Alix Ramsay
WALES the spiritual home of rugby, the land that fathered Gareth Edwards, J.P.R. Williams and Barry John. A place where the success of the national team ranks alongside the achievements of Owen Glendower and Aneurin Bevan.
This week, another chapter, albeit a modest one, will be added as Wales plays host to the first women's rugby union World Cup. Twelve teams, including New Zealand, Japan, the Soviet Union and Canada, converge on the valleys for the week-long tournament, starting on Saturday.
This is not a genteel sport these women play to win but it is not a game played by female navvies. A quick check down the player-profiles reveals a host of engineers, solicitors and PR executives. But in the twinkling of an eye, they shed their shoulder pads and high heels and put on shin pads and gumshields.
Sue Dorrington works for Help the Aged as a special events manager, dealing with the rich and famous to persuade them to support the charity. Her every free moment is spent on the rugby field or in the training gym. ``I spend half my life in a tracksuit and half my life dolled up in the office,'' she said. ``Most of the titled women I speak to have no idea about my rugby. I can spend my morning shaking hands with Princess Diana and then run off to training in the afternoon.''
Originally from Minnesota, Dorrington came to England to further her rugby career after playing in the United States. Now she is the Richmond and England hooker, qualifying for the national side through her marriage to an Englishman.
``There is something inexplicable about it,'' she said. ``It gets into your system. Nothing gives me as much pleasure as rugby. It's my only sport. I'm 5ft tall and there are few team
sports around that would accept a 5ft loud-mouthed American.''
Although she is now a fully fledged Anglophile, Dorrington reveals her American roots in her attitude to the game. ``I'm fortunate to be playing to a high standard, but I'm very competitive,'' she said. ``The minute I'm dropped from the England squad or from the Richmond first team, I'll quit. I play to compete, not for fun.''
Dorrington knows no fear: that rugby is a fierce contact sport is one of the attractions. ``It's the challenge of playing the best I can and beating my opposition technically that appeals,'' she said. ``As a hooker, it's a battle all the time and this is a game where women can use their power and strength, especially in the front row.''
Her captain in the England side is Karen Almond, a PE teacher at a girls' prep school at Potters Bar. Her colleagues in the staff room and the parents are very supportive, if a little surprised, by her sporting achievements. ``Most of them are quite impressed,'' she said. ``At parents' evenings, we spend most of the time talking about rugby.''
Almond has played rugby for the last ten years, since she was at Loughborough University, and has seen the game grow and develop to the point where there are now 100 clubs in the Women's Rugby Football Union. But she is still aware that women's rugby has a difficult image problem to overcome. While it is a rough game, she is adamant that it is not as bad as it seems.
``We've worked hard to keep the image clean,'' she said. ``I find it much more horrific to watch from the touchline than I do when I'm playing. I think we are more careful than the men in the rucks and mauls we tend to look before we jump. I like to think we show the same level of competitiveness but not the same vindictiveness.''
Liza Burgess, the Welsh captain and No.8, is not so sure. She believes there is little difference between the level of aggression and commitment shown in the men's and women's game.
``As a forward, I think it is just as rough and tough as the men's game,'' she said. ``What you want to do is get in there and win the ball. The game is all about that. If you play a sport, the ultimate aim is to win. Without that, it is not a sport.''
Copyright (C) The Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Women flock to valley of the mauls; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 2 Apr. 1991
Tuesday, 2 April 1991
Sunday, 31 March 1991
World Cup: preview
Gareth Daniels predicts that women's rugby is about to win over the chauvinists.
``A WOMAN'S rugby playing,'' Dr Johnson might have observed, ``is like a dog walking on its hinder legs. It is not done well but you are surprised to find it done at all.''
No doubt 90 per cent of the male population of any rugby club would agree. For them, netball, hockey, lacrosse, even soccer, are OK for women, but rugby is a man's game.
Women's rugby gets a chance to kick views like that into touch next weekend, and for the seven days following. The inaugural women's World Cup begins on Saturday, with all games played in Wales.
Alice Cooper, the World Cup press officer, reckons that those chauvinists who come to scoff will remain to cheer after 10 minutes. ``It takes that long for men to realise that we are serious,'' she said. ``They come in with a lot of misconceptions. They soon see things differently.''
