Women's rugby: a newspaper history

What this blog is trying to do

2011-01-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

The aim of this blog is to bring together significant articles appearing in major newspapers and other news media about women's rugby, ideally worldwide though as it is being compiled in the UK there is an inevitable UK (and English language) bias at present. If you have any copies of any significant or interesting articles please send this to this address.

Of particular interest would be any articles from before 1990, but any significant articles from any date which show the development of the game would be a useful addition.

Women show the way to go; England get a fright before clinching the Grand Slam

2010-03-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

Stephen Jones

ENGLAND women have achieved a Grand Slam in European rugby for the fourth time in five years, in the process clinching their fifth consecutive RBS Six Nations title with an 11-10 victory over France in front of a hostile crowd in Rennes on Friday night. The win conceivably establishes England as favourites for the women's Rugby World Cup, to be played on home soil later in the year.

But this was no easy passage. France had lost earlier in the tournament to Scotland, a team subsequently thrashed 51-0 by England, but urged on by the raucous crowd France gave it everything, leading initially and making light of the dismissal of their leading forward, Claire Canal, who was red-carded at the end of the first half.

France had a chance to cause a remarkable upset when Aurelie Bailon, their fly-half, kicked for goal in the closing stages, but she fell short and England managed to scramble the ball away.

Gary Street, the England head coach, was apparently unflustered at the end. "Even though this was a tough game, victory was never in doubt in my mind. We knew that France would throw everything they had at us, but we showed great character and mental strength to turn this around."

France took an early lead with a penalty from Bailon but England regained their composure and a forward drive by the pack gave them an attacking position. Amy Turner, the scrum-half from Richmond, crossed for the try despite a populous cover defence and it was 5-3 to England at half-time.

They gained breathing space with a penalty by Katy McLean, of Darlington Sharks, but as errors were made in the wet conditions, England dropped the ball in midfield and France launched a thrilling counterattack. French wing Celine Allainmat scored with the loose ball and the conversion by Bailon took France into a 10-8 lead.

At this point, England's composure served them wonderfully well. They were reduced to 14 players when Karen Jones was sent to the sin-bin for a late tackle but McLean added her second penalty to take England into an 11-10 lead and, once Bailon's late kick missed the target, England were able to scrape home.

England had already beaten Wales (31-0), Italy (41-0), Ireland (22-5) and Scotland (51-0) so the Grand Slam was one of the most convincing in the women's game.

Catherine Spencer, the England number eight and captain, who passed 50 caps during the season, was particularly impressed by the team's attitude in the final stages. "We kept our composure and control, the attitude on the pitch was fantastic and when we look back, we can conclude that this was just the tight game we needed. You learn so much more from close games of this sort and you find out about your own weaknesses.

This team wants to improve all the time, and it was good to be in a good contest."

The England players now return to their clubs for the climax of the domestic season before gathering in the summer for a series of squad camps in preparation for the World Cup. The traditional dominance of New Zealand was exploded by England's win over them at Twickenham before Christmas. If the seedings for the World Cup work out as planned, the two teams at the top of the women's game will meet again in what will be a charged final at Twickenham Stoop in August.

Spencer's next priority was more mundane. "Now it is back to work on Monday," she said. This has been an outstanding season for her team, with England producing a series of results that put the exploits of the men's team in the shade. The best news from France is that there was no easy victory, just England glory.

SIX NATIONS PW D L F APts England 5 5 0 0 156 15 10 France 5 3 0 2 97 47 6 Ireland 5 3 0 2 69 52 6 Scotland 5 1 1 3 31 108 3 Wales 4 1 0 3 34 76 2 Italy 4 0 1 3 25 114 1

CAPTION(S):

Up with the cup: England's all-conquering women celebrate their victory in Rennes; Photographer: DAVID ROGERS

Sunday Times (London, England) (March 21, 2010): p5.

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE: With four Six Nations titles in a row, England women are a rugby powerhouse. Three of the star players are policewomen - they talk to OSM about juggling work and play, and where the men have got it wrong.

2010-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

ANDY BULL

Women's rugby doesn't get a bad press; it gets no press at all. And this despite the fact that England's women have won four Six Nations Championships straight - and were runners-up to New Zealand in the last two World Cups.

Things should change this summer when England will host the women's World Cup for the first time. Sky is covering the semi-finals and final live, and showing highlights of the pool matches. For the England team, it is the opportunity of a lifetime, but it has come at a cost.

Hooker Amy Garnett, 33, and centre Claire Allan, 24, both work full-time as policewomen, Garnett in Newham, east London and Allan in Acton, west London. To play in the World Cup they will each have to take three months unpaid leave. Scrum-half Amy Turner is a community support officer. She has decided to take a year-long unpaid sabbatical to concentrate on the season ahead.

The three get good support from their police colleagues and supervisors, the odd bit of teasing aside ("Sometimes if we have to knock a door down they'll be like, 'Let's take Amy along,'" jokes Garnett), but for a world-class athlete to be burdened with such a heavy workload seems absurd. "Rugby," says Garnett, "pretty much takes up your whole life."

"If you've got a full-time job, it is like having a part-time job on top of that," explains Turner, "because you are looking at anything from eight to 16 hours a week training and playing rugby." Allan, England's full-back, agrees. "It's tough. I remember once when I had a really important league match, I finished a night shift at seven in the morning, had a couple of espressos, went straight to play a game, finished, showered, and then went straight back to work. I played all right in the game but when I was back at work at 3am, I was seeing double."

All three erupt into laughter at the story. They are obviously close friends, which is fortunate, as Garnett points out: "Your social life is sort of zero. We get two weeks off in the summer, but the rest of the time you end up saying no to weddings, birthdays, christenings."

Although women's cricket and football have started to attract more mainstream coverage, rugby is lagging behind. "It is frustrating," says Turner, "because if we had more recognition English fans would be quite chuffed. They'd think, 'Our men aren't in a great place right now but our women are doing well.'"

Garnett is a little less diplomatic. "Sometimes I watch the men and think, 'Oh my God, you're a professional, you get all these hours to train, and you're playing like a bunch of muppets.' I'm a hooker and I practise as much as possible. Some of these guys, you see them and sometimes they couldn't hit a barn door with their throwing." She pauses before adding: "And we're generally a lot better-looking too."

Garnett, who has 81 caps, made her debut in 2000. In that time she has watched the standard of the women's game sky-rocket. "Like a lot of the older girls, I didn't start playing rugby till university. But players now have been playing since they were nippers. Skill-wise, our game has gone through the roof."

Turner started playing when she was five. "I used to watch my older brother play at Kingston rugby club and they had a mixed under-sevens team that I started playing for." Like Garnett, she is one of the more experienced players in a side whose blend of nous and youth has helped it become one of the world's top two teams, alongside world champions New Zealand. "The standard of rugby we are playing now is worlds apart from the 2006 World Cup. We've worked much harder on the core skills - passing, kicking, tackling, decision-making."

"It's a nice balance," agrees Garnett, "very similar to what the men had in 2003." This new confidence was brought about by a 10-3 victory at Twickenham over the All Blacks. Interestingly, the men's and women's national teams are far more integrated there. "In the Sevens World Cup last year the New Zealand men's and women's team were training together," recalls Allan, "which is quite a step forward. We'd love to be more involved with the men in the future." With the odd exception - Wasps fly-half Dave Walder and Josh Lewsey have both worked as club coaches in the women's game - the paths of England's two national teams hardly cross.

Partly that is because the women do not play at Twickenham much. "First we were at St Albans," says Garnett. "Then London Irish," adds Turner. "Then London Welsh," chips in Allan, "and now we're at Esher." Before the win against New Zealand last November, the team had not played at Twickenham since 2006. When they were allowed out onto the turf last November they won a lot of converts. "We don't kick as much as the men," explains Garnett, "we play the more exciting style of rugby because we keep the ball in hand more. It's ambitious. There are big smashes and lots of offloads, it is good fun to watch."

"At times when we had played here before we had not been put on the ticket," points out Garnett. "People did not even know we were playing." For the team, playing more matches in the public eye is important. "You're an English rugby player, you want to be playing your games at Twickenham," says Turner. "We should be the curtain-raisers for the men." It is time the team got a little of the recognition they have long deserved.

Captions:

The Observer (London, England) (Feb 7, 2010): p34.
From left, Amy Turner, Amy Garnett and Claire Allan photogaphed at Twickenham.

Lives in brief

2010-01-27T15:08:00.000-08:00

Linda Uttley, England women's rugby player, was born on October 26, 1966. She died of cancer on November 27, 2009, aged 43 Linda Uttley played rugby for England and forged a gloriously colourful reputation that ensured her place in the game's folklore.

She was born in Barnes, southwest London in 1966, the youngest of eight siblings. She began her career in 1989 at Teddington Rugby Club and grew into one of the finest players of her generation. She moved to Wasps Rugby Club in 1995 and played a key role in a team that dominated the women's game.

In 1997 she won her first cap and began a career for England in which she would win 13 caps and play in the 1998 World Cup. She played in every position except prop, hooker and fullback, although she was best-known as a flanker.

The tales of her conduct away from the field are as stunning as her reputation on it, such as the memorable sumo wrestling match while on tour to Paris, in 1992. She had beaten all the women in the vicinity and then took on, and beat, a French No 8 called Bernard.

In November 2007 she was told that she had a rare, aggressive and advanced form of cancer, leiomyosarcoma. The rugby community rushed to her aid, raising funds to help her to cope with the illness. In the event she defied all the medical predictions and was still dancing a year later. She would whip off her wig and dance the night away, eking out every last moment of joy. She remained a regular on the touchlines at Teddington, continued to work for the Rugby Football Union and even toured with the Classic Lionesses.

She bore her cancer's devastating effects with great humour, fortitude and mental strength.

The Times (London, England) (Jan 27, 2010): p51.

Operation petticoat.

2010-01-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

Simon Barnes Chief Sports Writer

Last week in this space I was looking for information about the first woman to play rugby. I am delighted to say that I now have information in overplus. The first lady of rugby - rugby's Eve - is Emily Frances Galwey, nee Valentine, born in the 1870s, at first a tomboy and then a lady of much spirit. She later wrote a rather splendid memoir and here is a chunk of it.

"I loved rugby football, but seldom got a chance to do more than kick a place-kick or drop goal, but I could run in spite of petticoats and thick undergarments. My great ambition was to play in a real rugby game and score a try. One day I got a chance. It was just a school scratch match and they were one 'man' short. I was about 10 years old. I plagued them to let me play. 'Oh all right. Come on then.' Off went my overcoat and hat - I always wore boys' boots anyhow, so that was all right.

"I knew the rules. At last my chance came. I got the ball - I can still feel the damp leather and the smell of it ... I grasped it and ran dodging and darting, but I was so keen to score that try that I did not pass it, perhaps, when I should; I still raced on, I could see the boy coming towards me; I dodged and breathless, with my heart pumping, my knees shaking, I ran. Yes, I had done it, one last spurt and I touched down."

Thus was set in train the events that will lead to the women's rugby union World Cup, which will be held again this year.

The Times (London, England) (Jan 18, 2010): p69

Miss Valentine the mother of women's rugby.

2010-01-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

Simon Barnes Chief Sports Writer

There will be a women's rugby union World Cup in England this summer, which is all splendid stuff. But here is a question: who was the first female rugby player? Who was women's rugby's Webb Ellis? Who was rugby's Eve? Greatly to my surprise, I am told that I supplied the answer myself in a column in this newspaper in 1985. A rugby match was played at Portora Royal School, in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, in 1885. The school was short of numbers, because the headmaster had just decamped and taken half the pupils with him. But they still got a XV out, and in the threequarter line, there was the daughter of the acting headmaster.

But who was she? John Birch writes to tell me it was Miss E. F. Valentine, who together with her three brothers, set up the school team, in the face of some opposition. Miss Valentine went on to become Mrs Galway and emigrated to South Africa.

It seems clear that Miss Valentine both trained for and played rugby, and this predates anything else documented on the subject. But, so far, the researchers have no idea of Miss Valentine's first name, and no photograph. Anyone with information on the subject, please get in touch.

The Times (London, England) (Jan 11, 2010): p61

England's new golden girl is on a mission Scarratt keen to change image of women's rugby

2009-12-26T15:05:00.000-08:00

THE answer to Martin Johnson's creative void is

19 years old, stands a fraction under six feet and rips across the gain line with grace and beauty not seen since Jeremy Guscott lit up winter afternoons. The hair might be a little on the long side for Johnno, and changing-room arrangements could present a problem, but in all other respects Emily Scarratt is your girl.

Ms Scarratt, the youngest member of the England women's squad, touches down at an average of a try per match and can play across the back line. In England's subordination of New Zealand at Twickenham on the same bleak November afternoon that the men lost to the All Blacks, Scarratt was poster girl under the high ball at full-back. More than 12,000 stayed behind in filthy weather to watch our women beat down the world champions.

This was not rugby lite. Had the Rugby Football Union the foresight to keep four sides of Twickenham open instead of one, the place would have been packed out. Men young and old were left peering one-eyed through gaps in security fences, risking the amber nectar, to watch England win a game of rugby against southern hemisphere opposition. Next time it might be an idea to put the women on first.

Stereotypes were trampled into the mud, which is high on the agenda at the RFU. Watching women taking lumps out of each other in gum shields requires an adjustment. Immersion therapy works best. Eighty minutes glued to the bump and grind at Twickenham cured me.

"It has taken people a while to get their heads around the idea of women playing rugby. There is a big physicality about the game. But it is important that women are taking part in sports like this,'' said Scarratt. "I have had it before when I tell people what sport I play. They say, 'oh you don't look like a rugby player'. We are trying to make the game more appealing and increase participation. Personally what people think doesn't bother me. I just love to play.''

Scarratt is wandering through the sports emporium at Leeds Metropolitan University with a rugby ball under her arm. I was grateful for the prompt since the amazon filling the space was a makeover or two removed from the mug shot in the England media guide.

One day, perhaps, women's rugby might gain the platform that her level of commitment, heart, skill and nerve merits. Were Scarratt a man the cameras would not give her a minute's peace. Here's an idea: why not invite her on to Sky's panel of gnarled ex-pros? Michael Lynagh would be delighted to exchange passes with her.

The boys would be chuffed to find a woman fluent in the game and happy to tackle the tricky subjects, like reconciling the big hit with traditional ideas of femininity. Here is how she does it.

"It is about being comfortable with yourself and your choices. On the pitch, in training, in the gym, we are just rugby players. How people present themselves in their private life is completely different and nobody's business. Some people have issues with that, but the girls are all happy with themselves. There are no issues at all for us.

"When it comes to talking about me and rugby, I prefer to be known for the 12 tries that I scored in 12 games, rather than the way I look. The 12 tries is the important stat. Everything else comes afterwards. I'm a rugby player first. Rugby is what I'm about.''

Scarratt is a second-year sports science undergraduate. It had to be sport. Throw her a ball, any ball and she will hit it, catch it, kick it or slam-dunk it. She played international rounders for England Under-18s and county basketball. Nothing quite gives her the fix she needs like rugby, a game she has played since she was five years-old, tagging along with her dad and older brother.

She brings to it the old enthusiasms of the amateur ethos. Unlike Johnson's over-trained, over-indulged underperformers, the women have not lost the sense of wonder and joy associated with participation. It is fundamentally fun for them, not work. With each defeat Johnson retreats further into his coaching coalition. He should be looking outwards, not in, and could do worse than hang out with our women ahead of the Six Nations.

Scarratt made her debut against the United States in August last year, and scored. "We had a midfield move, I got the ball and hit a line, I didn't remember much until I was over the try line. I just ran as if it were a life or death situation. America were a big, physical side, quite happy to smash you into the middle of next week. It's part of the game. I've grown up with it. Just as you have to pass the ball you have to make a tackle and take a tackle in rugby. I enjoy it in an odd kind of way.''

Time up. She had to go. Another tackle to make. Never mind, the conversation is ongoing. The sisters are on their way: 2010 is World Cup year, a chance to show the world England really does know how to play the game.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Dec 26, 2009): p021.

Scotland have been drawn in

2009-11-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

Scotland have been drawn in pool C with France, Canada and Sweden for the sixth women's rugby union World Cup in London next year. Surrey Sports Park will host the 12 teams competing in the tournament that will run from August 20 to September 5.

The third-place match, semi-finals and the final will be played at the Twickenham Stoop, the home ground of Harlequins. England and Ireland have been drawn in pool B with the United States and Kazakhstan and Wales are in pool A with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The Times (London, England) (Nov 24, 2009): p75

England v New Zealand: Women's double deal

2009-11-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

Robert Kitson

At least one England captain thinks New Zealand are beatable this afternoon. Catherine Spencer is also confident the second half of today's Twickenham double-header will raise the profile of women's rugby and provide more value for money than fans have received lately. Anyone seeking the West Stand experience without the hefty price tag should make the most of free admission from 4.15pm. England are determined to atone for last week's 16-3 defeat in their first meeting with the Black Ferns since the 2006 World Cup final.

The Guardian (London, England) (Nov 21, 2009): p10.

SISTERS GET ACT TOGETHER; WORLD OF CLUB RUGBY

2009-10-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Adam Redmond

WHILE this column would like to acknowledge the continued improvements to a handful of club websites, the less cared-for sites are about to get a fright when they cast their eyes upon scrumqueens.com The website, which is dedicated to women's rugby, is the brainchild of former Irish women's PRO Alison Donnelly. With a busy year ahead, including a decision on Sevens in the Olympics, the Women's Rugby World Cup, Six Nations and Nations Cup, the site promises to deliver real-time results and coverage.

Added to the range of features, blogs and fixture information available, there are diaries from Irish international Fiona Coughlan and Canada's Meghan Mutrie, who details her remarkable recovery after suffering a debilitating head injury.

The Daily Mail (London, England) (Oct 1, 2009): p61.

Battle of the sexes: Inequality in sport: Plenty of success, but few rewards.

2009-06-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

This year, the England women's team won the Six Nations for the fourth consecutive time; the men's team haven't won it since 2003. "Women's rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports and the England team is doing amazingly well at the moment," says Julia Hutton, the team's spokeswoman. "Wales are improving and Scotland are getting better as well, so we have strong home nations sides. Next year will be really important because we're hosting the World Cup." Unlike the men who earn about pounds 200,000 a year in club salaries, up to pounds 12,000 for winning an international game and millions from endorsements, none of the female international players is paid to play.

Football

Last month, the Football Association awarded central contracts to 17 members of the England women's football team so they can concentrate on full-time training. "This is brilliant for me," said the midfielder Rachel Williams, who had worked as a plasterer. It is an important step, but it's too early to get excited - the salaries are pounds 16,000, nothing compared with the millions earned by male players. The women's Premier League has lost some of its best players, such as Kelly Smith, to the US, where women's soccer is taken much more seriously. The Welsh and Scottish women's teams have never qualified for a World Cup, but England reached the quarter final in 2007.

Cricket

Eight players from the England women's team have been given contracts as ambassadors for the Chance to shine programme, encouraging young cricketers. But these contracts only pay the women to coach in schools - not to play cricket. "It has made a massive impact on the game, it has given them the security of a job," says Clare Connor from the ECB. The top 20 women's players also get grants of between pounds 300 and pounds 800 a month, but these amounts are only a fraction of the pounds 250,000 playing fees international male cricketers earn.

Tennis

Tennis is one sport where women are on a more equal footing, yet it has only been two years since the All England Club announced that women would receive the same amount in prize money at Wimbledon as male competitors. According to Forbes magazine, Roger Federer earned $35m (pounds 21m) from sponsorship deals in 2008; the second highest was Maria Sharapova (pictured) who earned $26m.

The Guardian (London, England) (June 27, 2009): p29.

Trying success; Letters to the Editor

2009-04-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Sir, While not wishing to detract from the success of the England women's cricket team (report, April 3), and Claire Taylor in particular, it is a pity that the same coverage is not given to the England women's rugby union team. Since appearing in the last World Cup final, only one match has been lost. That merits more attention.

ros rowley Worthing, W Sussex
The Times (London, England) (April 7, 2009): p25.

Unpopular England make no friends in Dublin; There was fear and loathing on the pitch at the women's Six Nations tournament

2009-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

Peter O'Reilly

WHAT was all that about the bonhomie of Six Nations weekends? There wasn't much of it at Templeville Road on Friday evening when the Ireland and England women's rugby teams got well and truly stuck into each other for 80 minutes and then studiously avoided each other afterwards.

There were tears on one side and smiles on the other - but no hugs or handshakes with the oppo. These girls really don't like each other.

England are generally unpopular, I was told. This probably has something to do with the fact that they came into this year's Six Nations looking for their fourth consecutive grand slam, and definitely has something to do with their cold professionalism. That's real professionalism, by the way - their coach, Gary Street, is full-time, and several of his players are semi-pro, thanks to the RFU ploughing [pounds sterling]2 million of national lottery funds into the women's game each year.

So when 'cocky' England were narrowly beaten 16-15 by Wales two weekends ago, there was general rejoicing amongst the other countries. Ireland sensed an opportunity too. Having won their first two games, against France and Italy, they now had home advantage against a team they had pushed close in a pre-Christmas friendly, also in Dublin.

The English girls looked like they meant business on Friday, though.

Their pre-match defence drills were frightening to behold. "Hit me Amy! Hit me Amy!" screeched one tackle-bag holder. And hit her Amy did. Hard. A whole lot of hitting and screeching going on, so there was.

The national anthems sounded more angelic, though you could see the visitors' patience beginning to wane as they stood through not one Irish anthem but two. This was the 12-inch extended version of Ireland's Call too, including the verse they leave out at the men's games. The Irish coach, Steve Hennessy, was really belting it out, standing shoulder to shoulder with his management staff.

Are a couple of the Irish girls wearing fake tan? England are more physically imposing, however, massive. They start impressively into the wind, off-loading expertly.

Their problem is every time they kick the ball, they kick it to Niamh Briggs, the Irish full-back, who has a beast of a right boot and a small, personal fan club in the crowd of around 500. "Well done, Briggsy," they roar every time she roots the ball 70 metres downfield.

Soon she kicks Ireland into a 3-0 lead and then converts a try by winger Amy Davis. There is bad language in the English huddle.

"We can't let the f***ing intensity drop," someone urges. They don't let it drop, either. Soon Emily Scarratt, their runaway horse of an outside centre, is scoring in the left corner and England are on the scoreboard.

But they are rattled by Ireland's ferocious defence and clever use of the wind. Francesca Matthews, England's blonde right winger, keeps dropping the ball and looks like she's rightly browned off with herself. "You can't just give in!" exhorts fly-half Katy McLean, from the Darlington Mowden Park Sharks. "Come on, Francesca!" Then number eight and captain Catherine Spencer is sin-binned just before the break and Briggsy knocks over the penalty. Ireland are leading 13-5 and looking good.

You can sense England going up a gear after the break, however.

Amy Turner comes on at scrum-half and makes a difference. They put more width on the ball and six minutes into the half, Matthews puts the finishing touches on an exquisite backline move. She is mobbed by her team-mates.

A dirge-like 'Fields of Athenry' breaks out on the terrace, as if Ireland's supporters know trouble is brewing. Midway through the half, Matthews scores again and England take the lead for the first time.

Ireland are game but there is only one possible result. By the end, they do well to hold England to a 29-13 victory, for points difference may play a part in this championship.

While the Irish players went to applaud their supporters, skipper Joy Neville had media interviews to attend to. "We played a wicked first half but we need to work on our defence," she said. "I don't know if we over-committed to the rucks but they kept catching us out wide..

They adapted their game-plan at the break and we didn't react. But we've learnt from that." Meanwhile, England were doing their post-match stretching routine in the middle of the pitch and sipping recovery drinks. Somehow you couldn't see the two sets of girls mingling for a sing-song and a pint later that evening.

Sunday Times (London, England) (March 1, 2009): p4

Forgotten stars; Letter.

2007-03-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Sir, On Saturday England women's rugby team were crowned RBS Six Nations Grand Slam champions for the second consecutive year. I watched a tightly fought game against Wales and picked up your paper on Monday expecting at least a mention of their success, but nothing.

What hope is there for English sport when we give more attention to boozed-up "stars" throwing away their opportunities than amateurs who give their all?

Susan Francombe

St Albans

The Times (London, England) (March 20, 2007): p16

England chase title

2007-03-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Rugby union England will achieve their second grand slam in successive seasons if they beat Wales in the women's international in Taffs Well today. Sue Day leads an unchanged XV against a Wales side who have lost once in this year's championship, to France, and are celebrating 20 years of international women's rugby in the Principality.

The Times (London, England) (March 17, 2007): p107.

Scotland; Women's rugby union

2007-03-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

SCOTLAND suffered their third loss in four RBS Six Nations matches when they went down 18-6 to Ireland at Meggetland in Edinburgh.

The Irish opened the scoring with a penalty from Jo O'Sullivan and a Sarahjane Belton try gave them an 8-6 half-time lead. Ireland dominated the second half with tries from Jeannette Feighery and Lynne Cantwell sealing their first win of the season.

Sunday Times (London, England) (March 11, 2007): p20.

Scotland's women

2007-02-25T14:45:00.000-08:00

SCOTLAND'S women fought back to beat Italy 26-6 in Edinburgh with Lucy Millard grabbing three tries. The visitors took an early lead from a Michela Tondinelli penalty, but the Scots battled back with tries from Millard, converted by Lynsey Harley, and Erin Kerr. The Italians responded with a second penalty in the first-half, but the hosts dominated after the break.

Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 25, 2007): p26.

Women's pioneer dies aged 106

2007-01-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

YOU might think women's rugby is a comparatively recent phenomenon but a remarkable pioneer has died in Cardiff aged 106. Maria Eley played full-back for Cardiff Ladies in a wartime charity match at Cardiff Arms Park on Dec 16, 1917, when Newport won 6-0. Interestingly, reports suggest that the Cardiff team all wore protective headgear, which predates their male counterparts by some decades.

Maria remained a keen player until she married her husband, Hector, and concentrated on bringing up eight children. She attributed her longevity to a love of rugby and an aversion to cigarettes and alcohol. Away from rugby and family duties she chaired the senior citizens club at her native Cogan for 24 years and was still calling bingo until she was 101.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Jan 18, 2007): p016

Women's topless haka stunt offends Maori.

2007-01-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

IT WAS intended as a cheeky charity stunt but a topless haka performed by a British women's rugby team has been criticised as offensive by Maori in New Zealand.

The team, from Canterbury, Kent, were smeared with mud and wearing only shorts when they were photographed leaping into the air in a parody of the Maori war dance, made famous by New Zealand's rugby team, the All Blacks.

The picture appears in a 2007 calendar intended to raise money for breast cancer research.

The women preserved their modesty with one arm covering their breasts.

"It looks like misuse of the haka to me,'' said Dr Poia Rewi, of the School of Maori Studies at Otago University.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Jan 9, 2007): p016.

England fall just short in thriller; Rugby Union.

2006-09-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

David Hands

THAT the World Cup final has been described as the best game of women's rugby in history will be limited consolation to England. They lost 25-17 to New Zealand in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday night, an enthralling contest that ebbed to and fro before the Black Ferns clinched their third successive title deep into injury time.

Four tries to two tells the story of a New Zealand side infinitely more dangerous in open space, but says nothing of a wonderfully committed England and the inspirational work of players such as Maggie Alphonsi and Sue Day. A converted try by Helen Clayton in the last minute of normal time reduced the deficit to a mere three points, only for New Zealand to work Amiria Marsh into the corner.

"This was certainly the best game of women's rugby I've ever seen," Rosie Williams, the managing director of the RFU for Women, said. But how England must regret their failure to score the points in the first half-hour that their territorial domination suggested were there for the taking.

Their use of Catherine Spencer at close-range scrums became too predictable and they failed to turn New Zealand's defence with tactical kicking. A penalty try, awarded after a series of scrums were collapsed on the New Zealand line, brought England back into the game, but the Black Ferns responded magnificently. "This was a fantastic final for people to watch -I'm just sorry we couldn't deliver," Jo Yapp, the England captain, said Donna Kennedy, Scotland's most-capped player, has retired after her side finished sixth in the tournament. Kennedy, 34, played in 95 of Scotland's 100 matches, the last in a 24-0 defeat by the United States in the fifth-place play-off.

The Times (London, England) (Sept 19, 2006): p78.

England raise the bar in defeat.

ENGLAND'S women may have finished runners-up to New Zealand in the World Cup final for the second time in succession, but yesterday's final in Edmonton is being hailed as the best ever game of women's rugby.

It was certainly the most physical and competitive match in the tournament's history and showcased a level of skill and athleticism not seen before in the women's game.

England, underdogs facing the defending champions, were always playing catch-up but had closed to within three points before New Zealand clinched a 25-17 victory with a late try through Amiria Marsh.

"We worked hard for 80 minutes and did everything we possibly could,'' England captain Jo Yapp said. "It was a tough game and you can't take anything away from the performance of the England girls.''

Despite dominating possession in the first half, England turned around 10-3 down after a try by Monalisa Codling and a conversion and penalty by Emma Jensen, Karen Andrew kicking a penalty for England.

England fell further behind when Stephanie Mortimer scored straight after the break. A penalty try and a touchdown by Helen Clayton closed the score to 20-17, but then Marsh eluded England's desperate cover defence to claim the crucial score.

After the match, centre Sue Day and back-row forwards Clayton and Georgia Stevens announced their retirement from international rugby.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Sept 19, 2006

Day is central to England's final tilt: Wasps star has helped women to the brink, says Anna Kessel.

2006-09-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Anna Kessel

ENGLAND FACE New Zealand tonight in the Women's Rugby World Cup final in Canada, but with barely a squeak about it in the media you would be forgiven for knowing little about it. The vast majority of matches have been broadcast over the internet and Sky screened just one semi-final live from Edmonton.

New Zealand's Black Ferns are the overwhelming favourites to win a tournament that was officially sanctioned by the IRB only in 1998. They are the current holders, having beaten England in the final four years ago, and they have smashed their way through the opposition this time round, conceding 17 points and amassing 177 along the way.

England's own points tally looks impressive - scored 139, conceded just 30 - but their semi-final win over hosts Canada was uncertain right up to the final whistle and the winning margin was slim at 20-14. England are second favourites for the trophy, however, and have a number of experienced players - such as 32-year-old centre Sue Day - to draw on memories of past achievements and narrow misses.

They were champions in 1994, but otherwise England's women have been frustrated in recent years after defeat in two finals and finishing third in 1998. However, the triumph of this year's Six Nations victory will go some way to buoying the team.

Day is typical of the old guard generation of women rugby players who discovered the game late in life - at university - and this year looks as if it will be her last playing for England. But a younger generation with a different knowledge of rugby is emerging, players such as 19-year-old Michaela Staniford, already capped 16 times, who played rugby minis from the age of 12.

This generation are changing the game - by the time they reach their mid-twenties they will have amassed the same number of playing years as Day. The pace and skill of the women's game is on the up.

But the sport still suffers from an image problem. As recently as 2003, a Women's Sports Foundation report revealed that 17.2 per cent of those questioned didn't think that women should even be playing rugby (the same percentage as boxing). And with such poor coverage it is unlikely that many on the street could name the captain, Jo Yapp.

