NORTHWICH Ladies may look overseas for talent to bolster their squad after winning promotion to RFU Women’s Championship North One.

The North Two champions accepted an offer from the governing body to go up after Midlands Two top dogs Shelford, who they were due to face in a play-off, opted to stay put.

Coach Paul O’Keefe wants to keep together his title-winning squad, but knows the rigours of playing at a higher level demand a squad with strength in depth.

“We’ve already started planning for next season,” he said.

“We’re trying to go on a big recruitment drive, and that means looking abroad too.

“The men’s first team have done that for a while, and the agency they use have a lot of female players on their books.

“There are international standard players on the list, some on the cusp of making the Australia and New Zealand team. It’s not a certainty, but we’re looking into it.

“I think it would give the other girls a massive lift too; they’ll have to turn up, train hard and earn their place.”

O’Keefe told the Guardian a busy calendar, with league games scheduled to be played by the end of January, means he needs a bigger pool to pick from.

That programme frees up players to play representative rugby, at county and regional level, for the season’s remainder.

“The biggest challenge we’ll face is how quickly each match comes around,” he added.

“That’s why we need a larger group, to deal with injuries.”

He has added to his management team too, with Blacks set to train twice a week in the run-up to matches.

That includes a pair of forwards coaches, and sports scientist Jenna Hulme.

“The players know they need to be dedicated,” he added. 

“Jenna was our number 10 last year until she suffered a career-ending cruciate ligament injury. 

“She will bring some much-needed know-how in getting that extra one per cent in areas that can make a massive difference.”

And O’Keefe is confident already that the Moss Farm outfit can be competitive on the pitch.

They won 14 of their 16 league matches last term, finishing a dozen points clear of closest rivals Sheffield.

He said: “I genuinely believe we have the talent and attitude to go and do well.

“There are lots of England-level players in this division who have played in the Six Nations. 

“It’s a big step up.

“But it means our players will now also be on the radar of regional selectors.”