England's women in line to make Twickenham debut

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

The first Rugby Ladies' Day at The Twickenham Stoop

LESS BEER and spills than pleats and frills, the first Rugby Ladies' Day kicked off at the Harlequins ground in Twickenham. Darling Will Carling couldn't be there but no one seemed to miss him.

Organisers and sundry hangers-on hoped it would be the start of a fine romance - rugger-buggers and the champagne set joined to celebrate - it's hoped - the last home game of every season, making yet another annual event on the A and B celeb list calendar.Ruth, one of the stewards at the gate, could tell from the off there was something different about today, women tottering about in stilettos and Lycra dresses for a start. Henley without the boats they said, and it didn't seem to matter there was no royalty in sight, not even a Princess Di.

Debs-delight and renowned organiser of Tatler-worthy events, Bunty didn't quite approve of the champagne, but at least she came. Cameras clicked and found Heather Mills, the model who triumphed over adversity making the headlines because she lost a leg, and rent-a-blonde-bob local television news presenters.

Kids TV presenter Denise Van Outen, dressed in white and stopping the show with spotless make-up and a gorgeous friend, loved the attention. 'Everyone always thinks rugby is a male-dominated event, it's so nice to have something for the women.'

If colour analysis or a free Estee Lauder demonstration wasn't your style, there was the fashion show. Granite-jawed male models curled arrogant lips while stick-thin beauties sashayed their hips in an extraordinary spring-time extravaganza. Overhead sunlight filtered through the pink-rouched canopy and a woman's voice cooed: 'It's soft, pretty and very feminine for weddings and Ascot - those times you want to feel flirty, sexy.'

Feeling grumpy, Gloucester supporters kept out of the VIP zone and out of the away supporters' stand and made the best of things.

Jack said: 'Ladies' day is fine so long as they don't push punters out of their seats. This would never happen in Gloucester. It's a lot of nonsense, but I suppose we're not as lah-di-dah as you lot in London.'

Well it wasn't fair. The covered Harlequin stand was taken over by the luvvies while everyone else had to make do and mend. But for the most part they were good humoured about it.

Jeans and boot-clad dyed-in-the-wool supporters gave it the thumbs up. 'Why not?' said Fraser and Ruth up from Cheltenham. 'Although rugby is a man's game and it might upset some to see women around, it's a fact of life. This sort of thing can only be good news.'

Fraser added: 'We can bring our wives when we wouldn't normally and they can enjoy themselves while we drink beer. No arguments.'

Thinking less about happy families than the woman in front of him in pink with a plunging cleavage, Jed agreed. 'It's a better view than I normally get.' Nearby in a small tent husband and wife proprietors of the Languedoc Wine Club had the appearance of folk who enjoyed a barrel or two. 'We've been shipped in for this and I must say we've had a jolly good response.'

Just then, too drunk to be disorderly, some of the gossip press staggered past, sunglasses plonked firmly on their heads, leaving in search of more to drink although the game was still in full swing.

Serious about the game and raising the profile of the women's team was Jane Wilman from Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC. Nursing a pint of bitter, elegant in a blazer, she said: 'I'm here taking notes. This will be great for our lot. It's just what rugby, but especially women's rugby, needs.'

Quite whether the men's game needs their players to strut around the catwalk, some footballers and rugby's Jeremy Guscott is best placed to tell, and is a damn sight better at it.

Star players Chris Sheasby, Peter Mensah, Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood and Daren O'Leary tried bless 'em, but plodded out with the grace of carthorses to Aretha Franklin but to the delight of Harlequin supporters let in for Pounds 6 per ticket and a free glass of wine.

Then, every rugby wife's dream, they got their kit off for the girls. Not to be sexist for the boys the Storm model babes did the trick. What a party. A village fete goes to Hollywood.

Cheese and wine but without the cheese, a good suburban day out - it hardly smacked of rough and tumble. But if it goes with increased professionalism, we mustn't grumble.

Emma Lindsey

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Fizz, fashion and a few fisticuffs - Boys just have to be boys, even on Ladies' Day in Twickenham." Observer [London, England] 14 Apr. 1996

Birminghan University's captain looks forward to playing at Twickenham

TWICKENHAM! Home of rugby! Wow! On Monday it's only just starting to sink in that we'll actually be playing there on Wednesday - the third time ever that it's had a women's rugby match.

