SALLY JONES
A FLURRY of sleet spattered St Alban's rugby club as the scrum heaved and grunted. 'Power' commanded the flanker and the pack threw themselves into their freezing task with a will and an almost audible buzz of excitement. For most male sides the buffeting would have provided the perfect excuse to end the practice session. To the England women's team at their last training camp before the world championship which starts in Scotland tomorrow, this was just the latest in a string of challenges that would have sunk a less determined squad.
'Bad weather we can handle,' gasped one of the side's stalwarts, 35-year-old Sue Dorrington afterwards. 'What bugs us is the sheer frustration of lack of funding and sponsorship; the humiliation of top athletes like us having to sell raffle tickets in car parks and beg from our families to raise the pounds 1,000 each it'll cost us to compete in the World Cup.'
Women's rugby in Britain, once regarded as a lurid spectacle on a par with mud-wrestling, is expanding rapidly. From small beginnings in a handful of universities in the 1970s, there are now more than 250 clubs and around 10,000 women playing regularly.
The first women's World Cup at Cardiff in 1991 was won by the passionate, ultra-fit American side, who beat England 19-6 in the final at the Arms Park. Dorrington and her teammates are determined to exact revenge this time, whatever the personal and financial cost.
The Dutch were originally scheduled to host the event but pulled out in December after a string of rows and financial problems and the Scots gallantly, if rashly, offered to take it over at the last minute.
Whatever the venue, all the omens point to an England triumph. Last summer they beat Canada, Wales and the United States in Toronto to win the inaugural Canada Cup and the transformation in their technical standards within the space of a few years has been extraordinary, light years ahead of the unpolished play of their first international against France at Richmond in 1987.
The star then was the fly-half Karen Almond, a natural athlete who looked a class apart in her ball skills and tactical awareness. These days she operates within a well-drilled team including several other outstanding individuals like Emma Mitchell the scrum-half, the No. 8 Gill Burns and the explosive centre Jacquie Edwards.
Dorrington was the commercial director of the 1991 tournament and even re-mortgaged her house to help raise the pounds 30,000 needed to stage the event. 'It was a calculated risk,' she recalls. 'We knew it would probably lose money but it was history in the making and we couldn't see it fail for lack of funds.'
Dorrington, a hooker with the Wasps women's side, also introduced a new professionalism into the training, engaging her own fitness coach David Crottie four years ago and working out for around three hours a day as well as holding down a demanding job, until recently at Help the Aged but now with a corporate entertainment firm.
'My life revolves around the game,' she says. 'David puts me through a heavy programme, particularly in the build-up to the international season. It's my love for the game that keeps me going. I'm only five foot one and not a natural athlete but very strong and when I discovered rugby 12 years ago I knew I'd found a sport perfect for my size and body shape.
'We're combating ignorance the whole time and lots of men are amazed watching us play for the first time at the levels we reach. Whatever they think, we don't need their approval. We play this game for ourselves, because we love it, not to prove some feminist point.'
Jacquie Edwards agrees. The only black member of the England team and the star of the Blackheath women's side, she started playing rugby 10 years ago after an outstanding junior career in canoeing and basketball. 'I loved it from the moment I first stepped on to the pitch,' she recalls. 'At last here was a game where I wasn't restricted by a ban on physical contact where I could use skill, strength and speed all in the one sport. I started saving for a pair of boots. I'm the fifth of seven children and money's always been tight - patching our shoes with cardboard, that sort of thing - but it's never held me back from doing something I really wanted to do.'
Edwards, 25, an assessment officer who advises council tenants how to pay their rent and manage their benefits, could well do with some advice herself. She has raised just pounds 400 so far, including her life savings, towards the pounds 1,000 she needs to compete in the World Cup and is bitter about the indifference of potential sponsors towards the game.
