Women's Rugby Thread

[Niegs]

Jade Kronkel is taking a break to be a firefighter:



At this point I believe we can surely make a top notch Women's Firefighter's XV eh Nige?

Yeah, if you include former players as well ... we've got a few! I met one in BC who played for Canada back in the 90s, but can't remember her name / position, and coached another who wasn't even top uni standard, so probably wouldn't make this squad. :)

4. Heather Jaques



9. L. Anderson (has some Can 7s caps, criminally overlooked at XVs SH for players with an average pass and better box kicking skills... she was Danny Care like around the breakdown, now playing running back for women's football in Seattle. Firefighter in Vancouver.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_xyDh2jByS/

13. Britt Benn

[eldanielfire]

Shaunagh Brown.
Ceri Large.
Sasha Acheson.
Sarah Dunn.

I'm sure if I really think about it I could go for more.

[eldanielfire]

Women's world cup is postponed:

https://www.world.rugby/news/621229/rug ... -statement

Rugby World Cup 2021 statement
World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year.

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02/03/2021 18:25

World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year. The recommendation will be considered by the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee on 8 and 9 March respectively.

Play Video
While appreciating the recommendation is extremely disappointing for teams and fans, it has their interests at heart, and gives the tournament the best opportunity to be all it can be for them, all New Zealanders and the global rugby family.

The recommendation is based on the evolution of the uncertain and challenging global COVID-19 landscape. It has become clear in recent discussions with key partners including New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Government and participating unions, that, given the scale of the event and the COVID-19-related uncertainties, it is just not possible to deliver the environment for all teams to be the best that they can be on the sport’s greatest stage.

The challenges include uncertainty and the ability for teams to prepare adequately for a Rugby World Cup tournament both before and on arrival in New Zealand, and challenging global travel restrictions.

World Rugby can assure teams, New Zealanders and the global rugby family that the recommendation to postpone the tournament will help to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2021 will be all it can be next year for players, fans and the rugby family – one of the great Rugby World Cups.

Further updates will be issued following the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee meetings next week.

I never quite got why the World cup was moved back a year. For UK sports fans it's in a crowded summer now of the women's football Euro's, The women's Cricket world cup and the Rugby World Cup. It makes sense to have it in 2022 IMO. I can't recall the reason why they moved it.

[Niegs]

Women's world cup is postponed:

https://www.world.rugby/news/621229/rug ... -statement

Rugby World Cup 2021 statement
World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year.

SHARE
02/03/2021 18:25

World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year. The recommendation will be considered by the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee on 8 and 9 March respectively.

Play Video
While appreciating the recommendation is extremely disappointing for teams and fans, it has their interests at heart, and gives the tournament the best opportunity to be all it can be for them, all New Zealanders and the global rugby family.

The recommendation is based on the evolution of the uncertain and challenging global COVID-19 landscape. It has become clear in recent discussions with key partners including New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Government and participating unions, that, given the scale of the event and the COVID-19-related uncertainties, it is just not possible to deliver the environment for all teams to be the best that they can be on the sport’s greatest stage.

The challenges include uncertainty and the ability for teams to prepare adequately for a Rugby World Cup tournament both before and on arrival in New Zealand, and challenging global travel restrictions.

World Rugby can assure teams, New Zealanders and the global rugby family that the recommendation to postpone the tournament will help to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2021 will be all it can be next year for players, fans and the rugby family – one of the great Rugby World Cups.

Further updates will be issued following the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee meetings next week.

I never quite got why the World cup was moved back a year. For UK sports fans it's in a crowded summer now of the women's football Euro's, The women's Cricket world cup and the Rugby World Cup. It makes sense to have it in 2022 IMO. I can't recall the reason why they moved it.

I don't remember either?

But glad to see this postponed. Amateurs won't have to worry about booking time off / traveling during the (hopefully) tail end of a pandemic. A good many (including the North Americans) can get a proper club season and warm-up matches in before the tournament.

[Niegs]

I can’t see this article but I wonder if it addresses the fact that many would have to take extra time off work to quarantine (like a month, combining either end of travel) and some will have had little to know prep?





It’s already likely NZ v England in the final, but postponing gives Canada (despite our union’s prez tweeting his disappointment) and the US (assume they haven’t had any rugby?) ... others? ... a chance to have a season to get match fit and have skills and game play be honed.

[Niegs]

Got it... kind of blinkered outrage (with some fair points).

Let’s be clear about one thing, if September’s Rugby World Cup was a men’s tournament, it would still be going ahead. But rugby’s showpiece women’s event – even with its progressive gender-neutral branding – was always going to be condemned to the bleak narrative that has brought down female sport during this pandemic.

The postponement of the tournament in New Zealand is only the latest high-profile example of these damaging double standards. With the women’s football Euros and the women’s cricket World Cup both pushed back until 2022, this is yet another blow to a major stand-alone tournament.

Meanwhile over in the men’s game, they are spoilt for choice with nations putting their names in the hat to host this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour.
World Rugby’s announcement came a little over six months from the World Cup, and two days after Auckland entered their second Covid lockdown in a fortnight. The global governing body’s statement was a mere six paragraphs long; no mention of any rearranged time window – only “next year” – and no reference to whether alternative host countries had been explored. On balance, it is the right thing to do.

World Cups are supposed to showcase the best a sport has to offer, but a lack of preparation time for teams was a key concern. Reigning world champions New Zealand have not even played a Test match since 2019, while domestic leagues across Europe have been shut down.

Which is why it is absolutely crucial that women are given more Test match opportunities in 2021. After this year’s truncated Women’s Six Nations, there is a whole summer stretching out before us.

Could the home unions work together to engineer a summer series that would require no longhaul travel? Could women have their own version of an autumn Nations Cup?

