DMP Sharks welcome high flying Eagles to their shiver
As the Premier 15s readies itself for round seven of the league, DMP Sharks are making waves in the North East.
The team currently languish winless at the bottom of the league and have conceded over 330 points through their opening five fixtures. The Sharks were also without a win in the 2021/22 season.
The Sharks’ ranks are bolstered by a late Christmas present. Five members of the United States Eagles; Olivia Ortiz, Tess Feury, Meya Bizer, Kathryn Treder and Rachel Ehrecke have all made the trip across the pond and signed with the Darlington based team.
DMP also welcomed Scotland cap, Elis Martin who was recently named as one of 28 players awarded a professional contract by Scottish Rugby. The Sharks suddenly find themselves with a wealth of World Cup experience.
Ortiz and Feury spoke exclusively with the Sports Gazette and they were delighted to sign with DMP and get stuck into the Premier 15s.
“This opens up so many more doorways for us. Even though they’re not continuing in the league,” said scrum half Ortiz.
“I think we have a really unique opportunity at DMP to help make an impact on this team and shock the league a little bit. We’re hoping to make a big impact on the team and learn a lot from them.
“We’re hoping to show them some stuff that we’ve learned over the years and just kind of help bring them up through the season,” added Feury.
DMP’s performance manager Mark Luffman was energised with the latest signings.
“I think the biggest draw is the league’s reputation as the best in the world. The international players who’ve joined us are all looking to test themselves at the highest level of domestic rugby and we provide a great opportunity for them to do so.
“It is a win-win for both sides really. The girls get the chance to compete in the Premier 15s, develop as players and further their own careers. We’ve already seen the impact and it’s given the whole squad a lift heading into this weekend’s home game against Worcester,” he added.
Both Ortiz and Feury joined the Premier 15s knowing full well that the team would not be playing in the topflight of women’s rugby come the start of the new season.
Back in December, DMP made it clear that they would not be appealing the RFU’s decision to not include them in the next cycle of the league.
“It was agreed that the significant financial commitment required was unsustainable in both the short and long term, particularly for a community rugby club,” a statement from the management group announced.
“There’s obviously a lot of politics and whatnot happening in the league but for us, we’re here to play rugby week in, week out,” said Feury.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to get into the Prem because it didn’t work out to get in anywhere else.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to work with the coaching staff here, get minutes, continue to push myself in terms of being an all around athlete, train in a full-time environment and then having doors open from there in terms of new opportunities, added Ortiz.
Luffman was keen to stress that despite DMP being absent from next year’s league, the community club would continue their mission to fight for rugby in the North East.
“It’s vital we continue to provide a pathway for the next generation of women and girls in the region and that has to be the priority going forward.
“The North East has produced countless international players and we’re working hard to ensure that continues for many years to come,” he said.
Ortiz, Feury and their Eagles team mates will join over 20 players who ply their craft in the English league rather than try and make a living in the United States.
“It is really hard to play sustainable high level rugby in America and our seasons are only a couple months long,” explained Ortiz.
“There’s a lot of people working behind the scenes trying to make the league professional.
“Everything’s fully self-funded like your flights to and from games, your accommodation and food so they’re just trying to professionalise the league in any way that they can to make it less of a financial burden,” she added.
Ortiz, a former resident of Michigan, would have to travel two hours each way to get to training in order to participate in the Women’s Premier League.
“Hosting the World Cup, both men’s and women’s a couple years down the line is really going to help us kind of kick start that process of having a professional League. Hopefully we can get the country a little more excited and invested in rugby, said Feury.
DMP’s new signings arrive at a crucial point in the season. They will host Worcester at the Darlington Arena and four of the new players will have an opportunity for game time.
Luffman has named Bizer and Feury in the starting XV and Ortiz and Martin may well make their debut off the bench.
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