'I train five times a week and spend thousands each year to play at international level but although I must have phoned every sporting manufacturer and women's clothing retailer, they all say women's rugby is not at all the sort of image they want to have their products associated with. It seems that if a women's sport isn't full of knife-thin girls in leotards or those sort of so-called 'feminine' stereotypes the sponsors just don't want to know.
'In fact we're as feminine in our way as any sportswomen. There's a lot of grace and real athleticism at the level we play and a growing following for top-class women's rugby. My boyfriend's Dad, who's pretty impartial, came up to me after we'd played a home club match and said: 'With your level of skill and knowledge of the game, if you could transplant that into a man's body, you could play for any men's team in the land.' That was quite a vote of confidence and it's buoyed me up during all the fund-raising and the desperate struggle to scrape enough pennies together to get to Edinburgh.'
CHAMPIONSHIP DATES AND VENUES
Group matches: Pool A (Melrose): 11 April: United States v Sweden. 13: Sweden v Japan. 15: United States v Japan. Pool B (Boroughmuir): 11: England v Russia. 13: Scotland v Russia. 15: Scotland v England. Pool C (West of Scotland): 11: France v Spain. 13: Spain v Ireland. 15: France v Ireland. Pool D (Edinburgh Academicals): 11: Canada v Wales. 13: Wales v Kazakhstan. 15: Canada v Kazakhstan.
Quarter-finals: 17 April: A1 v C2 (Boroughmuir, 2pm); B1 v D2 (Gala, 2.0); C1 v A2 (Edinburgh Academicals, 4.0); D1 v B2 (Melrose, 4.0).
Semi-finals: 20 April: Winner Q1 v Winner Q4 (Gala, noon); Winner Q2 v Winner Q3 (Gala, 2.30).
Third place play-off: 24 April(Edinburgh Academicals, noon).
Final: 24 April(Edinburgh Academicals, 3.0).
Source Citation
"Women in Sport: Props of a new world order - Shoestring sisters united in the cause of crossing rugby's gain line." Observer [London, England] 10 Apr. 1994
Sunday, 10 April 1994
World Cup: preview
Alasdair Reid
FOR all the honours the game has brought him the Lions tours, the Barbarians captaincy, the half century of caps Scott Hastings has still not set foot on what has become international rugby's biggest stage: a World Cup final.
And barring a Phoenix-like upturn in Scotland's fortunes in time for next year's tournament in South Africa, the only consolation he will have for this omission from an otherwise spangled CV, is that he went to school with someone who did.
Trick question? Can we now reveal that David Campese spent a secretive half-term at George Watson's College in the late 1970s, or that young Willie McCarling changed both name and nationality before heading off to Harlequins?
Neither, sadly, for Hastings's classmate - and, indeed, class captain was in fact Deborah Francis, who played for England against the USA in the women's World Cup final in 1991.
England lost that game in Cardiff, 19-6, but, according to Francis, they must be considered favourites for the second tournament, now christened the Women's Rugby World Championship, which kicks off at various venues around Scotland tomorrow: ``England have had a really good core of players for about eight years now. Their No8, scrum-half, and fly-half, can't really be competed with by anybody else in the world.''
Francis, however, will not be part of their side. After the 1991 competition, she took time out from the game to give birth to her son, Benjamin, and when she returned to international rugby it was with the Scottish side.
This, though, is no tale of another Anglo flying the saltire of convenience for the sake of a few more caps, for Francis, born in Bristol but raised in Edinburgh by Scottish parents, has always considered herself a Scot.
The nationality issue did not arise when she played her first international in 1986 for a Great Britain side. When that metamorphosed into an England side, Francis, who plays for Richmond, stuck with her friends and won the first of 12 English caps.
At that time, there was no Scottish side anyway, but when the prospect of Scotland playing internationals finally arose there was no question in her mind about which way to turn: ``I wanted to play for Scotland,'' she said. ``I wanted a blue shirt.''
In truth, she had also been frustrated by the actions of the English team management in 1991, when their failure to use their full squad in the early games saw 15 very tired players take the field against the USA, with the inevitable result. England had earlier come through a gruelling 13-0 semi-final win against France, when Francis scored a try, and she still carries the frustrations from the final.
