebrating International Women's Day - ARU","og_url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/","og_site_name":"ARU","article_published_time":"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1070,"height":716,"url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kimberley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kimberley","Estimated reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/","url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/","name":"Celebrating International Women's Day - ARU","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg","datePublished":"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-08T08:08:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/928be04bf4ec6251a4f54e4e8690b20f"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/D8CE873C-4786-46F4-910B-4098811709E8.jpeg","width":1070,"height":716},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/celebrating-international-womens-day\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Celebrating International Women’s Day"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/","name":"ARU","description":"Official website of The Army Rugby Union","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/928be04bf4ec6251a4f54e4e8690b20f","name":"Kimberley","url":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/author\/kunrhy857mg\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28673"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28689,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28673\/revisions\/28689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.armyrugbyunion.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}