British Police Women’s Rugby: Fed member reflects on decade of involvement

10 April 2025

PC Fez Hibberd has been in the team since its reformation in 2015, going on to represent the force in a number of rugby union matches across the country and abroad.

Originally joining Northamptonshire Police as a Special Constable in 2014, Fez, with a strong background in rugby, was keen on getting involved with BPWR from the beginning of her time in policing.

She says the set-up she joined, however, was very different to the one she belongs to now.

“That good spirit was always there, no matter how many players we had – but at the start, our numbers were pretty low.

“We had no sponsorship, we were using the men’s kits and equipment, and it was a lot harder to get time off for matches.

Sport

“They were some humble, yet enjoyable beginnings, but as time went on, our momentum picked up and the group of female officers we have built, united through one sport, has been something special.”

This transformation has seen BPWR build up to a current fixture schedule of four or five matches a year, typically against other police forces, emergency services, and public institutions such the army and civil service.

And these games are nowadays played with all their own kit and equipment, backed by regular sponsorship.

Demand to participate has ‘completely flipped’, going from barely enough players to a squad deep enough to boast both a first and second side, with hundreds of officers and staff attending trials annually.

Tours

“So much has changed – one of the biggest things, without a doubt, has been how receptive our various forces have become to giving us the leave we need,” Fez continued.

“Without that, it would be hard for everything we’ve done to have been possible.”

Over the last decade, the team have enjoyed multiple overseas tours in addition to domestic fixtures.

This has taken 33-year-old Fez – whose usual position is prop – to the likes of Bordeaux and Geneva, to play against the French and Swiss national police outfits, respectively.

The latter trip back in 2016 provided one of the highlights of her BPWR career, where she says much of the current spine of the team came together for the years to come.

While she hasn’t been able to attend every tour, Fez is set to travel outside of Europe with BPWR for the first time when the team heads to South Africa next January.

“We are going for ten days, and I am really looking forward to it. It’s amazing to think from where it started, we can now take a squad all the way over to South Africa.

“An example of how we have continued to improve things, even in recent times, has been the fluidity added between our first and second sides, which has made the two less defined and increased competition for places.

“We’ll have a tough test up against a feeder team to a top-level South African club – let’s just say I’m going to have to hit the gym for a while beforehand.”

Gym

Having been a crucial figure in BPWR – whose progress can be followed on Instagram – for over ten years, Fez says it is her physical capabilities which will determine how much longer she continues to feature.

“I’ll carry on for as long as my old body will let me,” she laughed.

“I’ve played a lot of rugby in my life, but I still think I’ve got a fair few years with BPWR left.

“It’s not something I’d be willing to give up easily – it’s a community full of fabulous women from different forces but sharing a mutual love for their sport, coming together to represent our profession.

“For me, it doesn't really get much better than that.”