``The England management put out their strongest team in every game. They had done it before, too, in the European Cup in 1988 and in both finals England were winning at half time. They didn't use the squad at all. It was so sad to watch.''
Francis is far happier with the Scottish management's way of doing things. She has been particularly impressed by the approach to selection taken by the manager, Ramsay Jones, and coach Roddie Stevenson, who recently travelled south to assess their Anglo players. By way of contrast, she points out that not one member of England's management was present when Richmond and Saracens, both including a number of English internationals, met in this year's WRFU Cup final.
Still, her assessment of the two countries' playing strengths put England, with their vastly greater experience, well in front. In Karen Almond, the fly-half who was a star of the 1991 tournament, they have a player who could have enormous influence again. Francis rates her highly.
``When she first started she was out in a class of her own. Not only is she a great athlete, but she also has a brilliant understanding of the game. The game has caught up on her a lot, but there hasn't been another fly half who has surpassed her.''
Scotland, though, may suffer for their inexperience: ``We've got a very good set of backs, certainly experienced from the centres outwards. The forwards are young, fit and enthusiastic and they can keep on running for ever, but they've not had the experience of tight play at international level.
``But the great thing is that in every game they play they learn so much; you can't believe the difference.
``I think where Scotland will struggle is that there aren't enough teams of a good enough standard. It was that way in England. It came on in huge leaps and bounds and then there was a stalemate for a couple of years.''
The first week of the championship will involve pool games. The 12 competing countries have been seeded in to four groups of three, the top seeds being USA, England, France, and Wales.
Scotland's place in the international order is measured by the fact that they are seeded third in the group which, ironically for Francis, is headed by England.
Scotland play England at Meggetland on Friday. On Wednesday, however, they meet Russia at the same venue and Francis is optimistic about their prospects: ``We're concentrating all our efforts on trying to win the Russia game,'' she said. ``We've heard nothing of them since the last tournament but I can't imagine that they've played a lot of internationals.''
The second week of the championship brings a round-robin Plate competition and knockout stages in the Shield competition and the championship itself, leading to the final at Raeburn Place on Sunday April 24. Given that the SWRU only volunteered as organisers three months ago, the efficiency is impressive to say the least.
Resourceful, too. The Scottish players will each pay over Pounds 400 for the privilege of representing their country over the next two weeks, while visiting players will have a range of accommodation that includes caravans and their hosts' living room floors.
Scott Hastings must be wondering where he went wrong.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1994
Source Citation
"Deborah shows true colours; Women's International Rugby." Sunday Times [London, England] 10 Apr. 1994
FOR all the honours the game has brought him the Lions tours, the Barbarians captaincy, the half century of caps Scott Hastings has still not set foot on what has become international rugby's biggest stage: a World Cup final.
And barring a Phoenix-like upturn in Scotland's fortunes in time for next year's tournament in South Africa, the only consolation he will have for this omission from an otherwise spangled CV, is that he went to school with someone who did.
Trick question? Can we now reveal that David Campese spent a secretive half-term at George Watson's College in the late 1970s, or that young Willie McCarling changed both name and nationality before heading off to Harlequins?
Neither, sadly, for Hastings's classmate - and, indeed, class captain was in fact Deborah Francis, who played for England against the USA in the women's World Cup final in 1991.
England lost that game in Cardiff, 19-6, but, according to Francis, they must be considered favourites for the second tournament, now christened the Women's Rugby World Championship, which kicks off at various venues around Scotland tomorrow: ``England have had a really good core of players for about eight years now. Their No8, scrum-half, and fly-half, can't really be competed with by anybody else in the world.''
Francis, however, will not be part of their side. After the 1991 competition, she took time out from the game to give birth to her son, Benjamin, and when she returned to international rugby it was with the Scottish side.
