The Gravesend Gremlins welcome their neighbours from across the fence for a first-ever derby fixture this weekend.

A new rivalry will be forged on Sunday when Old Gravesendians She-Wolves play their first-ever league match against Gravesend Rugby Club’s women’s team, the Gremlins.

Formed in 2021 and joining the Inner Warrior League in 2022, the She-Wolves are now competing alongside the Gremlins in Women’s National Challenge 3 South East (South East).

The men’s sides have had a long-standing rivalry, and now it’s time for the women to go head-to-head.

Gremlins’ committee member and former player, Melody Stoten-Brown, said: “As a female rugby player, I find it inspiring that our town now has not just one, but two thriving women’s rugby teams competing at the same level.

“Whilst some of our recent players have grown with the club and progressed through the Gravesend girls’ team, around 80 per cent of our squad were completely new to rugby - with many first picking up a ball in their 30s or 40s.

“Our team ranges from 17–49-years-old and includes mothers, students, cancer survivors and even a few who are currently sidelined while growing the next generation of Gravesend rugby players.

“We’re a mixed bunch, but what unites us is the fun, support and passion for rugby.”

The She-Wolves don’t have far to go, with the clubs partitioned by a fence and an emergency gate between them that will be thrown open at the weekend.

The Gremlins were formed in 2019, starting out with friendlies across Kent, London and Sussex while steadily growing and establishing themselves. Now, they’re a fully-fledged side in NC3.

Stoten-Brown remembers those long journeys and welcomes the new rivalry: “We have played the likes of Southend, Thanet and Thurrock and now we’ve got some local squads and the team next door is unbelievably local!

“It’s their first year in the league and for this to be our first home game of the season is brilliant, it’s historic. It will be lovely when we get to walk across the pitch for an away game.

“I know quite a few of the Old Gs team and it is going to be really exciting. It’s our first derby game and I’m hoping we get a good turnout.”

Lee Buckley is the head coach of the She-Wolves and explained how the team reached their current level.

He said: “The team was formed four years ago from nothing, just a few ladies who had never played before, but their family members played for the men’s team.

“The first season they tried to focus on recruitment to get numbers for a team, this was very hard having an established team literally over the fence.

“In the first season a ladies coach was appointed who worked on basic skills.”

Buckley was appointed in the second year to move the ladies forward a step, with help from assistant coaches Neil Eggerton and Luke Mills.

Their coach said: “The skill level improved so the team took part in the RFU Inner Warrior series. We soon found we were more than up to the task for playing other development teams.

“In the third year we were forced to stay in the Inner Warrior series, as we just didn’t have the numbers to join a proper league. To help develop skill levels we made our ladies available to be borrowed by teams who were struggling for numbers, both helping them out and furthering the players’ skill.

“Over the end of last season and over the off-season we have worked very hard on recruitment and have been lucky enough to get a few more players so we can finally join the RFU NC3 league.”

Gravesend Rugby Football Club is on Donald Biggs Drive and kick-off on Sunday is 2pm.