Those making the big-money decisions should sit up and take notice of the energised monologue posted on social media by New Zealander and Wellington player Alice Soper who, reacting to the news, created more hype around the World Cup in 56 seconds than World Rugby has done in months.

Pointing out that she hadn’t seen a single piece of marketing relating to the event taking place in her home country, Soper drove home the message that a World Cup deserves build-up, fanfare, and proper communication – having not even been sent an email about this postponement. “Whatever you do, FILL THE GAP,” she tweeted. “Don’t leave a World Cup-shaped hole in our calendar.”
Rugby has been the hardest hit when it comes to female athletes being disproportionately impacted by Covid-related postponements. Last year’s Women’s Six Nations was not even finished.

This year’s edition has been squeezed into a few weeks. And the worry is that with no World Cup there is less of an incentive for a major broadcaster to get behind it.
Don’t feed me that drivel that no one watches women’s rugby or that it is simply not as commercially viable as men’s. Exeter’s victory over Saracens last January in the Premier 15s was watched by an audience of more than 125,000 – and that was on a live-stream. Can you imagine the reach it could have had on terrestrial TV? Where does the sport even begin to measure commercial value and audience shares if there is no broadcaster to provide the metrics?

So, on to 2022. Here’s hoping it will be worth the wait, something female athletes are becoming increasingly good at.

Oh, and as for the Lions tour and its South Africa alternative, why don’t organisers just push it back a year and host it in... South Africa? Woman up.

[Niegs]

I don't know anything about this, but it's not a good look ... especially when pro clubs create women's teams out of nowhere, suggesting they have all the resources the smaller clubs pushed out do not.

[eldanielfire]

I don't know anything about this, but it's not a good look ... especially when pro clubs create women's teams out of nowhere, suggesting they have all the resources the smaller clubs pushed out do not.

I've alluded or called out the BS of essentially unpaid women's players being called professional before. That makes it even worse as I thought the Teams where supposed to have certain levels of support. Training, coaching, physio, facilities and I assumed medical coverage. Obviously not. I assumed Sale and Exeter where allowed in because they would have superior levels of standards due to the resources provided to the men's side.

As Is aid before these clubs want the PR of a women's team, but they also what to be seen to be making the women's game professional without paying or providing a the financial or resource backing for professionalism.

[eldanielfire]

Some good news on the International Women's game:

[Niegs]

Some good news on the International Women's game:

It's early days but as with any upstart 'league' (I still think MLR will crash and burn like so many North American pro leagues), I wonder who's paying for it and how long that'll last? I want to know if there's going to be a big dump of money into making it work for players domestically? I recently listened to an ESPN podcast about the quick demise of the first women's pro soccer league, so maybe this is clouding any optimism I have: https://30for30podcasts.com/episodes/back-pass/

Maybe we're a unique case in Canada, but if qualifying has to be complete by June that probably means all of our matches will be in BC and wanting to get as much training in as possible to take it seriously, all players would have to be based there (this will likely bleed our leagues of their best players as it did with the men for a long time). Are our Eastern based players going to quit jobs and move out there? Or pay out of pocket to continually go over there? (There's a fund for camps/international matches, but I have to think it'll bleed out with more matches?)

I know a friend who was in the sevens program for a while couldn't have a full time teaching job and spent into five figures a year (relying on family donations and fundraisers) to live the dream ... maybe with more overseas travel but I don't think women had as many 7s stops in her day. I know one or two ex-internationals who wonder if it was all worth it... going to one WRWC was, but being an ever-present meant putting life on hold for 10 years with just memories and debt to show for it, a medal if you're lucky (such is the life of most Olympic/amateur athletes, I guess?).

I can't see WR offering more than support for the year-end mini tournaments, telling Unions to sort our your own funds for the qualifying bit. I read a tweet from someone who said there was a U18 European league that reminded them of this proposal and that teams would simply not play some qualifying matches?

In short, I'd love to see it be the start of a fully professional setup for nations' best 30 players, but don't see it happening that way.

[laurent]

Spain Fucked again (They were booted out of 6 nations to include a worse team)

Promotion is needed

[Niegs]

Wasps ladies playing such attractive rugby. Jones carving through space, sets up the possible try of the season with a tap from her own 22m. First try slick as well!

[sturginho]

Positive case in the Italy squad, training suspended

[Niegs]

I hadn't heard New Zealand women have Super Teams as well! I hope it doesn't replace the NPC because, though there are obvious gaps between teams, it's a good comp for the development of the next tier of athletes.

[Slick]

Jones carving through space, sets up the possible try of the season with a tap from her own 22m.

Tackling was U10 standard mind you.

[eldanielfire]

Good news, this years format for the Women's 6 Nations is a one off:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56577265

[Niegs]

Anyone up for the fantasy league?

Join me in the league now no.44891 : Twitter RFC
Welcome to Twitter RFC, a league created by @_JessHayden. This is a friendly league so please don’t be afraid to have fun and enjoy this, it won’t be too serious. Follow me on Twitter for top tips!

The winner gets a team jersey courtesy of Six Nations R
By clicking on the following link : https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#we ... igue=44891

[laurent]

Pseudo 6 nations for this year start Saturday.

France play Wales in Brittany. on saturday at 9PM (CET)

[eldanielfire]

Anyone up for the fantasy league?

Join me in the league now no.44891 : Twitter RFC
Welcome to Twitter RFC, a league created by @_JessHayden. This is a friendly league so please don’t be afraid to have fun and enjoy this, it won’t be too serious. Follow me on Twitter for top tips!