John Scott, a former England captain and manager of Cardiff RFC, a man not noted for diplomacy when talking about men's rugby, is an unlikely supporter. Women players, he suggests, have a lot of skill: ``And they train harder than many men. Their fitness level is superb.''
Scott insists that he is not one of those who casually dismisses women's rugby as some sort of aberration: ``If they want to play, let them.''
They will play, don't worry. Sides from countries around the world are showing the sort of amateur dedication hard to match in these pay-for-play days. Girls from as far away as the Soviet Union, New Zealand, Canada, America and Japan are paying their own way over, and will even fork out for accommodation during their stay in Wales.
This is because the ambitious plan to raise Pounds 100,000 in sponsorship fell a bit short of the target by around Pounds 95,000. But it is hoped, observed Cooper, who cannot say what the total cost will be, that gate money and programme proceeds will help.
The idea for a women's World Cup was born after the European Cup three years ago. Other countries like New Zealand and Canada asked: ``Can we come to the next one?'' and the answer of course was yes, turning it into a world event. And because the women were not allowed to play the big matches at Twickenham, Wales got the nod, with the Cardiff ground providing the venue for the semi-finals and final.
Meanwhile, Cooper said, the WRU were wonderful, and various local authorities and the Welsh Sports Council have been ``most supportive''. South Glamorgan County Council, in fact, is putting on a gala dinner after the April 14 final.
The preliminary rounds will be played next Saturday, although the decision to play the WRU Cup semi-finals the next day have squashed the plan to have a couple as curtain-raisers to the big games.
The top four teams go through to the semi-finals to be played on Friday week, with the final two days later.
Last week England beat Wales for the fifth time, but the host nation is not without hope. ``We've got a great pack,'' the team manager Dawn Barnett said. ``But we have to put it together behind.'' Then she said, ominously: ``Like New Zealand. They are so quick behind the scrum.''
New Zealand as ever, it seems, are the danger. The Japanese, with a couple of 4ft 9in players, will not be much of a threat in the lineout.
A dozen countries are involved and the post-game celebrations will be up to the sternest male standards. Even those legendary rugby songs? ``You name it,'' say the players, ``and we'll sing it.'' There could be room for women's rugby after all.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Women's World Cup finds a welcome in Wales; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 31 Mar. 1991.
``A WOMAN'S rugby playing,'' Dr Johnson might have observed, ``is like a dog walking on its hinder legs. It is not done well but you are surprised to find it done at all.''
No doubt 90 per cent of the male population of any rugby club would agree. For them, netball, hockey, lacrosse, even soccer, are OK for women, but rugby is a man's game.
Women's rugby gets a chance to kick views like that into touch next weekend, and for the seven days following. The inaugural women's World Cup begins on Saturday, with all games played in Wales.
Alice Cooper, the World Cup press officer, reckons that those chauvinists who come to scoff will remain to cheer after 10 minutes. ``It takes that long for men to realise that we are serious,'' she said. ``They come in with a lot of misconceptions. They soon see things differently.''
John Scott, a former England captain and manager of Cardiff RFC, a man not noted for diplomacy when talking about men's rugby, is an unlikely supporter. Women players, he suggests, have a lot of skill: ``And they train harder than many men. Their fitness level is superb.''
Scott insists that he is not one of those who casually dismisses women's rugby as some sort of aberration: ``If they want to play, let them.''
They will play, don't worry. Sides from countries around the world are showing the sort of amateur dedication hard to match in these pay-for-play days. Girls from as far away as the Soviet Union, New Zealand, Canada, America and Japan are paying their own way over, and will even fork out for accommodation during their stay in Wales.
This is because the ambitious plan to raise Pounds 100,000 in sponsorship fell a bit short of the target by around Pounds 95,000. But it is hoped, observed Cooper, who cannot say what the total cost will be, that gate money and programme proceeds will help.
The idea for a women's World Cup was born after the European Cup three years ago. Other countries like New Zealand and Canada asked: ``Can we come to the next one?'' and the answer of course was yes, turning it into a world event. And because the women were not allowed to play the big matches at Twickenham, Wales got the nod, with the Cardiff ground providing the venue for the semi-finals and final.