This World Cup has been ground-breaking in recruiting the highest number of female match officials (12) to oversee the games. In addition, the IRB announced that for the first time women's rugby will have a sevens tournament in 2009 running alongside the men's event.

But if England overcome the odds and beat New Zealand - and in addition recruit a decent-sized TV audience despite the midnight kick-off - will women's rugby be given the publicity it deserves? After the men's World Cup victory in 2003, a massive grassroots investment campaign was initiated to revitalise the sport. Between them, the RFU and the Government ploughed in pounds 28.5m to reverse the fall in playing numbers before 2003. Twelve months later, 33,000 new players were attracted to the game, with the biggest rise in numbers being the 7-11 age group, a 32 per cent increase.

There has been nothing like such attention to grassroots women's rugby. There are positives here and there but if the good-luck messages to the women's team from Andy Robinson and Rob Andrew on behalf of the RFU aspire to be taken seriously, much more needs to be done.

In an interview with Observer Sport before the World Cup, Staniford called for better interaction between the personnel of men's and women's rugby. 'Neil Back once came to talk to us, which had a huge impact,' she said, 'but there's still so much that the men's game can offer to us in terms of experience.'

Women's Rugby World Cup final

England v New Zealand, SS3 midnight

The Observer (London, England) (Sept 17, 2006): p19.

Women progress

2006-09-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Nigel Botherway

England will play Canada, the hosts, in the semi-final of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Edmonton on Tuesday. The second favourites beat France 27-8 late on Friday night to top their pool. France face New Zealand, the defending champions, in the other semi-final.

Sunday Times (London, England) (Sept 10, 2006): p21.

England women chase semi-final spo

2006-09-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Nigel Botherway

South Africa and France stand between England and a place in the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. The Six Nations champions, who are ranked second behind holders New Zealand to lift the trophy, beat USA 18-0 on Thursday. The female Springboks are next up for England, tomorrow, followed by France on Friday. France beat Ireland 43-0 in their opening game, while Scotland beat Spain 24-0

Sunday Times (London, England) (Sept 3, 2006): p17

THE GIRL'S A BIT SPECIAL: Michaela Staniford Rugby Union Age 19, England outside-centre, 13 caps.

2006-08-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Aren't you a bit young for women's rugby?

No, it's changing and a lot of younger girls are coming through now. Years ago women only started playing at university but now girls have the chance to learn rugby 'minis' at school. I also benefited from fast tracking - I played one season at under 19s and then went straight through to the Six Nations aged 18. I was the youngest ever female player to be capped.

Are people surprised when you tell them you play rugby?

Yes, always. I don't look like what you'd call a typical rugby player, but then that's stereotypes for you. Our squad's made up of all shapes and sizes. Contrary to popular belief there really is no type.

Nickname?

Mic. Or whatever comes out when they're shouting at me on the pitch. . .

Rugby idol?

I always loved watching Will Greenwood, as much for his attitude as his playing ability. He played his hardest but he'd always smile if he made a mistake.

What kind of character are you?

I get told I'm an old head on young shoulders - I enjoy being around the older ladies. I don't want to mess about because I've been fast tracked so I've got to prove myself.

I appreciate professionalism.

How are the team preparing for the World Cup?

We've been endurance training at a marine commando base on Exmoor. It's been awesome. We've been over assault courses, pushing Land Rovers up hills, going through underwater tunnels, abseiling and all sorts.

How many times did they scream 'drop down and gimme 10?'

They didn't. But they kept trying to wind us up about safety harnesses breaking and all that. They had to tone it down for us because we've got a World Cup to go to.

How does the quality of the women's game compare to the men's?

It's difficult because no matter how hard we train they're always going to be stronger and faster, but on skill I know we can match them, for sure.

What has been done to raise the profile of women's rugby ?

We needed a better standard of competitive rugby so last year the Super League was introduced. Whereas previously you'd get one club whitewashing another, Super League takes the top 88 players in the country, splits them into four teams and it makes for a much better quality game. It'd be nice to get more media acknowledgement of our achievements though.

Your aim for the World Cup?

To win it of course, and I really believe we can. And to show people that we can play some very, very good rugby.

The kids from fame: Women's Rugby World Cup, Edmonton.

Why should we care?

The face of women's rugby is changing: there's better coaching, better quality play and a younger generation of players coming through. With many of the women's matches now being staged just before the men's, it's a sport you'll be seeing much more of in the future.

When's it taking place?

31 August to 17 September in Edmonton.

Is it on TV?

Sky will be screening both semi-finals and the final live, and you can watch all the games live on the official IRB website,

www.irb.com.

Who are the tournament favourites?

New Zealand's Black Ferns are tipped to win their third consecutive title.

And England?

Second favourites from a pool of 12 teams.

And the best of England's kids are?

Kim Oliver Centre, age 22, Clifton RFC. Began her sporting career in judo.

Danielle Waterman Scrum-half, age 21, Henley RFC. Student at University of Wales.

Rachel Burford Centre, age 20, Henley RFC.

Amy Turner Scrum-half, age 22, Wasps. First picked up rugby ball aged 6.

Maggie Alphonsi Flanker, age 22, Saracens. An ex-discus thrower.

The Observer (London, England) (August 27, 2006): p23

Why more coverage of your sport would suit you, madam: Felled by flawed attitude

2006-08-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sue Day

As the vice-captain of the England women's rugby team, the reigning Six Nations champions, I read 'A Man's World' with interest and agreed with a lot of the sentiments. Undoubtedly the women's sporting world needs to do more to sell itself, raise its profile and to demonstrate to the kids out there that it is a fulfilling and inspirational place to be.

I would take issue with certain suggestions made, however, not least from your own sports editor, Brian Oliver, who said: 'It's too simplistic to blame the media, who do not coach, develop and fund champions.' I agree that it is too simplistic - there are many other factors, including funding, opportunity, perception and quality of coaching. But if the system in place to bring through the female stars of the future is flawed, then the media's attitude to it is equally so.

The women's sports that get the most coverage seem to be those inextricably linked to the men's events - tennis, athletics, horse racing. Look at the coverage of my own sport. The England women's team fly out to the World Cup at the end of the month as second favourites. Each individual in the squad trains as a 'professional'. We have skill, determination and entertainment value to rival the men, and if you are reporting sport simply on its merits, then surely we would have seen news of our achievements.

I am realistic enough to understand that it will probably take decades (at least) to begin to compete with the history that goes with hundreds of years of male-dominated sport. However, it would be nice to see the British media do their bit towards ensuring that women's sport actually is reported on its merits.

Sue Day, England rugby player

The Observer (London, England) (August 6, 2006): p18.

Scotland looking for Murrayfield inspiration to beat the auld enemy

2006-02-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

Hilary Weale

With a World Cup later this year, England, Scotland and France will be hoping to give their campaigns a boost with a grand-slam triumph, while Wales have something to prove after coming last in 2005 HAVING botched three attempts at winning the grand slam, England's men clinched it in 2003, getting their World Cup year off to the start it needed. In view of this, it is easy to understand that Geoff Richards, the England women's coach, considers this season's Six Nations in a wider context.

"We're hoping to win the grand slam. In World Cup year that's an important goal because if you're not going to win the Six Nations, it diminishes your chances of winning the World Cup."

The World Cup takes place in Edmonton, Canada, this summer and it has given incentive to the teams in the Six Nations to perform well. Running parallel to the men's tournament, the women follow the same fixture list, the difference being the inclusion of Spain rather than Italy.

The competition is vital for the development of the women's game, and for the Scots to play their home match against England at Murrayfield straight after the male counterparts have finished their battle should help to bring it to a bigger audience. Gil Stevenson, the Scotland coach, said: "It's always a thrill for them (the players) to play at the national stadium. What we hope is that they can continue to raise the profile of the game."

That England are playing their home matches in the more humble surroundings of Old Albanians RFC does not worry Richards unduly: "We have played at Twickenham in recent years, and it's wonderful (for the players) to play for their country at the home of rugby. But sometimes it doesn't help our grassroots supporters, because they don't have access to Six Nations tickets."

Venues aside, there are some intriguing sub-plots to some of the fixtures. Spain are in the same group as Scotland in the World Cup, so the result of that tie on the last weekend of the tournament will have resonance. The Scots are probably the third strongest team in the competition, and rather than playing any matches in the autumn, were saving themselves for a warm-up match against the United States last month, which they lost 13-6. Hardly the best preparation for playing France next. In Donna Kennedy, the No 8, they boast the most-capped female XVs player in the world, and the most-capped Scotland player, her 84 caps surpassing Gregor Townsend's tally.

It is always tight between Wales, Ireland and Spain. Wales, who finished bottom last year, have a new coaching team in Fielies Coetsee and Jason Lewis, but are still smarting from their failure to qualify for the World Cup, so will be out to prove a point.

Last year, France were crowned queens of Europe, their three-point win over England being the crucial result. Losing their two matches against New Zealand in October has made England all the more determined to better their second place of last year.

Richards points out that there are some world-class players in the side, among them Jo Yapp, the captain and scrum half, as well as young players blooded recently, such as Alice Richardson, the fly half, who give the squad strength in depth.

Winning is vital, but Richards has an additional hope: "I just wish more people would come and watch women's rugby. I think for the time and effort and quality rugby they produce, it's a great spectacle, and I think people would be pleasantly surprised if they came and watched."

Donna Kennedy is the most experienced woman player in the world with 84 caps

The Times (London, England) (Feb 4, 2006): p41

Sports active: The routine: Jo Yapp, England rugby international

2005-02-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

Jamie Polk.

Last week, scrum-half Jo Yapp was announced as captain of the England women's rugby union team for this year's Six Nations tournament. The 25-year-old made her club debut for Worcester Ladies in 1996 and joined England's elite squad in 1998, playing her first international, against Ireland, in the same year. She lives in Worcester and teaches physical education at Bewdley High School.

How professional is the women's game?

In terms of attitude and training it's as professional as the men's game. Finance is the main difference. We are Lottery funded, but only one or two girls are full-time. Most of us have to juggle training and playing with our jobs. The structure at club level is well developed; the Premiership has eight teams and the usual names are there, like Wasps and Saracens.

Describe your training regime

I train two nights a week with my club. During the 90-minute sessions we do ball-handling drills before going through team plays - line-outs, rucks, mauls. On top of that I have a fitness programme set by the English Institute of Sport that fits around my club-and-country training. It's pretty scientific, and the programme changes depending on the time of year. Pre-season is all about building strength - a lot of high-repetition weights, squats and bench presses. Explosive strength helps in the tackle. Once the season starts, the emphasis switches to maintaining body condition.

Have advances in technology improved match preparation?

Every international we play is videoed, as are those of the opposition. The coaches spend hours analysing strengths and weaknesses, and pinpointing who we should target. Once a week, one of the England coaches comes to Worcester and does a skills session with me. We go through my passing technique and work on improvements. Men's rugby is all about bulking up. Do you follow a similar nutritional plan?

Our diets are tailored to individual needs, whether it's reducing body fat or increasing muscle bulk. We get our body-fat levels monitored three or four times a season, along with our fitness levels through beep tests.

Which parts of the body take the biggest hammering?

It depends on what position you play, but the neck and shoulders are always vulnerable. Our training focuses on overall body conditioning and core stability. We are encouraged to use alternative therapies on top of general fitness work, and some of the girls have taken to yoga.

How important is recovery time?

Its significance is being increasingly emphasised. The problem is that when you mix training and work there is almost no time to rest. During tournaments we need to train to maintain fitness, but really it's about being ready to go on match day. We need to make sure we get enough rest and recovery between matches. After heavy training sessions and matches we are encouraged to take an ice bath. It's a great way to rid the body of toxins, especially lactic acid.

Interview by Jamie Polk. Jo Yapp will captain England against France on Sunday 13 February at Imber Court, Surrey. More information: www.rfu.com

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (Feb 6, 2005): p11.

Ireland's women

2005-02-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

DESPITE outscoring their hosts Spain by three tries to one, Ireland's women lost 19-17 in their Six Nations opening match in Madrid yesterday.

Ulster firefighter Suzanne Fleming led a recovery by the Philip Doyle-coached Irish, bagging two second-half tries, but it was not enough as Spanish centre Ines Etxeguibel Alberdi's three drop goals and a penalty sealed the home win.

The Irish, who picked up their first Six Nations win on the same Ciudad Universitaria ground two years ago, gave away too much possession in the early stages and were down 13-0 at the break. Fleming's brace got them back in touch at 16-12 but with UL Bohs wing Lynne Cantwell's late effort going unconverted, Kepa Ancin's charges claimed the spoils

Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 6, 2005): p26.

60 seconds in sport; Interview with Karen Findlay, the captain of the Scottish women's rugby team

2005-01-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

What match are you in training for?

Friday's Six Nations opener against France in Roubaix Do you have another career outside of rugby?

I'm a sergeant in the Met, sitting exams to become an inspector. I'm originally from Cullen in the north east of Scotland, but now live in the shadow of Twickenham What is your earliest sporting memory?

Aged seven, stealing my dad's golf clubs and sneaking off to play at Cullen Golf Club. I could have fitted into his bag. My dad said there were worse things I could have been doing. I got my handicap down to seven Do you remember your first rugby match?

In 1988 I was at Richmond watching a women's game. My friends said I should give it a go, as I had the perfect build Who is your sporting hero?

David Sole. He was outstanding for Scotland and plays in my position Is there anyone outside of sport that you admire?

My mum for putting up with my dad What is your funniest sporting memory?

I was running out to play for Scotland in Spain but got my studs stuck in a drain in the middle of the pitch. It was live on Spanish TV, and friends said it looked like I'd been shot. I've never been so embarrassed What's the last CD you bought?

O by Damien Rice What's your biggest success?

In one weekend in 2001, I was in the Scotland team that won the European Championship in France, flew back to London and the next day was in the Richmond team that beat Wasps to win the English Cup final at Twickenham What hobbies do you have?

Drinking nice red wine, with good food and good company What are your ambitions?

To help this Scottish women's team achieve it's full potential. We've made huge progress, but didn't do well in the last World Cup and I'd love to go to the 2006 tournament What is your favourite piece of sporting memorabilia?

My European championship winners' medal and the first Scotland shirt I played in.

It was an A international in Wales in 1995 and we were staying in a pokey B&B, but we won the game Your worst sporting memory?

Losing away to Spain last season Do you have a nickname?

Jock If your house was on fire, what one item would you grab as you ran to safety?

My pyjamas. My bed is my favourite place How would you like to be remembered?

As a players' captain, someone who gave their heart and soul to the job and took great pride in pulling on the blue jersey of Scotland

Sunday Times (London, England) (Jan 30, 2005): p26.

Teenage dream

2005-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

THE growing popularity of women's rugby is reflected in the announcement of a youthful England team

for the Six Nations opener against Wales on Feb 4 in Cardiff. Six squad members are under 23, including Michaela Staniford (pictured), who will become

the youngest England international when she appears at outside centre.

The A-level student learned the game at Rickmansworth School and Fullerians, before joining the East Durham and Houghall Community College academy .

"Michaela is a natural footballer and very talented," Geoff Richards, the England coach, said. "Of course, she's inexperienced, but with the World Cup 18 months away now is the time for young players like her to get their chance."

Staniford will be 18 years and 24 days old when she plays against Wales, beating scrum-half Danielle Waterman, 43 days older when she won her first cap two years ago.

Richards believes the growth in women's rugby at clubs and schools has built a pool of far better players. In the past, women tended to start the game at university.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Jan 20, 2005)

Isherwood works her wizardry to enhance women's game; Interview.

2004-10-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Sarah Potter

Sarah Potter talks to the ambitious administrator who is the driving force behind the sport

CAROL ISHERWOOD has worked magic on women's rugby, so it seems only proper that she has been mixing it with J. K. Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter. The meeting was a touch surreal, because it was arranged by the Queen, who hosted a lunch last summer for the nation's most successful females. The author's world-storming fame demanded her presence, but the largely unknown Isherwood has a dazzling list of credits, too.

The 43-year-old started a women's rugby club at Leeds University in 1981 when she was a history student, was a founder member of the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) two years later, captained the first Great Britain and then England teams later that decade, was appointed OBE last year and now, as the union's director of rugby, oversees a burgeoning game from her office at Twickenham stadium.

"It's funny where you find yourself," Isherwood said, with trademark understatement. "The truth is that 20 years ago none of the RFUW founder members had any idea what we were taking on or how the sport was going to boom. We simply wanted a structure so that we could organise a league. Then J. K. Rowling tells me that her daughter wants to play rugby; I must have just stood there looking dazed."

Few, though, would imagine Isherwood lost for words. Talking rugby is a vocation, progress a must. So the Super Fours -a tournament for the 88 elite players in England -continues this weekend, at the Broadstreet club, near Coventry, with a few changes. "It's in its fifth season and has been very successful for the players and the selectors in the lead-up to our Six Nations tournament," Isherwood said. "It's raised standards, so this season we're running it over three consecutive weekends. We're also not assigning coaches to the teams. We want the players to have the extra responsibility, so that they can develop their decision-making and problem-solving."

Isherwood is a Level Three coach -she was the first woman in England to reach that standard -but as the game's leading administrator, her difficulty is how to get the green light to host the next World Cup. The first such tournament, held in Cardiff in 1991, had Isherwood's fingerprints all over it. The 2006 version the fifth for the women -would be a lost opportunity, Isherwood believes, if it were not held in Britain. The International Rugby Board (IRB), though, seems reluctant to agree to the RFUW's costings.

"UK Sport have offered us a grant of Pounds 250,000 to help stage the World Cup," Isherwood said, "and the Rugby Football Union, the men's governing body, with whom we have increasingly strong links, have also agreed to help. I'm not aware of any other country bidding to stage it and we've been in negotiations with the IRB for six months. The finance doesn't seem to be enough for the IRB in terms of what they're willing to put in, but I don't want to cut too many corners in our bid.

It's vital for the women's game that the World Cup be a showcase for everything that's good, which includes hosting the tournament properly."

Quite so, since 34 nations have officially registered an interest in participating. The inaugural event of 1991, when England lost to the United States in the final, included only 12 countries.

"Deborah Griffin, who is still the RFUW's honorary treasurer, pretty much ran it all," Isherwood said. "It came about because a group of us who'd played in the first international, when we were known as Great Britain -said, 'Why don't we have a World Cup?' We didn't have much money, but Cardiff City Council and Sport England were fantastic, as were the hordes of volunteers."

The latest official estimates put the number of women playing regularly at club level at almost 8,000. Up to 20,000 children participate in either primary or secondary schools and last season a record 120 teams in the under-16 age group were registered with the RFUW.

Isherwood is overseeing a budget of Pounds 1 million. The sense of rags to riches is acute, especially given the financial restrictions that surrounded the first international in 1986. "On the morning of the match I had one mate going down the motorway to collect the shirts, which were late from the suppliers, and another at the airport to meet the French," Isherwood said. "They were expecting a bus to collect them, but I hadn't even thought of that. It was like, 'Here's your Tube tickets.' Stuff like that deepens friendships, although I'm glad to say we do things a bit more professionally these days."

The Times (London, England) (Oct 7, 2004): p88

I toughed it out with women's rugby team -and lived.

2004-06-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Stefanie Marsh

"CARNAGE" is how it was described. Last weekend, injuries resulting from the women's National Festival of Rugby earned the tournament the sobriquet the Battle of Lichfield.

Ankles were sprained and muscles were ruptured. A hip was dislocated and bones were broken. So numerous were the casualties from the two-day tournament that emergency services classified it as a "major incident".

At one stage ambulance teams had to mobilise helicopters because they had run out of vehicles.

In the words of one Staffordshire ambulance spokesman, Bob Lee: "The girls came from all over the country for the tournament, which was a knockout. And knockout was an appropriate choice of word."

There are now a record 8,000 women and girls playing rugby in 500 teams across Britain, with growth boosted by the England men winning the Rugby World Cup in Sydney.

Inevitably, a journalist had to get to the bottom of this success story. More inevitably still, only the weediest, most cowardly journalist would do. To paraphrase my thoughts as I made my way to meet some of the hardest women Britain: "You? You will be flattened."

And so it was that I found myself face to cauliflower ear with some of the nation's top women rugby players on Thursday evening.

Wasps, the favourites to win the women's Rugby world National Cup next Sunday, had agreed to interrupt their training to show this sports-shy ingenue in oversized shorts the ropes. Their mantra: "Rugby is a contact sport, not a violent sport."

I must admit to not really believing that last bit, having read about Susie Appleby's incredible bravery during a trial match in Loughborough.

In the course of the game, the scrum half with the England women's rugby union received a nasty gash on her face.

She was given two options: either have the stitches across her cheek under anaesthetic and quit the game or have the doctor sew her face together without a painkiller. She went for the "live embroidery" option.

Despite my expectations, this gathering of the country's finest women's team did not resemble the inside of an accident and emergency department.

Talk of the "dangers of the sport" were dismissed with a snort or a wave of the hand -no broken fingers in evidence. Though it is claimed by its practitioners that women's rugby is Britain's fastest-growing sport, coverage of the game is often unfairly confined to hand-wringing pieces about its violence, many of the Wasps complained. A case in point is Norman Wells, the director of Family and Youth Concern, who said this week that "girls just aren't made for playing rugby".

"That kind of attitude is 20 years old and utter rubbish," said Paula George, the former England captain, a statuesque woman of 35 who has broken her collarbone in the course of her career but looks like a swimsuit model.

George, like many of the women who reach this level, is a purist in the mould of Roy Keane, if Keane were a charismatic black woman from Wales without a temper.

She has ruthlessly cut dairy products, red meat and bread from her diet and drinks alcohol -a "poison" -only on special occasions. That translates as four times over the past 12 months.

But George knew that beyond sticking to an impossibly strict diet or winning the semi-finals this Saturday, there lies a bigger challenge ahead today: the prospect of initiating me to the game.

Rosie Williams, the team's managing director and keen rugby player, and Zuri Toppin, the team's volunteer co- ordinator and a former Canadian international, were assigned the task and cheerfully lied to me about my prospects.

Apparently, neither my low pain threshold nor my natural aversion to sport is a barrier to my becoming an international rugby star. "First rule of tackling," said Williams pointing to her bottom, "cheek to arse-cheek. Yours to mine."

I obliged and experienced the dull pang of humiliation associated with not being very good at sport while Williams feigned collapse.

Rugby play-offs, page 40

THIRTY YEARS OF GIVING IT A TRY

Women's Rugby was first played seriously in Britain in the late 1970s

The game was initially played mainly by student teams such as Keele University, University College London, Marjons and St Mary's Hospital

The rules of the game are the same for men and women

Shelley Rae, who plays outside half for Wasps and England, is known to fans of the game as "the Female Jonny Wilkinson"

The Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU) was formed in 1983 and was responsible for rugby in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

In 1994, the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) was formed in England, with each of the Home Counties overseeing their own counties

The RFUW is affiliated to, but independent of, the RFU. It organises its women's leagues and competitions separately and has to find its own sponsorship

The RFUW has more than 350 clubs, from under-16s to seniors

Top men's clubs, such as Wasps, Saracens, Worcester, Rosslyn Park, London Welsh, Blackheath and Harlequins now have women's teams

The first women's International in Britain took place in April 1986 at Richmond Athletic Ground in London. Great Britain played France but were beaten 14-8

Cardiff hosted the first Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991

Twelve countries participated in the the first Women's Rugby World Cup, a week-long tournament England reached the final but lost to the USA 19-6

England got its revenge at the second World Cup in Scotland in 1994, beating the USA 38-23

The third World Cup in 1998 was the first to be officially recognised by the International Rugby Board

New Zealand defeated England, the defending champions, in the semi-finals of the third World Cup by 44 points to 11 and went on to win the competition

A record 16 nations, including Japan and Samoa, took part in the most recent World Cup in Barcelona in 2002. In the final England lost to New Zealand by 19-9

The Times (London, England) (May 15, 2004): p8

Dawn of equality at Murrayfield; Rugby Union.

2004-03-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

Lewis Stuart

THE growing integration of men's and women's rugby in Scotland took another step forward yesterday when it was announced that Murrayfield is to become the main home ground for both sexes. The women's team will play four matches there this season, all of them immediately after men's matches on the same pitch.

The women hope that the fans who have brought tickets to the men's match will stay on to support them as well - tickets will cover both matches - and they will not only get a decent crowd but may even make a few converts at the same time. It is all part of a series of moves to merge the male and female games, most dramatically shown by the decision taken at the last annual meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union to give the women representation on the general committee.

The match on November 27 is against the United States, losing finalists when the Women's World Cup was held in Edinburgh ten years ago, which follows the men's match against South Africa. It will be the third time that the women have played at the home of Scottish rugby after matches against Sweden and France last season.

The move to end the segregation that saw the women driven out to play their internationals on club grounds, usually 24 hours after the men, was welcomed yesterday by Donna Kennedy, the most capped woman player. "This is absolutely fantastic news," the back-row player, who has been capped 77 times, said.

"Having the opportunity to play at Murrayfield is awesome. It's recognition that we are not just regarded as a bunch of girls playing on a Sunday afternoon but international athletes. The USA match will be a good contest to raise awareness of the women's game and encourage more women to become involved."

The Times (London, England) (Oct 6, 2004): p73.

In training with Mary Pat Tierney; Your fitness.

2004-02-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Mary Pat Tierney

Mary Pat Tierney is fly-half for the Scotland women's rugby team that plays Wales in the Six Nations championship

For the past two years I have been following a strict training regime to improve my fitness for the national squad. The Scottish Rugby Union has asked the women's team to commit to this training programme for the next two years, until after the next World Cup.

My immediate priority is Saturday's Six Nations match. We meet up on Wednesday and fly down to Bristol before travelling on to Cardiff. On Thursday we will have two training sessions, with a lighter one on Friday, before a team meeting in the evening. This is Scotland's first competitive match of the year and we will spend the time doing a series of rugby drills and playing a number of practice matches.

Combining work and rugby

From Monday to Friday, I work full-time as a solicitor in Edinburgh. Although I start a new job in March, my current employers have been extremely flexible with my training. But, to maintain my fitness, I train every day during my 90 minute lunch break

Monday: after playing on Sunday, I have a recovery session at my local swimming pool

Tuesday: I usually spend 30 minutes on a rowing machine; I row for 90 seconds, rest for a minute, and so on. After work, I head straight for training with Watsonians rugby club between 6.30pm and 8pm. Training incorporates drills such as dynamic stretching, tackling or hitting bags, handling drills, touch rugby or six-on-six matches

Wednesday: probably my hardest session of the week, with an hour of weights. My programme is similar to how weightlifters train -power clenches, press-ups and leg pulls -the theory being that I should be able to replicate the same explosive power in a match

Thursday: at lunchtime I visit a local park and sprint. In the evening I have another session with Watsonians

Friday: depending on how the week has gone, I usually fit in another weights session

Saturday: myself and a few of the team hire a squash court in the morning to perform non-weight-bearing drills and routines, aimed at strengthening our legs and abdominal muscles.

Sunday: normally a club match, although the league is suspended during the Six Nations

Sunday Times (London, England) (Feb 8, 2004): p29.

Women's cup bid

2003-10-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

While all eyes are on Australia, England have launched a bid to host the next Women's Rugby World Cup in 2006. Beaten finalists in Barcelona in 2002, England hope to go one better on home soil, with their bid to stage the tournament based on a final at Harlequins' Stoop Memorial Ground.

Sunday Times (London, England) (Oct 5, 2003): p22.

In training with Susie Appleby; Your fitness

2003-03-30T13:24:00.000-08:00

Susie Appleby is scrum-half with the England women's rugby union team Before taking a career break from the police force, I worked full-time and played rugby. Training was difficult to fit in, because I was juggling so many things at once. The national lottery now pays my salary, and I am one of the few professional women rugby players.

In the past five years, my training has become more rugby-specific and more focused on improving my game. Sport England supplies the England team with personal trainers. I see mine for an hour each week, but he guides me through the rest of my training regime.

Rugby is a contact sport, but even though I am a woman, it does not cross my mind when I get on the pitch that I could get hurt. I do what comes naturally. If you are scared of going into challenges, that is when you will be injured.

Training is essential to prepare yourself before a match; if you are not physically fit, you are more likely to be injured. If you train hard, you can play hard and take all the knocks.

There are a few women in the England team who have had babies, but it has not stopped them from getting back into the sport. Preconceptions about women's rugby still exist, but things have improved over the years Weekly routine Monday: the day after a game, we have a recovery session in the morning, which includes swimming, running and a massage Tuesday: with my personal trainer we focus on speed endurance, speed agility, my reaction to the ball and sprinting. In the evening I have a two-hour rugby session at Clifton Ladies rugby club which ends at 9pm Wednesday: weight training in the gym, focusing on the legs and upper body.

Playing at scrum-half and occasionally fly-half, I need quick speed off the mark.

In the evening I have another session with my club Thursday: speed endurance session in the morning, followed by a swim in the afternoon Friday: back in the gym, but will begin to ease off, with a game so close. In the afternoon I focus on individual skills, such as passing and ball control with a partner Saturday: rest day Sunday: match day. Just have a light snack before a club game at 2pm Diet: My intake consists mainly of carbohydrates and protein - pasta, chicken, tuna, for example End of the season: the season runs from September to May. When it ends, we play a lot of touch rugby. In the gym we use heavier weights and work for longer hours, to maintain strength and stamina, because we are not playing.

The England team travels to Canada in June to play in the Churchill Cup. It will be the first time that the men's and women's teams have toured together

Sunday Times (London, England) (March 30, 2003): p31

Backstage: Janette Shaw: Assistant manager of the England women's rugby team.

2003-03-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

Janette Shaw

Although I'm only 24, doing something usually carried out by 30-year-olds and upwards, I regard myself as team mum, which is odd because I'm younger than most of those I'm managing.

My own time playing rugby came to an abrupt end at only 21. By then I'd already been in the England A team as a centre, but I had to retire after sustaining serious cruciate ligament damage during a university match. The lowest point was my entire left leg turning black and the doctors talking about amputation; at least it didn't come to that.

A few months later I got the chance to manage the England students side. For a while, if I saw someone falling over after a tackle, I'd think, "Oh God, she's hurt her knee", and avert my eyes. Then I'd look again and see she was all right.

Although there are full-time staff in team England, being assistant manager means combining it with my career as a PE teacher. I'm at a girls' school in Manchester and had to seek permission to apply for the role with England because I need to take a day off to travel to a fixture or up to three weeks away for tours. But my head teacher was just brilliant.

The current team manager is Heather Stirrup and the plan is for us to work together so I can learn the ropes, as preparation for when she eventually steps down. My age helps me to really understand where the newer players are coming from and I've been around long enough to know how the established ones are feeling, too.

We'll get together on Friday, the day before the game against Scotland. Pre-match nerves tend to surface about bedtime, with anyone who starts to doubt her ability just needing a little reassurance. Calming them by pointing out they wouldn't have been selected if they weren't any good can be enough to put them in a more positive frame of mind.

In the changing room as the kick-off approaches, I'm there to look after the little things for the girls: distributing chewing gum or hot water for gumshields. If I can help out then I will. I often hear: "Janette, will you look after my ring?" So I have all this jewellery on my fingers during the game and have to constantly check to see it's all still there.

We're not as fortunate as the men in kit arrangements. They have a few shirts for each appearance, whereas collecting ours after a match is another of my tasks, because they will all be laundered and worn again.