This, though, is no tale of another Anglo flying the saltire of convenience for the sake of a few more caps, for Francis, born in Bristol but raised in Edinburgh by Scottish parents, has always considered herself a Scot.
The nationality issue did not arise when she played her first international in 1986 for a Great Britain side. When that metamorphosed into an England side, Francis, who plays for Richmond, stuck with her friends and won the first of 12 English caps.
At that time, there was no Scottish side anyway, but when the prospect of Scotland playing internationals finally arose there was no question in her mind about which way to turn: ``I wanted to play for Scotland,'' she said. ``I wanted a blue shirt.''
In truth, she had also been frustrated by the actions of the English team management in 1991, when their failure to use their full squad in the early games saw 15 very tired players take the field against the USA, with the inevitable result. England had earlier come through a gruelling 13-0 semi-final win against France, when Francis scored a try, and she still carries the frustrations from the final.
``The England management put out their strongest team in every game. They had done it before, too, in the European Cup in 1988 and in both finals England were winning at half time. They didn't use the squad at all. It was so sad to watch.''
Francis is far happier with the Scottish management's way of doing things. She has been particularly impressed by the approach to selection taken by the manager, Ramsay Jones, and coach Roddie Stevenson, who recently travelled south to assess their Anglo players. By way of contrast, she points out that not one member of England's management was present when Richmond and Saracens, both including a number of English internationals, met in this year's WRFU Cup final.
Still, her assessment of the two countries' playing strengths put England, with their vastly greater experience, well in front. In Karen Almond, the fly-half who was a star of the 1991 tournament, they have a player who could have enormous influence again. Francis rates her highly.
``When she first started she was out in a class of her own. Not only is she a great athlete, but she also has a brilliant understanding of the game. The game has caught up on her a lot, but there hasn't been another fly half who has surpassed her.''
Scotland, though, may suffer for their inexperience: ``We've got a very good set of backs, certainly experienced from the centres outwards. The forwards are young, fit and enthusiastic and they can keep on running for ever, but they've not had the experience of tight play at international level.
``But the great thing is that in every game they play they learn so much; you can't believe the difference.
``I think where Scotland will struggle is that there aren't enough teams of a good enough standard. It was that way in England. It came on in huge leaps and bounds and then there was a stalemate for a couple of years.''
The first week of the championship will involve pool games. The 12 competing countries have been seeded in to four groups of three, the top seeds being USA, England, France, and Wales.
Scotland's place in the international order is measured by the fact that they are seeded third in the group which, ironically for Francis, is headed by England.
Scotland play England at Meggetland on Friday. On Wednesday, however, they meet Russia at the same venue and Francis is optimistic about their prospects: ``We're concentrating all our efforts on trying to win the Russia game,'' she said. ``We've heard nothing of them since the last tournament but I can't imagine that they've played a lot of internationals.''
The second week of the championship brings a round-robin Plate competition and knockout stages in the Shield competition and the championship itself, leading to the final at Raeburn Place on Sunday April 24. Given that the SWRU only volunteered as organisers three months ago, the efficiency is impressive to say the least.
Resourceful, too. The Scottish players will each pay over Pounds 400 for the privilege of representing their country over the next two weeks, while visiting players will have a range of accommodation that includes caravans and their hosts' living room floors.
Scott Hastings must be wondering where he went wrong.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1994
Source Citation
"Deborah shows true colours; Women's International Rugby." Sunday Times [London, England] 10 Apr. 1994
Sunday, 6 March 1994
Sponsorship of the world cup
Alasdair Reid
LOVELY stuff, money. Except, that is, when it comes into contact with rugby. Then you begin to wonder. Not about the under-the-table stuff, or even, in these enlightened times, the over-the-table stuff. If players of genuine talent can put together packages of decent houses, sponsored cars and ghosted columns, then good luck to them. Who cares? Nice work if you can get it.
But what you really have to wonder at is sponsorship, or rather the willingness of sponsors to lard their cash over areas of the game that are perfectly well larded already. Bankers, brewers and all those other hard-nosed movers and shakers of the business world seem perfectly myopic when new opportunities really arise.
