THE Worcestershire Rapids brand is being extended to include the Worcestershire Women's side in all matches they play this summer.

The Rapids logo has become firmly established at New Road during the past two years and worn by skipper Daryl Mitchell and the players in the NatWest T20 Blast and latterly the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Now the county's Women's team, whose base will be at New Road this summer, will also come under the Rapids umbrella.

They wore the Rapids colours for the first time in 50 over matches during 2015 and it will also include T20 games in the forthcoming campaign.

It is following on from the example in the Big Bash T20 tournaments in Western Australia where the women's and men's teams play under the name of the 'Scorchers'.

Jason Yip, Women and Girls' development officer for the Worcestershire Cricket Board, said: "Last year they flew under the Rapids logo and branding but it was a little bit under the radar.

"This year they are playing all their matches in colours and they will be branded under The Rapids name just like the men's team are.

"It will be known as the Worcestershire Women's Rapids. Last year they played Division Two 50 over cricket in colours. In the T20 competition they played in Division Three, which they won, progressing to Division Two this summer.

"What are the benefits? It means we can link in and create one large family similar to what they've achieved in Western Australia with the Scorchers.

"Boys, girls and families around the community can just remember one name - 'we're off to the Rapids' - and they can identify with both representative teams."

Yip added: "Will the Rapids logo help to play more games at New Road? It would help but also when we use other key facilities such as RGS Worcester and Kidderminster, it means that the New Road branding also goes out into those parts of the community.

"The idea is to walk in step with the men and our game development and cricket community programmes will underpin that branding throughout the community as well."

The clothing has been supported thanks to contributions from the Jean Price Bursary.

For more details on sponsorship opportunities in the women and girls programme please contact Tom Hill tom.hill@wccc.co.uk Worcestershire will also be hosting the England Women versus Pakistan Women ODI on June 22 at New Road.