The women's aspirations are the same as the blokes': wanting to play at the peak of their ability and staying as fit as possible. There are 44 in our elite squad and each has lottery funding. You couldn't question their commitment: many would happily over-train and so they all need to be monitored.

If there is a downside to playing rugby at this level, it's that the players are always under pressure to perform. That's why I don't think it's so easy being a player in this era - they're under greater stress than I am in management.

Occasionally people ask me if I'd rather be out on the pitch. That doesn't bother me: I've been there and enjoyed it, but I love what I'm doing now. And it isn't as if I'm missing out. Win or lose, I'm with the girls and part of it all.

The Guardian (London, England) (March 17, 2003): p31

England's world falls apart in final challenge

2002-05-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

lison Kervin in Barcelona

ON A sun-dappled pitch at the imposing Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday evening, New Zealand beat England 19-9 to win the women's rugby World Cup. Their victory allows the Black Ferns to hold on to the most treasured prize in the game and it sends a clear and simple message out to the sporting world -women's rugby needs to be invested in, supported and taken seriously.

The match was a battle between the two superpowers -a contest between England, who "invented" women's rugby, and New Zealand, their southern-hemisphere opponents who appropriated and developed it. A familiar rugby tale.

New Zealand were the better side on Saturday; they were superior in the forwards and awesome in defence, as they had been throughout the tournament. They have not conceded a try and have had just 12 points scored against them.

Their win marks the high point of an extraordinary and well-managed turnaround. Last summer they lost to England in New Zealand, prompting a thorough overhaul of their game. A panel comprising leading New Zealand coaches such as Wayne Smith and Robbie Deanes was established to work with Darryl Suasua, the side's regular coach, to improve standards. As part of the new regime, the women trained alongside men's Super 12 development teams.

The policy paid off magnificently on Saturday. As Suasua ran on to the field - looking like a modern-day Ruud Gullit with his dreadlocks, designer sunglasses and hefty jewellery, -his team's transformation was complete. There is no doubt that they have made an important statement about the future of the women's game. "We have worked hard since the summer -we've been fully backed by the New Zealand Rugby Union and had support from the whole of the men's game. That's why this side is so strong," he said.

England's women are also fully integrated into the Rugby Football Union now but, it would be fair to say, without the same enthusiasm that the Kiwi women have received. The attitude is that if anyone appears in the black shirt of New Zealand, they are to be treated with respect. The women's route through the World Cup was followed avidly in New Zealand and the final was screened live, even though it was at 3am local time.

At the end of the tournament, as the New Zealand team performed the haka to celebrate their victory and We Are The Champions resonated around the stadium, the England team clutched their silver medals to their chests and hugged one another.

To come so close to victory, and to lose in the final game, is a devastating blow, but to make it to a World Cup final in the first place is a magnificent achievement. That England have made it to every women's World Cup final says much about the dedication and commitment of those behind the game in this country.

The disappointment of not being world champions will linger for Paula George, the England captain, and Geoff Richards, the coach, but hopefully they will take the time to reflect on just how much they achieved in Barcelona and how much they have done for the women's game.

SCORERS: England: Penalty goals: Rae 2 (5min, 32). Dropped goal: Rae (19). New Zealand: Tries: Hirovanaa (40), Waaka (48). Penalty goals: Wilson 2 (4, 14), Myers (83).

SCORING SEQUENCE (England first): 0-3, 3-3, 3-6, 6-6, 9-6, 9-11 (half-time), 9-16, 9-19.

ENGLAND: P George (Wasps); N Crawford (Worcester), N Jupp (Richmond), S Rudge (Clifton; rep: A De Biase, Saracens 73min), S Day (Wasps); S Rae (Wasps; blood rep: S Appleby, Clifton, 56-61), J Yapp (Worcester); M Edwards (Saracens; rep: T O'Reilly, Saracens, 53), A Garnett (Saracens, sin-bin, 30-40), V Huxford (Wasps), K Henderson (Clifton), T Andrews (Richmond; rep: G Burns, Waterloo, 75); J Phillips (Richmond; rep: H Clayton, Saracens, 53), G Stevens (Clifton), C Frost (Saracens).

NEW ZEALAND: T Wilson; D Kahura, A Rush, S Shortland (rep: H Myers, 66), A Marsh; A Richards, M Hirovanaa; R Sheck (rep: H Va'aga, 52), F Palmer, R Luia'ana, M Codling, V Heighway (sin-bin, 64-74), C Waaka, A Lili'i (rep: M Robinson, 75), R Martin.

Referee: G De Santis (Italy).

The Times (London, England) (May 27, 2002): p26

England's final push falls short

ENGLAND narrowly failed in their attempt to win the World Cup on Saturday, going down 19-9 to a powerful New Zealand side in

Barcelona's Olympic Stadium.

The final, played in front of nearly 8,000 spectators, was tense throughout but England were ultimately outgunned by a New Zealand side who have taken women's rugby to a new level over the past 18 months.

The Kiwis, under coach Darryl Suasua - who announced his retirement following their victory - had conceded just three points before the final and fully deserved to win their second successive title.

England briefly led 9-6 in the first half, thanks to two penalties and a drop-goal from fly-half Shelley Rae. New Zealand struck back with a try either side of half-time, and an astute kicking game gave England little chance to further threaten the New

Zealand line.

Paula George, the England captain, had hoped that beating New Zealand last summer would give the team the confidence to repeat the feat. "We had them running scared for long periods," she said. "But unfortunately we didn't turn our pressure into points."

England's coach, Geoff Richards, felt that the better team had won. "New Zealand are a fantastic side and kept us under pressure for the whole game," he said. "We were living off scraps in the second half and, unless you have a platform up front, it is difficult to launch meaningful attacks."

Nevertheless the team hope that their performance, and the standard of play in this tournament, might persuade Rugby Football Union officials to allow women to play on Twickenham's hallowed turf. "Hopefully it won't be too long now till we play at HQ," Richards said, "We are a national team and we feel we deserve to play in a national stadium."

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (May 27, 2002)

New Zealand crowned the queens of rugby

2002-05-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

England 9 New Zealand 19

WHILE the nation has been captivated by David Beckham's left foot, few will have noticed that England came tantalisingly close to winning the World Cup yesterday.

England women's rugby team narrowly lost to a physical New Zealand team in the final of the 2002 IRB World Cup here yesterday but were part of an absorbing contest.

England's coach, Geoff Richards, felt the game took women's rugby to new heights. "It was a fantastic spectacle," he said. "Women's rugby has improved markedly since 1998 and will continue to. The game will increase in popularity and standards will rise accordingly."

Though the organisers could not claim to have converted hundreds of Spaniards to the oval game, the tournament has been an undoubted success. Nearly 8,000 people turned up to watch the culmination of this two-week competition centred around the Catalan city and women's rugby's two heavyweights contested the match in a stadium worthy of any final.

New Zealand are undoubtedly the queens of their game, conceding no tries and just 12 points in the whole campaign. England, though, were gallant losers, led superbly by their captain Paula George. "We are gutted," she said, "and I cannot put into words quite how we feel. But we have to look forward. I'm exceptionally proud of my team and I could not have asked for any more."

The women's game so long the target of scepticism back home, has made rapid progress. New Zealand, under the guide of their coach, Darryl Suasua, who retired following the final, has showcased players with improved technical and physical ability. Strong forward play and speed in the back line was too much for England to handle on the day.

But more important than the result was the spirit in which the game was played. It was a fantastic advert for the women's game which is already one of the fastest growing sports in the world. The final also provided a brief glimpse of what the men's game is lacking since it turned professional.

Yes, the pre-final entertainment was distinctly amateurish but that was the beauty of it. The majority of the 16 competing teams stayed long after the final whistle and mixed happily with each other. Enemies on the pitch, friends off it - rugby's brotherhood (or sisterhood) was evident. The women's game is free from the financial incentives and imperatives that have become part and parcel of the men's game.

Scores: 3-0 Wilson pen; 3-3 Rae pen 3-3; 6-3 Wilson pen, 6-6 Rae drop-goal, 6-9 Rae pen, 11-9 Hirovanaa try, 16-9 Waaka try, 19-9 Marsh pen.

New Zealand: T Wilson; D Cahura, A Rush, S Shortland, H Myers; A Richards, M Hirovanaa; R Sheck, F Palmer, R Luiaana, M Codling, V Heighway; C Waaka, A Lilii; R Martin,

England: P George; N Crawford, N Jupp, S Rudge, S Day; S Rae, J Yapp; M Edwards, A Garnett, V Huxford, K Henderson, T Andrews, J Phillips, G Stevens, C Frost

Sunday Telegraph (London, England) (May 26, 2002)

New Zealand crowned the queens of rugby

England fell at the ultimate hurdle in the Women's Rugby World Cup yesterday when they lost the final to the defending champions, New Zealand, in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium.

However, the game was much harder-fought than the Black Ferns' eventual margin of victory, 19-9, suggests. Shelley Rae's kicking kept the runners- up in contention throughout a tight first half, but New Zealand eventually eased clear with tries from Monique Hirovanaa and Cheryl Waaka.

Rae cancelled out two Tammi Wilson penalties with one of her own plus her first drop goal of the tournament before adding a second penalty to edge England 9-6 ahead.

But Hirovanaa put the Kiwis back in front when she spotted a gap after 33 minutes and crossed to give her side an 11-9 half-time lead.

Waaka extended that advantage to seven points when she breached the English defence six minutes after the restart, and the Black Ferns managed to hold on for the rest of the second half despite the sin-binning of Victoria Heighway. Hannah Myers, a replacement, sealed New Zealand's triumph in this 16-team, two-week tournament when she added a penalty in injury time.

France, beaten 30-0 by the Kiwis in their semi-final, bounced back to hammer Canada 41-7 in the third-place match. The French helped themselves to four first-half tries, including a pair from centre Nathalie Amiel, en route to a 24-0 interval lead.

In the second half, the prop Dalphine Plantet went over for her second try of the day and the French were only denied a clean-sheet victory when the Canadian centre Julie Foster touched down and Kelly McCallum supplied the conversion.

France completed the scoring in the 71st minute when their No 8, Clotilde Flaugere, claimed their sixth try. Estelle Sardini added the conversion to swell her points total to 11 for the match.

Scotland had to be content with sixth place after they were routed 30- 0 in their closing game by Australia. Charmain Smith, a wing, ran in a brace of first-half tries as the Wallaroos built a 13-0 half-time lead, and there were further touchdowns after the break from centre Sharon O'Kane and flanker Selena Worsley. The rest of Australia's points came via the boot of Tui Ormsby, who kicked two penalties and two conversions.

Had they not run into a rampant New Zealand line-up at the quarter-final stage last weekend, the Australians might well have finished higher in the overall pecking order than fifth.

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (May 26, 2002): p8

Women in final push

2002-05-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

ENGLAND face New Zealand today in the final of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona confident they have the gameplan to win the trophy.

They reached the final by beating Canada 53-10 on Tuesday, a win that gave them good reason to feel optimistic.

Captain Paula George said: "We will need to step up another gear to win. After all, they are the reigning world champions."

Coach Geoff Richards said: "We've got a plan of attack and we are confident in that, and that in the end it will come good."

Ruck & Roll: Mr Motivator Richards keeps women on top

SVEN Goran Eriksson could learn the art of the World Cup campaign from his counterpart with the England women's rugby team. Today Aussie Geoff Richards leads England into battle in Spain in the Women's Rugby World Cup final against favourites New Zealand. Last year he shared the award as UK sports coach of the year with Eriksson.

The Mirror (London, England) (May 25, 2002): p67

Findlay aims to lay down law in play-off

2002-05-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Lewis Stuart

SCOTLAND hope that their captain's fiftieth cap will be the good-luck omen that will take them to fifth place in the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona. Karen Findlay, the London police officer who leads them, reaches the landmark today when the team play Australia.

It is a repeat of the fifth/sixth place play-off in the 1998 World Cup, which Australia won, but a match that Scotland know they are capable of winning if they play to form. They would match their best finish in the competition, achieved in 1994, if they win, and will at least have lived up to their seeding. The Scots have been forced into two changes with Sarah Higgins, the full back, and Angela Hutt, the wing, picking up injuries in the win over Spain. They are replaced by Alison McGrandles and Jen Dickson, but should not be much weakened. Both could consider themselves unlucky not to be there in the first place.

For the final against New Zealand, England have left Gill Burns, their in-form and legendary No 8, among the replacements. Burns, 37, has played in all four World Cups and was England's star performer in their impressive 53-10 semi-final win over Canada on Tuesday. The final will be Burns's final top-level outing before she retires but she may not get on the field. Geoff Richards, England's head coach, instead will start with Claire Frost, from Saracens, at the back of the scrum. Frost is one of eight changes to the starting team that defeated Canada.

She will form a new-look loose-forward combination with Georgia Stevens, who will play in the less familiar openside flank position, while Jenny Phillips, who has recovered from a stomach bug, will take her place on the blindside.

SCOTLAND: A McGrandles; G Gibbon, V MacDonald, R Petlevannaia, J Dickson; D Fairbairn, P Chalmers; K Findlay, V Wiseman, A Christie, L Cockburn, C Muir, B Macleod, D Kennedy, F Gillanders. Replacements: A McKenzie, V Galbraith, J Hanley, L O'Keefe, J Sheerin, M-P Tierney, R Shepherd.

The Times (London, England) (May 25, 2002): p37

The Times (London, England) (May 22, 2002): p39

2002-05-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Daryl Holden in Barcelona

England 53, Canada 10

ENGLAND produced a remarkable turnaround in form yesterday to outclass Canada and power into the women's rugby World Cup final here. Having been disappointing in their opening tournament wins over Italy and Spain, England finally rediscovered their touch, scoring eight tries to Canada's two, to set up an eagerly-awaited final against New Zealand on Saturday.

Last night, the Black Ferns, New Zealand's defending champions, proved much too good for France in the second semi-final, winning 30-0, but they will have to be at their best to hold on to their title.

England will take much confidence into the final after destroying Canada in searing heat. They produced a high-class running game, with backs and forwards combining superbly.

Geoff Richards, the England coach, who was worried by his team's poor form, was pleased with the effort. "We always knew we were capable of playing good rugby and they really put it together," he said. "What was really pleasing was that they followed the game plan to the letter."

England certainly did that and they had stars all over the field. No one was better than Gill Burns, the No 8. She was dynamic, making powerful runs from the base of the scrum and out in the midfield in a commanding display.

Burns led a forward effort to which Canada had no answer. They struggled in the set-pieces, their scrum lost two against the head and they lost six of their own lineouts.

Sue Day, the centre, was again polished in all she did. She finished attacks superbly to grab four tries by backing up but she was also rock solid in defence and one withering 50-metre run from a counter-attack led to a try for Nicola Crawford, the right wing.

SCORERS: England: Tries: Day 4 (17min, 29, 54, 75), Crawford 2 (24, 52), Feltham 2 (9, 37). Conversions: Rae 2. Penalty goals: Rae 3 (4, 31, 40). Canada: Tries: McAuley 2 (36, 62).

SCORING SEQUENCE:3-0, 8-0, 15-0, 20-0, 25-0, 28-0, 28-5, 31-5 (half-time), 38 5, 43-5, 48-5, 48-10, 53-10.

ENGLAND: P George; N Crawford (rep: N Jupp, 75), S Day, A De Biase (rep: S Rudge, 75), E Feltham; S Rae, E Mitchell (rep: S Appleby, 62); M Edwards (rep: V Huxford, 40), A O'Flynn, T O'Reilly, K Henderson (rep: J Sutton, 50), T Andrews, J Phillips (rep: C Frost, 40), H Clayton, G Burns.

Scotland chase fifth place

SCOTLAND will have to defeat Australia if they are go live up to their fifth place seeding after beating Spain more easily than the 23-16 scoreline suggests yesterday.

After a solid opening, tries from Angela Hutt, the wing, and Fiona Gillanders, the flanker, gave Scotland a 13-6 advantage at half-time, Paula Chalmers kicking a penalty.

After the break, Niki McDonald, the centre, scored the third try, converted by Chalmers, who added a penalty.

The Times (London, England) (May 22, 2002): p39

Kiwi trailblazers pack a potent punch

2002-05-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

WOMEN rugby players have often looked tough, but mostly it was an illusion. All sweatbands but no sweat, to borrow Colin Meads's dismissive phrase for one England pack. Women can clearly run and pass - quite superbly in the case of the 1998 New Zealand girls - but their game often lacked the satisfying impact and collisions that sets rugby apart from other sports. Rugby, yes, but not as we know it.

Things change, however. The defining feature of the 1998 tournament in Amsterdam was the pace and sheer athleticism of the New Zealand girls, whose "play book" was exactly the same as their senior male All Blacks counterparts. They catapulted the women's game forward about two decades and to contain their virtuosity teams across the world have had to concentrate on defence and aggressive tackling.

So it has been getting very physical under the hot Catalan sun. Tempers have occasionally flared, players have been sent off and the tournament littered with yellow cards. Samoa - making their first appearance on the women's rugby scene - clashed mightily against Scotland and two players were dismissed, but

the biggest collision of all was Australia's clash with New Zealand on Saturday. There is no love lost between these two rugby nations and it showed. The result was probably the most intense, full-on physical confrontation the women's game has seen.

It was not dirty, just brutal. The smaller Aussies were outgunned in every department except courage. Big hits, now obligatory rather than simply desirable, were reeled off. The mother of all tackles came from full-back Bronwyn Laidlaw, who hit Tammi Wilson with such force to save one certain try that you feared for both girls. To their mutual surprise they got up,

gingerly, dusted themselves off and stared with new-found respect and awe at each other. They were still comparing notes about "the tackle" hours after the game.

The dam eventually burst late in the second half and New Zealand ran out 36-3 winners, poor reward for the brave Australians who received no favours from the referee. Their approach and courage was repeated in the next game when hosts Spain, heading for a heavy defeat on known form, took England to the limit.

The Spanish were pumped up by a noisy home crowd and highly motivated after a minute's silence for the father of their lock, Marish Rus, who had died two days earlier. His daughter, after wiping away the tears, had the game of her life, as did her colleagues. Mighty England, the only team thought capable of challenging New Zealand, found themselves in a dogfight and didn't like it. They trailed 5-0 at half-time to a try by Spain wing Isabel Perez and only two tries after the break by Nicky Jupp and wing Nicola Crawford, salvaged a 13-5 win.

England now play Canada, 11-0 winners over the fiesty Scots, in their semi-final tomorrow, while the French are next in the firing line against New Zealand.

"We were very nervous and poor, just as we were against Italy in our first game," admitted England captain Paula George. "Our hope now is that we can settle down and produce our best form. A decent performance must be just around the corner. We've trained well, the draw has been kind to us, there are no excuses really. We just need to make it happen."

The much anticipated New Zealand-England final at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday is still a probability. If so, it will be the last game in charge for Kiwi coach Darryl Suasua, who is seeking a National Provincial Championship contract after seven years with the girls.

"It's been a pleasure and a privilege and there's plenty the women can teach the guys," said Suasua, who coaches the Marist club in Auckland. "Firstly, discipline - generally they are much better. Secondly, attention to detail and work ethic. When I

introduce a new play or strategy,

they listen, absorb and execute.

"If I try the same with a guys' team, there's a think-tank of senior players mulling it all over and picking the bones out of it before it is accepted. And thirdly, fun. They always enjoy their rugby."

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (May 20, 2002): p09

England survive Spanish fright to reach last four

2002-05-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

England survived a major scare to qualify for the semi-finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Barcelona with a hard-fought 13-5 victory over the host nation, Spain.

For much of yesterday's quarter-final, the Spaniards had high hopes of reaching the last four and led 5-0 at half-time. But a rousing dressing- room speech at the interval by the England coach, Geoff Richards, injected a sense of urgency which bore fruit in the form of two tries within 10 minutes of the restart.

Earlier, it had taken nearly half an hour for the first points to be recorded when the Spanish wing Isabel Perez darted through a gap to score an unconverted try. Then, despite heavy English pressure just before the interval, the home defence refused to bend.

England, unused to being outplayed by one of the lesser rugby nations, finally got on to the scoresheet when centre Nicky Jupp crossed the Spanish line in the 46th minute. Four minutes later, right-wing Nicola Crawford found the space she needed to dot down in the corner and give England a 10-3 lead.

Five points was too small a margin as Spain again applied the pressure, but in the 53rd minute Shelly Rae, a normally dependable kicker who had missed two conversion attempts, at last found the target with a penalty which put England two scores ahead.

The results meant that England have now qualified for Tuesday's semi- finals, though the news wasn't as good for Scotland who were beaten 11- 0 by Canada, who reached the last four. Canada had lead 3-0 at the interval.

As the reseeding process is based on the number of tries scored, it is possible that England might have to face the favourites and defending champions, New Zealand, who yesterday thrashed Australia 36-3. The Black Ferns dominated both territory and possession, and it took a fine defensive performance from the Wallaroos to avoid a heavier defeat. The try of the game came in the second half when substitute Helen Vaaga found a hole in a maul before fending off three would-be tacklers to score.

The USA failed to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup final when they lost 21-9 to France. The French held a 16-6 half-time lead following tries from centre Nathalie Amiel and flanker Aline Sagols, and two penalties from full-back Estelle Sartini. Inez Rodriguez landed her third penalty for the Americans early in the second half, but thereafter it was a stalemate until Amiel broke through for her second try, and France's third, in the 79th minute.

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (May 19, 2002): p12

Brownlee rings changes as Scots take on World Cup favourites

2002-05-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Lewis Stuart

AS IF the brutal game against Samoa was not enough, Scotland now face the task of taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites in the latest round of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain. In the men's game, Canada may have yet to break into the elite, but their women have been one of the world's top teams since they started.

"There is no doubt they are favourites and we are the underdogs," Peter Brownlee, the Scotland coach, said last night. "But that often suits Scottish teams, it seems to work with our sort of personality. We've watched a video of their opening match, digested it and churned our way through it and I believe that if we can pressure them in the right places, we can stop them playing and do the job." It is a big task. Canada hammered Ireland 57-0 in that opening match.

In the Six Nations tournament just finished, Scotland beat the same opponents 13-0. They were never in danger of losing but struggled to convert pressure into points.

But before everybody heads off into a state of doom and gloom, there are some factors on Scotland's side. They have not played Canada at this level, but did take on the United States last November and won 22-3. Since the Americans and Canadians are traditional rivals with nothing to choose between them, that gives Scotland a benchmark that shows they are capable of springing a surprise.

"I'm not so worried the result, more about the performance," Brownlee said. "If we can get that right, we will be competitive with anybody. It is all about us and the way we play. It will be a much harder task than our opening game. Samoa were an unknown quantity and inexperienced at this level. Canada are a different proposition altogether, they have been around for ages, have loads of experience and quality."

Brownlee has made three changes to the starting line-up. Ironically, Ali McGrandles, the first Scot to be sent off in a full international, comes into the team to replace Denise Fairbairn, who became the second on Monday and is banned for this match.

On the wing, Angela Hutt is injured and Brownlee uses the opportunity to freshen up the back three, bringing in Rhona Shepherd on one wing and Gill Gilmour on the other. Jennifer Dickson drops to the bench with Mary-Pat Tierney coming into squad.

SCOTLAND: S Higgins (Royal High); G Gibbon (Royal High), N MacDonald (Glasgow Southern), R Petlevannaia (Murrayfield Wanderers), R Shepherd (Murrayfield Wanderers); A McGrandles (Richmond), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); K Findlay (Richmond), V Wiseman (Richmond), A Christie (Royal High), L Cockburn (Royal High), C Muir (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Sheerin (Richmond), D Kennedy (Royal High), F Gillanders (Wasps).

Replacements: A Mackenzie (Royal High), V Galbraith (Richmond), J Hanley (Waterloo), L O'Keefe (Richmond), B Macleod (Murrayfield Wanderers), M-P Tierney (Watsonians), J Dickson (Richmond).

The Times (London, England) (May 18, 2002): p32

Women's rugby sent to try us!

2002-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

MICK DENNIS

THE Women's Rugby World Cup is taking place in Barcelona and I want to make it perfectly clear that none of our team looks like Fran Cotton in drag.

That point has to be made because sportswomen are very sensitive about stereotyping and are desperate to be taken seriously.

My own record in this is not very good. A few years ago there was a TV programme about the Harlequins women's rugby team, which showed their AGM in a private room at London's Sports Cafe.

One of the girls went out to get the beers in, came back with a couple of foaming tankards and complained that some chauvinist pig had commented: "Nice jugs."

It is time to admit that comment came from a group of sports journalists on a night out and that I was among that group.

I apologise unreservedly, because they were very ordinary jugs and because women's rugby, like women's football or women's anything, is a serious sport.

OK. But we are not allowed to give it serious scrutiny or expose the unspoken truth that it is not very good.

The goalkeeping at this season's women's FA Cup Final was atrocious, for instance, but we were not supposed to notice and certainly not supposed to comment.

Next week I shall help out at a schools' football tournament involving girls' teams. Their matches will be very competitive and great fun.

But the girls are not as strong or fast as the boys, and the physical differences become more marked as kids grow up.

So while women certainly may be able to bend it like Beckham, they'll never be able to run like Owen or tackle like Campbell.

The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2002): p63

Boosted..by a lesbian tiff

2002-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

SUE CASTLE

THE Welsh women's rugby team may benefit from a bizarre lesbian love scandal among their Aussie rivals.

Australian player Cheryl Soon took an overdose after a fight with ex-lover and fellow player Tui Ormsby.

Soon, 26, was upset she and Ormsby, 24, had split up. Aussie team boss Larry Thompson does not want Soon in the side. But she and Ormsby will line up together today when Australia meet Wales in the women's World Cup in Barcelona.

In a report Thompson said Soon was in a "very unstable condition" after the bust up.

He said Soon should not be selected because the row had caused a "real split among the team".

But the Australian Rugby Union sent Soon for counselling.

An ARU spokesman said "The matter has been dealt with appropriately.

"We are satisfied with her capacity to do the job asked of her at the World Cup."

The Mirror (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p16

England saddled with weight of expectation

2002-05-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Daryl Holden

Geoff Richards, the England women's rugby coach, has dismissed suggestions that the World Cup in Barcelona will be nothing more than a two-team race between his side and New Zealand.

England warmed up for the 16-team event with an historic first training run at Twickenham last Friday. They arrived in Spain confident and should easily beat Italy in their opening match this afternoon, while New Zealand, the champions, are expected to threaten the 100-point mark against unfancied Germany.

New Zealand are the top seeds and have long been the dominant force in the women's game but they suffered their first loss in a decade last year when they were beaten by England in Auckland. As a result, many expect New Zealand and England to dominate in the next two weeks and meet in the May 25 final at the Olympic Stadium.

Richards thinks the tournament is wide open, with Canada, Australia, France and Samoa, the World Cup newcomers, not to be discounted.

FIRST-ROUND DRAW: New Zealand v Germany; Australia v Wales; United States v Holland; France v Kazakhstan; England v Italy; Spain v Japan; Canada v Ireland; Scotland v Samoa.

The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29

Scotland women in mood to prove a point

2002-05-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Lewis Stuart

SCOTLAND'S women rugby players stick to the tried and tested as they head into the unknown in the opening round of the Women's Rugby World Cup today. They may be fifth seeds and European champions but the pressure is on from the start.

The problem, as Barbara Wilson, the Scottish women's rugby administrator, admits is that all they know about Samoa, their opening opponents is that 23 of the 26 in the squad are based in New Zealand and that they are huge. "I saw that there is only one of their team who weighs less than 75kg (just under 12st) but there's only about half our squad who reach that," she says. "But the girls are prepared for a strong match and are geared up to give them a game. It is not always the biggest that wins these things."

While Samoa may have size and weight, Scotland have teamwork and confidence. Their opponents are a scratch side pulled together after the Black Ferns had had their pick of the leading players in New Zealand and have little experience of playing with each other or at this level.

And Scotland are heading for the World Cup with something to prove. While England have been getting most of the kudos and far more financial support -Scotland won the European title despite having had their lottery backing withdrawn and now that it is back, it is at a level that pales into insignificance compared with the money allocated to their English rivals -the Scots have been putting together some solid performances and head for Barcelona ranked only two below England.

In the Six Nations just ended, Scotland finished third, comfortably beaten by England but frustrated and angry with themselves for losing to France who went on to claim a grand slam. "We were all over them but could not score," Karen Findlay, the captain, said. "It was incredibly frustrating, we know we should have won that game."

Women's rugby is growing in Scotland but a big performance from the national side would be a huge boost, raising its profile to the stage where sponsors, a strong public following and a decent slice of financial support would inevitably follow. Failure would set the project back years, which is why today's game is vital for women's rugby in Scotland.

The Times (London, England) (May 13, 2002): p29

Welsh girls on top in England

2002-04-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

NINE of the top women rugby players in Wales are bidding to win the cup today - for an English team.

The women all play for Bristol side Clifton who are taking on Nottingham Casuals in the televised cup final.

And the Taffy lasses are coached by former Wales flanker Mark Perego.

The Welsh girls play their rugby across the Severn Bridge because the standard in England is so much higher.

Former Welsh women's rugby captain Non Evans, 27, said: "We reached the cup final once before and were beaten.

"This time we are hoping to go one better and lift the cup - for Clifton and for Wales."

Joining Non in the Women's National Cup Final are Welsh girls Lisa Burgess, Claire Flowers, April Dent, Dawn Mason, Pip Minto, Catherine Lenghan, Jackie Morgan and Fronwen Owens.

The game at Northampton is on Sky TV at 12.05pm. It's the only women's game broadcast live each year.

The Mirror (London, England) (April 13, 2002): p11

England's women in line to make Twickenham debut

2002-02-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

David Hands Rugby Correspondent

ONE World Cup win and appearances in all four World Cup finals have finally gained England's women rugby players their reward. Erica Roe's streak in 1982 has been the most enduring image of a woman on the Twickenham pitch but that is soon to change as England's women will make their first international appearance at the ground next year, in all probability against France on February 15, the opening weekend of the men's Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations Championship.

Patience has been a virtue for the women, of whom there are more than 7,000 regularly playing. They began lobbying to play at English headquarters six years ago and resumed two years ago from the inside when the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) took up administrative residence at Twickenham.

"It was fantastic news when the management board decided to offer us a choice of dates," Carol Isherwood, the RFUW performance director, said. "All the players are so excited about it and I'm thrilled for all of those who have worked so hard."

The women, runners-up to New Zealand in the past two World Cups, of 2002 and 1998, but victors over New Zealand on tour last year, were offered the choice of playing a curtain-raiser to either England men's Six Nations match against France on February 15 or Italy on March 9. As France deprived England of the women's Six Nations title last season, Isherwood's inclination is to take the first opportunity.

"We have had an intense rivalry with France since Britain first played them in 1986," she said, "and the profile that would give the women's game would be great."

The first women's match to be played at Twickenham was the national cup final of 1987, when Wasps beat Richmond 19-0 in a curtain-raiser to the men's county championship final between Yorkshire and Middlesex. The Welsh National Stadium hosted Wales against England in 1992 and the BUSA women's knockout final has been at Twickenham since 1995. Last year, the national cup final, between Richmond and Wasps, returned, but a full-scale international has long been deserved. Certainly the men will support it.