The winner gets a team jersey courtesy of Six Nations R
By clicking on the following link : https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#we ... igue=44891

Cheers. I'll tuck in and do a team tomorrow:

[eldanielfire]

England team and news. Zoe Harrison must be kicking herself.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56601707

Women's Six Nations: England v Scotland - Helena Rowland starts at 10, Zoe Harrison out
Last updated on9 hours ago9 hours ago.
From the sectionRugby Union
Helena Rowland
Helena Rowland is also part of the GB sevens squad preparing for this summer's Tokyo Olympics
2021 Women's Six Nations: England v Scotland
Venue: Castle Park, Doncaster Date: Saturday 3 April Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Coverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.
England's Helena Rowland will start at 10 in Saturday's Women's Six Nations opener against Scotland, while Zoe Harrison drops out of the matchday 23 after breaching coronavirus protocols.

Players must file a health report daily and Harrison lost her place because she failed to do this three times.

Wasps fly-half Meg Jones will fill the gap on the bench.

Centre Emily Scarratt captains the side as regular skipper Sarah Hunter continues her return from injury.

How to follow Women's Six Nations on BBC Sport
Women's Six Nations: Five players to watch
New tournament format set to be one-off
Hunter played for club Loughborough Lightning last weekend but has not recovered sufficiently from a hamstring strain for international duty.

Bryony Cleall - twin sister of starting number eight Poppy - will earn her second cap at tight-head prop as 2020 Grand Slam champions England begin their campaign at Doncaster's Castle Park.

Cleall is joined by loose-head prop Vickii Cornborough and hooker Lark Davies, and in the second row Cath O'Donnell will make her first England appearance since 2019 following a long-term knee ligament injury.

Full-back Sarah McKenna, wing Lydia Thompson and flanker Zoe Aldcroft return to the starting XV after missing the autumn internationals.

Wing Abby Dow misses the match because of personal reasons.

England beat Scotland 53-0 in the 2020 Women's Six Nations but head coach Simon Middleton is expecting greater competition this time.

"[Scotland captain] Rachel Malcolm said they are not daunted about playing us," he said.

"They shouldn't be because they're a really good side. It will be a great contest. They will be climbing the walls before they get out of the changing rooms and we will be much the same."

Harrison falters in race for 10 shirt
Zoe Harrison
Zoe Harrison was supposed to start on the bench for England but was dropped after breaching coronavirus protocols
Following the retirement of fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean in December, all eyes are on Rowland as she gets the first chance to show she is capable of stepping up to replace the World Cup winner.

The battle for the starting 10 shirt was supposed to be a straight shootout between the 21-year-old GB sevens player and Saracens fly-half Harrison, 22, but the latter's Covid misdemeanours give Jones a chance to shine off the bench.

With the World Cup postponed until 2022, Middleton has 17 months to establish his new playmaker before England bid for the title in New Zealand.

Rowland may well have her sights set on that goal, but along with Jones is currently balancing her XVs ambitions with preparations for this summer's Tokyo Olympics as part of the GB sevens squad.

Middleton described Harrison's coronavirus breach as a "slight misdemeanour", adding: "It wasn't malicious, it's just forgetfulness on Zoe's behalf.

"It is disappointing for Zoe because she's been playing outstandingly well and she's really starting to flourish now but she understands, she put her hand up to it.

"As of Monday morning she will be back in camp with us and looking forward to Italy."

New format will not distract England
After being postponed from its usual February-March window, the Women's Six Nations is being played in a reduced format for 2021.

Teams are split into two pools and play two group games before a final weekend of fixtures to decide placings.

The temporary move away from a round-robin tournament means England will not be able to win a third Grand Slam in a row, but Middleton insists that has not altered the side's focus.

"We know there's a Six Nations title on the line and whatever format that comes in we're concentrating on delivering on what we've trained over the last six months," he explained.

"If we get that right, hopefully we'll get the results and another title."

England team to face Scotland
England: McKenna; Thompson, Scarratt (capt), Tuima, Breach; Rowland, Riley; Cornborough, Davies, B Cleall, Ward, O'Donnell, Aldcroft, Packer, P Cleall.

Replacements: Cokayne, Harper, Brown, Millar-Mills, Fleetwood, MacDonald, Jones, Kildunne.

[eldanielfire]

something mroe is going on?

Hale is out at tighthead, interesting, I've not seen Rose but Wales front row was among the very best last season.



I'm interested in what the new coach can do, I still feel Wales is behind England and France professionally. Heck Wales first team basically all play in the for West Country sides.

[Niegs]

something mroe is going on?

Hale is out at tighthead, interesting, I've not seen Rose but Wales front row was among the very best last season.



I'm interested in what the new coach can do, I still feel Wales is behind England and France professionally. Heck Wales first team basically all play in the for West Country sides.

I saw a quote in a tweet that they're going to "play what's in front". I'm interested to see how this goes!

[eldanielfire]

something mroe is going on?

Hale is out at tighthead, interesting, I've not seen Rose but Wales front row was among the very best last season.



I'm interested in what the new coach can do, I still feel Wales is behind England and France professionally. Heck Wales first team basically all play in the for West Country sides.

I saw a quote in a tweet that they're going to "play what's in front". I'm interested to see how this goes!

The Welsh players seem to be excited about the new regime. I genuinely see a lot of talent in the side, they all rip it up frequently in the Premier XVs, they ahve a big and mobile front row who can scrummage, 2 very good locks (I've long thought highly of Crabb and Why Davies might be the more physical and bulky lock they have needed) and are spoilt for choice in the backrow for quality. They have good 9's, a good creative 10 and some fine backs. They should be so much better as a test side.

[eldanielfire]

Anyone up for the fantasy league?

Join me in the league now no.44891 : Twitter RFC
Welcome to Twitter RFC, a league created by @_JessHayden. This is a friendly league so please don’t be afraid to have fun and enjoy this, it won’t be too serious. Follow me on Twitter for top tips!