Meanwhile, Cooper said, the WRU were wonderful, and various local authorities and the Welsh Sports Council have been ``most supportive''. South Glamorgan County Council, in fact, is putting on a gala dinner after the April 14 final.
The preliminary rounds will be played next Saturday, although the decision to play the WRU Cup semi-finals the next day have squashed the plan to have a couple as curtain-raisers to the big games.
The top four teams go through to the semi-finals to be played on Friday week, with the final two days later.
Last week England beat Wales for the fifth time, but the host nation is not without hope. ``We've got a great pack,'' the team manager Dawn Barnett said. ``But we have to put it together behind.'' Then she said, ominously: ``Like New Zealand. They are so quick behind the scrum.''
New Zealand as ever, it seems, are the danger. The Japanese, with a couple of 4ft 9in players, will not be much of a threat in the lineout.
A dozen countries are involved and the post-game celebrations will be up to the sternest male standards. Even those legendary rugby songs? ``You name it,'' say the players, ``and we'll sing it.'' There could be room for women's rugby after all.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Women's World Cup finds a welcome in Wales; Rugby Union." Sunday Times [London, England] 31 Mar. 1991.
Saturday, 9 March 1991
World Cup: entries confirmed
Simon Barnes
This, being as ever the column on the cutting edge of sport, brings you more spectacular and utterly exclusive news from the event of the year. This is, of course, the women's rugby World Cup, which has finally closed its entry with 12 nations agreeing to take part. The French confirmed their participation at the last possible second, later even than the Soviet Union. There are eight Soviet women's rugby clubs; I hear that their hooker is a former ballet dancer.
I wonder how she will face up to pressure from ``the locks from hell''. These are Tara Flanagan and Tam Breckenridge, of the United States. Both play for Belmont Shore club in California and both played basketball for UCLA. Both are more than six foot tall, and both are enthusiastic body-builders. Oh, and they work out at the same gym as Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Cheltenham festival looms towards us like a runaway lorry next week, so it was hardly surprising to find my racing snout on the telephone. ``Don't look past the grey horse in the Gold Cup,'' he said. ``Though if you fancy a sporting each-way bet, try Party Politics.'' He recommends Nomadic Way for the Champion Hurdle, and Local Whisper for the Sun Alliance Chase on Wednesday. ``Bet of the meeting, that one.''
Copyright (C) The Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Soviet ballerina locks from hell; Sport." Times [London, England] 9 Mar. 1991
This, being as ever the column on the cutting edge of sport, brings you more spectacular and utterly exclusive news from the event of the year. This is, of course, the women's rugby World Cup, which has finally closed its entry with 12 nations agreeing to take part. The French confirmed their participation at the last possible second, later even than the Soviet Union. There are eight Soviet women's rugby clubs; I hear that their hooker is a former ballet dancer.
I wonder how she will face up to pressure from ``the locks from hell''. These are Tara Flanagan and Tam Breckenridge, of the United States. Both play for Belmont Shore club in California and both played basketball for UCLA. Both are more than six foot tall, and both are enthusiastic body-builders. Oh, and they work out at the same gym as Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Cheltenham festival looms towards us like a runaway lorry next week, so it was hardly surprising to find my racing snout on the telephone. ``Don't look past the grey horse in the Gold Cup,'' he said. ``Though if you fancy a sporting each-way bet, try Party Politics.'' He recommends Nomadic Way for the Champion Hurdle, and Local Whisper for the Sun Alliance Chase on Wednesday. ``Bet of the meeting, that one.''
Copyright (C) The Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Soviet ballerina locks from hell; Sport." Times [London, England] 9 Mar. 1991
Saturday, 12 January 1991
World Cup: preview
Simon Barnes
The year's great event takes place in Cardiff in April. In terms of exoticism, at least, there is nothing that can touch it: how could anyone match the Japanese women's rugby team? An awesome prospect, especially as New Zealand have just confirmed they will be sending a team of female All Blacks. The event is the women's rugby World Cup and there are ten acceptors thus far England, Wales, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. The organisers are hoping for two more sides, and are waiting for confirmation from France and, improbably, the Soviet Union.
