DEVIZES Ladies are causing a few surprises as their diverse mix of women find a common ground on the pitch.

The team was set up in 2009, starting off as a social side, focusing more on fitness and playing the occasional game. However, in 2012 they took the step of moving into the South West North Two League.

The step up in class was a big challenge for the ladies but the team has not looked back.

Gaining the nickname ‘ The Ice Maidens’ due to playing one of their first games on a frozen pitch, this season they have attracted the services of top-class coaches in Andy Paterson (forwards) and Luke Cador (backs).

Andy has played rugby for over 30 years, originally for the Armed Forces, Blandford RFC and latterly for Devizes, while Luke moved from Calne RFC to play and coach at the club.

Scrum-half Sam Powell has been with the team since it started as a tag rugby set-up and is building the club’s future after setting up the girl’s rugby team last season.

“I was totally new to rugby when they started playing and I am not your typical rugby person, I’m 4ft 10in and very slight, but I haven’t looked back since,” she said.

“I had never played a team sport before, even at school. It’s really nice because the team is made up of young girls who are 17 or 18 and then we’ve got a real mix of older ladies who are in their 40s, who have been playing rugby for donkeys years.

“It is such a random bunch of people and it is a really nice team to join.

“I have been through it. We started off playing friendlies and then last season we had a shortage of players and now we have a new coach a new direction and there are lots of people joining.

“I think the Rugby World Cup, with England winning as well, has helped and given us more exposure.

“It has gone really well this year and the new coaches have given us a new direction and put a bit of fire in our bellies. They’ve brought the players together.

“Certainly teams that we played last year have been surprised. They thought we were going to be an easy win for them and it hasn’t been – we’ve risen to the challenge.”

The Ladies team has also produced an England player, Amy Longo, who was capped for England in 2011.

She started playing for the team in 2010 before having trials for England that same year and trained with the England camp for six months, alternating between playing for Bristol and Bath ladies to gain experience.

Due to injury her England playing time was limited, but she is back playing for Devizes again and showing her old form.

The team has also had several players represent Dorset and Wiltshire County, including Kate Stradling, former captain and one of the team’s longest standing players.

Training sessions take place on a Wednesday, 6.45pm to 8.30pm at the Devizes Rugby Club. All levels of players are welcome and if you are interested contact Andy Paterson on 07944 649124.

MORE SPORTS NEWS, PICTURES AND REACTION IN THIS THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport