Skye's Rugby Dream

@SKYESBOOTS on Instagram

Skye Keyser on Facebook

Hi, I’m Skye, a 16-year-old who loves her rugby. I’m reaching out hoping that you might be able help me raise funds to try reach my dream to play in the top flight one day. Times are hard I know, so I appreciate you might not be able to financially help, but even just sharing my plea with everyone you know will help me tremendously.

My journey began in summer 2021, when I turned up at North Bristol RFC to get a taster having never played or watched a game in my life. The under 18s lent me boots and let me train with them for two weeks. It was a gesture that changed my life. I then joined their under 15s, scored 4 tries that season and earned myself the “Most Improved Player” award.

22/23 came with highs and lows while I was finding my feet and firmly establishing my position at Inside Centre. I developed rapidly though, scored 7 tries and even got into Gloucestershire County ERDPP.

By 23/24 I was fully committed, forgoing family holidays to attend matches and trials. I even caught a coach to France to join the family so I could stay behind to attend U16 county trials. It paid off – by the time I got to Bayeux I got the news that I was in! And 23/24 went on from there. 22 tries in 23 games for North Bristol, a try for Bideford vs Exmouth (tour festival) , 3 tries at County (2 of those vs Yorkshire plus 2 assists in just 25 minutes of game time), over 10 tries at a Gloucestershire 7s festival (I can’t remember exactly how many), North Bristol “Parents’ Player of the Year”, named in the Gloucestershire League’s “Squad of the season” and now (huge update!!!) selected for North Midlands, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire PDG (that holy grail of under 16 girls’ rugby!).

In 24/25 I want to move to new heights. Despite there being easier options, I’m enrolling at Hartpury College, because they have proven to be most successful when it comes to developing girls’ rugby. A successful trial got me into their pre-season performance group. Being in that group is an eye opener. Every one of the 1st year girls selected is a standout player for club and county. And the 2nd years, who I’d also be challenging for a 1st team place, were mostly Centre of Excellence and Internationals last season. But it’s a challenge I want to take up, because I believe I can play amongst the best.

Realistically, the only way I could do this would be to stay in accommodation. 15 hours of commuting each week on top of a full week’s college /rugby academy, with Saturdays taken up by PDG - it will be too much. And if I was to get into the Hartpury ACE/1st team, I’d sometimes miss the coach back to Bristol due to late training and match times.

But accommodation is something I can’t afford. There are no student loans for 16 year old's. I’ve been trying to find work in Gloucester to cover some of it, but so far employers don’t find the work patterns I can offer suitable. College and my family can help a bit, but it only covers the first few months, and is not enough for me to stay the full year. Some of you have said you would like to help, which is why I started this GoFundMe. Any contribution, no matter how small (and if you can’t, even just sharing my story), would be truly amazing. Thank you so much!