Gwent PCs to represent national police rugby team
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Three Newport officers will be representing Gwent Police as members of the British Police women’s rugby union team.
Three Newport officers will join the British Police rugby union team in matches on International Women’s Day.
PCs Bonny Grant, Taboka Hyde and Toni-Louisa Lloyd will be travelling to Nottingham on Tuesday 8 November for matches against the fire and prison services.
PCs Grant, Lloyd and Hyde
The officers, who also play for the same club side outside of the force, will join other police personnel from all over the UK when they represent Gwent Police as members of the British Police team.
PC Taboka Hyde said:
“In our roles as police officers, and as rugby players, we want to break the bias that some people may have to show that women can do it all.
“I’m proud to be a police officer and I’m proud to represent the force in the sport that I love also.
“Playing alongside Bonny and Toni makes it even more enjoyable as we’re not just colleagues but friends too.”
PC Toni-Louisa Lloyd said:
“It is a great honour to be selected for the team; to pull on the shirt and represent the police service in these matches is a massive privilege for me.
“There’s definitely some friendly rivalry among the different forces, but when we walk out on that pitch, we’re all playing behind the same badge.”
PC Bonny Grant said:
“It is a shame that as a woman we have to battle certain stereotypes in our careers; this is the case even when we play rugby with people saying ‘you can’t do that’ or ‘you’re going to hurt yourself’.
“I’ve always loved rugby while growing up and I’ve always wanted to be a police officer. It’s great that I can bring together these two important aspects of who I am.”
Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said:
“Representing policing at a national level is a real achievement and we are proud to support our officers in their sporting interests.
“I look forward to travelling to Nottingham to cheer on these officers and watch them in action.”
International Women's Day is held annually on 8 March across the globe, and it is designed to celebrate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements and impact of women to promote a gender equal world.
For more details, visit the website here.