Sheffield-based women’s rugby team The Sheffield Tigers have smashed their fundraising target allowing them to travel to a cup final at Twickenham.

The team set up a GoFundMe with an original aim of raising £5,000, it has since received more than £7,500 in donations to cover the cost of the trip.

This came after the team qualified to get to the final of the Papa John’s Cup, which is to be held at the prestigious home of English Rugby, Twickenham Stadium in London.

Liam Wallace, 31, The Director of Women’s Rugby at Sheffield tigers said: “We’re all very excited, we’ve had quite a few weeks of build up knowing we were going to be playing there.”

With donations also being sent in directly to the club, the total amount raised for travel and accommodation costs involved in the trip actually exceeded £9,000. 

Mr Wallace, said of the reaction to the GoFundMe: “We definitely exceeded expectations. We put it up on the Saturday and by Sunday it had over £3,000, which is ridiculous!”. 

The team who currently play in the National Challenge 2 North East league, finished 2nd this season with the joint longest winning streak despite only having played in an established league for the past two seasons. 

The teams ‘Massive achievement’ has coincided with a surge in women’s rugby at the club, with the formation of two new junior girls teams that have seen numbers grow throughout the year.

Sheffield Tigers Women will play Thurrock Ladies II in the Papa John’s Cup Final at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 12 May.