The winner gets a team jersey courtesy of Six Nations R
By clicking on the following link : https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#we ... igue=44891

I'll post this to PR if your happy with that?

[eldanielfire]

Sadly the hype about "coverage to new levels" is absolutely rubbish. It's on the BBC red button. I think it'd be seen more on Youtube FFS!

https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2021/04 ... new-level/
#

BBC COVERAGE TO TAKE WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS TO NEW LEVEL
TV April 1, 2021 4:33 pm (GMT)
Share this article:
England games on BBC
Andy Baber by Andy Baber
Never has the Women’s Six Nations been more visible than it will be in 2021.


TAGS
Women
RELATED NEWS
Preview: England v Scotland Women's Six Nations Fantasy Rugby preview Women's Six Nations profile: Emily Scarratt
This year’s Championship might have a different format to the traditional version but more eyes than ever before will be able to witness the action thanks to a new deal with the BBC.

The action gets underway on Saturday when England will welcome Scotland to Castle Park, with coverage kicking off at 2.50pm on the BBC Red Button for the Women’s Six Nations opener.

Where to watch Round 1 of the Women’s Six Nations

Saturday’s second game between France and Wales will then be covered live on BBC Red Button One from 7.50pm, concluding a blockbuster curtain-raising weekend of the new-look Championship.

England v Scotland, Castle Park – coverage starts at 2.50pm on BBC Red Button, kick-off 3pm
France v Wales, Stade de la Rabine – coverage starts at 7.5opm on BBC Red Button One, kick off 8pm
BBC TO PROVIDE FULL COVERAGE

Rather than the usual six-team round-robin battle royale of previous years, the 2021 Women’s Six Nations will deliver four consecutive weekends of top-class action in one of several ‘firsts’ for this year.

Scarratt named captain for England opener against Scotland


The six nations have been split into two pools where they will face two matches each before playing an equivalent team in the opposite pool in the final round of games.

This concluding weekend will be the Women’s Six Nations first ever Super Saturday and England’s final game will be live on the main BBC network for the first time ever.

England games will be on BBC

In addition to the thrilling finale, audiences in the UK will be able to watch all nine games across the Championship on the BBC on a mix of terrestrial and digital services.

ALL MATCHES BEING BROADCAST

With the Women’s Six Nations also taking place in its own standalone window, Six Nations Rugby CEO Ben Morel believes the stage is set for the Championship to hit new heights.

“There is so much to look forward to with this year’s tournament,” he said.

Women’s Six Nations Fixtures Announced

“Top-class action, a new format, all matches being broadcast, a first ever Super Saturday, all of which is taking place in a standalone window for the first time ever.

“We cannot wait for it all to start. Developing the women’s game is a top priority for the Six Nations, and we see huge opportunities for growth.

“This has been a key focus for us in recent years and will continue to be central to our strategy in the coming years.”

EVERYONE CAN ENJOY WATCHING FROM HOME

England go into the Championship as defending champions and targeting a third consecutive Women’s Six Nations crown, having won back-to-back Grand Slams in 2019 and 2020.

England are going for a third consecutive title

And Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton said he is excited by prospect of more fans than ever before being able to watch their games ahead of their opening test against Scotland.

“The Six Nations is always a special competition and we’re all looking forward to getting under way. We’ve had wonderful support in our previous visits to Castle Park,” he said.

Women’s Fantasy Rugby: How it works

“It’s great that the games will once again be shown on the BBC and this time, we want to make sure everyone can enjoy watching from home.”

Fans in the UK will be able to watch all the home nations games across the BBC on the iPlayer, Red Button with England’s final match scheduled to be broadcast on BBC2.

[laurent]

It's on standard channel in France thankfully (except for Scottish or welsh games the coverage is usually fine).

[laurent]

Very one sided game.
31 0 at Half time

[Niegs]

That French lock... Diallo? ... is one tall woman!

Or it’s all relative. Wiki says 5’11”.

That 8 has some genuine pace!

[laurent]

That French lock... Diallo? ... is one tall woman!

Or it’s all relative. Wiki says 5’11”.

That 8 has some genuine pace!

That was a good game for a start however the Midfield was terrible.

I hope they work on that as Ireland is usually better than the welsh (not even talking about England)

[eldanielfire]

Very one sided game.
31 0 at Half time

Sadly Wales thought it was a good idea to appoint a USA Sevens coach. A number of those tries were just pathetic, as if they weren't playing guarding rucks and playing, well, sevens.

[Niegs]

Very one sided game.
31 0 at Half time

Sadly Wales thought it was a good idea to appoint a USA Sevens coach. A number of those tries were just pathetic, as if they weren't playing guarding rucks and playing, well, sevens.

I wish I could bluff my way into a high profile job. My teams actually DO play what’s in front and are hungry to support the ball carrier like the French were.

Might have to add coaching top flight women’s club in France to my ‘to-do’ list.

[laurent]

Very one sided game.
31 0 at Half time

Sadly Wales thought it was a good idea to appoint a USA Sevens coach. A number of those tries were just pathetic, as if they weren't playing guarding rucks and playing, well, sevens.

To Be fair the score is pretty much the usual one of the past few years the coach is not the only issue. Ball in hand the Welsh ladies where only losing ground.

If the French midfield was any where offensively as good as defensively the score would have been even worse.

[eldanielfire]

Very one sided game.
31 0 at Half time

Sadly Wales thought it was a good idea to appoint a USA Sevens coach. A number of those tries were just pathetic, as if they weren't playing guarding rucks and playing, well, sevens.

To Be fair the score is pretty much the usual one of the past few years the coach is not the only issue. Ball in hand the Welsh ladies where only losing ground.