Clive Woodward, the England head coach, said he was delighted, adding: "Carol Isherwood and Geoff Richards (the women's coach) have done an excellent job and I would encourage the crowd at Twickenham to give them as much support as possible."

The Times (London, England) (Dec 20, 2002): p41

Experience counts for women

2002-02-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

David Hands

England 79, Ireland 0

ENGLAND achieved their ambition of a clean sheet in the women's Six Nations at Worcester yesterday against a side still desperately trying to find their feet at this level. But, for all the pleasure in a 13-try performance, there are plenty of areas to work on before the World Cup in May.

The countries do not occupy the same playing field in experience, physique or resources and it showed. Ireland, despite famous names in Rosie Foley (sister of the men's No 8, Anthony) and Rachel Tucker (whose father, Colm, also played for Ireland) are still building. Chris Diver led the rout with four tries. France, on March 1, will be a more demanding test.

SCORERS: England: Tries: Garnett (1min), De Biase (3), Diver 4 (10, 27, 40, 80), Crawford 2 (16, 68), Yapp (37), George 2 (39, 65), Feltham (70), Day (73). Conversions: Frost 6, Rae.

SCORING SEQUENCE (England first): 7-0, 12-0, 17-0, 22-0, 29-0, 36-0, 43-0, 50 0 (half-time), 57-0, 62-0, 67-0, 72-0, 79-0.

ENGLAND: P George (Wasps, captain; rep: E Feltham, Richmond, 66); N Crawford (Worcester), S Day (Wasps), A de Biase (Saracens; rep: S Rudge, Clifton, 51), C Diver (Richmond); S Appleby (Clifton), J Yapp (Worcester; rep: S Rae, Wasps, 68); S Whitehead (Richmond; rep: V Huxford, Wasps, 47), A Garnett (Saracens; rep: A O'Flynn, Waterloo, 31), M Edwards (Richmond), J Sutton (Richmond; rep: G Burns, Waterloo, 61), K Henderson (Clifton), J Phillips (Saracens), H Clayton (Saracens; rep: G Stevens, Clifton, 66), C Frost

(Saracens).

IRELAND: S-J Belton (UL Bohemian); S Fleming (Cooke, captain), P Kelly (UL Bohemian; rep: R Tucker, Shannon, 16-20), R Boyd (Cooke), F Neary (Waterloo; rep: L Cantwell, UL Bohemians, 40); N Milne (Worcester), K Eagleson (Cooke; rep: R Howell, UL Bohemians, 64); M Coulter (Blackrock College), E Collins (UL Bohemian; rep: J Longergan, Shannon, 64), E Coen (Highfield; rep: G McAllister, Cooke, 49), M Quirke (UL Bohemian; rep: R Foley, Shannon, 57), A-M McAllister (Blackrock College), R Reid (Cooke; rep: B Montgomery, Rippon, 57), F Steed (Shannon), E Wessell (Richmond).

Referee: S Cortabarria (Spain).

The Times (London, England) (Feb 18, 2002): p32

Tough childhood stood Paula George in good stead for role as England women's rugby captain; Saturday Interview

2002-01-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

Sue Mott

A GIRL named George. That was an interesting start in itself. Then she took up rugby. What was she trying to do? Put herself beyond the pale of civilised society, with all that stomping and scrummaging and singing potentially unsuitable songs? A black Welsh girl from a disrupted home and prey to racism, she might have been wise to avoid descent into a pit of female inappropriateness in a gumshield, as the dear old chauvinists would have it. But they don't know Paula George.

She is a barrier breaker, the England women's rugby captain. She had a tough childhood, fought - sometimes literally - through it all to become a Welsh netball international, part of the team who came fourth in the 1991 World Cup. But it didn't quite do. She trained once with the women's rugby squad at the South Glamorgan Institute. That was it. Hooked.

"I didn't know I wanted to be a warrior until I tasted it. It was all a bit of a dare at the time. I thought I'd just do one rugby session and get it over, to prove that netball girls weren't soft. But, to my netball coach's horror, I loved it. It was my first taste of something I really wanted to do. Not the taste of blood, not quite. It just arouses passion in you that's awesome.

"I'm a very passionate person. If I do something I go full at it, 100 per cent. The feeling was of freedom. That's the exact word. How many women's sports do you know where you can actually run with the ball? You can do almost anything to get through the person in front of you. You can use everything God gave you. Speed, size, guile. You never quite got that in netball. Not to diss netball in any sense. It's just that rugby is such a cool sport, a secret the men kept for years and years and years, and now we've cracked it."

And her collarbone, in fact. But that is the only serious injury in a 10-year rugby career, for Wales and England, Richmond and Wasps, which has propelled her, at 33, to the very pinnacle of a burgeoning women's sport. Oh yes, I'm afraid so. When the World Cup in Barcelona is played in May, 16 teams including world champions New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Spain, Scotland, the United States and Kazakhstan will be playing a brand of rugby that is not for the faint-hearted. Nor the sceptics.

You can say this categorically, having seen the video. Athleticism, commitment, professionalism are making their mark on a sport that was considered almost an affront to nature 20 years ago.

Emily Feltham, wing, screaming past the All Blacks defence to score the winning last- minute try last year in front of a crowd of 40,000 at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. The first time New Zealand had been beaten in 10 years. George's tackle on Anna Richards, the New Zealand fly-half, which resembled the slamming of a reinforced steel door. Above all, George's face at the final whistle. "The greatest moment of my life," she said. Fists upraised, the roar of ecstasy, the tight white gumshield. It is a picture of belief rewarded.

That belief has been tungsten strong. It had to be. She was born in Wales and grew up in a little Mid-Glamorgan village, Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend. "There was five of us. I was the eldest. I had four sisters. Four white sisters, because I had a different dad to them. As a family we were all quite physical. We were all born a year apart and we used to have a lot of fights and that kind of stuff. But they could never beat me. They were always trying to pin me down. Always rough-housing. I thought that was quite normal.

"I was in a school of 1,600 kids. The only black ones were myself and a young Asian boy. That was quite difficult. I was pretty tough though. I handled it in a variety of ways. Admittedly, at first I used violence but I soon learnt alternatives. I had a very good English teacher who taught me the power of wit. Taught me words were a far more powerful weapon."

One concedes this but can imagine that 1,598 pupils were also aware of her previous left hook. Anyway, she survived and thrived. "I came to like school. I loved it, in fact. I liked the discipline. I worked really hard. Got good grades. I enjoyed achieving. If I didn't get the grade I wanted, I'd hunt the teacher down and say, `Why have I got a B? What have I got to do to get an A?' I think growing up as one of just two black kids in the school makes you know what you want."

Her home life, through all this, had been sub-divided and reconvened in many different ways. Her mother left home and fought a bitter custody battle for her daughters with George's step-father. He won but was subsequently injured in an open-cast mining accident and the girls were sent to a foster home in Caerphilly.

"I remember having my 12th birthday there," she said. "I can't remember my 13th." She desperately wanted to return to the village she knew and eventually did so, but failing relations with her stepfather led her to leaving home at the age of 15. She went to live with a local woman she called simply "Gran".

"She'd always known me. She wanted to look after me and I stayed with her all through my GCSEs and A-levels." It was there George discovered her favourite book, Great Expectations, which has a ring of symbolism about it. "It was the only book Gran ever had in the house, so I just read it over and over."

She has long since been reacquainted with her mother, who remarried and lives in Ireland. She is trying to trace the father she never knew through the American military.

Concurrent with this fairly eventful home and school life was sport. Enter Miss Avril Roper, the games teacher who George has never forgotten who one break time plucked her from the playground where she was always playing cricket or rugby or football with the lads. "I wasn't allowed to play in the school teams, so I just joined in the kickabouts. Miss Roper was the one who dragged me off to netball. I said, `I don't want to play that. It's too soft.' So she just hauled me off to watch an international match at Cardiff, Wales versus Australia I think it was. I said, `This is good. I want to play this.' She said, `You want to play this? You got to play for school first.' So

we did the deal. Eighteen months later I was in the Welsh international set-up."

So George played goal defence in the 1991 netball World Cup. But being her usual robust self, she also played in the women's rugby World Cup that same year for Wales. And completed her finals for her degree in Sports Science at the Cardiff Institute. "So it was a pretty hectic year," she said calmly. "But it was cool. It was the year I decided to give up netball. We'd come fourth in the world. That was as high as we were going to get. I needed a new challenge. I decided rugby was calling me. I had to go for it."

Full tilt, as usual. She moved to London, played for Richmond, despaired the Welsh set-up and caught the eye of England. "Karen Almond, the then England captain, approached me and said would I be interested? What with England? I laughed. They were awesome. I said, `I'm not good enough'."

She wasn't. A tall, skinny athlete, hugely physical but without the physique. She was super-sub throughout the 1994 World Cup in Scotland, but that was not good enough for her. So, shades of schooldays, she nobbled one of the coaches and said: "What do I have to do to be first-choice full-back?" He told her. She did it. "I spent all summer working so hard. I was given a programme of training and stuck to it. To the letter. I came back firing. I put on weight, I was faster, I was stronger and that was the beginning for me."

The end we do not yet know. But the middle is a captaincy, hugely prized by her coaches and team-mates for the ferocity of her commitment and athleticism. "She could have been a track athlete," reckons head coach Geoff Richards, a former English teacher who has coached extensively in Australia. "She is," he said simply, "fantastic."

Under George's leadership England have won two successive Grand Slams and enter the Women's Six Nations in February as furnace-like favourites. (For example, scores from 2001: Wales 0, England 18; England 28, Spain 12; England 39, Scotland 0; England 50, France 6.)

It might be nice if some of us noticed this year. Routinely, women's rugby is ignored media-wise, achieving recognition level even below women's football and cricket, if such a thing were possible. "What we've got to do is just keep going," said George, for whom no object is insurmountable as a matter of principle. "You're not going to stop us playing. And, if we keep winning, by the time I retire we'll be huge stars." She paused. "If I retire at 108."

It would help if the Rugby Football Union would let them play a curtain-raiser international at Twickenham. So far they won't. "It's silly, isn't it?" George said. "To have done it this year to raise awareness about the World Cup coming up in front of a good rugby crowd would have been awesome. Every time I see one of the England men or one of the boys coming out of the tunnel in their country's shirt, I think: we want to do that. We so want to do that. It's going to happen. We're not going away. It might as well happen now."

She is not strident. Just positive. By profession as well as personality. This very morning she had been teaching what she calls "Sports Psyche" to a group of A-level students at Vyners School in Ruislip. They were discussing what she calls "good aggression". The sort invaluable on the field. Not the sort that makes footballers get drunk, violent and vomit-splattered in public.

"Oh, I know," she said. "The one thing that really gets me is football. You don't have to be perfect to play sport at the top level, but you should be aware that people look up to you - especially little ones. I'm sure that, if I was coaching those footballers who behaved like that, they wouldn't be in my team."

This may not be as academic as it sounds. Her ambition, apart from lifting the World Cup this May, is to coach a men's team in the future if she proves good enough. "Because I can. Because it would be fun. Saracens, Wasps, right up through the England network. I wouldn't be happy with any old side."

Don't scoff. This is the woman who when teaching in Southall produced the first all-Asian women's contact rugby team. The mother who wrote in to complain received a letter straight back saying: `You let your child play hockey with a dangerous implement, in my opinion, and a really hard little ball." No more problem.

I wouldn't put anything past her. Especially not the New Zealand fly-half.

Daily Telegraph (London, England) (Jan 12, 2002): p07

Historic win for women; Rugby Union

2001-06-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

Marian Phillips

The New Zealand women's squad, unbeaten since 1991, are shattered by a thrilling late victory for England, reports Marian Phillips

A DRAMATIC late try in the last act of the match, scored by Emily Feltham after a 60-metre movement, gave the England women's team victory over New Zealand and a 1-1 share of the Test series in Albany, New Zealand, yesterday.

The New Zealand Black Ferns have been dominant in the women's international game of late, were unbeaten since 1991 and are holders of the World Cup. Their semi-professional squad is revered in New Zealand and only two years ago they defeated England by 67-0 and 44-11.

However, England had given notice of their own improvement by winning the recent series against Australia by two Tests to nil and by running New Zealand close in the first Test, played last week. Yesterday's match, played as a curtain-raiser to the New Zealand-Manu Samoa match, was one of the finest in the history of the women's international game.

New Zealand led 12-8 at half-time, with England's only try of the first half coming from Nicky Crawford, the Worcester wing. A superb try by Shelley Rae, the fly-half, gave England the lead at 15-12 in the second half but New Zealand struck back with a try and maintained their 17-15 lead until well into stoppage time. England's last attack was begun out of deep defence and carried on through several phases until Paula George, the England full-back and captain, sent Feltham over for the try that won the match.

"The key was our self-belief," said Geoff Richards, the England head coach. "New Zealand's record is frighteningly good but we had selfconfidence in our squad. It is probably the high point of women's rugby in England. It was a great match and I am delighted for the players."

The victory represents comforting news for those who follow the women's game who felt that New Zealand's domination had become so absolute as to be potentially ruinous. The England squad have benefited from one of Sport England's World Class Performance grants which has allowed the players funding for training and other equipment and enabled some players to become part-time professionals. Many of the England squad are accomplished sportswomen who have reached high levels in other sports and who have opted for rugby to take part in the boom in the women's game that has taken place in the past decade.

Carol Isherwood, the Rugby Football Union for Women's performance director, said: "This victory is a triumph for all our efforts and for the concept of grant-aiding of elite teams. Hopefully, it will put us on the map as far as New Zealand are concerned because some people here found it difficult to accept that we might be contenders. Hopefully, it will give the women's game at international and domestic level more impetus."

Prospects for the England squad are good, since the tour party contained a large number of promising newcomers. But for long-suffering fans in the northern hemisphere who have grown up with the notion of New Zealand superiority in the men's and women's game, the news from New Zealand is that the Kiwis, after a 22-17 defeat, had been roasted.

Meanwhile, Nicola Ponsford, a leading player and administrator in the women's game, received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Sunday Times (London, England) (June 17, 2001): p5

Scotland European champions

2001-05-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Scotland crowned European champions; Rugby Union

Lewis Stuart

SCOTLAND are champions of Europe in at least one sport. The women's rugby team carried off the trophy, beating Spain 15-3 on Saturday in the final in Lille, France, emerging from the competition without conceding a try.

After the nailbiting semifinal win over France, the previous holders, the final was a less tense affair, with the Scots taking an early lead as Jenny Dickson, the wing, slid round the blind side of a ruck to go over, and they extended it with Rimma Petlevannaya, the centre, battering her way to the line.

Paula Chalmers, the scrum half, who won the player of the tournament award, added a conversion and a late penalty, and although the Spanish threw everything into rescuing the game, the Scotland defence held firm.

"It was a tight match but we dominated the field position for most of the game and stuck it out to the end," Chalmers said yesterday. "We came on a mission to win and achieved just that. When the Spanish did manage to attack, they met a wall of blue that shut them out."

Apart from the heady enthusiasm at their triumph, there was also a considerable amount of satisfaction that they had proved a point to the managers of the National Lottery, who stopped funding for the side last year.

"Fortunately, the Scottish Rugby Union stepped in with aid, otherwise this would not have been possible," Chalmers said. "This is going to raise the profile of the women's game in Scotland a huge amount, and it gives us something to show the girls when they come to the summer camps, to show what can be achieved."

Rosy Hume, the team manager, said the key to the triumph had been, the link around the half backs, Chalmers and Denise Fairbairn, along with Jenni Sheerin, the no 8, the first woman to win 50 rugby caps for Scotland.

"Throughout the tournament, the defence, which had been a weakness in the past, was superb," Hume said. "We only conceded 12 points, all through kicks, and our discipline was also spot on with the team giving away very few penalties.

"The girls worked really hard for this. We came feeling we could win and although the heat in the final was formidable, we stuck to the task to come through in the end."

The real question is whether, having succeeded where the men failed, in capturing the European crown, the women's game in Scotland can use the victory to expand its profile ahead of the women's World Cup next year and the numbers taking part.

"I would hope that on the back of this, the lottery assistance will restart so that we can mount a strong challenge at the world cup," Hume said. "We need to start being able to bring the London-based players up for regular training sessions and organising weekends together."

Scotland do not win many European titles in any sport, so they are determined this triumph for women's rugby will be the foundation for an upsurge in interest in their sport.

The Times (London, England) (May 14, 2001): p5

Rugby's champion belles of the ball.

JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK

OUR rugby team performed abysmally in the Six Nations Championship and the footballers are struggling to qualify for the World Cup in 2002.

But in one fast-growing field of sporting endeavour, the Scots really can hold their heads up high - women's rugby.

Remarkably, the Scotland first XV, including three police officers, two nurses, a PE teacher, a sales representative and an insurance broker, have just been crowned European champions.

But lurking under all the talk of line-outs and scrum downs lie the more familiar women's concerns such as makeup, clubbing and boyfriends.

Flanker Fiona Gillanders admitted the women spend much longer doing their hair and makeup after the match than their male counterparts.

'It is something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine - guys certainly like it. The image has changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.

They run to us now, rather than run away.' Boyfriends watch their matches as often as they can and both sexes mix sociably in the post-match drinking sessions, in which the ladies always hold their own.

But Miss Gillanders admits that while they may look more feminine off the pitch, once they don the studs and get on the pitch they are every bit as aggressive as the men - gouging, scratching, kicking are all par for the course in the mauls, while punch-ups are not unusual.

One ploy which is used in the female game - less common in the men's - is pulling ponytails in a last-ditch attempt to stop opponents crossing the line.

Miss Gillanders laughed: 'If it's there to be pulled, then it will be as long as it stops the opponent scoring. It is a trick used by every women's rugby team.'

The Daily Mail (London, England) (May 15, 2001): p27

Sexy Denise is maul woman; SHE'S A RUGBY BABE

MAGGIE BARRY

MOST women normally associate mud on their faces with beauty treatment.

But for a group of Scots it is the ultimate way to spend a Saturday afternoon - lying in it face down.

They are Scotland's women's rugby team, and they have just put one over their male counterparts by winning a major trophy.

They have rucked and mauled with the best of them, slaughtering - among others - top-scoring France and Spain, in the European Championships.

They carried off the honours in Lille, France, at the weekend, putting Scotland right at the very top of women's international rugby.

But while the mud that spatters them usually comes from the gritty turf of the rugby pitch, Denise Fairburn is a perfect example of how they can scrub up well off the pitch.

Stunning Denise, 29, hopes the team's success can inspire young girls into the game.

She said: "I am a PE teacher and I would encourage any young girls to play rugby - it's a great game.

"I usually play on the wing because I am only 9st so I don't get a lot of contact.

"For the final I played at stand-off but once you explain to girls how to make contact safe they really enjoy playing rugby.

"It's also a game in which I found I improved very quickly and that's always heartening."

Flanker Fiona Gillanders admits the team likes to spend plenty of time after a match putting on their make-up and getting their hair right.

She said: "It's something we are actively encouraging because we know we are role models. We enjoy looking smart and feminine.

"Times have changed and men now like to see feminine women with great bodies.

"They run to us now rather than run away."

The women's team lost their lottery funding last year - ironically for not being successful enough. That means they have had to compete all year against sponsored and paid-to-play teams.

But that has made Scotland's success all the sweeter.

Flanker Beth McLeod, 26, who has 34 caps, said: "We had a very hard game in the tournament against France in very hot weather.

"Then we met Spain in the final in even more extreme weather conditions.

"But the result was 15-3 to Scotland and the girls were just ecstatic. The atmosphere afterwards was terrific. We were all very excited."

Beth went on: "Rugby is just great fun and there's good social life too.

"The women's team and the men's teams usually meet up for drinks afterwards.

"We really enjoy ourselves."

CAPTION(S):

HIGH KICKS: Denise Fairburn, pictured, left, in a glamourous dress and, above, in her training gear, fired Scotland to victory with crucial kicks; WING QUEEN: Star Angela Hutt glides past a Spanish player during Scotland's victory; GLAMOUROUS: But pretty Rimma Petlevannaya loves the rough and tumble of rugby; FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND: The team celebrates European success; SWEET VICTORY : Fiona Shepherd, Beth McLeod and Rimma Petlevannaya with the trophy

The Mirror (London, England) (May 16, 2001): p12

Lively women's movement; Richmond and Wasps revisit HQ for today's other final

2001-05-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

SO HISTORY repeats itself. The last time two senior women's rugby teams appeared at Twickenham was in 1987. On that occasion Wasps were the victors and Richmond lost out.

Now, 14 years down the line, the same two clubs contest the RFUW Rugby World National Cup final at HQ, as a curtain-raiser to the main event, the Zurich Championship final.

But other things have changed. For a start there is now a full-blown Six Nations tournament for women, some of which was shown on television last year; this season's tournament, sadly, went largely unrecognised by broadcasters.

"It was probably because England did not start the tournament too well," said Nicki Jupp, who plays in the centre for Richmond, the cup holders, and England. In fact she was wrong. Sky wanted to be there, but there were organisational problems, which meant among other things that that there was no guaranteed foreign coverage. But as is so often the case with minor sports, when TV does not cover something, the rest of the media tends to overlook it as well.

Yet overall Jupp believes the profile of the women's game has been raised, and Paula George agrees. Shortly before high noon today the England captain will lead Wasps out on to the hallowed turf for another historic step on the long road to serious sporting recognition. Since that first flirtation with Twickenham there have been women's matches at the stadium, but only at student level, and George said: "This is really important for the women's game. It is an indication that we have been accepted into the upper echelons of rugby union. In 1990 I played at Cardiff Arms Park, and I have been waiting for the time when I could do so at Twickenham."

As shop windows go, this one is not so bad. The Rugby Football Union are bracing themselves to cope with a crowd of up to 50,000 for the two matches, and if the weather holds that is not an unrealistic expectation. And since these are two of the top four women's sides in England at present - the other two being Saracens and Clifton - who have been equally matched in the Premiership this season, there is every chance of a feast of quality rugby.

It is certainly what George is expecting from her crew. "We pride ourselves on our handling game and we try to play 15-woman rugby," she claimed. "We have a really exciting back-line. There is Lou Latter on the wing and our fly-half, Shelley Rae, who can place-kick with either foot. In fact in a recent club match this season Shelley bruised the big toe on her right foot and so kicked four successful conversions with her left. There are not many men who could do that."

Jupp countered with a list of Richmond's pluses, including Spain's scrum-half, Roccia Ramirez, and their wing Emily Feltham: "She will be the fastest person on the field, and on the other wing we have Jen Dickson, who is very quick, but also very skilful."

And provided Sky commentator Dewi Morris, the former England (men's) scrum-half, likes what he sees and persuades the viewers that the product is good, then the women's game may be able to square the vicious circle that has left them without serious long-term backing.

"We need backing to develop, but until we get the media coverage we won't attract sponsors," said Jupp. Not that the women's game is totally bereft of backers. England players do not have to fork out for quite as much as they used to, as George explained: "We used to have to buy our England shirt if we wanted to keep it, otherwise we had to hand it back. Now at least we are given a shirt, albeit for the season. But we still have some way to go to catch up with the England men, who are given two shirts per match."

No one would be advised to put their shirt on the result of this match, however. The last time these two sides met, 10 days ago in a Premiership game, Wasps, having trailed 0-8, came back to win 10-8. They lost the first meeting of the season, though, by a try.

"It will be close," said George. "Whoever gets on with it and does not dwell on the fact that television is there and it is Twickenham will have an advantage. I am going to tell my players that it is just another game, on just another pitch, and ignore the fact that it is an historic moment for the senior women's game."

Jupp is looking to the past for omens for today. Not the past of 14 years ago, but rather that of last season. She explained: "Last year we lost to Clifton in the league but went on to beat them in the cup, so I am hoping that history may be repeating itself." Which is where we came in.

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (May 13, 2001): p12

Scotland close in on European crown

2001-05-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

Lewis Stuart

By the end of today, Scotland could be holding a European Championship title. The country's women rugby players face Spain, who they have already beaten 19 8 this season, in the final of the FIRA competition in Lille, France.

"It has been a fantastic team effort," Peter Brownlee, the coach, said yesterday. "We came to the competition with our hopes riding high, we have been 100 per cent focused on the game we wanted to play and we have been getting better and better as the competition has gone on.

"The girls want to win this for themselves, and it would be a considerable achievement, but it would also do so much for the women's game in Scotland if we were able to come back with the title."

The team were already in the elite group, and started with a hard-fought 13-3 win over Wales, with Jennifer Dickinson, of Richmond, getting the try while Paula Chalmers, of Murrayfield Wanderers, kicked a conversion and two penalties. They followed that by coming from behind to beat France 9-6, with Chalmers getting all the points from kicks.

"Basically, we squeezed the life out of them," Brownlee said. "The forwards were magnificent and while I would rather they had played more of their rugby in the opposition 22, you can't complain."

Spain, who are previous European winners, will be no pushover after defeating England in their semi-final, but the Scots say they are ready for the physical challenge they pose. "There are not many surprises in store at this level," Brownlee said. "We don't expect to see much as far as back moves and three-quarter play is concerned, they will try to boot the ball down into our half and drive us from there.

"If the forwards can repeat their showing in earlier matches, then we can come home as European champions."

The Times (London, England) (May 12, 2001): p44

Letter: Taking issue with Girl Power.(Observer Sports Magazine)

2000-12-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Gill Burns and Emma Lindsey

I was pleased to see that your magazine recognises the role of women in sport with your 'Girl Power' section in OSM . I was, however, bitterly disappointed to see that you have ignored the rugby union players totally in your selection. Women's rugby is no longer a minority sport and I am sure the 10,000-plus women who play up and down the country each week will also be amazed that you have not recognised our sport.

Only today there was an article in your newspaper reporting on Kate Hoey's interest and support of our game and yet our international players from all over Britain have been ignored. England finished third at the 1998 World Cup and only last month beat the USA, who were ranked second, to go up one place. England also cruised to a victory in last seasons Five Nations Championships.Perhaps Paula George, our current captain, should have been included in the top 20 women sports stars? How can you ignore a team that is now ranked two in the world? There are only a few of your 20 choices who are ranked higher than the current England squad.

Gill Burns

England captain 1994-1999

Vice president, Womens Sports Foundation

Emma Lindsey - who masterminded the compiling of the list - replies:

Compiling a top 20 of the British sportswomen was always going to be problematic as much because of deciding who to leave out as who to include, especially given that women in sport don't get much of a look in on the back pages. Although there was an element of subjectivity in the decision-making, ultimately editorial concensus was reached on the grounds of achievement on an international stage, relative to the depth and standard of competition within each discipline, with an added proviso to give a shout (where appropriate) to champions in sports which receive no coverage at all.

The Observer (London, England) (Dec 3, 2000): p6

Richards to lead women into new era

2000-08-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

A NEW era begins this weekend for England women's rugby when Geoff Richards, the former Wasps and Australia full back, becomes their first full-time coach (David Hands writes). He will meet his squad, many of whom helped to win the five nations title last season, for the first time at a training camp at Lilleshall before selecting the party to contest the Canada Cup in Winnipeg next month.

All the leading countries in the women's game are gearing up for the 2002 World Cup with professional appointments but Richards, who replaces Peter Kennedy and Steve Redfern, arrives with the experience of Australia A and under-21 men's squads behind him. He has also spent three years with the Australian Institute of Sport before taking up a two-year contract with England, funded by the Sports Council.

There is liaison with the senior men's game too, since Phil Larder and David Alred have worked on defence and kicking with the women's squad. Sadly, Richards will not have at his disposal for Canada the experience of Emma Mitchell, the Saracens scrum half, and the midfield duo of Sue Day and Nicky Jupp; all three are recovering from injury.

However, over the weekend he must perm 26 from the senior training squad of 36 for the party, as well as appointing ancillary coaching staff. His opponents will include New Zealand, the world champions, and the United States.

The Times (London, England) (August 26, 2000): p43.

Lomu of women's game fired up for European title

2000-05-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Pete Nichols

It was a little over a month ago that the English women's rugby team wrapped up a Five Nations grand slam with a comprehensive 64-9 victory over Scotland at the Stewart's Melville ground in Edinburgh. Only one of the four matches had been close, that against France at Massey, near Paris, in February, when England scored in the final minute of time added on to snatch a 24-18 win. The remainder of the tournament had been a romp, confirming their status as the best team in Europe.

In the modest but hectic world of women's rugby, however, there is no resting on laurels. Today in Almeria, on the eastern wing of the Costa del Sol, the first games of the European championship take place and England have to prove their superiority all over again.The cast list is familiar, for Spain, Scotland, France and Wales contested the Five Nations with England and they form the core of Group A in the European event. The additional teams in the top group are Ireland, Italy and Kazakhstan, fifth in the 1999 event and against whom England open their championship today.

Europe takes on an elastic shape for sporting events, as evidenced by the participation of the Kazakhs, whose capital city Almaty is closer to Beijing than Moscow. Even so, rumours will definitely have reached them of the player in the England team they will have to stop if they are going to win.

Chris Diver always wanted to be a firefighter. As a child she would pass the fire station in Slough on the way to school. "I thought, they squirt water and climb ladders and that would be fun," she recalls. Even now, six years into the job, she has an undiminished love of her work. "It's better than I thought, although we don't save lives every minute like they do in London's Burning; we get our share of fires in rubbish bins and horses that have fallen into trenches."

Diver's rugby career developed in a more accidental fashion. Unsure of how the fire brigade would feel about women enlisting, she decided to go to university first. It was during her final two years at Chelsea College in Eastbourne, where she took a Bachelor of Education degree in PE and science, that the university formed a women's rugby team and she switched her allegiance from hockey.

On graduation she applied to West Sussex for a job as a firefighter and was posted to Crawley. If it had been Worthing or Bognor the rugby career might well have ended there, but in Crawley there was a women's team.

Work and pleasure dovetailed as the fitness for the job - "you've got to be able to sling 14st people over your shoulder" - paid dividends on the pitch. In 1997 she was spotted by Carol Isherwood, the England performance director, at a sevens tournament in Crawley and enlisted into the national squad.

From the start Diver, at 5ft 10in and 13st, could easily have been assigned to the pack, but she has always been a wing. "I've never done any serious running, the last time was at school, but I'm naturally quick," she says. Quick enough and strong enough to earn the highest of accolades. "I'm the female Jonah Lomu, I've been told," she says, laughing.

A series of stunning recent performances, culminating in the last-minute try that stole that England-France Five Nations game, have reinforced the image and the reputation. Yet it was not an easy ride to the top.

"Last season I had a very good game against Scotland and the success got to me a bit," she admits. She became anxious about her perfor mances and her game suffered. The pleasure principle was discarded. "I can't really explain it. I just felt a lot of pressure, so I started working with our psychologist, Kirsten Barnes. Now I don't dwell on matches a week before they happen. I just enjoy it. They [the tries] just happen," she says.

For the past three winters Diver has played for Saracens, who have just won the league title ahead of Richmond. The 28-year-old is full of praise for Nigel Wray, who owns the club. "We've had women's matches preceding the men's games, which is great. He's been so supportive of us," she says.

She is eager for her sport to move more into the mainstream - "I'd love to play at Twickenham, wouldn't anyone?" - but the future of women's rugby is in the balance. With no television or gate money to feed the coffers, women's rugby union in the UK is dependent on lottery funding.

