SUGGESTIONS for a Kendal women's rugby team have been met with sexist slights from club supporters.

Fans, members and officials of Kendal Rugby Union Football Club who gathered this week to shape a "forward-thinking" vision for the 98-year-old institution were largely unconvinced by the prospect of a team made up of the fairer sex.

The idea of women donning the black and amber strip was met with general indifference and the suggestion of one man: "Well only if they clean the toilets and tidy up the outside."

Later in the meeting the club's newly appointed director, Kendal hotelier James Alexander, asked the audience how the club could attract more support from women and families.

One man's suggestion that the ladies had ulterior motives for their pitch-side support was met with smirks and elbow-nudging: "We all know the only reason women go to watch rugby is to see men in tight shorts," he said.

Asked by The Westmorland Gazette if sexist comments had been made, Mr Alexander, who led the discussion, acknowledged they had but claimed one had been "made in jest." He said the audience had been of an older generation and did not represent the attitude of the club.

" There will be another two meetings with different people from the community who hold different views. We (the board) will be taking a balanced view from all the members. This is a Kendal rugby club for Kendal people. We want to encourage the whole community, women, kids and we are making a huge effort to bring families and women back in."

April 17, 2003 17:00