If the French midfield was any where offensively as good as defensively the score would have been even worse.

I know. But that's in stark contrast to their Premiership performances where the likes of Lilicrap, Joyce, Snowsil etc are all key parts of teams attacking . Here they just passed it side ways like a side who can run round the opponents, if there were only 7 o the opposing team. The fact is there is a fair bit of talent around the women's game, but countries is lazily using the English league to develop and give players high level experience and their investment in national set-ups is poor to the point of irresponsibility.

I have actually have been critical of this recent fetishization of sevens influence on XV recently by Eddie Jones hiring a 7's attack coaching and England's attacks constantly running out of players to support as a consequence and getting turned over by acting like a super fast 7's game and forgetting the opposition has 8 more players and thus far less space to do so. As to why the WRU think a tier 2 rugby country's 7's coach will move the Welsh women's XVs game forward is beyond me.

[Niegs]

I’ll spare you a full rant about it ... or maybe I’ll go off ...

.... but reckon we’re the worst about 7s fetishization among countries that should do better. I reckon we still have more girls playing XVs than anyone as it’s so common in high schools but we’ve never built on it because the coaching is rarely good. Some coaches are but they dominate their regions and their players aren’t challenged until provincials, so these kids move on without knowing much about the game or having the nous to create/support attack. I’d say even uni teams can be poor standard in many areas with the same schools dominating year after year and some of those relying on one-out play and size dominance.

And the cracks were showing before Covid, so Dog help us going forward! Friends who teach think contact sports (now two years without a season) will be gone in many places. There’s an opportunity, I think, for clubs to step in and run a longer season from May-Aug instead of just July-Aug. I’m not inspired though as they already tacked on a sevens season when they could have extended XVs, which tends to exclude tight fives. I used to coach Prem women in Victoria, the supposed home of rugby, but high school girls there is (when I left) only 7s. No real will to grow it, have national players coaching or guest coaching teams, they love it. But I saw many fringe players quit as 7s favours the fit and fast. Between the two clubs there, my friend at the other and I reckoned we only had three home-grown tight five players at the women’s level. The rest had moved from areas where XVs was played in schools. I just think administrators will not want to shake things up and thus try to ‘support’ (in words only) schools rugby as it dwindles. Hockey’s been an example for ages but now basketball is showing by the studs getting picked up by NCAA schools that running a club league outside of schools is bringing together talent, good coaching, and high competition to make our kids better.

A few years ago, tertiary colleges switched from XVs to 7s, which does make sense given that school starts in Sept and it can snow in late Oct. Uni is considered the big ‘development’ league and they’ve now added indoor sevens in winter. If 7s was played the way Fijians do, I might not have a beef, but here it’s very often a case of swinging the ball from one wing to the other or flat track bullies finding the weak link and going on a 50m solo run. Where numbers aren’t great, 10s would be so much better, but lots of girls here aren’t as concerned about looking masculine and love the aggro of rugby. What I’ve found turns them off is poor coaching that cuts their playing time (win-focused, short season) and/or limits their development so they’re often confused or don’t know more than a solo crash ball and don’t have as much fun as they could.

As word about “games based” training spreads, I too often see coaches using netball like games with forward passes! Like, wtf, this game is already foreign enough and our seasons so short... how about putting them in nothing but situations where they have to face actual rugby conditions so they can work out how to beat them on game day!? Or spend ages on scrums and lineouts which don’t matter with little pushing / rarely happen and turnovers being so frequent that set piece doesn’t have the same weight as it does in the pros.

/rant

[laurent]

Sadly Wales thought it was a good idea to appoint a USA Sevens coach. A number of those tries were just pathetic, as if they weren't playing guarding rucks and playing, well, sevens.

To Be fair the score is pretty much the usual one of the past few years the coach is not the only issue. Ball in hand the Welsh ladies where only losing ground.

If the French midfield was any where offensively as good as defensively the score would have been even worse.

I know. But that's in stark contrast to their Premiership performances where the likes of Lilicrap, Joyce, Snowsil etc are all key parts of teams attacking . Here they just passed it side ways like a side who can run round the opponents, if there were only 7 o the opposing team. The fact is there is a fair bit of talent around the women's game, but countries is lazily using the English league to develop and give players high level experience and their investment in national set-ups is poor to the point of irresponsibility.

I have actually have been critical of this recent fetishization of sevens influence on XV recently by Eddie Jones hiring a 7's attack coaching and England's attacks constantly running out of players to support as a consequence and getting turned over by acting like a super fast 7's game and forgetting the opposition has 8 more players and thus far less space to do so. As to why the WRU think a tier 2 rugby country's 7's coach will move the Welsh women's XVs game forward is beyond me.

Snowsill and Lilicrap where there last year.

The Welsh team has been shipping 50 points to France and England For years the last time they were competitive was on a very muddy home game as far as I remember.
The coach can only work with what players he has at that level.

When the 6 nations integrated for the ladies neither Wales or Scotland were anywhere near the Spanish team (they probably would be on similar / worse level still).

[eldanielfire]

To Be fair the score is pretty much the usual one of the past few years the coach is not the only issue. Ball in hand the Welsh ladies where only losing ground.

If the French midfield was any where offensively as good as defensively the score would have been even worse.

I know. But that's in stark contrast to their Premiership performances where the likes of Lilicrap, Joyce, Snowsil etc are all key parts of teams attacking . Here they just passed it side ways like a side who can run round the opponents, if there were only 7 o the opposing team. The fact is there is a fair bit of talent around the women's game, but countries is lazily using the English league to develop and give players high level experience and their investment in national set-ups is poor to the point of irresponsibility.