Recently the Scotland team lost a government grant worth Pounds 79,000 because they came only third in the Five Nations, and everyone connected with the England team tells you how tenuous is the hold on their funding should they not justify their ranking as favourites in Almeria.

On the other hand, the World Cup comes around again in 2002. The last edition was held in the Netherlands and won by New Zealand - the Black Ferns, as they are known in the women's game. The encounter that settled the issue came in the semi-final against England when the heat of the battle became so intense that two English players ended up in hospital, one with a broken nose, the other with cracked ribs.

England are one of the two countries bidding to host the 2002 event. What a pleasure it would be if the female Jonah Lomu, from Crawley, could put one over the world champions. It would be only fair, given the number of occasions the All Blacks' male Chris Diver has done it to us.

The Guardian (London, England) (May 8, 2000): p7.

England v Scotland

2000-04-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile...(Sport).

The England Women's rugby team defeated Scotland 64-9 in Edinburgh to complete their second successive Grand Slam... Midlander Karl Keska finished second in his 10,000m debut in the European Challenge in Lisbon last night... Spain's Miguel Angel Perdiguero edged out Laurent Jalabert to win the second Miguel Indurain Grand Prix... Ford driver Colin McRae led fellow Briton Richard Burns by 3.3 seconds after the eighth stage on the Catalunya Rally... Chris Byrd pulled off a surprise win to claim the WBO heavyweight title after Ukraine's Vitali Klitschko quit with an injured shoulder at the start the tenth.

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (April 2, 2000): p17.

England serve a tasty treat

THE England women's rugby team ripped their Scotland opponents to shreds to claim an emphatic 64-9 victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Wonderfully destructive in the tackle and ruinous on the break, England inflicted on Scotland their second-highest defeat and the measure of their superiority was such that they could have beaten the 76-0 margin set by New Zealand against the Scots two years ago. As it was, they seemed more concerned with flinging on every available substitute in the closing minutes.

Chris Diver and Nicola Jupp scored a hat-trick of tries each, while Selina Rudge, Jenny Foster, Jenny Sutton and Emily Feltham were the other scorers. Foster sent over four conversions with Diver kicking three as Scotland's haul was restricted to three penalties by Paula Chalmers.

The Times (London, England) (April 3, 2000): p37.

Rugby Union - March of Paula's army; Alan Hubbard finds that England's women rugby players are matching the men's achievements.

2000-03-26T12:12:00.000-08:00

SHOULD ENGLAND beat Scotland next week and secure rugby union's Grand Slam, doubtless they will celebrate by singing a few bawdy songs, throwing their coach into the bath and doing their best to get blotto in the bar. Ah well, girls will be girls.

It isn't just Matt Dawson's men who will be behaving much like rugby players are expected to behave should success come their way at Murrayfield on Sunday. Twenty- four hours earlier, Paula George will be happy if there is a modest outburst of unladylike horseplay down the road in Edinburgh at Stewart's Melville, where her women's team also take on the Scots in what could be the first leg of an historic double.

"Yeah, we'll be having a few beers and a bit of a knees-up if we win," says the 31-year-old captain and full-back, who hopes to be leading her team to triumph in their own Five Nations Tournament for the second successive year. "Rugby's a bit like that. You train hard, play hard and go out and enjoy yourselves."

Enjoyment did not seem that high on the agenda on a sunny morning at Bisham last week, though, where 45 of England's finest female ruckers and maulers had gathered for their final full-scale preparation. It wasn't for the faint-hearted, on the field or off. "C'mon guys, crouch, sink, hit, two-three-four," came the shouted command as the burly front row thudded their shoulders into the scrum machine, aptly labelled Rhino. When push comes to shove, England's lady forwards are an intimidating bunch and, judging from the liberally sprinkled fruity expletives, there isn't too much they could learn from their male counterparts about the niceties of the game.

Across the park, things were slightly more decorous as the willowy George and the backs practised some impressive running, passing and dummying under the tuition of head coach Peter Kennedy, who shares his duties between the England women and Exeter Chiefs. Like Steve Redfern, ex-Leicester and England, who looks after the forwards, Kennedy admires the endeavour and application of these women in the roughest of team sports. "They are prepared to listen and take things on board," he says. "They are quick learners and always want to do the right thing. They're great to coach."

No one argues any more that rugby shouldn't be a game for girls. It is now one of the two fastest- growing sporting activities among females, the other being football. And while women's football talks of going professional in 2003, women's rugby, in a way, is already there. "If you like, we're professional with a small `p'," says the Twickenham-based women's RFU performance director, Carol Isherwood, a former Great Britain captain and the country's top female coach. "We have 35 players on Lottery funding, which means they only need to work part-time." Three of the elite squad are married; one to an Army major, and another has a 15-year-old son. The rest are the usual collection of PE teachers, physios and students. There are two policewomen and a firefighter, and one of the front row works for a brewery. The hooker, Nicky Ponsford, with 42 caps, is an administrator with Sport England.

Nationwide, there are 270 women's teams, including those attached to illustrious clubs such as Wasps, Saracens, Harlequins and Richmond, with around 6,000 players. There are half-a-dozen leagues, two cup competitions and 60 youth sections. An active recruitment programme in schools, says Isherwood, will help transform a game that has been essentially middle- class because of its genesis in universities. Meantime, they will be lucky to muster a crowd of more than a few hundred in Edinburgh on Saturday, though in France, where they take women's sport far more seriously, some 4,000 watched them beat the French 24-18. Victories over Spain (31- 7) and Wales (51-0) have put England in pole position for the Grand Slam.

The women's game would love a higher profile, though they'll probably stop short of posing topless or spraying on the body paint to get themselves in the public prints. Anyway, scrum caps don't do much for sex appeal and those blood-red lips come by courtesy of Lonsdale gumshields rather than Revlon.

The nearest women's rugby has got to the tabloid treatment came when one of the sport's sponsors attempted a hard sell with a survey among the players which asked the question: "Who would you most like to snog?" Nicky Jupp, the centre, who, according to the survey, "at 6ft and a slim size 12 turns the heads with her good looks", said she could not decide between Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves.

There's a popular misconception that women's rugby is all butch and biceps. There's a flavour of that, but by and large it is a game played, if not always with a degree of elegance, at least with zest and dash. There's the odd broken collarbone and torn ligament, but no history of serious injury in the 20 years women have been playing the game. Isher-wood admits: "Some of the games can be a bit brutal, though there's a place for this with women just as there is with men. You need to be a certain type to play it, but then you do if you are a guy. Basically, what attracts the girls to the game is the same thing that attracts the men."

George agrees. "Physically, I can't think of a harder sport for women. For me it is the most complete sport and I've played all of them, from netball to hockey. Nothing has the same excitement, the same pace, requires you to make decisions under pressure, or more all-round skills." In the women's game, she is likened to Jeremy Guscott. Fast and flamboyant, she has played everywhere from full-back to flanker for her club, Wasps.

She works one day a week, teaching PE and A-level psychology at a Middlesex school and has an American father, Scottish mother and was born in Wales. A maternal grandmother gives her qualification for England, so there is no question over eligibility. Like most, she was converted to the sport "as a bit of a dare" at university. That was 11 years ago. Now she is about to collect her 40th England cap. "If someone asked me whether there's anything I would like to change in my life, I couldn't think of anything. It may sound strange, but when I play rugby, I'm living my dream."

The Independent on Sunday (London, England) (March 26, 2000): p18.

Interview with Nicky Jupp

2000-02-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

The tryscoring centre epitomises the levels of excellence now expected in women's international rugby, writes Stephen Jones

A SURVEY of women players conducted by Bread For Life, one of the sponsors, has this to say of Nicky Jupp, who will be in England's centre when they face their own Celtic crunch against Wales at Newbury next Sunday: "At 6ft and a slim size 12, she turns heads with her good looks." The survey reveals a dilemma as Jupp grapples with the probing question: "Who would you most like to snog?" She cannot decide between "Hollywood heartthrobs Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves".

The survey is presented, er, tongue-in-cheek, though it seems perfectly in order for the women's game to sell itself in any way with which it is comfortable. But Jupp does personify a new image, and not as a reflection in her mirror. When women's rugby first fielded representative sides, they comprised the best and fittest of a polyglot, if determined, bunch. These days, England's squad is an arena for athletic excellence of international class.

Most of the current squad have reached national or international level at a host of sports outside rugby, including track and field athletics, heptathlon, swimming, sailing, netball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse and karate. Rugby reaps the benefits. "Before rugby, I'd trained for years for speed, strength and stamina. You develop a fierce competitive attitude to training, and to sport," Jupp says.

She was an outstanding athlete in her teens, when she was "almost an avid hater" of rugby. She scored 4,500 points in heptathlon at 17 and represented Wales, where her parents lived, at heptathlon, all three of the jump events and hurdles. She was only dragged on to a rugby field through peer pressure in her first year at Birmingham University: "My track coach thought it was great off-season fitness work."

But now, it is athletics that is the sharpener for her new first love: "Gradually, the priority shifted." No wonder. She scored six tries in her first rugby match, but kept scoring in the corner instead of running to the posts to make the conversion a formality. "They shouted the hell at me." Soon after, she scored nine tries in a match, dutifully running round.

Her background, however, did not prepare her for a rugby specific, namely handling the ball, a user-unfriendly implement. Peter Kennedy, England's head coach, recalls the weakness: "When she came from athletics she was held back by her handling. She was always stuck out on the wing and if she caught it, she was fine. It was obvious to me that with so much talent, she had to move inside to get more involved and be nearer to the source of the ball."

She moved to the centre for Richmond, her club, and her hard work paid off. "By the time she played for England in the Hong Kong Sevens last season, she had progressed dramatically," Kennedy said. "She's worked so hard on her skills, her power training, the lot. She's always been a great character, now she is a player of European standing."

Jupp played a significant part in the dramatic win over France last weekend, a 24-18 triumph clinched with a try in the last seconds. She brought off such a clattering tackle on Natalie Amiel, the French centre, that the ball was turned over for an England try on the counter. She also looked a runner of devastating potential.

Unlike some of her teammates, who can forge a semi-professional career with proceeds from Sport England's World Class Performance grants, Jupp works full-time, with Carlsberg-Tetley in Northampton. But her dedication is daily, and almost frightening. "The goals are so high in internationals, especially when you see how far teams such as New Zealand have advanced," she says. "It's hard to get there and harder to stay there. When you are out on the field in an international, it just feels like a job that you have to do. You can enjoy it afterwards, but it ain't nice when you are out on the pitch."

When we spoke just before England's win over Spain in the Five Nations opener, I offhandedly remarked how good it would be for the sport if Spain should win. The look of withering disdain was well deserved. She might "turn heads with her looks" but she looked ready to turn mine to a point from where it was unlikely ever to face the front again.

But serious or not, I found a tremendous sporting exuberance in Nicky Jupp, a kind of joy through a pursuit of excellence. I told her that, in the course of my researches, one of her colleagues described her as a "serious party animal". There was no objection to the label. "I love life, I live it to the full. My diary is always full," she said. "But I take sport very seriously. If I thought it would help my rugby, I'd give up going out."

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 2000

Source Citation
Jones, Stephen. "Prolific Jupp raises standard for England; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 27 Feb. 2000

Lottery funding has galvanised women's rugby in Britain

2000-02-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

Stephen Jones

IT'S A different tournament this year. Spain enter the women's Five Nations championship for the first time, replacing a struggling Ireland team which has withdrawn to concentrate on rebuilding its domestic rugby.

The environment of the tournament is also changing profoundly. England open their campaign against Spain at Banbury today with semi-professionalism conveyed by lottery funding and standards of preparation so emphatically improved that the players are fit to be compared with international athletes in any sport.

They may not, quite, be on the verge of riches, but England's leading players can now obtain funding for equipment, medical care, gymnasium and other training costs and also enough to tide them over if they decide to revert to part-time employment.

The money comes from a national lottery world-class performance grant.
"It gives us so much more freedom," Carol Isherwood, performance director of the Rugby Football Union for Women, said.

"It can be a shattering experience trying to fit in six or seven training sessions per week when you are also working full-time."

But the important thing is not so much the money, as the status the grant imparts. "Because the lottery has recognised them as being comparable with international athletes in other sports, it gives the girls the feeling that they have been accepted - that means more than any monetary value," said Isherwood.

The funding also hands England the key to challenging for the 2002 World Cup and, especially, to catching the brilliant world champions, New Zealand.

While competition in the Five Nations is stern, England cannot advance until they meet New Zealand more regularly, not to mention America, Canada and Australia, the other major teams.
The world-class performance grant will fund England's participation in the Canada Cup in September, when New Zealand, Canada and, it is to be hoped, other top nations will be competing.
Isherwood is trying to arrange for the team to travel to New Zealand and Australia after the tournament.

Today's game may not prove quite as taxing because, even though Spain were the surprise package of the last World Cup in 1998, they lost to England in a recent friendly.
England's new-look team contains neither of the staple figures of the last decade - Gill Burns, the former captain, played for England A against England Emerging Players yesterday and Emma Mitchell, the scrum-half, has a knee injury.

Paula George, at full-back, assumes the captaincy.

This season's Five Nations fixtures:
February 4: Wales 10, France 27 (Swansea); February 6: England v Spain (Banbury); February 18: France v England (Massy); February 19: Spain v Scotland (Murcia); March 5: England v Wales (Newbury); March 5: Scotland v France (Edinburgh); March 18: France v Spain (Dax); March 19: Wales v Scotland (Caerphilly); April 1: Scotland v England (Edinburgh); April 1: Spain v Wales (TBC).

Sunday Times 6 Feb. 2000: p 5

Paula George becomes Englad captain; Jo Yapp looks ahead

2000-02-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

As demands in women's rugby grow, one player realises premier ambition

The international rugby men kick off 2000 with a new tournament, new rules and new captains. Italy join the more familiar adversaries to make it the Six Nations Championship and all will be in action on Saturday. It is a similar tale for the women, who open their revamped Five Nations Championship on Sunday when England, the title-holders, entertain Spain, the newcomers, in Banbury.

Injury has forced the withdrawal of England's leader and, as Paula George, the full back, takes the captain's role from the inspirational Emma Mitchell, a familiar name to rugby followers will step in at scrum half.

Jo Yapp, 20, is the sister of Tony, the Worcester fly half. While she plays for the Worcester women's side in the top flight of the Premier League, he turns out for the men's side who seek promotion to such heights. "It's rugby, rugby, rugby in our house," Jo Yapp said. "My Dad still coaches, Mum loves to watch and my younger sister plays for the second team."

Small wonder, then, that Yapp feels so at home at this smart, friendly club nestled beside the M5. "A lot of women's clubs have trouble with their men's sections because they don't really want to give them proper support," Yapp said. "But it's different at Worcester - they've always backed us totally."

Which means that the men turn up at training sessions, unstinting with their advice. "I get to the club early before our training so that Tony can help me with my kicking and passing," she said. "There's never been any rivalry. I watch him on a Saturday and he watches me on a Sunday. There's no game like rugby for its contact and you're always learning something new. It is special."

It is also a booming sport for women. Bankrolled by National Lottery money, many of the top players are semi-professional and the number of clubs continues to grow. "Just seeing the numbers we get for training shows how popular it is," Yapp said. "We started with ten or 11 turning up, now it's nearer 50. In the England team a lot of the girls are only working two or three days a week, which means the skills and fitness have improved immensely."

Yapp, who has 11 international caps, is a physical education student at Worcester College and there is no disguising that little would get in the way of her sporting ambitions. "Whatever happens, I will definitely carry on with rugby," she said.

The demands are increasing. After the Five Nations comes the European championship, then summer training camps and, yet to be confirmed, an autumn trip across the Atlantic, where Australia, New Zealand and the United States are expected to contest the Canada Cup.

"Those are the big three in women's rugby," Yapp said. "We don't get much opportunity to play them but, with the backing we now have, it does seem that we might be able to go. It would be valuable experience for the next World Cup in May 2002."

So far, because of Mitchell's brilliance at scrum half, international opportunities have been limited for Yapp. Her debut, on home turf at Worcester two years ago, burns especially bright. "I came on for Emma during the match against Ireland," she said. "It was probably more nerve-racking because it was here in front of my family and friends but it also made it extra special."

Ireland, trounced by everyone in recent times, have withdrawn from the Five Nations to concentrate on strengthening their domestic competitions. Spain, a talented side of free spirits, will be intent on an upset on Sunday. "We beat them 41-10 in Barcelona last month in a friendly," Yapp said, "but the score didn't really reflect the game."

Despite her tender years, Yapp is not easily fazed on a rugby pitch. A year in New Zealand did much to sharpen an already competitive nature. "It was an awesome experience because they are all so big and strong," she said. "I think it did my rugby a lot of good." In this Five Nations tournament, she would like to prove that it did.

Copyright (C) The Times, 2000

Source Citation
Potter, Sarah. "Yapp increases the hope of family fortunes; Opinion." Times [London, England] 3 Feb. 2000:

"Women who play rugby are not from planet butch"

2000-01-11T13:49:00.000-08:00

Raekha Prasad

We hear the voices telling women that their views, their understanding of the world, are as important as men's. We hear TV and radio stations and newspapers saying they want - need - women journalists, even if only to bump up audience or readership figures. It is a knock, then, to open the first edition of The Journalist's Handbook in the new millennium. The media quarterly is devoted entirely to the media themes and personalities of the 20th century, the centrepiece of which is a collection of profiles of journalistic heroes. There are 23. All of them are men. No Martha Gellhorn, no Katharine Graham, no Kate Adie, Katharine Whitehorn, Mary Stott, Jill Tweedie. Roll, roll, roll on the new millennium.

It's official. Women who play rugby are not from planet butch. In fact they have things in common with, well, normal women. Just look at the evidence. A survey of women rugby players has found that playing rugby does not disqualify wimmin from being seduced, being chatted up and having an ideal date; 28% said they'd want to go white water rafting and 80% said they like a GSOH. So next time you feel confused about whether women playing rugby are really women, do the ultimate gender test and see if she's interested in your oar and laughs at your jokes. How useful! How practical! How depressing. Sidelines has been sent desirable gloves. Desirable, that is, if you're dealing with your cat's litter tray, gutting fish, chopping chillies or doing housework. Yes, three pairs of household gloves without a hint of irony. And to top it off, the bumf tells us when we're scrubbing the toilet rim, these rubber monsters will protect our manicured nails and keep our hands looking young. Nice to know someone cares. Where's the chocolate?

Source Citation
"Women: Side lines." Guardian [London, England] 11 Jan. 2000

Rugby girls are torn off a strip

1999-11-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

THE Ohio State University women's rugby team caused a stir when they stripped off their jerseys during a T-shirt promotion on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. But now they have been suspended from playing while the University investigates the matter.

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Rugby girls are torn off a strip." Mirror [London, England] 3 Nov. 1999

Lawrence Dallaglio coaches a women's sevens team for Sky TV

1999-10-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

THE FUTURE was looking cloudless for Lawrence Dallaglio back in the spring of 1998 when he agreed to be a Guiding Star for a new series on Sky One. The station had already signed up David Seaman to manage a park football side, and a page three girl to teach wannabe page three girls how to, well, how to get undressed, presumably. Dallaglio, meanwhile, was asked to coach the Bancroft Women's Rugby Union Club as they prepared for a big sevens tournament.

A few days' filming, a nice wedge of green in the pocket of his shorts, and an hour's worth of positive publicity for the lantern-jawed England captain. It seemed too easy to be true. But of course, no sooner was the film in the can than the biggest, blackest cloud Dallaglio had ever seen suddenly appeared on the horizon. What Murdoch giveth with one hand, one of the countless others was about to take away.

And so it was that while last week's Guiding Star still looked like a blatant PR exercise, it felt altogether less cosy than originally intended. Try as you might, you could never forget the awful mess into which this rather quiet, self-conscious giant of a man was about to blunder. The central figure was no longer a talented player on the way up, but a daft one in danger of sliding down the other side.

It meant that it was impossible to watch otherwise innocent moments without smirking. His team, for instance, spent a night during the two-day tournament all tucked up together in a large tent. Lawrence, however, decided to sleep elsewhere, and thank heaven for that. Imagine what the Screws would have made of it. Scrum Down! Saucy No 8 scores seven before breakfast! It doesn't bear thinking about.

At least he didn't describe Bancroft's eventual success in the tournament - in fact, it was in the consolation event for also-rans - as "one of the biggest highs of my life". Or if he did, Sky were kind enough to cut it out. But to be fair to Dallaglio, his team's transformation did seem to be a cause for credit.

The previous year, this bunch of apparent no-hopers had finished 60th in a field of 64. Now, despite some embarrassing defeats on day one, they came through on day two to win three matches in a row, and beat the Army, no less, to take the trophy for the Best Of The Rest. BSkyB, cynics may point out, would do anything for ratings, but surely even they would not corrupt an entire rugby tournament in the quest for sexier television. You have to hope not, anyway.

This wholesale transformation in Bancroft's fortunes seemed to have come about as the result of two training sessions with Dallaglio and a lecture on nutrition and exercise from Wasps' diet guru. "I realise," he told them, "that shopping and McDonald's are slightly higher priorities than [exercise] twice a week on your own." If they hadn't been so out of shape, they would probably have killed him. "What about alcohol?" someone asked. Lawrence decided that he would field that one himself. "The general rule," he told them, "is that we don't touch it for two or three days before a game." Now why couldn't he have said something like that to those nasty people from the News of the World?

Dallaglio's international career, of course, is pretty much back on track. He was in the thick of it on Friday, as England ran 100-odd points past Tonga, in yet another match which forced you to wonder whether ITV really took a close look at what they were signing when they bought the rights to the World Cup.

At least there was a crowd for this one, unlike so many of the first- round games. And yes, Wales against Samoa on Thursday also had an audience, and was thoroughly entertaining too, particularly when the referee adopted the Old Trafford approach to injury time - the home side are behind, so keep playing - and the Welsh still couldn't win. But what both ITV and, more pointedly, their advertisers, must be wondering is whether every empty seat at, say, Murrayfield for Scotland v Uruguay represents 10, 100 or even 1,000 empty sofas in Britain's living rooms.

In the same way that many people only watch the Boat Race in case one of the crews sinks, those who watch the early games are probably waiting only for the fights. The Americans are often derided for calling their baseball final the World Series, but it is no less ridiculous to call a tournament the World Cup when everyone knows that by the time of the semi-finals, it will almost certainly be the Tri-Nations Plus One.

Nine, perhaps even 13, sacrificial victims for the major southern-hemisphere sides might have been bearable. Seventeen is a turn-off, in every sense, but no doubt the organisers felt that they had corporate packages to sell, advertisers to accommodate and potential sponsors to keep happy. And that, of course, rather brings us back to Lawrence Dallaglio.

Source Citation
Wood, Greg. "Sport on TV: Dallaglio's delivery brings a smirk to the cynical." Independent on Sunday [London, England] 17 Oct. 1999

Daily Mirror gives advice on feeding a women's rugby team

1999-10-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

THE Rugby World Cup is dominating the sporting headlines - but many women, as well as men, play their hearts out every week. "It's a great way of keeping fit," says Debbie Cracknell, 34, who plays for Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex. "Eighty minutes on a rugby pitch is far more exciting than spending an evening in the gym. That's why a lot more women are playing rugby now." So why did Debbie write to us? Well, Burnham, who play in Division Four of the National Challenge League (London and Eastern Counties) had a vital game coming up and she wanted to get the players together the night before the big match. It was a chance for their coach, Gig Ingham, to talk tactics and for the girls to relax before the game with Mill Hill. "I've offered to do the cooking but I'm not a great cook and the others arealways teasing me. So I want to surprise them. I need something simple, enough to feed 20 hungry people and it has to be full of energy but low in fat. So there's a real challenge."

LUCY SAYS: The trick when catering for lots of people is to make a couple of meal-in-one dishes. Hot pots are great (but out of the question because although rich in protein, they're not high in carbohydrates). The answer is to make an easy pastadish - lots of it - to which we can add protein such as chicken. It makes sense to make a chicken dish and a vegetarian dish (we opted for trendy stuffed peppers).It's easy to prepare in advance - Debbie and I did that while the other girls trained. And puddings should be scrummy and fun. A simple trifle made with boudoir biscuits is low in fat. We also did baked bananas which are rich in potassium and magnesium (to prevent players getting cramp).So what did the team think? Coach Gig gave the meal the thumbs-up. "This is just the thing they need thenight before a match. It's filling and full of energy but not heavy." Debbie's boyfriend, Paul Smith, added: "I'm so proud of Debbie. I can't believehow good this is!" Simone Collins said: "I love the crunchy texture of the filling in the peppers. With the garlic and chilli, it's not bland like a lot of vegetarian food." "I can't believe I'm asking Debbie, of all people, for a recipe," said Jenny Charnock with a laugh. "But I love this pasta." Karen Mihill, Teresa Barr andClare Hamilton asked: "Can we have some more, please? We'll sweat off the extra ounces in the game tomorrow."

SOLUTION 1

Pasta quills with Tuscan chicken

SERVES 20

1kg pasta quills, 32 mini plum tomatoes, quartered, juice 1 lemon, 90ml olive oil, 8 cooked chicken breasts, sliced, 2 x 410g cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained, 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 2 x 15g pkt chives, chopped, 2 x 15g pkt tarragon (or basil) chopped, salt and freshly ground black pepper, 2 bags mixed salad leaves, to serve.

COOK pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet instructions. Drain. Tip pasta into a large bowl and stir in the lemon juice and olive oil and mix well. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and chill until ready to serve. (You can leave for up to six hours. This helps flavours infuse and means you can go out and train with the others, if you want to). To serve, arrange the salad on oval platters and top with the pasta mixture.

SOLUTION 2

Piedmont stuffed peppers

SERVES 20

500g couscous, 20 red peppers, tops sliced off and seeds scooped out, 90ml olive oil, 1 bunch spring onions, sliced, 4 cloves garlic, chopped, 2 mild red chillies, seeded and sliced. 2 mild green chillies, seeded and sliced, 4 sticks celery, chopped, 1 head broccoli cut into tiny florets and blanched, 15g pkt coriander, finely chopped, salt and freshly-ground black pepper, 4 x 125g pkt light mozzarella cheese drained and cut into chunks.

PRE HEAT oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Tip couscous into large bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to stand 10 mins. Slice a bit off bottom of peppers so they sit neatly in two roasting tins. While couscous is still warm, stir in 60ml olive oil, spring onions, garlic, chillies, celery, broccoli and coriander. Season. Divide couscous mixture between peppers, pop lids back on top, drizzle with 30ml olive oil, roast in preheated oven 30 mins.

SOLUTION 3

Red fruit trifle

SERVES 20

175g box sponge boudoir biscuits, 100ml brandy, 250g raspberries, 375g strawberries, hulled and halved, 500g carton low- fat custard, 2 x 450g pots apricot yoghurt, 20 strawberries to decorate.

BREAKthe biscuits into small pieces and scatter in the bottom of 20 wine glasses. Pour over a little brandy followed by the raspberries and strawberries. Mix together the custard and yoghurt and spoon over the fruit. Cover and chill for up to 6 hours. To serve, decorate each portion with a strawberry. (If you don't want to use alcohol, use fresh orange juice instead). KITCHEN TIP: It's easier to make and serve this dish in individual portions - a small wine glass is the perfect size.

SOLUTION 4

Baked bananas

SERVES 20

20 bananas, 20 tbsp rum, 20 tbsp clear honey, 20 tbsp Greek yoghurt

PRE HEAT the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Put the bananas in a single layer in a couple of roasting tins and cook until the bananas are blackened (about 10 minutes) then turn them over and cook again until blackened all over. Check them after 5 minutes (the exact cooking time depends on how ripe the bananas are). Remove the bananas from the oven, carefully slit down the middle and pour 1 tbsp each of rum, honey and yoghurt into the slit and serve at once. (If you don't want alcohol, simply leave it out. It's still delicious.) KITCHEN TIP:This is a brilliant last-minute pud which needs no preparation.

Source Citation
Knox, Lucy. "Eating Zone: My rugger girls want something scrummy; EACH week LUCY KNOX offers a Zone reader a food makeover. Today, Lucy helps a women's rugby team with a high-energy, low-fat meal the night before a vital match." Mirror [London, England] 12 Oct. 1999

S4C launch TV dram based round women's team

1999-08-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

ACTRESS Ffion Dafis is out to prove women's rugby is not all hairy armpits and bulging thighs.

She's going for it as the star of a new TV drama about the sexploits of the women's game.

And the saucy actress is using a stunning Christine Keeler-type pose to promote S4C's new drama.

The television channel hopes the new warts-'n'-all show will have wives and hubbies mauling for the remote control.

Set in a fictional North Wales town, Amdani - it means Go For It - lays bare the sexual antics of the fictional 15 players.

One programme maker said: "It brings the muddy and sexy world of women's rugby alive."

And they kicked off their advertising campaign with Ffion's daring Rucking for Wales poster.

An S4C source said: "This drama focuses on the sexual antics of the girls. Although some of the ladies display skills that Graham Henry would be proud of.

"S4C has never done anything like this before.

"This is the first time a programme has looked at women's rugby both on and off the pitch."

Actor Daffydd Emyr is the team's Romeo coach - a man who manages to get to grips with all his girls.

But all the stars prepared so well for their roles on the field they ended up beating Bethesda RFC in a practice game before filming.

Co-producer Sue Waters added: "It is going to be a very lively series which I hope will appeal to S4C viewers.

"It has been a lot of hard work, but we're also having a lot of fun during the filming."

The hard-hitting series will kick off on September 19.

Source Citation
"Rugby women will try anything for a TV hit." Mirror [London, England] 17 Aug. 1999

Watsonians women's team

1999-04-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

NIALL AITCHESON

WHILE former Tennent's Velvet Premier-ship champions Watsonians have spent most of this season fighting to steer clear of the relegation frame, it has by no means all been doom and gloom down Myreside way.

The club's fledgling women's team is poised to give them something to celebrate in south-west Edinburgh by lifting the Keyline SWRU Division Three title in their first year together.

They need only a victory at home to Aboyne in tomorrow's final league match to add yet another piece of silverware to the club's impressive collection of trophies, and founder Viki Mendelssohn admits their success has caught everyone unawares.

'It's hard to believe that we've come this far so quickly. It was only in August that I was approached by a number of girls new to the sport about the prospect of forming a team. They had no opportunity to break into the established Edinburgh women's sides, Accies and Wanderers, who are packed with international players,' she said.

'I managed to organise things through Gavin Hastings and we started out with just five players. Now we have a squad of 17 and the numbers are growing all the time. It's great the way we've been accepted by the men. To them, we're just another of the club's XVs.' Skipper Mendelssohn, who also founded the highly-successful Edinburgh Accies women's team ten years ago, has used her renowned powers of persuasion and persistence to recruit a number of rugby celebrities to boost the team's promotion push.

Scott Hastings, now Watsonians' director of rugby, has been along to lend a hand at training, while this week Henry Edwards has taken time off from preparing the Scottish Districts for Sunday's match against Spain to provide some useful pointers.

The ladies' success hasn't suprised their French coach Patrice Langlois, who has been involved in Scottish women's rugby for more than a decade.