At some time in the future, and the sooner the better, we will have a Scottish Cup competition. Sponsors are queuing up already. But long before then next month in fact we will have had an international rugby tournament, a world championship involving more than 400 players and officials from 12 countries, contested at various venues throughout Scotland. And where is the queue of tournament sponsors? Where indeed.
When you consider the scale of the operation, the television, the media interest and the unstinting, selfless efforts of the organisers it is an astonishing absence. Until you realise that it is the Women's World Championships that is about to take place. Girlies, by jove. Now that might explain something.
But sponsors or not, when the Scottish Women's Rugby Union announce the tournament's final format at a launch in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the occasion will represent a remarkable achievement for women's rugby in Scotland. Three years ago, the SWRU were not even represented when the first tournament was held in Wales. Three months ago they had no idea that they would be hosting the second. Holland should have been the venue, but an acrimonious fall-out between the Dutch organising committee and their IRB representative, confusion over the affiliation status of the Dutch women's union, shirt sponsorship regulations and just about everything else led to a flurry of faxes announcing the cancellation of the event. ``Dutch clubs are in a dreadful temper,'' read one. Sue Brodie, SWRU chairperson and international fullback, seized the opportunity.
``Everybody was shocked,'' said Sarah Floate, SWRU spokeswoman. ``But Sue started thinking `why don't we have it here?'. The SRU said they would support us logistically, but in fact we've done most of it ourselves.'' Not that there is any dispute between the two governing bodies. Indeed, separate development is seen as the best way forwards, associate membership of the SRU giving the SWRU both the freedom to develop as they see fit and a sufficient level of support. Full affiliation could constrain progress, as it has for the New Zealand women's union, who will not be able to compete in the tournament as it does not come under IRB rules.
Problems like these will be raised at a conference held during the tournament and moves will almost certainly be made to establish an international governing body for women's rugby. But the occasion will also celebrate the growth of the game in Scotland, where there are now 21 teams playing in a three-division league structure, with new clubs being established all the time.
Of course, they might also celebrate the wisdom and foresight of their sponsors. The cost? ``Totally negotiable,'' according to Brodie. ``The tournament will happen anyway, but it is a good opportunity to increase profile. You can put my phone number in if you like.''
Would we do that? Of course we would: 031-661 1179.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1994
Source Citation
"Wanted: sponsor with a little imagination; Rugby." Sunday Times [London, England] 6 Mar. 1994
LOVELY stuff, money. Except, that is, when it comes into contact with rugby. Then you begin to wonder. Not about the under-the-table stuff, or even, in these enlightened times, the over-the-table stuff. If players of genuine talent can put together packages of decent houses, sponsored cars and ghosted columns, then good luck to them. Who cares? Nice work if you can get it.
But what you really have to wonder at is sponsorship, or rather the willingness of sponsors to lard their cash over areas of the game that are perfectly well larded already. Bankers, brewers and all those other hard-nosed movers and shakers of the business world seem perfectly myopic when new opportunities really arise.
At some time in the future, and the sooner the better, we will have a Scottish Cup competition. Sponsors are queuing up already. But long before then next month in fact we will have had an international rugby tournament, a world championship involving more than 400 players and officials from 12 countries, contested at various venues throughout Scotland. And where is the queue of tournament sponsors? Where indeed.
When you consider the scale of the operation, the television, the media interest and the unstinting, selfless efforts of the organisers it is an astonishing absence. Until you realise that it is the Women's World Championships that is about to take place. Girlies, by jove. Now that might explain something.
But sponsors or not, when the Scottish Women's Rugby Union announce the tournament's final format at a launch in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the occasion will represent a remarkable achievement for women's rugby in Scotland. Three years ago, the SWRU were not even represented when the first tournament was held in Wales. Three months ago they had no idea that they would be hosting the second. Holland should have been the venue, but an acrimonious fall-out between the Dutch organising committee and their IRB representative, confusion over the affiliation status of the Dutch women's union, shirt sponsorship regulations and just about everything else led to a flurry of faxes announcing the cancellation of the event. ``Dutch clubs are in a dreadful temper,'' read one. Sue Brodie, SWRU chairperson and international fullback, seized the opportunity.
