Kenilworth Rugby Club have announced that their women's side has been promoted to the Championship North One Division ahead of their 2020/1 campaign. To celebrate, we have looked back at their illustrious history.

The Women's team at Glasshouse Lane was founded in 2015, when they were formed as a non-league side.

Having made short work of their first season, the team was promoted to Women's National Challenge 2 Midlands North division – in the fifth tier of women's rugby in England.

At the end of the 2016/17 campaign, they found themselves top of the table, six points ahead of Coalville, and so were duly promoted to the National Challenge 1 Midlands division.

Yet again at the end of the season, Kenilworth were to find themselves as champions. After 14 league fixtures they had a comfortable ten-point margin over Olney Ladies. In fact, that season, Kenilworth lost only one league fixture, at home on the final day of the season, 45-22 to Olney.

The 2017-18 season was also fantastic for Kenilworth in the Women's Intermediate Cup.

A tense semi-final at Glasshouse Lane saw them see of Bury St Edmunds, with three late tries in seven minutes at the end of the game for the home team to secure a 29-24 win.

This set up an enticing final against Supermarine Ladies, who at the time found themselves two divisions above their Kenilworth opponents.

Whilst Kenilworth went on to lose the final, their progression that season was certainly a sign of things to come.

Entering tier three of women's rugby for the 2018/19 season, Kenilworth lined up in the Women's Championship Midlands 2, and cemented their promotion, finished 16 points ahead of bottom side, and neighbours, Old Leamingtonians.

Kenilworth, however, continued to progress, and finished the 2019/20 season in second position, just one point behind Buckingham Swans.

Last season also saw further cup success. Having beaten Darlington 27-5 in the Intermediate Plate quarter-finals, their semi-final date was set for Sunday March 22. However, this was sadly not played for obvious reasons.

However, the season was still to end with celebrations, as Kenilworth Ladies find themselves promoted into tier two of lady's rugby, one below the Premiership.

With four promotions, and two semi-finals in five years, it is no understatement to say that the progression of the lady's team in Kenilworth has been phenomenal.

Head Coach Rich Bennett said "We are so proud of what we achieved last season and this is our reward for all our effort and efficiency," he said. "Its now all to play for so long as we believe we are good enough and enjoy the process." 

Once the state of rugby in England progresses to allow full fixtures again, Kenilworth will find themselves lining up against Firwood Waterloo, West Park Leeds, Cheltenham Tigers, Harrogate, Lichfield, Barnsley, Novocastrians, Loughborough Town, and Sefton.