He told Sportsmail: 'Generally, the standard of play in women' s rugby has improved dramatically since the World Cup was held here six years ago.

'It's amazing to think that half of the Watsonians girls had never played rugby before this season, but they have an advantage in that they tend to learn quicker than the guys.

'Most of them are at university but they are just as committed to making a go of their rugby. Some of the sides we've played against this year have been physically stronger than us, but we've become technically sound in various areas, particularly in the forwards.

'The girls have all the rugby skills and, perhaps most importantly, we've managed to get their fitness levels up.

'We've only had a handful of seasoned players like Viki and Scotland A hooker Pam Woodman to call upon, but the rugby newcomers have played their part superbly. It has been a real team effort and I'm proud of them.'

Langlois believes his charges will round off their restricted nine-game league programme in style against the team two places below them in the table and enable him to start preparing for life in the elite Division Two.

Despite Scottish rugby's long winter of discontent, the champagne could yet be flowing in the famous old clubhouse.

Source Citation
"Luck be a lady for Watsonians; Myreside welcomes the lasses with a winning touch." Daily Mail [London, England] 2 Apr. 1999

Ireland v England: report

1999-03-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ireland 0 England 56

THERE was to be no consolation for the defeat at Lansdowne Road at Stradbrook yesterday, where Ireland's women rugby players were routed by a talented England team that ran in ten tries. The Ireland supporters can be relieved only that England's all-round excellence was not matched by their goalkicking.

There were no weak links in the England side. Their mobile pack was able to lay on a stream of possession and, with Jo Yapp and Sue Appleby calling the shots with authority at half back, Ireland's defence was stretched constantly by the incisive running of the England threequarters. The lineout was also a disaster area for Ireland, so much so that kicking to touch was tantamount to handing possession over to England.

England were out of sight at the end of the first quarter, when Nicky Crawford had scored two tries and Chris Diver, Sue Day and Yapp had also crossed. The second half was equally shattering as England ran in five tries, courtesy of Day, with two, Nicky Ponsford, Jayne Molyneux and Teresa O'Reilly.

SCORERS: England: Tries: N Crawford 2 (2min, 6), C Diver (16), S Day 3 (19, 48, 74), J Yapp (38), N Ponsford (45), J Molyneux (53), T O'Reilly (78). Conversions: T Collins, V Huxford, C Frost.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1999

Source Citation
Johnston, Karl. "England's women deny Irish any consolation; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 8 Mar. 1999

Minister congratuales England

1999-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Matthew Parris,

...

Which is why Gwyneth Dunwoody (Lab, Crewe and Nantwich) comes as such a relief. The veteran "old" Labour rightwinger arrived yesterday arrayed in a new garment. A vast purple wrap, hundreds of square yards of it, covered this substantial lady. She described the "enormous opportunities" presented by the Millennium Dome: "a great public space," she said. Ah, Gwyneth, how true: but not our greatest public space! It lends a whole new meaning to the right to roam.

And a new fascination to the concept of women's rugby, heavily plugged yesterday by the Sports Minister Tony Banks.

For Monday mornings, Mr Banks chooses a wicked little black suit, three-piece, which he wears with a puckered face and sourly deadpan expression. Apropos of nothing much, Mr Banks offered his congratulations "to the England women's rugby team, on their victory over Scotland". Mr Banks's felicitations will raise a cheer in the ladies' shower room.

"I was there," he declared grimly. "And it was in fact very, very enjoyable rugby and I'd encourage people to go to women's rugby." Sadly, Mrs Dunwoody looked unconvinced.

...

England's women rugby players have to beg for time off work to play for their country

1999-02-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

The Spice Girls have a lot to answer for. Mention Girl Power and the images which spring to mind - certain minds anyway - are Geri's patriotic little number at the Brit Awards and Scary's tongue. Which is distinctly unfair on those 15 genuine Sportys, otherwise known as the England women's rugby team, putting their less famous bodies on the line for their country this weekend for less than the price of a free CD.

Never let it be said that all English international rugby players lead privileged lives. What would the national reaction have been had Martin Johnson prepared for last weekend's Calcutta Cup match by climbing mountains in the Lake District and paying his own way to Twickenham? Or if Mike Catt walked his neighbours' dogs to help with the rent?Their female equivalents have been doing precisely that this week, without a murmur of complaint. Every rolling maul at the Athletic Ground in Richmond, where England face Scotland on Sunday, will involve a role model for the women's game.

Take Teresa Andrews, the lock, winning her first cap at the age of 22. A talented athlete, she is one of the new faces being drafted in with an eye to the 2002 World Cup. Over six feet tall with pace befitting a former schoolgirl hurdler, she has all the physical attributes but her staggering commitment is what really gives the game away.

Her job as a trainee instructor at an outdoor centre near Coniston Water owned by the University of Birmingham necessitates whole days spent literally up hill and down dale, followed by evening training sessions at her club, Waterloo, which is over two hours' drive away. A fresh arrival on the England scene, she has yet to receive a penny in financial help and has to beg time off at weekends.

'I'll have to work every weekend after all this is over, but it's worth it,' she insists.

At least all that yomping must keep her fit?

'It's the wrong sort of fitness; walking up a mountain slowly doesn't give you the sort of power you need.'

The only Amazons in Lakeland used to be those contained within the pages of Arthur Ransome's Swallows And Amazons; these days they are for real.

Andrews's story is instructive all round. The daughter of an English father and Danish mother, she grew up in a completely 'non-sporty family. The only person they could find who might have been was a great aunt who died falling off a mountain.'

Until 1995 she had never played rugby. On Sunday she will share an England dressing-room with players of the stature of Gill Burns and Emma Mitchell, both involved at the inaugural World Cup in 1991.

Burns, 34, has been England captain for five years - 'I feel like I'm nearing the end' - and made her debut back in 1988. Her fairytale moment came in 1994 as a member of the World Cup-winning side which, all too briefly, generated as much nationwide publicity as New Zealand's triumph in Amsterdam last year did on the other side of the globe.

Burns has seen the game come on in leaps and bounds since 1988. 'It's just not recognisable. Watching the videos now . . . well, it isn't laughable but we've come on so much. We were really cross-country runners, athletes and hockey players who had come together and were trying to learn a new game.'

As with the men, the road ahead is paved with fitness targets. Rex Hazeldine has been offering advice from Loughborough and the WRFU's performance director Carol Isherwood confirms that Lottery funding of Pounds 200,000 will help towards, for example, gym fees, kit and physiotherapy. There is still a way to go. The England squad will only gather tomorrow, just 24 hours before playing the Scots, who beat them last year.

This is the first fully fledged women's Five Nations Championship, yet England have not played any com- petitive rugby since their 4411 defeat against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals last April.

Isherwood also reports difficulties in persuading employers to release players, even when their costs are all reimbursed.

'We have to change the way that people look at sport in this country,' she adds.

And that includes, as ever, the opposite sex. Are men still sceptical?

'Yeah, in a word,' says the Saracens and England fly-half Susie Appleby, currently walking other people's dogs prior to starting a job with the Metropolitan Police. Her father, Northumberland's representative on the Rugby Football Union committee, turns out to be an enlightened 'Old Fart' and she is working on the rest.

'There's still the old school that say women shouldn't play rugby. I don't know if they'll ever change. All I say to them is: come and watch a game.'

Andrews reports an equally mixed reaction.

'I've got a few rugby-playing male friends who are impressed. But you also get: 'Is it proper tackling, proper pitch, kit as well?' '

A few 'girlie' stories do still surface. The England A lock Linda Uttley was introduced to the game through a chance remark in her local hairdresser's; last year a second-row playing for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney complained of back pains after a game and was found to be pregnant.

Motherhood and rugby are scarcely perfect bedfellows, so three cheers for Maxine Edwards, mother of a six-year-old, who props for England A in Sunday's curtain-raiser. Could childbirth be any more demanding than playing in the front row?

'I said that,' laughs her team-mate Nicky Goodwin, 'but everyone goes: 'It's nothing like it, shut up'.'

But there is a serious side as the women's game approaches the next century, namely how much extra training young women, already juggling busy careers and social lives, can be asked to do for a sport which may leave them richer in body and soul but nowhere else.

'That's a problem for all international sports for women,' says Burns, a PE teacher. 'It's ridiculous, really, but I think most of the girls who play international rugby actually go to work in order to play. There are big sacrifices but, if people aren't prepared to make them, they're not committed enough.'

Posh and her mates would last five seconds, max.

Source Citation
"The poor woman's Five Nations: Forget overpaid pros, England's women rugby players have to beg for time off work to play for their country. Robert Kitson joins the former World Cup champions in preparation for Sunday's first Five Nations encounter with Scotland." Guardian [London, England] 26 Feb. 1999

Girls rugby only at Millennium Youth Games

1999-02-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

HUNDREDS of girls' football and rugby teams are to compete in a national sports festival for youngsters to mark the millennium - while boys are forced to stand on the touchline.

The traditionally male preserves of rugby and football are among eight sports that will make up the Millennium Youth Games, launched today by Chris Smith, the Culture Secretary, and Sally Gunnell, the Olympic hurdler; yet most boys will not be allowed to take part. The football tournament is limited to girls and children with learning disabilities, while boys can play rugby only at under-11 level - and even then in mixed-sex sides. A netball competition will also be girls-only, while hockey, athletics, swimming, basketball and tennis will give both sexes a chance.

More than 300,000 children under 15 are expected to take part in the Pounds 4.3million games next year, part of the Pounds 100million Millennium Festival that will be announced today by Mr Smith. The games are being organised by Sport England, until recently the Sports Council for England, and are partly funded by BAA, a sponsor of the Millennium Dome.

Boys have been left out of the football and rugby competitions because organisers believed that girls needed a stage on which to prove their skills at these male-oriented sports. Both have become increasingly popular among girls, with more than 3,000 girls' football teams in Britain.

Anita White, director of development at Sport England, said: "There are lots of leagues, cups and competitions - almost too many - for boys to play in, but what we are hearing all the time is that girls want to play but don't have the opportunity. We are giving them a chance to shine and show that they can play football and rugby to a very high standard as well."

Helen Ames, national youth development officer at the Women's Rugby Football Union, said the games would deliver a massive boost to women's rugby. "It is going to be a tremendous competition that will give girls a chance to play rugby as never before," she said.

The Millennium Youth Games will be one of the main projects in the Millennium Festival, which is designed to ensure that all parts of the United Kingdom can participate fully in the celebrations. Mr Smith said on GMTV yesterday: "I want to make sure that the millennium is something to celebrate everywhere. I sometimes get annoyed with the national press, that they seem to think that the only thing happening for the millennium is the Dome in Greenwich. That's going to be wonderful but there's a lot else happening as well."

Sport in schools, page 37

Copyright (C) The Times, 1999

Source Citation
Henderson, Mark. "Girls get a sporting chance to shine." Times [London, England] 22 Feb. 1999

Interview with Paula Chamlers (Scotland)

1998-12-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

BRIAN SCOTT

HENRY COOPER may have spoken for chauvinist swine the world over recently when he said something to the effect that women belong in the boudoir rather than the boxing ring.

What says Paula Chalmers, skipper and scrum-half of the Scottish ladies side who play Spain in a friendly in Madrid on Saturday while their male counterparts meet the same nation in a World Cup qualifier at Murrayfield?

Put it this way: Paula does not argue against the prerogative of her gender to infiltrate whatever area they wish of the sporting province regarded hitherto as being for men only.

But the chances of this 26-year-old from Melrose ever wanting to go 12 rounds are about as great as those of Joe Bugner, still fighting in his late 40s, applying belatedly to join a ballet school.

'I relish some man saying to me that I shouldn't be playing rugby,' she says assertively. 'I'd like to hear his argument. Women play football, they play baseball and softball. Why not rugby? It's not as if they're playing against men. It's women versus women and it's all fair.

'Women's boxing? Er, no. I watched on television an interview with the girl who was boxing in Edinburgh on Friday night. She was talking about hitting people in the face. I thought, och, none of that.

'I don't even like boxing for men, to be honest. I don't really know why anyone would want to go into a ring and take hits on the face while trying to smash their opponent. It can't be good.

You wouldn't get me in there, anyway.' Paula, if you didn't know or hadn't guessed, is the sister of one of Scotland's most celebrated rugby players, Craig. She knows the hurt which can be caused, even in their game, although it seems unimaginable for her to inflict any other than by accident.

'You're trying to play the ball in rugby,' she points out.

'You're trying to get that ball over the other side's line and, if it's at all possible, trying to miss out on any contact.

Rugby doesn't have to be hash-bash. It can be skilful.' So there's the difference, articulated by one whose support of women's rights in sport does not stretch quite so far that she would argue with the aforementioned Henry Cooper on the topic of their perceived excesses.

Paula may be feminist, a women of the 90s, but she is unmistakably feminine with it and, dare this be said, looks like Tinkerbell when matched up to some of these towering specimens of womenhood with whom she shares a field.

She plays rugby, by the way, with the full approval of her boyfriend, Mark Moncrieff, although that may not be such a great surprise. He, after all, plays himself; on the wing for Melrose.

It is hardly a surprise, either, to learn that she was introduced to the game, in a playful kind of way, with Craig throwing a ball to her when they were kids in the Borders.

'Rugby has always been in our family,' says Paula, who works in the sales division of a software firm in Galashiels. 'Craig played from an early age; the minis, midis, or whatever they were called then.

'But I progressed to playing hockey because women's rugby still wasn't that big at the time.' Paula, in fact, played hockey well enough to win two caps for Scotland some three years ago. Then, with the other game beginning to burgeon, she had to decide which of the two was better for her to pursue.

'Rugby seemed the greater prospect in that it had more potential for me to get into the side and get regular games,' she reveals.

'I still play club hockey for Melrose, turning out on a Saturday when available because rugby is played on a Sunday.' What did Craig, four years Paula's senior, make of her sporting conversion? She confesses that, initially, he seemed keener that she stick in at hockey. Why was he hesitant?

She is somewhat hesitant about answering the question, admitting: 'Maybe it was because rugby was quite a new sport among women.

'When it first started, it was played just at universities and, well, I don't like to say this, but it was more a sort of ...' She doesn't want to say it may have been more a sort of, er, butch person playing it. But we can gather that's what she means as she passes beyond the unspoken by adding: 'There are so many girls playing rugby now that it's just another sport. The game has widened, the skill level is away up.

'It's not just about big girls running about making hits. Some of them can kick the ball as well as men.

Some can pass it as well as men.

'The skill at international level is probably better than that at second or third level of men's rugby.

'It has improved so much and I think my brother can recognise that now and appreciate women's rugby for what it is. Mark is 100 per cent behind me and always constructive in his criticism. He even comes to our games when he can.

Another of our team, Alex Shepherd, goes out with Derek Stark. Through him, she'll come to training with a new move which the Caley Reds have been working on, so the support we get is great. I've not really met anybody who is anti women's rugby.' Paula, Alex and four others in their team to face the Spaniards play for Murrayfield Wanderers, a club which grew out of a fusion of women from Edinburgh Wanderers and Heriot Watt.

They are reigning Scottish champions as well as cup winners these last four seasons and Paula's latest international appearance, her first as captain, counts as number 13 following her debut against Wales less than two years ago.

She must enjoy the rough and tumble even though her fair countenance doesn't bear a bruise far less a scar. Or does she? 'Ask any of my team-mates,' Paula confesses, 'and they'll tell you I'm the one who takes the least contact in games.

'But it is quite hard and you do get some big hits. There are some big girls out there and a few late tackles. I'm not a greedy player, preferring to use the players around me.

'I just kind of slotted in at scrum-half because I wasn't big enough for the scrum or fast enough for the three-quarters. Touch wood, I've steered clear of any serious injury.

Craig hasn't been so lucky.' Nor is he quite so lucky at the moment, out of the Scottish men's squad while Paula is very much an integral part of the women's. His wee sister must feel a mite sympathetic. 'He'll be back, I'm sure he will,' she says supportively.

'He never gives up. If he'd given up the first time he was passed over by Scotland, he'd never have got half the caps he has. He's never say die.' Yet Paula can't resist aiming a playful dig at her big brother by pointing out that the honour of being Scotland captain has never been his and adding jocularly: 'I always have a laugh with him, saying that I'm a dual internationalist, what are you? He says he might take up bowls when he finishes with rugby, just to get a cap at another sport.'

Source Citation
"Rugby fair game for this sister act." Daily Mail [London, England] 1 Dec. 1998

Interview with Alix Shepherd (Scotland)

1998-11-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

ALIX SHEPHERD was busy outlining her rugby background, in between sips of her blackcurrant and lemonade. "Well," she said, "my father played for the North Districts. And my brother plays. And my boyfriend." They play quite well too, as it happens. Alix Shepherd's brother is Rowen Shepherd, one of the sextet who have surpassed the 100 points mark for Scotland. And her boyfriend is Derek Stark, once dubbed the fastest pastry chef in international rugby, who announced his arrival among the upper crust by scoring with his first touch for Scotland, against Ireland at Murrayfield five years ago.

This coming Saturday Alix will be looking to make a similarly dramatic international entrance. She has been chosen to make her debut for the Scottish women's team against Spain in Madrid. The timing of her elevation from the A team is a touch ironic, given the fact that both her boyfriend and her brother are international outcasts at present. Stark has been out of the Scotland picture since the 68-10 slaughter inflicted by the Springboks a year ago. Shepherd - Rowen Shepherd, that is - played at inside centre against the New Zealand Maoris a fortnight ago but has since been supplanted by the kilted Kiwi John Leslie. He has also been overlooked for the full-back place he lost to Derrick Lee midway through last season, Gregor Townsend having been picked to replace the injured London Scot against Portugal at Murrayfield yesterday.

There is irony in that too. Townsend and Rowen Shepherd are business partners. Together with Stark, they own the Three Quarters Sports Cafe, a splendidly appointed eatery-cum-watering hole which can be found in the shadow of Edinburgh castle in the Grassmarket. The Scotland shirt displayed behind the bar is the No 14 jersey Tony Stanger wore the afternoon he grand-slammed England at Murrayfield eight years ago. The No 11 top Alix Shepherd pulls on in Madrid might not be quite so significant but it will be just as precious to her.

"I can't believe it, really," she said, taking her lunchtime break amid the signed framed jerseys in the Three Quarters cafe. "I was in the A team last year. I wasn't involved in the World Cup team that went out to Amsterdam. There were 26 players in the squad so I really didn't see myself getting selected for the Spain match. It was quite a surprise."

It was also a surprise to the Scottish Women's Rugby Union. Shepherd's name was not among the 30 the SWRU nominated for lottery funding at the start of the season. She therefore has to find pounds 500 to cover the cost of the trip, or forfeit her international debut. "I've managed to get pounds 225 of it, from family and friends," she said. "I'll definitely be going. If the worst comes to the worst I'll have to speak to my bank manager and get an extension on my overdraft."

It is another of life's little ironies that Shepherd has been left self- funding her imminent international sporting career. She works as a case officer for the Lottery Sports Fund at the Scottish Sports Council. "There's absolutely no connection with my particular situation and my work," she said. "The governing body puts you forward for funding, not the Sports Council or the Lottery Sports Fund. My name was not put forward because I was not in the squad. It just happens that there's been a change of coach and now I'm in the team. It is quite ironic, though."

It is also no mean achievement that Shepherd has graduated to the international ranks at the age of 25. She does boast a personal sporting pedigree at international level. As a teenage long jumper she competed for the Scottish youth team in the Celtic Games. She did not, however, play rugby until she was almost 22. This is only her fourth season in the sport.

Like Stark, she plays on the left wing - for Murrayfield Wanderers, whose home base is the back-pitch area where the cars park at Murrayfield on international days. "Rowen comes down and watches, along with Derek," the happy Wanderer said. "They're always giving me hints and tips about what to do. Rowen's been down to coach the club a couple of times. He's behind me all the way. He thinks it's great that I've been picked for Scotland."

It is undoubtedly a great achievement to have brother and sister internationals in the same sporting family. It is a rare distinction too. There are the Nevilles, of course - Gary and Phil of England football fame and Tracey of England netball renown. "There are the Chalmers as well," Alix pointed out, lest Scottish rugby's established siblings be overlooked. Craig Chalmers, like Stark, has not figured in the Scottish men's squad this season but Paula Chalmers, a veteran of last season's World Cup campaign in Holland, will be at scrum-half for the women's team in Madrid on Saturday.

Injuries could yet dictate that a Shepherd and a Chalmers line up for Scotland against Spain this Saturday both in Madrid and at Murrayfield. And the Shepherds may yet, in time, complete an international family hat- trick. "Our younger sister, Rhona, has already been in the Scottish A team," Alix said, proudly. "So, you never know, there could be three of us playing for Scotland one day." They are quite a flock, these Caledonian Shepherds.

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Left field for a Shepherd; Another member of a famous sporting family is winging in for Scotland." Independent on Sunday [London, England] 29 Nov. 1998

Interview with Emma Mitchell (England)

1998-11-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Stephen Jones meets a scrum-half who hopes England will learn from the best in the world

IT IS good for the soul to realise that, after a good few years watching rugby, there are still things to see which have you rubbing your eyes with a sense of disbelief. Good, that is, unless you were a fellow contender of the New Zealand team in the 1998 Women's World Cup, a splendidly successful event held in Amsterdam in May. The Kiwis were astonishingly brilliant.

And it is typical of Emma Mitchell, who led England in a deeply-courageous defeat against the flying Kiwis in the semi-final, a fine and ferocious encounter, that she spent a short time being profoundly impressed but far longer working out how to catch up. Individually, she was there already. She is one of the world's great players; in the World Cup she was the outstanding scrum-half of the tournament, with a remarkable all-round game in the areas of passing, kicking, running with the ball and needle-sharp tactical nous.

Mitchell is the outstanding personality in the women's game in this country. As a senior England player, as a core figure in the highly-successful Saracens team and splendidly-articulate proponent of her sport, both technically and in terms of promotion, Mitchell has played a key role in the sport's explosion.

She provided a cameo last season when Sky Sports provided excellent live coverage of the Saracens-Wasps match in the final of the Bread for Life Cup. Mere seconds after a tough match had ended in triumph, thanks chiefly to her own excellence, an out-of-breath Mitchell had the microphone stuck under her nose for the flash interview so beloved of producers; she provided such a cool, calm and accurate dissection of the game, regretting aloud that the nerves and tension had perhaps militated against the spectacle, that she put generations of tongue-tied, platitude-spouting sportsmen to shame. "It probably comes from the old days when people used to come up and say that women really shouldn't play rugby. If you got angry, which you wanted to do, it would only have made things worse. So you'd stay calm and ask them if they'd ever watched a match and, if they hadn't, suggest that perhaps they should."

All those doubters have been silenced by sheer numbers of participants, and all those who doubted that the sport could become watchable at its top levels were silenced in Amsterdam, and not only by the elite teams. Now for those damn New Zealanders. My fear for the players in all the home nations was that the emphatic superiority of New Zealand would simply discourage them, just as Bob Beamon's freakish long jump once effectively ended the careers of his peers.

To be discouraged is not in Mitchell's nature. "They were superb, a good distance clear of us and America, and way clear of the others. But they had been effectively preparing as professionals for 18 months. The way we improved from four months of proper preparation showed what can be done. Just having the time together so that, when you run out, you know exactly what everyone is doing was tremendous."

She believes that to narrow the gap, the England players need more time together and must regularly compete against the top echelon, such as New Zealand and Australia. "We have to compete with their preparation time, although we don't necessarily have to mimic the way they play. We must come up with a style to suit the players we have."

A grant from the Sports Council's allocation for world-class performance was a marvellous boost for the England squad before the tournament. Now, the players are biting their nails as they apply for a renewal to take the elite part of the game on further. The Sports Council has backed the application and it is now in the hands of the National Lottery commission. If any member had been in Amsterdam to see how well their cash had been used, they would approve it on the nod. But for the moment, the England squad are again relying on their own resources, "paying to use the gym, paying to use the track, paying to train", said Mitchell.

Her appetite seems undiminished. "The style we are playing is thoroughly enjoyable and there are quite a few new and talented players coming into the squad. I still think I have something to offer."

What she could have said is that the stature of England women's rugby, both in the national team and in the sport countrywide, is in her debt, beholden to an almost unique ability to be world-class as a player and quietly but devastatingly effective as an ambassador. In those fields, not even the Kiwis have anything to teach her.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998 **********

Source Citation
"Mitchell shows touch of class; Interview." Sunday Times [London, England] 1 Nov. 1998

Profile of Kim Littlejohn (Scotland)

1998-09-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

The inspiration behind Scotland's Grand Slam victory has decided on a change of direction in her illustrious career. By Alasdair Reid

FOR MOST of her time in international rugby, Kim Littlejohn displayed the sort of scoring touch that might have made you wonder if she had been coached in the art by Craig Brown. Her try in a bounce match against Sweden in 1994, a year after she had made her debut for Scotland, hinted at a fruitful career ahead, but another four years and more than 20 caps were to pass before she grabbed her second. When it arrived, though, the setting was close to perfect.

Inverleith, Edinburgh, March 2 this year. Scotland, so recently among the rabbits of international women's rugby, were chasing a Grand Slam in the last match of their Five Nations programme, against England. The match was 12 minutes old when a Scottish attack from a scrum appeared to break down near the English 22. Moving left, however, Littlejohn revived the move, exchanged passes near the touchline and darted over by the corner flag.

Strictly speaking, it was not the winning try, but as it accounted for more than half the points in Scotland's tenacious 8-5 victory, it deserves to be remembered as such. Moreover, although Littlejohn had never been the most prolific scoring machine in the past, it was perfectly fitting that the 27-year-old centre should claim it. She had, after all, played in the first Scottish international side, in 1993, and had captained the team through the remarkable half decade since that saw women's rugby in Scotland grow at an astonishing rate.

With good-humoured modesty, she plays down her own role in that development, but Ramsay Jones, the Scotland manager, has no doubt that she has been a central figure. Praising her qualities both as a player and as an inspiration to those around her, he pinpoints a moment shortly after the World Cup in 1994 which provided a critical impetus to what was to come.

"We had done okay at the World Cup, but it was clear we had a lot of catching up to do to compete with sides such as England and the USA," said Jones. "The management got all the players together and we told them we thought they had the talent to be among the best in the world. I think a lot of the players had difficulty taking that idea on board, but Kim believed it totally - and showed it. I think that was to prove a huge factor in what has happened since."

Despite an established programme and a four-year cycle between World Cups, most women internationals are still obliged to get involved in the background tasks that allow them to play their games. Littlejohn has done her fair share of organisational work, but her greater contribution has been on the pitch and in the immediate build-up to a match. Renowned for her defensive abilities, the meagre try tally against her own name is mitigated by the many scores she has created for others. According to Jones she also has a gift for bringing the best out of her fellow players.

"Everybody who meets her recognises that Kim's enthusiasm is fantastic, but she is very intelligent with it. The last words in the dressing room are always delivered by the captain after the coaches and management have left and, by all accounts, Kim's words are always carefully chosen. They're usually effective, too.

"She has a total focus on everything she does. She strives to be the best, in sport or in other activities, whether as an individual or as part of a team. It comes out as a mixture of dedication, enthusiasm and enormous motivational qualities. She also presents herself and her sport very well to the media and the public, and that has been an enormous help over the last few years."

Growing up in Kirkcaldy, Littlejohn's first taste of international competition was as a member of Scotland's gymnastics squad. However, she was a talented all-round athlete and when she began her computer science degree at Edinburgh university in 1988 she immersed herself in the sporting opportunities it offered. She played volleyball for Scottish universities and joined the recently-established rugby team.

Although she gave up rugby for a couple of years towards the end of her studies, the burgeoning club sector encouraged her to return to the game. She soon established herself in the powerful Edinburgh Accies side which formed the core of Scotland's early squads. The first international was played on St Valentine's Day in 1993 - a 10-0 win over Ireland - and Littlejohn has been a stalwart of the side ever since.

As a pioneer of women's rugby in Scotland, Littlejohn has not only played the game, but defined it. If that is a burden, it is one she carries lightly, but after captaining her country in 29 of the 30 internationals she has played, she recently relinquished the role. "I felt it was time somebody else got the chance to put their ideas and personality into the side and take it forward to the next World Cup," she said.

Although Scotland failed to live up to expectations raised by their Grand Slam success when the last World Cup was played in Holland in May - they were knocked out by the USA at the quarter-final stage - that disappointment did not influence her decision to stand down. A more pressing concern was that she wanted to develop her own game, and felt that captaincy stood in the way of doing so. "In future, I want to be able to be more risky than I've been in the past," she said. "When you are captain you are sometimes a bit inhibited, not wanting to set a bad example and watching out for the others in the team. It's nice to be able to shake off the responsibility and think more about your own game."

In helping to establish women's rugby, Littlejohn has tended to make her point with deeds rather than words. If gaining acceptance was ever a battle - and opposition has usually been absurdly overstated - it is now well and truly won. "We're way past that stage," said Littlejohn.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998 **********

Source Citation
"Littlejohn tries a little freedom; Rugby Union:Profile." Sunday Times [London, England] 13 Sept. 1998

World Cup: review

1998-05-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

David Hands says the women's rugby World Cup illustrated a gulf in standards.

NEW Zealand, just as they have done in the men's game, set a new target of excellence when they carried off the women's World Cup in Amsterdam. In beating the United States 44-12, they set a standard to which others will aspire between now and the fourth tournament, in 2002.

During that time, the sport's administrators will be concerned to put in place a framework of matches that permits regular development in countries where the women's representative game is piecemeal. Too few of the countries competing in Holland have had that exposure, and it is likely that funds will be put aside for the staging of international tournaments as opposed to tours by those countries that can afford it. The International Rugby Board (IRB) gave Pounds 500,000 from Rugby World Cup for the organisation in Holland.

There will be concern, for example, that France appear to have gone backwards since the 1994 World Cup in Edinburgh; at the same time there will be pleasure at the advance of Canada and Kazakhstan - where fewer than 134 women play - and the ambition of Spain, the most popular team in the tournament. Yet if Canada, ranked fourth, could be beaten 81-15 by England in the third-place play-off, it indicates a gulf between the top three countries and the rest.

"We looked at where we were four years ago and there has been a 100 per cent improvement," Jill Zonneveld, the Canadian representative on the women's advisory committee to the IRB, said of the tournament as a whole.

"The levels of play have started to move up and the Dutch made this a highly-organised affair. Tenders for 2002 will go out in the next few weeks and we hope to know by January where it will be played. We have to consider development, impact and money." For those reasons, the venue is likely to be in Europe or North America, where access to sponsorship and television is greater.

Some 2,500 watched Vanessa Cootes score five of New Zealand's eight tries against the Americans on Sunday and confirm a technical expertise well in advance of any rival. The "Gal Blacks" had received coaching from John Hart and several members of his New Zealand men's squad and neither England in the semi-finals nor the Americans in the final could live with them.

It remains to be seen whether longstanding members of the England squad, which began with such high hopes of a successful defence of their 1994 title, will continue. An excellent spirit has been bred over the past three weeks and players such as Sue Day - switched to full back - and Jo Yapp, the 18-year-old scrum half, have received invaluable exposure.