One imagines that such an event must be taking place over a number of dead bodies but, in fact, I hear that the Rugby Football Union has been ``great''. The game has been growing apace from absolutely nothing: 12 teams five years ago, 92 today. Differences between the men's game and the women's game: the songs are better sung and non-smutty, and you get your hangover on Monday morning rather than Sunday. The press officer for the World Cup is called Alice Cooper: no connection, one assumes, with the singer of No More Mr Nice Guy. There will be no Australian side at the World Cup. Aussie ladies don't play. Not tough enough, I suppose.
More on exotic women, and let us turn our attention to Katarina Witt, the German skater. Exciting the passions has always been a central part of the lady's repertoire but she didn't bargain for Harry Veltman III, a 46-year-old from California. Witt is presently touring America with an ice show co-starring Brian Boitano. During her ``Springtime Ballet'' solo, Veltman III threw a bundle of letters on to the ice: bundles containing reams and reams of demented sexual ramblings. He was kept at Denver General Hospital on a ``mental health hold'' and then taken to jail.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Singing songs less smutty and silly; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 12 Jan. 1991.
The year's great event takes place in Cardiff in April. In terms of exoticism, at least, there is nothing that can touch it: how could anyone match the Japanese women's rugby team? An awesome prospect, especially as New Zealand have just confirmed they will be sending a team of female All Blacks. The event is the women's rugby World Cup and there are ten acceptors thus far England, Wales, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. The organisers are hoping for two more sides, and are waiting for confirmation from France and, improbably, the Soviet Union.
One imagines that such an event must be taking place over a number of dead bodies but, in fact, I hear that the Rugby Football Union has been ``great''. The game has been growing apace from absolutely nothing: 12 teams five years ago, 92 today. Differences between the men's game and the women's game: the songs are better sung and non-smutty, and you get your hangover on Monday morning rather than Sunday. The press officer for the World Cup is called Alice Cooper: no connection, one assumes, with the singer of No More Mr Nice Guy. There will be no Australian side at the World Cup. Aussie ladies don't play. Not tough enough, I suppose.
More on exotic women, and let us turn our attention to Katarina Witt, the German skater. Exciting the passions has always been a central part of the lady's repertoire but she didn't bargain for Harry Veltman III, a 46-year-old from California. Witt is presently touring America with an ice show co-starring Brian Boitano. During her ``Springtime Ballet'' solo, Veltman III threw a bundle of letters on to the ice: bundles containing reams and reams of demented sexual ramblings. He was kept at Denver General Hospital on a ``mental health hold'' and then taken to jail.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1991
Source Citation
"Singing songs less smutty and silly; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 12 Jan. 1991.
Monday, 10 December 1990
Plenty of impact but no punch - Women's Regional Championship, South-east 8, Midlands and North Thames 8.
MICHAEL HENDERSON
LONDON escaped the worst of the early winter blizzards but it was still parky enough yesterday to discourage thought of outdoor pursuits. At Wasps, however, two sets of rugby players supplied their own riposte to the mardy: faint hearts never achieved a thing.
No less than the men, England's women players can achieve an awful lot next year. World Cups beckon both and if the women's competition is the less regarded, to the point of ignorance among the larger sporting public, the practitioners of a growing code feel they too can leave their thumb print on 1991.
Sudbury yesterday saw a regional set-to between the the South-east and the Midlands and North Thames. Twice the South-east (chiefly Richmond) went ahead with tries; twice the North Thames side (mainly Wasps) levelled the score. From the comfort of the clubhouse there seemed to be as they say in the men's game no quarter asked nor given.
What immediately strikes the observer about women's rugby is ahem how much more gentlemanly it is. Obviously the women cannot run as fast, pass as far, or kick as long. Neither do they show any inclination to punch as hard. There were apologies in the bar afterwards, and even apologies on the pitch during the game.
'The Women's RFU have always had a strong philosophy on violence,' said Karen Almond, the Wasps' fly-half and Great Britain captain, who missed the game through injury. 'We try to play it hard but fair.' Indeed, the solitary fall from grace yesterday was a head-high tackle by the South's Pat Harris.
