A LARGS mum says she won't stop trying to allow her 12-year-old daughter to keep playing rugby with her local team despite a ban.

The News revealed last week how Evie Taylor’s dreams of being a Scotland rugby star could be cut short because international rules which say girls over the age of 13 cannot play in a mixed sex side.

The Scottish Rugby Union say Evie will have to leave Ardrossan Accies join a girls team for her own health and safety, but the closest team is a 60-mile round trip away.

Her mum Lorraine Rune says she would be willing to sign a disclaimer if it would allow Evie to play with the local boys side.

Lorraine said: “I certainly won’t be leaving it at this.

“I will be doing my research, I am sure there are teams in Spain which allow older girls to play with boys.

“Evie is happy to play with the boys team and they are happy to have her in the side so I don’t see the problem.

“I would be more than happy to sign a disclaimer allowing her to play, she has been playing since she was in primary five and never had an injury, so I have no worries."

SRU have offered help to find alternative practice for Evie, suggesting she play in the Greenock Wanderers' Ladies under 15s, but the team do not play competitively, something Evie is keen to do.

A Scottish Rugby Union spokesperson said: “We were very interested to hear of Evie’s passion for rugby and want to help her continue playing the game she clearly enjoys.

“Player welfare is our top priority and as such Scottish Rugby adheres to World Rugby’s mixed gender rugby guidelines.

“These specify that participation in mixed gender teams can only be allowed up until the end of the season in which the player turns 12 years of age.

“As such, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Evie to play in the Ardrossan Accies boys’ teams based on these official safety guidelines.

“However, there are a number of clubs in the west of Scotland with developing or established girls’ teams and we are happy to assist in finding new opportunities for Evie to play locally.”

Lorraine says Ardrossan Accies have been very supportive and she is keen to get more girls interested in the sport so that a local girls team can be developed.

Evie's coach Andy Wilkins said: “We of course want to keep Evie interested in the sport, but we have to follow the guidelines.

“Scottish Rugby have these regulations for contact games, so we would be able to accommodate Evie for training but not for these games.

“The issue relates to the contact games, and the need for girls and boys to be separated for these issues at a certain age.

“Ideally, we could keep the school classes going over summer and get the girls a game, but we need volunteers.”