FINAL RANKING (seeding in brackets): 1, New Zealand (4); 2, United States (2); 3, England (1); 4, Canada (8); 5, Australia (6); 6, Scotland (5); 7, Spain (7); 8, France (3); 9, Kazakhstan (14); 10, Ireland (11); 11, Wales (10); 12, Italy (12); 13, Holland (9); 14, Germany (13); 15, Sweden (16); 16, Russia (15).

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
Hands, David. "New Zealand expose limitations; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 19 May 1998

World Cup fina: report

1998-05-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

JOHN WALES IN AMSTERDAM

New Zealand 46 USA 12

FROM the moment the All Blacks arrived here 16 days ago their desire to lift the women's rugby World Cup has been as overwhelming as their performances. Their invincibility did not, however, create a sense of anticlimax as they disposed of the United States 46 12 in the final.The match was a personal triumph for the All Black wing Vanessa Cootes, who came to the World Cup with the most prolific scoring record in women's international rugby. She scored five tries in Saturday's match to take her tally for the competition to eight and increase her record to 35 touchdowns in only nine games.

The defending champions England made up for their defeat by the All Blacks in the semi-final by securing third place with a 81 15 victory over Canada during which the Wasps full-back Sue Day scored four tries. The Five Nations champions Scotland lost the consolation Plate final, going down 25 15 to Australia.

Such is the interest in the women's game in New Zealand that the final was televised live. Other countries, including South Africa, have voiced a desire to participate in the 2002 tournament.

The New Zealand captain Farah Palmer said: 'We are absolutely ecstatic; I don't think this will ever sink in. The support from New Zealand has been unbelievable and we've been inundated with faxes and calls of best wishes.'

The United States' French coach Franck Boivert, who leaves the Eagles to coach Fiji's men's side, said: 'No matter how hard your own team tries to take the game to the All Blacks, they are faster, fitter and better. I don't believe anyone can stop them; they are unbeatable.'

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Cootes crosses five times in a one-woman walkover: Women's World Cup Final." Guardian [London, England] 18 May 1998

World Cup: England v New Zealand: Report

1998-05-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

JOHN WALES in AMSTERDAM

ENGLAND's hopes of retaining the women's rugby World Cup foundered against the mighty All Blacks, the valiant holders giving up their crown as the favourites recorded a 44 11 victory.

England had the audacity to take an early lead with two penalties but New Zealand responded with a penalty and a converted try from the centre Annaleah Rush to hold a 10 6 half-time advantage.The second half was emphatic, however, with New Zealand's powerful, pacy play overwhelming England in the 90F heat. Rush cemented her dominance by scoring another try, three conversions and a penalty for a personal tally of 24 points.

In between Rush's scores the stand-off Anna Richards and wing Vanessa Cootes touched down, the latter's double contributing to a remarkable international record of 30 tries in only eight games.

Bruised and battered, England countered with a consolation try from the lock Clair Green - the first of the tournament against New Zealand - but the All Blacks had the final say when the replacement Kellie Kiwi went over.

In Saturday's final New Zealand face the United States, who defeated Canada 46 6. The Americans, runners-up in 1994, beat the All Blacks in the 1991 final but few predict a repeat.

The England captain Emma Mitchell said: 'We did about the best we could against them for 30 minutes, when we had them rattled, but they are a great side and justify their status as the best in the world. Our goal has to be to come back stronger and aim to beat them next time.'

Scotland recovered from the disappointment of missing the final of the cup competition by beating France 27 7 to secure a place in the consolation plate final against Australia.

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Other All Blacks end defence." Guardian [London, England] 13 May 1998

World Cup: England prepare for semi final

1998-05-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

ENGLAND'S crown will come under severe threat in Amsterdam this afternoon, when they meet New Zealand in a semi-final of the third women's World Cup tournament. However, they will be buoyed by the presence of Gill Burns, their captain, who has recovered from injury, and spurred on by their humiliation at the hands of the New Zealanders last August.

On that occasion they were beaten 67-0, having stepped from the flight taking them across the world only 24 hours earlier. "We got our backsides kicked," Carole Isherwood, the performance director for England, said. "We were naive, we made mistakes, we gave New Zealand a boost of confidence, but we are a much-changed team now."

They are also benefiting from nearly three weeks together, having spent a week at Lilleshall before travelling to Holland. Two comfortable pool matches, against Sweden and Canada, were followed by the demanding physical encounter with Australia on Saturday, which England won 30-13, scoring five tries, though both Burns and Helen Clayton sustained ankle injuries.

They have mended quickly, though, and both have been named in the starting XV today. The team will need to accept the early scoring opportunities that went begging against Australia, for the New Zealanders have yet to concede a try in three matches.

"All the talk is about the All Blacks, just as in 1994 it was about the US," Steve Peters, the England coach, said. "But we're world champions and intend to stay that way." If England are to reach a third successive final (they lost to the United States in 1991 and beat them in 1994), much credit will go to the tactical direction given by Emma Mitchell, the Saracens scrum half. Mitchell will take over the captaincy if Burns has to leave the field.

The other semi-final is between the United States and Canada, renewing a rivalry that has been sustained in women's rugby since 1987.

Scotland, beaten 25-10 in the quarter-finals by the US, play France in the plate competition.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
Hands, David. "Burns fit to lead England; Women's World Cup." Times [London, England] 12 May 1998

World Cup: England reach semi-finals

1998-05-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

ENGLAND stayed on course to retain the women's rugby World Cup as they edged out Australia 30-13 to secure a place in Tuesday's semi-finals.

Experience was the key as the holders overcame a resolute Australia. The England pack slowly ground down their opponents after the first half ended 10-10. Paula George, the England full-back, touched down and Claire Frost added a conversion and penalty. In the second half England scored four tries to a penalty.

Wing Niki Brown, scrum-half Emma Mitchell, lock Linda Uttley and replacement Joanne Yapp were the England scorers.

The hard pitch contributed to injuries to Helen Clayton, Jo Poore and Gill Burns, who had come on as a replacement.

All three will receive treatment tomorrow on Monday before the team is picked for the semi-final.

The dreams of Scotland, the Five Nations champions, were dashed by the USA who beat them 25-10. Tries from flanker Diane Schnapp and captain Jenny Crawford, with the latter converted by Jos Bergmann, put the USA in command while Scotland could manage only one first-half score, a Paula Chalmers penalty.

England now face favourites New Zealand in the semi-final after the All Black women beat Spain 46-3. The seemingly invincible New Zealanders, who have run in 34 tries in their opening two games, finally broke a spirited Spain. "New Zealand are an outstanding side but they are showing signs that their unbeatable tag is beginning to slip" said Mitchell.

"Both Spain and Scotland showed that New Zealand find close forward play hard to match and if we play to our strengths we can take them".

In the other semi-final, Scotland's conquerers, the USA, play Canada who defeated France 9-7.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998

Source Citation
Phillips, Marian. "George opens route for grand England defence; The rugby column." Sunday Times [London, England] 10 May 1998

Women's rugby now accepted by Twickenham?

1998-05-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

FRANK KEATING

AS THE old advertising boast for the Virginia Slims women's tennis circuit had it - 'You've come a long way, baby' - so with the distaff branch of international rugby. Only 10 years ago, when Emma Mitchell played her first Test match against Wales at Newport, the England team slept in bunks or sleeping-bags at the Chepstow youth hostel.

'It was a three o'clock kick-off but we were still slung out by 10am after doing all the chores; the forwards washed up the breakfast things, the backs swept and dusted, and us two half-backs had to clean out the toilets. Then we found a park and 'killed three or four hours mooching about with our rucksacks, sleeping-bags and match kit.'From a Chepstow youth hostel to a swish hotel in Amsterdam . . . that 1988 fixture was only the third international England's women had played. Those pioneers have seen their game develop at such a remarkable pace that yesterday in Holland's capital the Dutch minister of sport, the former Olympic swimming medallist Erica Terpstra, officially opened the third women's World Cup in a jam-packed sell-out new stadium where today England begin the defence of their title against Sweden.

The final will be a fortnight today. Sixteen countries have qualified and although the bookmakers particularly fancy the holders England along with the United States, France and New Zealand, the newly Triple-crowned Scots are seriously optimistic; the Welsh and the Irish also travel with high hopes.

With some enlightened sponsorship, plus Sports Council funding and a Lottery grant, the women's game in England has nervelessly held the gaze and stared back with a bonny smile at the diminishing but still substantial body of men who scoff at their pastime.

The Rugby Football Union has come round at last. After the first women's World Cup in Cardiff in 1991 the International Rugby Football Board refused recognition to a follow-up in Holland, but after it was switched to Edinburgh and become another huge success, England famously winning the final, that haughty body loosened the studs on its starched wing-collars. Although not yet fully integrated the Women's RFU (RFUW) is now accepted under the umbrella of the RFU.

When the engaging scrum-half Mitchell played her first international that afternoon at Newport in 1988 there were reckoned to be about 40 women's sides in England. Today there are 270, and more than 8,500 registered players - which still does not compare, mind you, with the 13,000 players in 600-plus United States teams. Canada boasts nearly 10,000 players. On the other hand, Sweden muster only 100 adult players.

Brought up on men's rugby, you must watch and appreciate the women's game as if through a filter. As in cricket, different qualities predominate. Women's rugby is singularly more nimble and dextrous, and although just as wholehearted it has less of a grudge-driven and bullyingly hard edge.

Training at Lilleshall this week before travelling to Holland on Thursday, the England squad displayed a lightness of touch in mind and spirit that their sombrely grunting male counterparts have long lost. There is a wide blend in ages, although on the practice pitch the mudlarking teenagers are not noticeably in thrall to their two undoubted world stars, the totemesque No. 8 and captain Gill Burns and the equally appealing Mitchell, who set Sky screens alight a couple of weeks ago when playing for Saracens against Wasps in the club cup final.

Like Mitchell, Burns took up the game when chivvied to switch from hockey in her early twenties. 'Rugby took over my life,' says the enthusiast, who teaches PE at Range High School, Formby.

Both women remain chastened by last autumn's first England tour to New Zealand when, after a 28-hour flight, the team had a day's sleep before waking up to play, ludicrously, the full-strength women's All Black XV. Not surprisingly they were beaten, 67 0. It still rankles. In Amsterdam, England are seeded to play New Zealand, who did not attend the World Cup in 1994, in the semi-final on Tuesday week.

'If not quite 67, they were 30 points better than us,' says Mitchell with a delectably determined smile. 'We know we stood off that day and let them come at us, which was fatal.'

At Lilleshall this week the women called in one of the England coaches, the former rugby league stalwart Phil Larder, to galvanise their defences. Larder was a convert inside five minutes and, after two stiff sessions on Monday, stayed over for an extra one on Tuesday. 'I feared the worst, if truth were known. But I've been impressed. I've drilled them one-on-one just like I have with the men, and they compared on a dead-level par. At defence, their technique and ability to hit hard was an eye-opener; they've got the timing as well as the bottle; they've addressed their apparent weaknesses and now I'd be mighty surprised if any other team in this World Cup can possibly defend as well.'

The Worcester club provide two in the Amsterdam party, the full-back Nicky Brown and Mitchell's deputy, the 18-year-old Jo-Ann Yapp, and I offered the last word to Worcester's rugby director Les Cusworth, former England coach and sparkling fly-half. 'The ladies play and enjoy rugby as it should be played and enjoyed. They are fast and skilful, and though the old-fashioned male in me still winces at some of the physical contact, their vision, handling and deftness of touch can teach many a leading male player a trick or two.'

As the Virginia Slims baby had it, they have come a mighty long way. From that Chepstow youth hostel to a plush hotel in Amsterdam . . .

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Women's World Cup: It's only ruck and roll but we like it: Even the twits at Twickers take the fillies seriously now. It's been a long hard road, but they've finally arrived." Guardian [London, England] 2 May 1998

World Cup: Gill Burns prepares for England's defence

1998-05-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

GILL BURNS transports herself around the country in a car precisely 180,000 miles old and has not taken a holiday in almost seven years. If she spends little or none of her precious time worrying about money, it is because she has no money to worry about. "Disposable income? That's a laugh," she says. "You make sacrifices to play this game and the first sacrifice is whatever you might have in your pocket."

Her game is rugby and, without putting too fine a point on it, she is an extraordinarily accomplished performer; a fact she intends to emphasise over the two weeks of the third Women's World Cup, which began in Amsterdam yesterday. England are reigning champions and Burns, a No 8 from the Waterloo club, is captain of her country and the proud owner of 40 international caps, one more than Janis Ross, a flanker with Saracens and her oldest international ally.

She is also the only player to have scored in both previous World Cup finals and when you consider her physical resilience, her longevity at international level and a catalogue of complementary sporting achievements - Burns represented British Universities at hockey, basketball, swimming and athletics - she emerges as an explosive mix of Sean Fitzpatrick and C B Fry. A Corinthian with attitude.

Indeed, the most striking aspect of the 26-strong England squad who begin their campaign against Sweden today is the bewildering breadth of their sporting excellence. Paula George, for example, is a world championship netball player as well as an attacking full-back; Pip Spivey, the Clifton wing, is a nationally ranked pentathlete, tetrathlete and indoor rower; Teresa O'Reilly, a prop forward with Saracens, was a junior discus and javelin champion before moving into martial arts, where she won British and European titles in karate. Think twice before you take liberties with her, Os du Randt.

Thanks largely to a pounds 146,000 grant from the Sports Lottery Fund, this England party will be more thoroughly prepared for the rigours of international competition than any of their predecessors. "We've just spent the most fabulous week at Lilleshall, which gave us quality time together," said Burns. "Back in the early days, we'd have to get someone to pick our shirts up from some motorway service station an hour before kick-off. I could never have imagined a situation in which an England squad could spend 24 hours a day thinking purely about rugby. That's how far we've come.

"That's not to say we're pampered professionals, of course. All the girls in this squad have spent a fortune and shown enormous dedication getting to the top level - Susie Appleby, Janice Byford and Helen Clayton all took career breaks to get themselves ready for this tournament - and in my opinion, there is still a lack of respect from people who presume to judge us without taking the trouble to watch us play.

"But the game in England is growing stronger almost by the day; indeed, it is officially recognised as the fastest-growing women's sport in the country. There are 10,000 girls playing serious competitive rugby, we have a stable of incredibly supportive sponsors and a national development team funded by the Sports Council. All we need to do now is go to Holland and sock it to 'em."

Socking it to a predictably tough and resourceful New Zealand side, who are seeded to meet the holders at the semi-final stage, will be easier said than done. "We played them over there last year and had our backsides kicked," admitted Burns, none too sweetly. "We were naive, we defended poorly and we paid through the teeth. But we're a different side now, both in terms of personnel and attitude, and even though the New Zealand girls have been writing us off in public, I'm confident in our ability to handle whatever they throw at us.

"We've taken big strides off the field and those have been accompanied by improvements on it. We've always trained and trained damned hard, but we weren't necessarily doing the right training. Now we have balanced player-specific programmes, expertly compiled and rigidly adhered to. We're serious about this."

According to Byford, a front-row partner of O'Reilly's at Saracens, many leading male players discovered the seriousness of it all some time ago, especially their counterparts at Saracens: "We get a tremendous amount of moral and practical support from guys like Tony Diprose and Richard Hill," she said. "And when Francois Pienaar first took over as Sarries coach, he encouraged us by saying: 'This club needs silverware and you're the people to win us some.' If he recognises the work we're putting in, we must be doing something right."

Source Citation
Hewett, Chris. "Women's Rugby Union: Burns sets tone as a Corinthian with attitude; The England women's rugby union team begin their World Cup defence today. Chris Hewett met their dedicated captain." Independent [London, England] 2 May 1998

World Cup: Home nations prepare

1998-05-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

A DARK cloud looms on the horizon of women's rugby. It is called New Zealand and the 15 other countries that contest the third World Cup in Holland over the next fortnight await with some trepidation to see whether its womenfolk can match the feats of the All Blacks.

The old order is changing, no matter what the gender. England, the holders, the United States and France have been the traditional powers but this weekend will show what the southern hemisphere can offer: New Zealand played in the first women's World Cup, in Wales in 1991, but withdrew from the 1994 tournament after an absence of support from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

They return with a flourish, underpinned by the growing popularity of competitive touch rugby in the southern- hemisphere summer and successes that include a 67-0 demolition of England last year. They will be joined, for the first time in a world tournament, by Australia, while Scotland will enter as European champions after a season in which they recorded their first success against England, by 8-5 in March.

For the first time, the tournament commands the support of the International Rugby Board (IRB), which will meet all the costs. It is a far cry from seven years ago, when the overwhelming enthusiasm of the administrators of the women's game in Britain carried all before them, even if it left them in debt by the close.

Now, however, there is greater recognition by the men of the merits of women's rugby. For example, England will defend their title after spending a week together at Lilleshall, thanks to a Pounds 146,000 grant from the National Lottery; the team is sponsored by Swiss Life (UK), supported by ADMeat, and a further eight companies con tribute significantly to the squad's preparation.

Ten years ago, when Gill Burns played her first international (against Sweden, England's pool opponents tomorrow), the players paid their own way in terms of kit, travel and accommodation. Burns leads England into what will be her third World Cup, knowing the financial worries that afflicted the 1991 organisers are things of the past - though she has not taken a holiday in the past six years and the mileage on her car is approaching 200,000.

This has not stopped three members of the squad - Susie Appleby (policewoman), Janice Byford (teacher) and Helen Clayton (lecturer) - from taking career breaks so that they can concentrate on a successful World Cup. It is also an opportunity for youth, because in Jo Yapp, 18, England include one of the youngest competitors in the tournament. Whether England can retain their crown remains to be seen. Their squad has changed out of all recognition since the visit to New Zealand, but the forwards do not look as formidable as the pack that squeezed the life out of the United States in the 1994 final; they have received coaching from luminaries such as Dick Best and Phil Larder and enter the fray encouraged by their 62-8 defeat of Ireland a month ago.

They are seeded to meet New Zealand in the semi-finals, at the Dutch National Rugby Centre in Amsterdam. Scotland, drawn in the same pool as New Zealand, must beat Italy to ensure a quarter-final place, while Wales are in the same pool as the Americans, whose free-running backs provided the highlights of the 1994 tournament.

Ireland's inexperienced team, which has received financial support from the Irish Rugby Football Union worth Pounds 20,000, will lack nothing in commitment but look to have the most demanding of games on the opening day, when they play Australia. It is, though, New Zealand's performance that will be watched most closely. "Ever since they beat us in August, I have been dying for another chance," Emma Mitchell, England's talented scrum half, said. That chance may be just around the corner.

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP SQUADS

ENGLAND: Backs: P George (Wasps), N Brown (Worcester), P Spivey (Clifton), J Molyneux (Waterloo), S Day (Wasps), K Knight (Old Leamingtonians), T Collins (Saracens), S Appleby (Saracens), G Prangnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens), J Yapp (Worcester). Forwards: J Smith (Wasps), J Byford (Saracens), T O'Reilly (Saracens), M Edwards (Saracens), N Ponsford (Saracens), J Poore (Richmond), T Siwek (Richmond), L Uttley (Wasps), C Green (Saracens), S Robertson (Leeds), G Stevens (Clifton), J Ross (Saracens), H Clayton (Saracens), C Frost (Saracens), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).

WALES: Backs: N Evans (Cardiff Harlequins), T Comley (Ty-Croes), E Green (Saracens), S Thomas (Waterloo), S Phillips (Aberystwyth), L Rickard (Aberystwyth), R Williams (Wasps), S Williams (Ty-Croes), B Evans (Cardiff Harlequins, captain), R Owens (Swansea Uplands), S Calnan (Cheltenham). Forwards: D Mason (Waterloo), J Studley (Blaenau Gwent), A Antoniazzi (Waterloo), L Pritchard (Cardiff Harlequins), N Griffiths (Cardiff Harlequins), J Kift (Cardiff Harlequins), A Dent (Waterloo), C Donovan (Saracens), J Robinson (Aberystwyth), J Morgan (Cardiff Harlequins), S Ellis (Richmond), G Baylis (Saracens), E Steer (Swansea Uplands), P Evans (Swansea Uplands), L Burgess (Saracens).

SCOTLAND: Backs: C Herriot (Edinburgh Academicals), A McGrandles (Leeds), M Cave (Saracens), S Brodie (Edinburgh Academicals, K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Craigie (Murrayfield Wanderers), S Higgins (Edinburgh Academicals), R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), L Blamire (Edinburgh Academicals), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers). Forwards: J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals), K Findley (Richmond), L Allsopp (Murrayfield Wanderers), A Christie (Edinburgh Academicals), A MacKenzie (Glasgow Southern), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), M McHardy (Edinburgh Academicals), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), G Cameron (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds), I Wilson (Alton), J Sheerin (Richmond), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B MacLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers).

IRELAND: Backs: S Cosgrave (Old Crescent), L Nicholl (Cooke), A Dillon (Blackrock College), C-A Byrne (Blackrock College, captain), F Neary (Waterloo), S Fleming (Cooke), H Siwek (Wasps), R Currie (Cooke), R Shrieves (Richmond), F Devaney (Creggs), S O'Donovan (Waterloo). Forwards: D Campbell (Cooke), O Brown (Shannon), M Nash (Wasps), A Parsons (Wasps), J Moore (Exeter), E Wilt (Crawley), T Kennedy (Old Leamingtonians), M Myles (Wasps), A-M McAllister (Blackrock College), L Noade (Cooke), R Burn (Novocastrians), J O'Gorman (Old Crescent), F Steed (Novocastrians), J Whiteside (Leeds), J McCarthy (Old Crescent).

POOLS: A: England, Canada, Holland, Sweden. B: United States, Spain, Wales, Russia. C: France, Australia, Ireland, Kazakhstan. D: New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Germany.

ITINERARY: Today: Opening ceremony; Canada v Holland. Tomorrow: Spain v Wales, New Zealand v Germany, France v Kazkhstan, United States v Russia, England v Sweden, Australia v Ireland, Scotland v Italy. May 5: Pool matches between first-round winners; pool matches between first-round losers. 9: Quarter-finals. 12: Semi-finals. 16: Final.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
Hands, David. "England outlook blackened by rivals; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 1 May 1998

World Cup: USA in line for third final

1998-04-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

EVEN though England and New Zealand are the favourites, America must be in line to reach their third successive World Cup final, writes Stephen Jones. They will avoid both sides until the final if results go with seedings.

Women's rugby has thrived in America for de cades. They have 10,000 reg istered adult women players, more than any other compet ing nation.

Only England, with 9,000, and Canada with 8,000 have remotely near that number.

Sweden, with only 100, have the smallest playing base.

The Americans featured in both the first two World Cup finals. They won the inaugu ral tournament in Cardiff in 1991, beating England 19-6 in the final, thanks to the bril liance of their backs.

Three years later in Edin burgh, England cashed in on scrummage power to gain revenge, winning 38-23.

The dark horses among the home countries are Scot land, who completed a memorable grand slam in the recent home nations champ ionship, beating England in Edinburgh.

Wales, who ran England closer than the 29-12 scoreline suggests in their home na tions match, face a tough opening assignment against Spain, who have recently beaten both Ireland and France.

The Irish have also to negotiate a strong pool, which includes France, Australia and Kazakhstan, a team comprising chiefly of army personnel.

Australia and Germany are the two teams playing in the World Cup for the first time.

WORLD CUP Pool A: England, Canada, Holland, Sweden.

Pool B: America, Spain, Wales, Russia.

Pool C: France, Australia, Ireland, Kazakhstan.

Pool D: New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Germany.

FIXTURES May 1: Opening ceremony and Holland v Canada May 2: England v Sweden; US v Russia; Spain v Wales; France v Kazakhstan; Australia v Ireland; New Zealand v Germany; Scotland v Italy.

May 5: Remaining pool matches:

May 9: Quarter-finals May 12: Semi-finals May 15: Plate and Shield finals May 16 : Final.

All matches take place at the Nat ional Rugby Centre, Amsterdam

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998

Source Citation
Jones, Stephen. "America in sight of third cup final; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 26 Apr. 1998

National Cup final: report

1998-04-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Wasps 0 Saracens 5 .

SARACENS scored after five minutes to set a challenging pace in the women's Bread for Life National Cup final, but desperation and drizzle settled over The Stoop in equal measure and the result remained in doubt until the end.

Mistakes ruled and Saracens were fortunate to have the resilient Emma Mitchell in such commanding form. Mitchell produced the only try with a combination of pace and strength off a scrum and it is no surprise that Saracens rated her good enough to play in their second team a couple of years ago - the men's second team, that is.

Wasps would have recognised the threat which Mitchell presented at scrum-half, but when she set off on her decisive run, dipping the shoulders, maintaining speed and balance, it was class at work. The pity was that it was never fully expressed again as Saracens won the Cup for a record fifth time.

Saracens controlled 90% of the first half but made so many mistakes that they were responsible for most of the 25 scrums. Only Mitchell look capable of better things but was caught in the tide of errors which ruined the match as a spectacle.

Wasps put the ball to their wings only twice - once in the Saracens' half - and must have realised at half-time that with a modicum of belief and an increase in pace they could turn the game.

Wasps tried, but their efforts were wasted. Paula George put in a long attack from full-back only for Cheryl Stennett to drop her pass on the Saracens 22 and No 8 Jenny Chambers was also frustrated after driving through.

The final started with 14 of the England squad who will defend the World Cup in Amsterdam next month after losing to both New Zealand and Scotland in the last eight months. England, like Saracens, will have to depend on Mitchell's continued good health if they are to stand any chance of holding on to their crown.

Saracens: M Cave; J Edwards, T Collins, A de Base, E Green; S Appleby, E Mitchell (capt); M Edwards, N Ponsford, T O'Reilly (P Ramsey 61min), L Burgess, C Green, J Ross, H Clayton, C Frost.

Wasps: P George; C Stennett, R Williams, B Lloyd, S Day; G Pragnell, H Harding (N Alcock 74min); J Smith, J Potter (capt), A Parsons (V Huxford 36min), L Uttley, M Myles (O Lacey 61min), E Vermeulen (B Slee 40min), C Mulalley, J Chambers.

Scorers: Saracens. Try: Mitchell.

Referee: D Matthews (Liverpool).

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998

Source Citation
Parsons, David. "Classy Mitchell lightens gloom; Women's rugby." Sunday Times [London, England] 19 Apr. 1998

Rugby prepares for first live TV broadcast of National Cup final

1998-04-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

JON HENDERSON

CLAIRE DONOVAN once failed to get a job because she played rugby union. 'The company I applied to turned me down because they felt I'd be far more committed to my rugby than my work, which was quite unfair.'

On the other hand, it does tell you something about the changing attitude towards what was once regarded as the quintessential chaps' game. Ten years ago, an employer would never have regarded a woman's involvement in rugby as the sort of distraction that might make her a liability. It might have raised an eyebrow, but hardly an objection.Now, though, thousands of women have crossed the touchline to cast off the traditional female role at rugby matches: providing her manly other half's team-mates with evidence of his predatory skills when he is not in the clubhouse demonstrating the liquid capacity of the male bladder. The Rugby Football Union for Women calculate that there are some 10,000 women playing the game in Britain at 270 clubs.

And there is a growing realisation that women's commitment to rugby in terms of training and practice is steadily closing the gap on men's, so the employer's misguided decision to turn down Claire Donovan did at least have the virtue of recognising that the game's rapidly expanding distaff side don't just turn up for rugby matches, fanny around for 80 minutes and spend the rest of the week buffing their nails.

A more important recognition of the advance of women's rugby takes place next Saturday, when the Bread for Life National Cup final becomes the first women's rugby union match in Britain to be televised live, with Sky dispatching 19 cameras and, among others, the former England and Lions scrum-half Dewi Morris to cover the game at the Stoop ground, home of Harlequins. Donovan will be there, too, a second-row forward in the Saracens team who have just won the Premier Division One title with an unbeaten record and hope to confirm their supremacy over their only serious rivals, Wasps, in the final.

Donovan, 26, from Cardiff

- she is also a Wales international - started playing rugby union when she was at Seale Hayne agricultural college in south Devon. 'I used to enjoy showjumping, but knew I'd never be particularly good at it, and was relatively successful at cross-country running, but absolutely hated it. Rugby was the one thing I was quite good at and actually enjoyed doing.'

She says the only aspect of rugby she had difficulty adapting to was the team thing. 'When I was show- jumping I used to go to a quiet corner of the warm-up area and just be nervous on my own. Suddenly I'd got 14 other people to be nervous with before a game, and that was quite hard.'

After Seale Hayne she moved to the South-East and, having finally overcome an ankle injury from horse-

riding, managed a full season with Canterbury in 1996-97. 'I got into the Welsh squad at the end of that season and felt I had to play at a higher standard to get my skill level up. I went to Saracens at the start of this season and graduated to the first team.'

So how hard does she train? 'Every weekday unless we've had a particularly demanding match, in which case I tend to take the Monday off. But we usually go sprint training twice a week and have club training on two other nights.

'Like the men's game, the emphasis has changed. We've lost the slow, fat forwards and everyone has had to work on their fitness and improving their speed. You have to be able to run and compete for 80 minutes, rather than scrum, walk to the next line-out and then potter about for a bit.

'I've lost two stone in the past two seasons (she is six feet and 11 and a half stone) and am fitter than I've ever been. Before, my lungs gave out before anything else; now my lungs are all right but my legs tend to go wobbly after 80 minutes.'

And in the dark recesses of the scrum, where all manner of unspeakable crimes are supposedly committed in the men's game, is the women's just as bad? 'No, I think that is one of the big differences between the two. My boyfriend hadn't really watched rugby at all until he started coming to see me play. He got quite interested in it and wanted to try playing the game himself until he went to watch a men's match. I think he was quite surprised by how much activity there was unrelated to the play.'

Away from the playing field, Donovan says the reaction to her rugby playing is generally positive, reflecting the acceptance of the women's game. 'A couple of people in the office pretend to be absolutely terrified of me and shrink away whenever I come near. And my previous boss was quite averse to me having a black eye when I came to work. One morning he said, 'Oh, nice black-eye day. Well done. Good match was it?' Then he came up to me a little later and said, 'Oh dear, Claire. We're not going to make a habit of this.'

'But most people can get past the women's rugby thing and, although it is relatively new, they take on board that you must have worked bloody hard to represent your country, which is nice. The farmer who looks after my horse down in Wales is a huge rugby fan and when he introduces me says, 'This is Claire, she's an international rugby player.' He's just as pleased as if I were Doddie Weir.'

And the employer who turned Claire Donovan down might be interested to know that she is now a highly successful technical manager for Tesco, driving the best part of 2,000 miles a week and 'dealing with suppliers from Zimbabwe to Inverness'.

'The difference between people who get to the top is how they manage their lifestyles. We've all probably got the same talent, but it's the will to do it, to fit in playing the game around your work. I was quite hurt that someone thought I wouldn't be any good at my job because I'd be too busy training.'

His loss, one suspects, has been the greater.

Source Citation
"Rugby: Claire and the girls Stoop to conquer: Jon Henderson on why thriving women's rugby deserves a TV cup final showcase." Observer [London, England] 12 Apr. 1998

Growth of women's rugby

1998-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

WOMEN'S rugby is enjoying a boom after small beginnings in 1983, when the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) was formed with a hand ful of teams. The first in ternational was staged at Richmond in 1987, when a few doz en spectators watched a well-drilled France defeat Great Britain, which boasted sev eral outstanding individ uals but little cohesion as a team. Car diff hosted the first women's World Cup in 1988, which despite being run on a shoe string, attracted 12 countries.