The Hull-born Almond, who supported the rugby league team of that name in her youth, helped to get the women's section at Wasps off the ground in 1984 with three friends from Loughborough University, where they had all completed physical-education courses. There are now 91 women's teams in England and Wales and a further nine in Scotland, eight of them at universities.
Like her peers, the British captain believes the World Cup is a boon, just the thing to amend some perceptions of women's rugby. 'Some men are very supportive, most women's teams are coached by them. But you can find a chauvinist attitude that women should be in the kitchen, not out playing.
'We are breaking it down bit by bit. I have played in quite a few curtain-raisers before tournaments and you can hear men in the crowd changing their minds during the game as they see we can actually tackle.'
Nine countries, including Sweden, the United States, Japan, Spain and Canada, will definitely participate in the World Cup, to be staged in Wales next spring with the final at Cardiff on April 14. Another three France, New Zealand, and the Soviet Union have yet to confirm.
Midlands and North Thames: Davies; Turner, Ewing, Smith, Stirrup; Ross, Briddon; Burgess, Mitchell, Bennett, O'Kelly, Williets, Robson, Stennett, Harding.
South-east: Bond; Thomas, John, Cooper, Chambers; Isherwood, Edwards; Harrington, Mills, Prangnall, Francis, Gurney, Harris, McMahon, Davies.
Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Plenty of impact but no punch - Women's Regional Championship, South-east 8, Midlands and North Thames 8." Guardian [London, England] 10 Dec. 1990:
LONDON escaped the worst of the early winter blizzards but it was still parky enough yesterday to discourage thought of outdoor pursuits. At Wasps, however, two sets of rugby players supplied their own riposte to the mardy: faint hearts never achieved a thing.
No less than the men, England's women players can achieve an awful lot next year. World Cups beckon both and if the women's competition is the less regarded, to the point of ignorance among the larger sporting public, the practitioners of a growing code feel they too can leave their thumb print on 1991.
Sudbury yesterday saw a regional set-to between the the South-east and the Midlands and North Thames. Twice the South-east (chiefly Richmond) went ahead with tries; twice the North Thames side (mainly Wasps) levelled the score. From the comfort of the clubhouse there seemed to be as they say in the men's game no quarter asked nor given.
What immediately strikes the observer about women's rugby is ahem how much more gentlemanly it is. Obviously the women cannot run as fast, pass as far, or kick as long. Neither do they show any inclination to punch as hard. There were apologies in the bar afterwards, and even apologies on the pitch during the game.
'The Women's RFU have always had a strong philosophy on violence,' said Karen Almond, the Wasps' fly-half and Great Britain captain, who missed the game through injury. 'We try to play it hard but fair.' Indeed, the solitary fall from grace yesterday was a head-high tackle by the South's Pat Harris.
The Hull-born Almond, who supported the rugby league team of that name in her youth, helped to get the women's section at Wasps off the ground in 1984 with three friends from Loughborough University, where they had all completed physical-education courses. There are now 91 women's teams in England and Wales and a further nine in Scotland, eight of them at universities.
Like her peers, the British captain believes the World Cup is a boon, just the thing to amend some perceptions of women's rugby. 'Some men are very supportive, most women's teams are coached by them. But you can find a chauvinist attitude that women should be in the kitchen, not out playing.
'We are breaking it down bit by bit. I have played in quite a few curtain-raisers before tournaments and you can hear men in the crowd changing their minds during the game as they see we can actually tackle.'
Nine countries, including Sweden, the United States, Japan, Spain and Canada, will definitely participate in the World Cup, to be staged in Wales next spring with the final at Cardiff on April 14. Another three France, New Zealand, and the Soviet Union have yet to confirm.
Midlands and North Thames: Davies; Turner, Ewing, Smith, Stirrup; Ross, Briddon; Burgess, Mitchell, Bennett, O'Kelly, Williets, Robson, Stennett, Harding.
South-east: Bond; Thomas, John, Cooper, Chambers; Isherwood, Edwards; Harrington, Mills, Prangnall, Francis, Gurney, Harris, McMahon, Davies.