I have actually have been critical of this recent fetishization of sevens influence on XV recently by Eddie Jones hiring a 7's attack coaching and England's attacks constantly running out of players to support as a consequence and getting turned over by acting like a super fast 7's game and forgetting the opposition has 8 more players and thus far less space to do so. As to why the WRU think a tier 2 rugby country's 7's coach will move the Welsh women's XVs game forward is beyond me.

Snowsill and Lilicrap where there last year.

The Welsh team has been shipping 50 points to France and England For years the last time they were competitive was on a very muddy home game as far as I remember.
The coach can only work with what players he has at that level.

When the 6 nations integrated for the ladies neither Wales or Scotland were anywhere near the Spanish team (they probably would be on similar / worse level still).

Spain were kicked out 15 years ago. Wales even beat England not long before

Virtually this whole side has been there previously, but France and England have been heading towards professional and semi-professional levels for 5 years now, while Wales are all amateur. That was a long time after Spain were Before the more professionalized set-up started, Wales were close and even had beaten England.

You can't entirely blame the players quality given the conditions, as I said their top quality in multiple England domestic teams, virtually all the Welsh players play in England and are many teams best players. But an amateur vs professional set-up will always lead to a thrashing. Likewise the WRU rarely even set-up any test games outside the 6 Nations, England have tours away in the summers and tests in the winter. England and France also have a professionalized U18 set-up who train and play internationals. Wales don't.

England players for example have been in multiple camps of the last year and had an extended done leading into this tournament, the welsh ones haven't been together since the last 6 nations and only got together right before this 6 Nations and usually not all the squad will be able to play all the way through either. Also Wales haven't had any sort of experienced coach of quality or XVs experience at all, nor time and resources to do much with the players. Hence the shipping of 50 points, it's always a scratch side vs a professional one.

[eldanielfire]

I’ll spare you a full rant about it ... or maybe I’ll go off ...

.... but reckon we’re the worst about 7s fetishization among countries that should do better. I reckon we still have more girls playing XVs than anyone as it’s so common in high schools but we’ve never built on it because the coaching is rarely good. Some coaches are but they dominate their regions and their players aren’t challenged until provincials, so these kids move on without knowing much about the game or having the nous to create/support attack. I’d say even uni teams can be poor standard in many areas with the same schools dominating year after year and some of those relying on one-out play and size dominance.

And the cracks were showing before Covid, so Dog help us going forward! Friends who teach think contact sports (now two years without a season) will be gone in many places. There’s an opportunity, I think, for clubs to step in and run a longer season from May-Aug instead of just July-Aug. I’m not inspired though as they already tacked on a sevens season when they could have extended XVs, which tends to exclude tight fives. I used to coach Prem women in Victoria, the supposed home of rugby, but high school girls there is (when I left) only 7s. No real will to grow it, have national players coaching or guest coaching teams, they love it. But I saw many fringe players quit as 7s favours the fit and fast. Between the two clubs there, my friend at the other and I reckoned we only had three home-grown tight five players at the women’s level. The rest had moved from areas where XVs was played in schools. I just think administrators will not want to shake things up and thus try to ‘support’ (in words only) schools rugby as it dwindles. Hockey’s been an example for ages but now basketball is showing by the studs getting picked up by NCAA schools that running a club league outside of schools is bringing together talent, good coaching, and high competition to make our kids better.

A few years ago, tertiary colleges switched from XVs to 7s, which does make sense given that school starts in Sept and it can snow in late Oct. Uni is considered the big ‘development’ league and they’ve now added indoor sevens in winter. If 7s was played the way Fijians do, I might not have a beef, but here it’s very often a case of swinging the ball from one wing to the other or flat track bullies finding the weak link and going on a 50m solo run. Where numbers aren’t great, 10s would be so much better, but lots of girls here aren’t as concerned about looking masculine and love the aggro of rugby. What I’ve found turns them off is poor coaching that cuts their playing time (win-focused, short season) and/or limits their development so they’re often confused or don’t know more than a solo crash ball and don’t have as much fun as they could.

As word about “games based” training spreads, I too often see coaches using netball like games with forward passes! Like, wtf, this game is already foreign enough and our seasons so short... how about putting them in nothing but situations where they have to face actual rugby conditions so they can work out how to beat them on game day!? Or spend ages on scrums and lineouts which don’t matter with little pushing / rarely happen and turnovers being so frequent that set piece doesn’t have the same weight as it does in the pros.

/rant

Good rant.

The netball games stuff is something I've questioned in training in my courses. It's supposed to encourage creative thinking, use of space and increase skills. But I'm not 100% sure it does for rugby. But if limited for time I certainly would scrap that element.

[Niegs]

I’ll spare you a full rant about it ... or maybe I’ll go off ...

.... but reckon we’re the worst about 7s fetishization among countries that should do better. I reckon we still have more girls playing XVs than anyone as it’s so common in high schools but we’ve never built on it because the coaching is rarely good. Some coaches are but they dominate their regions and their players aren’t challenged until provincials, so these kids move on without knowing much about the game or having the nous to create/support attack. I’d say even uni teams can be poor standard in many areas with the same schools dominating year after year and some of those relying on one-out play and size dominance.

And the cracks were showing before Covid, so Dog help us going forward! Friends who teach think contact sports (now two years without a season) will be gone in many places. There’s an opportunity, I think, for clubs to step in and run a longer season from May-Aug instead of just July-Aug. I’m not inspired though as they already tacked on a sevens season when they could have extended XVs, which tends to exclude tight fives. I used to coach Prem women in Victoria, the supposed home of rugby, but high school girls there is (when I left) only 7s. No real will to grow it, have national players coaching or guest coaching teams, they love it. But I saw many fringe players quit as 7s favours the fit and fast. Between the two clubs there, my friend at the other and I reckoned we only had three home-grown tight five players at the women’s level. The rest had moved from areas where XVs was played in schools. I just think administrators will not want to shake things up and thus try to ‘support’ (in words only) schools rugby as it dwindles. Hockey’s been an example for ages but now basketball is showing by the studs getting picked up by NCAA schools that running a club league outside of schools is bringing together talent, good coaching, and high competition to make our kids better.