Standards have im proved dramatically, thanks in part to the increased number of in ternational matches.

There are regular home internationals, and England took on Ireland at Worcester yester day.

Some 10,000 women now play and compete regularly at 330 clubs all over Brit ain. Although in the early days women's rug by was predominant ly a college and university sport, with few players taking up the game before their teens, growing numbers of schools offer touch rugby for girls as young as eight and intro duce the full-scale game to teenagers. Most universities field several women's sides. The top eight senior sides, in cluding Saracens, who field a high propor tion of the England team, and Old Leamingtonians, compete in a national Premier League.

There are two other nat ional leagues just be low them, as well as four regional leagues for less experienced players learn their craft.

RFUW also organises National Senior, Stu dent and Junior Cup competitions.

Most clubs wel come newcomers regard less of size, background or athletic prowess - coaching and fitness training are provided and, unlike most sports, rugby ac commodates all phys ical types because of the various skills re quired in different posit ions. For more details contact the RFUW on 01635 42333.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
"Ways and means; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 6 Apr. 1998

England reflect on Scotland defeat; women's rugby "one of the fastest-growing sports in the country"

1998-04-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

England's rugby-playing women fumbled their chance to keep in step with the men when they lost to Scotland for the first time in their version of the Five Nations Championship. The grand slam belongs north of the border, but when England take on Ireland at Worcester on Sunday, they will have an extra incentive to return to winning ways.

It will be England's last competitive match before they begin their defence of the World Cup in Holland next month, when one of the key players will be Emma Mitchell, 31, the Saracens scrum half, who played in both previous tournaments after taking up the game in 1985.

"I started playing when I was at Loughborough University," she said. "I went there as a discus thrower and hockey player, but wanted to try another team sport. Jim Greenwood, who was a British Lion in the 1950s, was a lecturer there and he got involved with the women's team just as I took the game up. I was very lucky not to learn bad habits early on."

With barely half-a-dozen sides playing in England and Wales during the early 1980s, Mitchell found herself propelled into the England set-up. "That happened in my second year of playing and I won my first cap in 1988. I was one of the players - and there are still a few in the present squad - fortunate to become involved just as the sport really took off," she said.

The Sports Council has identified women's rugby as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country over the past decade. There are more than 200 club sides and as many university and youth teams.

Mitchell was among the founder members of Saracens in 1989 and the club has since won three league titles, with a fourth on the horizon, the National Cup and the National Sevens on four occasions. "It's good at the moment," she said, "because we fit alongside the men in that they're going for the premiership and cup double."

Although the men's team has moved to Watford, Mitchell believes the spirit built up at Southgate, their base before their move to Vicarage Road, has been retained. "Nigel Wray (the club owner) is a millionaire who has come into the sport as a true rugby fan. He is very supportive of us because he sees the future of the club as being very family-orientated. The atmosphere is great.

'We've had coaching sessions from Tony Diprose, the men's captain, Greg Bottomon, who is one of the hookers in the squad, and also from Paul Wallace, the British Isles prop. I think they (the men) still see their home as Bramley Road and they're in and out of there every day for training. If we happen to be playing, they come out on the touchline and watch."

Professionalism may have added glamour to the men's game, but, as amateurs, many of the women will be taking time out from their jobs to play for England in May. National Lottery funding has eased the financial burden - Mitchell estimated that it cost her Pounds 2,000 to play last year. "From my point of view, it has been ten years accumulating debt," she said.

As a commissioning editor, signing up academics to write textbooks for the higher education market, Mitchell is more fortunate than most. Her employer, Addison Wesley Longman, the publisher, is one of the few cash sponsors of the women's game, paying Pounds 10,000 to have its name printed on the sleeves of the England shirts.

"They also give me paid leave to play and extended lunch hours so that I can get to the gym and train," she said. "It does make a huge difference because most people use up all their holiday allowance playing for England." If the England players can retain the World Cup, won in Edinburgh in 1994, it will all seem worth it.

Of the 16 nations competing, New Zealand are the favourites, with England, Australia and the United States all capable of running off with the trophy - although Scotland's recent victory has raised some doubts about the England scrum.

"To be honest, France, Scotland, Spain and even Wales, on their day, could upset the whole cart and beat any one of us," Mitchell said. "The main thing is that the game is continuing to grow. There were only 12 sides in the last World Cup and that was the first time the game featured in the sports pages.

" We've only just started to get the recognition that has led to our present level of support. Whatever happens in Holland, that is definitely very exciting."

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
Potter, Sarah. "Mitchell thrives on textbook technique; Rugby union." Times [London, England] 2 Apr. 1998

Chalmers gives Scotland World Cup inspiration

1998-03-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

Scotland 8 England 5

SCOTLAND, the most improved of the home international sides in women's rugby over the last two years, will go to the World Cup in Holland in May as holders of the grand slam. They will do so thanks to a penalty goal kicked by Paula Chalmers, which earned them victory over England at Inverleith on Saturday, though the slim margin of victory does not indicate Scotland's all-round superiority.

Before the last women's World Cup in 1994, which they hosted, Scotland were among the newest of international contenders, but they have established a side that has now overtaken the two countries dominant in women's rugby in the northern hemisphere for the past 15 years, France and England, whose hopes of a successful defence in Holland of the title that they won in Edinburgh four years ago do not look well-founded.

In an error-strewn match, Scotland dominated the set-pieces, almost claiming a pushover try in the second half against an England side that formerly took pride in emulating the men's side in the power of their scrum.

There is, too, far more kicking in the women's game than used to be the case: it is a skill that they have learned to do well, but Scotland overused it on this occasion, for they had a back division with the legs of England.

They proved that in the first quarter, when Kim Littlejohn looped swiftly to retrieve a dropped ball and rounded the English cover. Yet, before the interval, England had made up for two missed penalty attempts from Gill Burns, Maxine Edwards leading a drive on the left before the backs at last sustained a handling movement to create space for Pip Spivey on the right.

Only ten minutes remained when Chalmers, to the delight of Craig, her distinguished brother, who was among the spectators, kicked the penalty that won the game, leaving England with the game against Ireland at Worcester on April 4 to make hasty repairs to their World Cup defence.

SCORERS: Scotland: Try: Littlejohn (13min). Penalty goal: Chalmers (70). England: Try: Spivey (22).

SCORING SEQUENCE (Scotland first): 5-0, 5-5 (half-time), 8-5.

SCOTLAND: A McGrandles (Leeds); D Fairbairn (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Paterson (Richmond), K Littlejohn (Leeds, captain), M Cave (Saracens); R Lewis (Murrayfield Wanderers), P Chalmers (Murrayfield Wanderers); J Taylor (Edinburgh Academicals; rep: E Allsopp, Murrayfield Wanderers, 53), S Scott (Murrayfield Wanderers), K Findley (Richmond), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), M McHardy (Murrayfield Wanderers), J Afseth (Edinburgh Academicals), B McLeod (Murrayfield Wanderers), D Kennedy (Leeds).

ENGLAND: P George (Wasps); P Spivey (Clifton), S Day (Wasps), S Harris (Waterloo; rep: S Appleby, Saracens, 70), N Brown (Worcester; rep: J Molyneux, Waterloo, 70); G Pragnell (Wasps), E Mitchell (Saracens); T O'Reilly (Saracens), J Potter (Wasps; rep: J Smith, Wasps, 65), M Edwards (Saracens; rep: A O'Flynn, Waterloo, 65), L Uttley (Wasps), T Siwek (Richmond), J Ross (Saracens; rep: J Chambers, Wasps, 10-14, 38-40), G Stevens (Clifton), G Burns (Waterloo, captain).

Referee: P Sleeman (Wales).

Copyright (C) The Times, 1998

Source Citation
Hands, David. "Chalmers gives Scotland World Cup inspiration; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 23 Mar. 1998

Scotland win Grand Slam

1998-03-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Scotland 8 England 5

STRANGE days at Inverleith, the old Edinburgh ground that is steeped in the proud history - and the recent under-achievement - of its home club, Stewart's-Melville. On Friday it played host to a Grand Slam by the Scotland A team and yesterday it provided another for Scotland's women, who completed their clean sweep with this battling win over England. Who says you don't see Scottish Grand Slams every day of the week?

Granted, the opportunity for another this afternoon has already been lost, but even if they were small in number, the crowd at this match could still savour their day. Scotland were not flattered one bit by the scoreline at the end and, from having been among the rabbits of the last Women's World Cup in 1994, they can now go forward to the next tournament, in Holland in May, with confidence soaring. The spirits of England, the world champions, however, are in need of urgent restoration.

Most of England's best attacks were ignited by Emma Mitchell, whose all-round excellence at scrum-half provided a vivid sub-text to the game. Indeed, Mitchell probably kept England in the game during the first half.

Her assuredness was important when Scotland tried to raise the pace after their first try. That arrived in the 12th minute when Linda Uttley knocked-on near her 22 and Scotland were awarded a scrum. Paula Chalmers moved the ball left and although Michelle Cave and Pogo Paterson almost ruined the move with a fumble in midfield, Kim Littlejohn, the Scottish captain, both resuscitated the attack and finished it off, arcing round the defence to the left corner.

With more ball, Scotland might have capitalised further, for there was a wonderful eagerness about their play. England, by contrast, were leaden, and prone to horrible handling lapses all along the three-quarter line. Yet England took their example from Mitchell and the fly-half, Giselle Pragnell, and it was through their composure that they clawed their way back.

More significantly, they also hauled themselves onto the scoreboard before half-time, levelling with a wonderful try. It came in the 32nd minute when a rumbling charge down the left touchline by Maxine Edwards drew in the Scottish defence, Mitchell switched play to the right and a looping move by Pragnell allowed Pip Spivey to sprint in by the flag.

Some people still claim women's rugby is strange spectacle, but the only truly bizarre sight was that of a Scottish scrum destroying English opposition. The Scots spent much of the third quarter camped on England's line, yet despite a clear advantage in the set-piece, they could not quite find the extra ounce of power to surge over.

Indeed, Scotland seemed more sapped by the experience, as England swept back upfield with determination. Gill Burns, however, was spotted stamping in a ruck and, when Scotland grafted their way back into English territory, it was more Burns footwork that again cost England dear. Foolishly, the English No 8 did the deed on her own 22 this time, and Chalmers swept the penalty home.

The kick secured the win for Scotland and secured the status of a sport that has had more than its fair share of detractors in this part of the world. Certainly, you could pick critically at some of the quality of the game, particularly the goal-kicking. But the attitude and spirit of the Scottish side was second to none.

Scotland: A McGrandles; D Fairbairn, P Paterson, K Littlejohn, M Cave; R Lewis, P Chalmers; J Taylor (L Allsopp 52min), S Scott (A McKenzie 40min), K Findlay, L Cockburn, M McHardy, J Afseth, D Kennedy, B McLeod (J Sheerin 40min).

England: P George; P Spivey, S Day, S Harris (S Appleby 71min), N Brown (J Molyneux 71min); G Pragnell, E Mitchell; T O'Reilly, J Potter (J Smith 63min), M Edwards, L Uttley, T Siwek, J Ross, G Burns, G Stevens.

Scorers: Scotland: Try: Littlejohn. Pen: Chalmers.

England: Try: Spivey.

Referee: P Sleeman (Wales).

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998

Source Citation
Reid, Alasdair. "Scottish women set the scene with Grand Slam victory; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 22 Mar. 1998

Scotland v England

1998-03-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Scotland 8 England 5

STRANGE days at Inverleith, the old Edinburgh ground that is steeped in the proud history and the recent under-achievement of its home club, Stewart's Melville. On Friday, it played host to a Grand Slam by the Scotland A team and yesterday it provided another for Scotland's women, who completed their clean sweep with this battling win over England. Who says you don't see Scottish Grand Slams every day of the week?

Granted, the opportunity for another this afternoon has already been lost, but even if they were small in number, the crowd at this match could still savour their day. Scotland were not flattered one bit by the final scoreline and, from having been among the rabbits of the women's World Cup in 1994, they can now go forward to the next tournament, in Holland in May, with confidence soaring. The spirits of England, the reigning world champions, however, need urgent restoration.

Most of England's problems lay in the pack, where they lacked the co-ordination of their opponents. England's best attacks were ignited by Emma Mitchell, whose all-round excellence at scrum-half compensated for failings elsewhere. Not that Julie Potter, her hooker, would have been particularly appreciative when Mitchell's first kick of the game brought both boot and ball thumping into her midriff, but it would be true to say Mitchell probably kept England in the game during the first half.

Her assuredness was important when Scotland tried to raise the pace following their first try. That arrived in the 12th minute when Linda Uttley knocked on near her 22 and Scotland were awarded a scrum. Paula Chalmers moved the ball left and, although Michelle Cave and Pogo Paterson almost ruined the move with a fumble in midfield, Kim Littlejohn, the Scottish captain, both rescucitated the attack and finished it off, arcing around the defence to the left corner.

With more ball, Scotland might have capitalised further, for there was a wonderful eagerness about their play at that stage. England, by contrast, were leaden, and prone to horrible handling lapses all along the three-quarter line. Yet England took their example from Mitchell and fly-half Giselle Pragnell and it was through their composure that they clawed their way back into the game.

More significantly, they also hauled themselves onto the scoreboard before half-time, levelling the scores with a wonderful try. It came in the 32nd minute when a rumbling charge down the left touchline by Maxine Edwards drew in the Scottish defence, Mitchell switched play to the right and a looping move by Pragnell allowed Pip Spivey to sprint over by the right flag.

Yet the prospect of a punishing England effort in the second half quickly receded as England, so wonderfully aggressive when they won their 1994 trophy, seemed seriously short of appetite. Scotland, however, were ravenous. To the verve of Paterson at outside centre they could add the poise of Rimma Lewis, their stand-off. As the game wore on, moreover, it was clear the Scottish pack, and especially their brittle front row, were gaining the upper hand.

Some people still try to claim that women's rugby is a strange spectacle, but the only truly bizarre sight in this match was that of a Scottish scrum destroying English opposition. The Scots spent much of the third quarter camped on England's line, yet despite a clear advantage in the set piece - they also stole some priceless English lineout ball with the glee of the genuinely larcenous - they could not quite find the extra ounce of power to surge over those last few inches.

Indeed, Scotland seemed more sapped by the experience, as England swept back upfield with determination. Their attacks lacked conviction, however, and the Scottish defence picked them off around the fringes with comfortable ease. Then Gill Burns, the English No 8, was spotted stamping in a ruck and, when Scotland grafted their way back into English territory, it was more Burns footwork that again cost England dear. Foolishly, the English player had this time done the deed on her own 22, and Chalmers swept the penalty home.

The kick secured the win for Scotland and secured the status of a sport that has had more than its fair share of detractors in this part of the world. You could pick critically at some of the quality of the game, particularly the goal-kicking which was next-to abject throughout. But the attitude and spirit of the Scottish side was second to none, and when they travel to Holland in two months time they have every right to believe they could earn the same accolade.

Scotland

A McGrandles; D Fairbairn, P Paterson, K Littlejohn, M Cave; R Lewis, P Chalmers; J Taylor (L Allsopp 52min), S Scott (A McKenzie 40min), K Findlay, L Cockburn, M McHardy, J Afseth, D Kennedy, B McLeod (J Sheerin 40min).

England

P George; P Spivey, S Day, S Harris (S Appleby 71min), N Brown (J Molyneux 71min); G Pragnell, E Mitchell; T O'Reilly, J Potter (J Smith 63min), M Edwards, L Uttley, T Siwek, J Ross, G Burns, G Stevens.

Scorers: Littlejohn (T 12min) 5-0; Spivey (T 32min) 5-5; Chalmers (P 69min) 8-5. Referee: P Sleeman (Wales). Attendance: 1,000.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1998

Source Citation
Reid, Alasdair. "Scots savour grand victory; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 22 Mar. 1998

The champions who are the best-kept secret in England

1997-12-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

Anyone seeking proof that money and logic are estranged bedfellows in English sport should take a look at women's rugby union. While millions of pounds are routinely pumped into high-profile male events, some of which are little better than lame ducks, one genuine success story remains a ridiculously well-kept secret.

The facts, though, should be screamed from the rooftops. England are the world champions and 8,000 women are turning out regularly for their clubs, always on a Sunday, mind, so as not to clash with men's matches. What's more, the whole operation gets by on a budget of pounds 200,000 - less than the annual salary of many an Allied Dunbar Premiership player.

Amazingly, the Rugby Football Union for Women are quite relaxed about the situation and exude almost a perverse pride at making a little go a long way. However, as England start to build towards their World Cup defence in Amsterdam next May, the current account will feel the strain over the months to come, starting with today's international against Spain in Madrid.

The season continues early next year with games against France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and by the time the World Cup is over the RFUW will have good reason to thank their latest sponsor, Swiss Life, for underwriting the England team to the tune of pounds 20,000, with a pounds 10,000 bonus to retain the trophy.

Help from the 10 official suppliers to the England team comes in kind as well as cash and is bewilderingly varied - everything from meat to sports bras. But Rosie Golby, formerly the RFUW's secretary and now president, remembers even more straitened times.

"We were self-funding until 1994 and the players paid for everything - shirts, kit, you name it - even at international level. The girls paid to go to the 1994 World Cup and volunteers are still the sport's lifeblood. But, financially, England are women's rugby's most successful team, although the players and management still contribute to their own travel and accommodation.

"Most players take it up at college and carry on playing when they're working. They train at night, often driving hundreds of miles in the process. Obviously, we can never match the men for raw power but women's rugby is fluent and skilful, and great to watch."

England played their first international, against Wales, 10 years ago but did not really come into their own until 1990 when the Great Britain squad split up into the four home countries. Their first defeat was inflicted by the United States in 1991 but their second, a 15-17 setback against France at Northampton, only happened last February.

Several members of the side which beat the US in the 1994 World Cup final in Edinburgh are still playing, including Nicola Ponsford, who is one of only two full-time RFUW employees. A third national development officer has just been appointed and will work from the RFUW's new office in Newbury - the operation is at present based at de Montfort University in Bedford.

The sport may be in its infancy but the Corinthian spirit which drives it on is a throw back to a bygone era when everything was run exceedingly well by enthusiastic and good-humoured amateurs. Women's rugby may be impoverished but it's fun, and it definitely should not be a secret.

Source Citation
Trow, Paul. "Rugby Union: Riches of the poor relations; Paul Trow looks at the champions who are the best-kept secret in England." Independent on Sunday [London, England] 7 Dec. 1997

England prepare for New Zealand tour

1997-08-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Louise Taylor talks to the England women's rugby union captain as the squad begin a tour of New Zealand

A CHILDHOOD punctuated by plies and demi-plies perfected at the barre of her mother's ballet school has accelerated the adult sporting career of Britain's premier female rugby union player.

Acknowledged as the world's best No 8, Gill Burns is England's captain and highest try-scoring forward. A Formby-based PE teacher, she is also a qualified dancing instructor boasting diplomas in ballet, tap and modern.

"Ballet has improved the rugby because it involves a lot of elevation, enabling me to jump so much further at lineouts," she explained. "It helps with co-ordination and technique too."

The England ensemble Burns is captaining on this month's tour of New Zealand are global champions and she admits being unable to envisage an existence beyond next May's World Cup defence in Holland.

That target now ranks as "my main focus in life" but things were vastly different 10 years ago when the then 23-year-old was persuaded to "give rugby a go". Cynical curiosity turned to addiction and Burns took just 12 months to metamorphose from novice to England debutant.

"My first international was against Sweden at my club, Waterloo and, and in the bar afterwards, a man admitted coming to see 'tits and bums' but, after five minutes, realised he was watching 'a bloody good' game of rugger."

Though strident chauvinism is in recession, she is still aware of discreetly muttered disapproval: "You get some funny comments about women's bodies not being built for contact. There are big impact tackles but no fisticuffs; women haven't got the same macho egos."

Men and women do share similar competitive instincts and Burns is also a UK-ranked shot-putter; although oval-ball commitments dictate that time devoted to athletics is severely curtailed.

Ditto household spending. Playing rugby costs internationals "around Pounds 3,000 a year", determining that England's captain is consequently unable to replace her E-reg Ford Orion which displays 170,000 miles on the clock.

Small wonder that she muses: "It would be great to have a sponsor who would buy us a few train tickets." Instead England are duly grateful to Berlei, providers of sports bras, and Puma, boot suppliers.

A little limelight would be welcome though. As Burns said: "I'll always remember stopping at a service station on the way back from the last World Cup in Edinburgh. The final had been on Grandstand and some men came up and said they'd enjoyed watching. It was nice to be recognised."

What a shame reactionary sponsors and cautious television producers are not disposed to help make it regular.

Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1997

Source Citation
Taylor, Louise. "Burns in step and on song; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 3 Aug. 1997

England v Scotland: preview

1997-01-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

After seeing a women's rugby match Christian Dymond says England v Scotland will be a cracker.

If my experience is anything to go by, the women's rugby international between England and Scotland next weekend should be a cracker.

England women's team are the world champions and Scotland lost the fixture only 12-8 last year. The match takes place at Blackheath on Sunday and is preceded by a game between the two national women's A sides.

With England men's poor performance against Argentina still relatively fresh in my memory, I travelled to the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne to watch the women of Blaydon Barracudas entertain the might of Wharfedale.

This was by no means the top flight of women's rugby - Blaydon and Wharfedale are in the northern league of the third division - but both sides clearly had ambitions to take the game to each other in an entertaining and open way.

Blaydon Barracudas were also looking to improve their performance after their defeat in Yorkshire a few weeks before, and early evidence suggested enough bite to rattle the visitors. Scrummaging looked pretty solid, there was clean ball from the lineout and after five minutes Elizabeth Simpson, their nippy wing, should have gone over for a try but the final pass was way off target.

Gradually, though, Wharfedale got a grip on the game, their backs attacking with greater brio while their forwards seemed far more mobile around the pitch. By half-time they were leading 10-0. This increased to 20-0 before Blaydon replied with their solitary try. This galvanised them but only briefly, and, as they ran out of steam, so Wharfedale ran them ragged, the final result being 46-5.

It did emerge later that Blaydon had been decimated by sickness and had taken the field with two players who had never before experienced a full game.

Five of the eight Wharfedale tries were scored by one of the centres, which was indicative both of the way the match was played and of the way that women generally approach the game. Points from penal ties were conspicuous by their absence.

The match certainly impressed Tom Sarginson, 17, one of about 30 spectators hugging the touchline. A rugby player who had never watched a women's game, he said: "It was extremely entertaining, much better than I thought it was going to be. A lot of the tackling was excellent and there were some good moves and great handling skills."

The 30 players on the pitch at Blaydon were some of the 12,000 to 15,000 women who now play rugby in the British Isles. In the past few years the game has grown from 12 teams in 1983 to about 270 clubs, some with two or three sides. Rules are the same as for men.

Rugby generally has a higher profile and the growth in the women's game owes a lot to that. There is also the fact that England women won the World Cup in 1994, as I was told by Rosie Golby, the president of the Rugby Foot ball Union for Women, the governing body for the game in England.

A player for 13 years, she turns out as scrum half or centre for Old Leamingtonians in Leamington Spa. "I play because it's a team sport and a contact sport and because I enjoy it," she said. "I can't kick, so, when I do, everyone around me cheers," The side trains twice a week.

Blaydon Barracudas, formerly known as Northern Ladies, also trains twice a week. Tuesday night is for scrummaging, passing and practising set-piece moves; Wednesday evening is primarily for fitness.

Their 25-women squad ranges in age from a 17-year-old who is still at school to a 32-year-old mother of two. The captain and No 8 is Helen Greenwell, 28, one of three policewomen in the side. Many of the others are students. It is Greenwell's second season of rugby, although she had previously been a rower for ten years.

"I've always enjoyed watching the game, but a friend who started playing inspired me to take it up," she said. "Rugby's a good team sport and I think you can enjoy it at whatever level of fitness you are. It also makes for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon." Women's rugby is almost always played on a Sunday, otherwise there might be a clash of pitch and changing facilities with the men.

Three quarters of an hour before the kick-off against Wharfedale, Blaydon Barracudas were out on the field going through leg and arm exercises with Andy Ellis, their physiotherapist; 20 minutes later, having been split up into backs and forwards, they rehearsed moves with Tom Gilmour and Rob Thomson, their coaches.

"Some of the squad are very fit," Ellis said. "Others have come to the game with a basic level of fitness but with a good degree of strength and determination which we hope to build on. Fitness sometimes takes second place to the learning of the game because rugby is new to them."

HOW TO JOIN IN

THE women who play rugby at Blaydon pay a Pounds 20 subscription for the season and a Pounds 1.50 match fee. The social side is strong with evenings out and dances at the extremely impressive new Pounds 1.1 million clubhouse.

In wider terms, women's rugby is organised in national leagues: first and second divisions (Saracens, Richmond, Wasps and Leeds being four of the strongest sides), a third division with four regional leagues (North, Midlands, South East and South West), and fourth and fifth divisions with eight regional leagues apiece.

There is a sixth division which has leagues for new clubs and there are also knock-out cup competitions. A national development officer, Nicola Ponsford, was appointed last September, this is apparently women's rugby's first salaried post.

Last season saw the first home nations' championship involving teams from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. In March, after the 1997 championship, England will participate in the first women's seven-a-side tournament in Hong Kong.

* For more information on women's rugby contact: 01635 278177.

* For more information on Blaydon Barracudas contact: 0191-371 9901.

Blackheath on January 26: England A v Scotland A: kick-off, noon; England v Scotland: kick-off 2pm. Tickets: Pounds 5.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1997

Source Citation
Dymond, Christian. "A great way to spend a Sunday; Sport for All." Times [London, England] 20 Jan. 1997

"How to play rugby"

1996-10-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

KATE HERBERT

In the beginning there was rugby for the boys, in the Seventies women played it for fun, and in 1983 women's rugby officially arrived with the affiliation of 12 all-female sides to the RFU. Participation has grown 30-fold since then - time to take these ladies seriously.

How to do it

There are no girlie concessions. women's rugby rules are identical to men's.

Popularity

One of the fastest-growing women's sports. There are around 300 women's rugby clubs in the UK, with 220 in England alone. Around 10,000 women and an increasing number of girls play in the UK. Sexes are segregated from 12 years old.

What you should look like

Brian Moore and Rob Andrew are hardly identical, are they? In the same way, and contrary to popular belief, female rugby players are big on strength and fitness, not necessarily as big as beefcakes.

Celebrity players

Not yet. Media attention has been too small for a Sally Gunnell of the rugby world to emerge.

Where to do it

Most women's teams are linked to men's clubs (often on inferior or badly lit pitches) or aligned to college and university teams.

Contact for courses

The SRFU in Scotland looks after women's rugby. In England the RFUW looks after itself: contact 01635 278177 or 01234 261521 for details of clubs and training. In Wales contact the WWRU (01633 220249); in Ireland the IWRU (01 288 9146). Rather than signing up for courses you should pitch up at a club and muck in. There are also schemes for coach and referee training.

What to say

'Wrap em up man'; 'You're in for a boshing'; 'Give it some big welly.'

Kate Herbert

Source Citation
"Women's rugby." Guardian [London, England] 11 Oct. 1996

Hot Pursuits: Mud, sweat and tears - Jill Turner tackles the tough reality of women's rugby

1996-10-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

The first person I see when I turn up at Richmond Football Club in London to try my hand at women's rugby is a girl with her arm in a sling. This does not look good. 'What happened?' I ask. 'Oh, I had an operation on the ligaments.' 'Not a rugby injury then,' I say with relief. 'Oh yes. My shoulder kept falling out, dislocating,' she says brightly, 'so I had this done to pull it all together again.' Yes, rugby union chicks are hardy lasses. But contrary to popular belief, rugby-playing women do not look like Brian Moore with long hair. In fact many of the women's squad at Richmond RFC are pretty and petite, some even with pretty pink gum shields.

But ladylike they are not, at least not out on the pitch. In reflection of this the coach, JD, refers to them as 'guys'. Down here on the park femininity is purely effeminate.'Come on guys,' JD yells as we trot up and down, 'put a bit of pace into it.' This is okay, a bit of running about, I think. But it is only the start. Introducing the ball makes things a lot more complicated. Passing behind, passing over people's heads, passing and skipping round the back of a player to receive the ball before passing again.

'Talk to each other guys!' This doesn't mean have a little chat. This means scream someone's name and then hurl the ball ferociously at their guts.

'Always stay behind the ball, be back from the person who's passing to you,' Sophie the scrum-half tells me as I go haring off potentially handing penalties to the opposition. Still, apart from that, passing and catching goes quite well. I don't drop the ball. This I'm told is called having 'good hands'.

Tackling practice comes next. I'm expected to launch myself into the air at a large inflated column rather like a punchbag. 'Annihilate him at the ankles,' yells JD. I do my best and end up on my face in the mud with a very sore side. 'Nice job,' says JD. I'm flattered.

I always thought rugby players wore gum shields to protect their teeth from flying fists. I find out the hard way that they're worn because, when tackling, you are likely to drive your front teeth hard into your bottom lip. I now have the fat mouth to prove it.

Tackling a person turns out to be much harder than tackling a bag. At 5ft 7in, with a swimmer's broad shoulders, I'm not a small girl, and many of the Richmond ladies are tinier than me. But tackling a woman is strangely painful. The key is to go in with your shoulder, grab them round the thighs and lean on them as they go down, using them to cushion your fall. Women are supposed to be lighter and, well, softer, than men, but in this situation they're not.

Women's rugby is just like men's rugby really. Lots of yelling, swearing, mud, sweat and collisions. Even the changing room has a masculine atmosphere - communal showers, hearty banter, women walking around in unselfconscious states of undress.

Although the female sex sometimes looks with indulgence at male stupidity in running around after a piece of inflated leather, they too can be capable of such single-minded foolishness. When you're out there, you don't worry that it might be a comical and pointless exercise. You just care about getting that ball forward.

But soon it begins to pour with rain. Hot bodies start to steam, and my enthusiasm dampens. The woman with the sling is watching from the touchline. 'Perfect rugby weather,' she says beaming. I'm cold, I'm bruised, I have mud on my legs, in my hair, in my ears, in my mouth and all over my face.

And now I'm going to get soaked as well. Behind me the injured player is relishing every moment, wishing she was out there again. I begin to wonder for her sanity.

Later, in a welcome hot bath, I reflect that there are two things that surprised me about rugby. Firstly, it's so complicated. There are so many things to remember - always get behind the ball, don't get on your knees when picking it up from the ground, and so on - nearly 180 pages of rules. Not a sport for the witless.

The second was that it's actually quite fun. Despite a fat lip and being soaked through, I'd had quite a good time. Everyone accepts that boys will be boys and enjoy mucking about getting scraped and bruised. But what's often overlooked is that the girls used to enjoy a bit of rough and tumble, and some occasionally still do. Oh, and there's a major fringe benefit in taking up women's rugby. After training, the clubhouse is always full of players from the men's team.

Jill Turner played rugby at Richmond Football Club. Telephone: 0181-332 7112.

Source Citation
"Hot Pursuits: Mud, sweat and tears - Jill Turner tackles the tough reality of women's rugby." Guardian [London, England] 11 Oct. 1996