Source Citation
"Rugby Union: Plenty of impact but no punch - Women's Regional Championship, South-east 8, Midlands and North Thames 8." Guardian [London, England] 10 Dec. 1990:
Wednesday, 28 November 1990
World Cup: financial problems
Organisers have decided to go ahead with next year's inaugural Women's World Cup even though the newly formed Women's Rugby World Cup Committee still needs a backer to supply a minimum of Pounds 100,000 for the tournament at Cardiff from April 6-14.
Source Citation
"Sport in Brief: Rugby Union." Guardian [London, England] 28 Nov. 1990
Source Citation
"Sport in Brief: Rugby Union." Guardian [London, England] 28 Nov. 1990
World Cup: announcement
David Hands
THE men's game took nearly 120 years (adopting the formation of the Rugby Football Union as a starting point) to develop a World Cup competition; the women's game has managed it within a generation, though the tournament unveiled yesterday still awaits as does the men's event a main sponsor.
The inaugural women's World Cup, which will be staged in Wales next April, has grown out of the European Cup held in France in 1988. Several other countries expressed an interest in joining France, Britain, Italy and The Netherlands in an international tournament and the Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), which organises the game in England, Scotland and Wales, responded to the challenge.
At simultaneous briefings in Richmond and Cardiff yesterday, WRFU officials said the tournament will open on April 6 with pool games, which will be curtain-raisers to men's matches. The final will be on the Cardiff club ground on April 14.
Of the 14 countries where women play rugby on an organised basis, Germany declined an invitation because their development remains comparatively limited; but England and Wales will join the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden and Japan, while acceptances are expected from New Zealand, France and the Soviet Union.
``The women's game is expanding all over the world,'' Deborah Griffin, who chairs the organising committe, said. Although its roots are oldest in the United States, the expansion in England and Wales since the formation in 1983 of the WRFU is considerable: from 12 to between 90 and 100 clubs, organised in a four-division national league and with a regional competition.
Moira Swinbank, a director of John Taylor International, the event managers, expressed confidence that, once television coverage was confirmed, either a main sponsor or four special-category sponsors would be found to contribute the Pounds 100,000 the WRFU seeks for the running of the tournament.
It will be staged in Wales because of the accessibility of grounds and the enthusiastic support offered by the Sports Council for Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff RFC, as well as the civic authorities. A silver trophy has already been purchased for presentation to the winners but, thus far, lacks a name; I wonder if William Webb Ellis had a daughter?
Copyright (C) The Times, 1990
Source Citation
"Women's game on the ball; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 28 Nov. 1990.
THE men's game took nearly 120 years (adopting the formation of the Rugby Football Union as a starting point) to develop a World Cup competition; the women's game has managed it within a generation, though the tournament unveiled yesterday still awaits as does the men's event a main sponsor.
The inaugural women's World Cup, which will be staged in Wales next April, has grown out of the European Cup held in France in 1988. Several other countries expressed an interest in joining France, Britain, Italy and The Netherlands in an international tournament and the Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), which organises the game in England, Scotland and Wales, responded to the challenge.
At simultaneous briefings in Richmond and Cardiff yesterday, WRFU officials said the tournament will open on April 6 with pool games, which will be curtain-raisers to men's matches. The final will be on the Cardiff club ground on April 14.
Of the 14 countries where women play rugby on an organised basis, Germany declined an invitation because their development remains comparatively limited; but England and Wales will join the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden and Japan, while acceptances are expected from New Zealand, France and the Soviet Union.
``The women's game is expanding all over the world,'' Deborah Griffin, who chairs the organising committe, said. Although its roots are oldest in the United States, the expansion in England and Wales since the formation in 1983 of the WRFU is considerable: from 12 to between 90 and 100 clubs, organised in a four-division national league and with a regional competition.
Moira Swinbank, a director of John Taylor International, the event managers, expressed confidence that, once television coverage was confirmed, either a main sponsor or four special-category sponsors would be found to contribute the Pounds 100,000 the WRFU seeks for the running of the tournament.
It will be staged in Wales because of the accessibility of grounds and the enthusiastic support offered by the Sports Council for Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff RFC, as well as the civic authorities. A silver trophy has already been purchased for presentation to the winners but, thus far, lacks a name; I wonder if William Webb Ellis had a daughter?
Copyright (C) The Times, 1990
Source Citation
"Women's game on the ball; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 28 Nov. 1990.
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