A few years ago, tertiary colleges switched from XVs to 7s, which does make sense given that school starts in Sept and it can snow in late Oct. Uni is considered the big ‘development’ league and they’ve now added indoor sevens in winter. If 7s was played the way Fijians do, I might not have a beef, but here it’s very often a case of swinging the ball from one wing to the other or flat track bullies finding the weak link and going on a 50m solo run. Where numbers aren’t great, 10s would be so much better, but lots of girls here aren’t as concerned about looking masculine and love the aggro of rugby. What I’ve found turns them off is poor coaching that cuts their playing time (win-focused, short season) and/or limits their development so they’re often confused or don’t know more than a solo crash ball and don’t have as much fun as they could.

As word about “games based” training spreads, I too often see coaches using netball like games with forward passes! Like, wtf, this game is already foreign enough and our seasons so short... how about putting them in nothing but situations where they have to face actual rugby conditions so they can work out how to beat them on game day!? Or spend ages on scrums and lineouts which don’t matter with little pushing / rarely happen and turnovers being so frequent that set piece doesn’t have the same weight as it does in the pros.

/rant

Good rant.

The netball games stuff is something I've questioned in training in my courses. It's supposed to encourage creative thinking, use of space and increase skills. But I'm not 100% sure it does for rugby. But if limited for time I certainly would scrap that element.

They're teaching it on courses!!?!?

Ages ago, when we could play rugby (two summers ago), I trialed a game I've been working on that encourages specialist abilities/skills. It's highly adaptable for whatever you want the players to get out of it. It was so popular (with teenage girls my friends lead) that the following week, two girls who hadn't been there requested it, having heard all about it from those who were!

I suggest there are four kinds of players: the powerful, the quick, the distributors, and the support (again, adaptable). Players declare their strength and wear a coloured headband that marks it. In a game of touch, Power players need two defenders to tag them (can't score after the first tag, so must look to pass before the second), Quick players get three extra steps after the tag if caught from the side/behind (encouraging them to use their ability to get around or step defenders), Distributors win a free touch (i.e. the next person caught doesn't count against the 6-touch limit), if their pass/action puts a teammate behind the defence, and Support players are the only ones allowed to call an offload from a touched teammate, so long as it's "immediate" (encouraging close support and communication, which is also a 'free touch' that doesn't count against the limit).

A popular defensive game I've made starts with a potential 10-point try. The attacking team have ten chances to score, with the value dropping a point each time. So defenders, at least, want to hold them off for as many phases as possible. Defenders can also earn points for good defensive actions... I have a variety, but things like intercept tries are worth ten, touch/tag behind the gainline earns a point, forced knock-ons five points, etc. etc. Earning points as such sees a huge increase in purpose and with one team, we even kept those stats for real games (especially because we were one of the worst in the league, it was a good moral boost to count how many turnovers we were getting/forcing when the tries weren't coming so frequently).

My touch/flag games also require players involved in the 'tackle' to go to ground, so there's some replication of timing / placement of the ball as well.

[eldanielfire]

They're teaching it on courses!!?!?

Yup, or rather promoting it as a game you can use for training. To be fair, I can see how it develops basic space awareness and passing skills. But I'm not sure it is any better than touch for that.

Ages ago, when we could play rugby (two summers ago), I trialed a game I've been working on that encourages specialist abilities/skills. It's highly adaptable for whatever you want the players to get out of it. It was so popular (with teenage girls my friends lead) that the following week, two girls who hadn't been there requested it, having heard all about it from those who were!

I suggest there are four kinds of players: the powerful, the quick, the distributors, and the support (again, adaptable). Players declare their strength and wear a coloured headband that marks it. In a game of touch, Power players need two defenders to tag them (can't score after the first tag, so must look to pass before the second), Quick players get three extra steps after the tag if caught from the side/behind (encouraging them to use their ability to get around or step defenders), Distributors win a free touch (i.e. the next person caught doesn't count against the 6-touch limit), if their pass/action puts a teammate behind the defence, and Support players are the only ones allowed to call an offload from a touched teammate, so long as it's "immediate" (encouraging close support and communication, which is also a 'free touch' that doesn't count against the limit).

A popular defensive game I've made starts with a potential 10-point try. The attacking team have ten chances to score, with the value dropping a point each time. So defenders, at least, want to hold them off for as many phases as possible. Defenders can also earn points for good defensive actions... I have a variety, but things like intercept tries are worth ten, touch/tag behind the gainline earns a point, forced knock-ons five points, etc. etc. Earning points as such sees a huge increase in purpose and with one team, we even kept those stats for real games (especially because we were one of the worst in the league, it was a good moral boost to count how many turnovers we were getting/forcing when the tries weren't coming so frequently).

My touch/flag games also require players involved in the 'tackle' to go to ground, so there's some replication of timing / placement of the ball as well.

Some good ideas there. I'll deffo be stealing them for when our School rugby kicks off again in September.

[eldanielfire]

An excellent piece, confirming many of the observations I have made about the WRUs on women's rugby in Wales and what a joke their set-up is, essentially piggy backing off the RFU:

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/torrid-w ... gs-at-wru/

Torrid weekend in France for Wales Women shows huge failings at WRU
Jess Hayden
By Jess Hayden

More News More News
12:37pm, 05 April 2021
At Swansea University, I was part of the same rugby club as current Wales Women Cara Hope, Natalia John, Robyn Lock and Courtney Keight. I wasn’t good enough at rugby to play alongside them, but they are my friends and I watched them every week and trained with them. Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap was head of rugby at the university while I was there (and still is). Wales hooker Kelsey Jones coached the first team for a while. I also spent many Sundays at Swansea RFC watching the women’s team play – which included some of the Wales team who played this weekend.