``Everybody was shocked,'' said Sarah Floate, SWRU spokeswoman. ``But Sue started thinking `why don't we have it here?'. The SRU said they would support us logistically, but in fact we've done most of it ourselves.'' Not that there is any dispute between the two governing bodies. Indeed, separate development is seen as the best way forwards, associate membership of the SRU giving the SWRU both the freedom to develop as they see fit and a sufficient level of support. Full affiliation could constrain progress, as it has for the New Zealand women's union, who will not be able to compete in the tournament as it does not come under IRB rules.
Problems like these will be raised at a conference held during the tournament and moves will almost certainly be made to establish an international governing body for women's rugby. But the occasion will also celebrate the growth of the game in Scotland, where there are now 21 teams playing in a three-division league structure, with new clubs being established all the time.
Of course, they might also celebrate the wisdom and foresight of their sponsors. The cost? ``Totally negotiable,'' according to Brodie. ``The tournament will happen anyway, but it is a good opportunity to increase profile. You can put my phone number in if you like.''
Would we do that? Of course we would: 031-661 1179.
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1994
Source Citation
"Wanted: sponsor with a little imagination; Rugby." Sunday Times [London, England] 6 Mar. 1994
Wednesday, 12 January 1994
Scotland take on the world cup
David Hands, Rugby Correspondent
WHILE Rugby World Cup (RWC) organisers expect to announce today additional sponsors for the 1995 tournament after the most recent meeting of directors in the Isle of Man, they may note a change in location of the women's world cup, proposed for April, and hope that the same does not apply to the men next year.
The 1995 World Cup in South Africa, a venue that carries obvious hazards, has already been backed by South African Airways and though RWC is chary about issuing figures, it must be assumed that each of the proposed eight important sponsorships is worth a minimum of Pounds 1 million. Such a sum would be a godsend to the women's competition, which was planned for Holland between April 10 and 24, but which will now be staged in Scotland.
A meeting of the Scottish Women's Rugby Union (SWRU) competition organising committee in Edinburgh tomorrow will confirm the logistics of the tournament after the Dutch withdrawal last week, apparently provoked by the possibility that some of the world's leading teams might not attend because the tournament was not run under the auspices of the International Rugby Football Board.
Nor was the first tournament in 1991, played in Wales and won by the United States, but though it was not financially successful it created interest in the women's game. Entries must be submitted by February 1.
Source Citation
"Women's rugby seeks sponsors; Women's Rugby." Times [London, England] 12 Jan. 1994
WHILE Rugby World Cup (RWC) organisers expect to announce today additional sponsors for the 1995 tournament after the most recent meeting of directors in the Isle of Man, they may note a change in location of the women's world cup, proposed for April, and hope that the same does not apply to the men next year.
The 1995 World Cup in South Africa, a venue that carries obvious hazards, has already been backed by South African Airways and though RWC is chary about issuing figures, it must be assumed that each of the proposed eight important sponsorships is worth a minimum of Pounds 1 million. Such a sum would be a godsend to the women's competition, which was planned for Holland between April 10 and 24, but which will now be staged in Scotland.
A meeting of the Scottish Women's Rugby Union (SWRU) competition organising committee in Edinburgh tomorrow will confirm the logistics of the tournament after the Dutch withdrawal last week, apparently provoked by the possibility that some of the world's leading teams might not attend because the tournament was not run under the auspices of the International Rugby Football Board.
Nor was the first tournament in 1991, played in Wales and won by the United States, but though it was not financially successful it created interest in the women's game. Entries must be submitted by February 1.