Rugby has been the fastest growing women's sport in Britain over the past decade. But people who haven't seen it tend to treat it as a joke. The reality is that although we might not go in for the stamping and raking you can see in the men's game, we are equally hard-hitting. It's not for softies.Ours is much more ball-in-hand rather than the kick-and-chase men's game. So in going to Twickenham for this final, I feel we are very much at the sharp end, not just of the game in general, but its standing in university sport.

These days it's more difficult than ever to combine university studies with high-level competitive sport. I'd never played rugby before university. My background is athletics. I've been a junior Welsh international in the heptathlon, high, long, and triple jump. But this season I've had to devote to rugby.

This Monday morning, one difference between us and the men's game is obvious to me. Here I am doing a mass of organisation - sorting out the hotel and transport - which my male counterpart wouldn't have to worry about.

Somehow I fit in a two-hour seminar on cardio-respiratory responses. I'm studying sport and exercise science and my finals are next term. Lunch is toast. Then more admin, and time to fill in an application to be a Nike sales rep. I'd love that.

Monday evening we train from 5 until 7.30. Everyone's finally realising that we are going to Twickenham.

Tuesday morning, more admin. Final arrangements over stewards etc. I'm getting more excited by the hour until at last we're off to London.

It's very loud in the minibus. Yes, we sing our own versions of rugby songs, but don't ask me for details. We're booked into a hotel at the Elephant and Castle. All I can say is that we're not on a big budget.

Breakfast on the big day is a roll and croissant. More would have been nice. Seven of us see the osteopath and masseur. I'm still stiff after being kicked in the back during Saturday's game.

Then off to Twickenham. There's a huge shout at our first glimpse of the top of the stand. None of us bar two has ever been, let alone played, here before.

We've not got much time to look around because we're playing at 12.30. The men's final is at 3.

We're playing Loughborough and there's no love lost between us. They knocked us out last year.

It's so disappointing. I have to go off 10 minutes into the game to get my leg strapped up after being kneed in my right quad. For the rest of the match I'm unable to play as well as I should. I'm the number 13, and this season I've been leading try scorer and kicker.

We're beaten 32-5, which doesn't do us justice. The second half we actually get more possession. But the dinner afterwards in the ground's Invincibles restaurant is superb.

Back in Birmingham we drown our sorrows in the union bar. I'm not altogether sober when I make it to bed.

Thursday and Friday I've got to knuckle down and finish off a practical and a project because on Saturday I've got another training session . . . with the England students women's XV.

Source Citation
"Education: From the sharp end - The captain of Birmingham university women's rugby team finally makes it on to the hallowed Twickers turf." Guardian [London, England] 26 Mar. 1996

FIRST Breaking down the barriers.

DAVID HANDS

Sheila Walsh, a founder member of the Women's Rugby Football Union four years ago, presented Wasps with the club championship shield after their 19-0 victory over Richmond, although clearly the main enjoyment was playing at Twickenham (David Hands writes).

The game was played across the field rather than up and down and Wasps may also have achieved another first, when Karen Almond's conversion was deflected over the bar by the charging Sue Butler.

SCORERS: Wasps: Tries: Skyes, Treadwell, Penalty try, Conversions: Almond (2) Penalty: Almond. Copyright (C) The Times, 1987

Source Citation
"Rugby Union: FIRST Breaking down the barriers." Times [London, England] 13 Apr. 1987

First women's match at Twickenham: report

WASPS became the first winners of the women's rugby club championship when they beat Richmond 19-0 at Twickenham. Fly-half Karen Almond showed herself to be on of the most gifted players around, as her side scored tries through Heather Sykes, Sally Treadwell and Collected a penalty try. Almond converted two and also kicked a penalty.

Victorious skipper Sue Bennett said: 'It was a big breakthrough for us. This should encourage a lot more girls to play rugby and keep the standard improving. '

Source Citation
"Rugby Round-up." Sunday Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1987.

First women's match at Twickenham: announcement

The first women's Rugby Union match to be played at Twickenham, the WRFU Cup final, will be refereed by the Rev Roger Parker, of Staffordshire. The Richmond Ladies v Wasps contest will precede the men's County Championship final on Saturday.

Source Citation
"Sport In Brief: Women's final; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 7 Apr. 1987

First women's match at Twickenham: announcement

THE LAST bastion of male chauvinism crumbles on April 11 when a full-blooded women's rugby match will be played at Twickenham. The Women's RFU will be holding their club championship final as a curtain raiser to the county championship final.

Source Citation
"Rugby Round-up." Sunday Times [London, England] 1 Mar. 1987.