I tell you this because I talk from experience when I say how hard Wales Women work. I remember a conversation I had with Siwan, three years ago or so, where she told me about her hectic week.

Between Monday-Friday she worked full-time at Swansea Uni, coached the university players two or three nights a week, trained two or three nights a week, did her gym work in her own time and tried to find time for family and friends around that. She also regularly had to travel around the country on Wednesdays as a coach for university fixtures. Her weekends were spent training and playing games for club, region, or country.

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Devin Toner talks to Big Jim:
At this point the number eight was playing for Swansea WRFC, her region Ospreys, and Wales. Both clubs were close by to home in Swansea and the Wales training ground is about 40 minutes down the M4 in Cardiff. She wasn’t yet having to make the three-hour round-trip to Bristol for training.

I haven’t seen Siwan since she started playing for Bristol Bears but we keep in touch and I have no doubt she is still just as busy, if not more so. She is no exception – most of Wales Women are in full-time work or education. If Welsh women’s rugby players want to play regular elite rugby then they have to play for an English club, meaning long journeys across the border for the players, as the Welsh regional competition – unfit for purpose in my opinion – has not been running this year.

I know that Siwan will hate all the praise I give her. As well as being an absolute workhorse on and off the pitch, she is one of the most modest, hardworking, and passionate people I know. It’s why she is often compared to Alun Wyn Jones, her male counterpart who matches her pride in a Welsh jersey. They have also both captained Ospreys and Wales and both went to Swansea University (all the best people did). I don’t like the constant comparisons between women’s and men’s rugby players, but these comparisons do sometimes help to show the difference in support from unions and to familiarise fans with the women’s players. While Alun Wyn is heralded as the most patriotic Welsh player of all time, I would look closer to the women who wear the jersey for no money than the men who (comparatively) make a fortune.

The Wales Women pull on the red jersey for nothing but pride, honour and privilege, and they knew what they were signing up for. I don’t claim to speak on the behalf of all Wales Women, but the above context is important before we talk about the result against France.

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This weekend, Wales Women had a hammering from semi-professional home-side France in Pool B of this year’s Women’s Six Nations. Within the first 14 minutes France winger Caroline Boujard scored a hat-trick, with France scoring eight unanswered tries against Wales for a 53-0 win. The new attacking style of play from Wales had been given some hype before the game, under new coach Warren Abrahams, but we didn’t see much of it.

The game wasn’t entirely negative for Wales with a stronger second half performance. It was always going to be a difficult game and France are very likely to top their group. Wales have had just four months with Abrahams after a turbulent year following the sudden departure of former head coach Rowland Phillips.

Some scintillating rugby! ?
Enjoy #FRAvWAL highlights right here! #WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/zZHQnfmUeY

— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 3, 2021

Wales will face Ireland on Saturday and a closer match is likely. Ireland is also an amateur side and the teams have had close contests in previous years.

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Some on social media are quick to judge the Welsh side – questioning if the team should have any investment with performances like that. They completely miss the point. Adequate investment isn’t yet there in the women’s game in Wales. The WRU said they would give contracts to the women once a performance criterion had been met, which to me means they will ride on the back of the investment their players receive from the RFU in the Premier 15s until they absolutely have to invest. It’s also about so much more than the money. As Scrumqueens pointed out, even if amateur teams like Wales gave professional contracts tomorrow, the infrastructure needed to push women’s rugby is years behind. In my opinion, the WRU need to urgently sort the regional women’s tournament in Wales, better support their talent pool (insuring them would be a start), and have more open conversations with the RFU about player development.

To give an idea of the lifestyle of a Wales player, the kick off was at 9pm on Saturday and the Welsh team had to be on the plane at 8am the following morning to fly home – landing back in the UK less than 12 hours from the full-time whistle. That’s not enough time to shower, debrief, get back to the hotel, eat, sleep, recover, receive treatment and have any sort of rest. Can you imagine the men’s team having to do that? The players I spoke to do not know if there were other flights available or what the reason was for the early morning flight, but it was far from ideal for the battered bodies of the Welsh players.

"Alexa, define perfect spot tackle"#WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/DSKoOj4QCM

— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 5, 2021

What we are comparing here is a semi-professional French side with an entirely amateur Welsh set up. Some online have even called Wales semi-professional because some of their players receive payment from clubs. Let me be clear: some Wales women’s players receive match fees from their Premier 15s club. According to players, this often isn’t enough to cover their petrol and some of them now need to pay for their sports insurance too, as their clubs or union won’t. There is no real profit margin here for the players, who also only receive expenses from the WRU when they play for Wales. The ‘semi-pro’ status of some of the players for club is absolutely worlds away from France.

In the France national team, all players receive around a 50% salary from the national team and some receive match day fees for playing at their clubs. France players also have jobs or are in full-time education – it’s a requirement of playing – but the support from the union is much better. Clubs are geared to support the national team and the infrastructure is far, far superior than in Wales.

Money is tight for all unions after a damaging year of financial loss. Money doesn’t grow on trees and has to be invested where it will be most effective. But women’s rugby is growing fast and unions like Wales are at a great risk of being left behind, especially with the new WXV tournament that will further highlight the gaps in the women’s game with more regular international rugby.

Whatever your thoughts on the Wales performance, and you are welcome to be critical, be kind. There’s a huge amount of context that needs to be understood before critiquing player performances.