Source Citation
"Women's rugby seeks sponsors; Women's Rugby." Times [London, England] 12 Jan. 1994
Saturday, 11 December 1993
In the pink
Simon Barnes
News reaches me of the Eighth annual Boston women's rugby sevens tournament. One team, called The Pink Dresses, played in, well, pink dresses. The competition was won by a team called the Marys, all of whom were named, well, Mary. The top player was their goalkicker, the not inaptly named Mary Indelicato.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1993
Source Citation
"In the pink; Simon Barnes on Saturday." Times [London, England] 11 Dec. 1993
News reaches me of the Eighth annual Boston women's rugby sevens tournament. One team, called The Pink Dresses, played in, well, pink dresses. The competition was won by a team called the Marys, all of whom were named, well, Mary. The top player was their goalkicker, the not inaptly named Mary Indelicato.
Copyright (C) The Times, 1993
Source Citation
"In the pink; Simon Barnes on Saturday." Times [London, England] 11 Dec. 1993
Sunday, 3 October 1993
Women's rugby in Scotland
Ginny Clark
All-women Scots rugby is assembling menacing skills as the national team limbers up for the World Cup next spring, reports Ginny Clark.
LAST night in Edinburgh Ian McGeechan was once again the focus of attention as Scottish rugby paid tribute to one of its finest sons.
However, honouring the man who bowed out as Scotland and Lions coach at the end of last season was not the sole purpose of this gala dinner. The future of women's rugby was high on the agenda and the question of how to raise cash to help send the women's national team to their first appearance in the World Cup.
Holland 1994 will mark a tremendous achievement for the women, who readily admit that the sport here is still some way behind the south, not to mention other parts of the globe.
Nevertheless, Scotland has come a long way in a short time. Just 18 months ago our women had to pick themselves up from a resounding 74-0 defeat by England. That was in the bad old days, when they were not officially recognised by the Scottish Rugby Union and the organisation came under the control of the Women's Rugby Football Union of England.
Not so now. A 10-0 defeat of Ireland earlier this year gave notice of the squad's intention to put Scotland firmly in contention for international honours. This new season brings, not only new challenges for the recently formed Scottish Women's Rugby Union, but the support and back-up of associate membership of the SRU.
Predictably, the sport has had its critics. Sarah Floate, of the SWRU, says: ``There are still some men who think that women just should not be playing rugby, that it's not suitable for us. And, initially, a lot of the guys who actually came along to our matches, did so for the novelty.
``But we are winning them over. I think they have been surprised by our skill level, the emphasis on touch and control. Some of those men are now among our strongest supporters. Both Gavin Hastings and David Sole have given us practical help, with coaching as well.''
Although their sights are firmly set on Holland in April, the SWRU will not forget that they still have a lot of ground-work to do. The women's league has three divisions, with a total of 20 clubs. But only West of Scotland and Edinburgh Academicals are women's sections of established sides. The remainder are mostly university or college teams.
``That is definitely the way forward,'' says Floate. ``In fact, we may eventually have two leagues, one for clubs and one for university sides.''
Meanwhile, the SWRU has another problem to address, namely the virtual non-existence of girls' rugby at secondary school level. It is one that their counterparts in women's football have also tackled recently, planning an under-16 set up and instigating coaching programmes.
Floate agrees: ``At primary school the `new image' version of rugby is growing in popularity. This is played with both boys and girls in each side. But once they start secondary, and are segregated in sport, the girls usually have no rugby level to progress to.
``Obviously we hope to change this and we're getting help from the SRU eventually to set up a new structure, plus the organisation of special coaching and schools courses.''
It is simple enough. If girls' rugby is to go on the secondary timetable, you need trained staff to teach it. That means a determined publicity campaign to get more women involved in the sport.
And there is no question that success on the international field would be a great boost for Scotland, attracting more followers as well as silencing the critics.
The squad will have several opportunities to do just that before their World Cup trek, facing Wales on December 19, North of England on January 9 and Ireland on February 13. So, as a new season gets under way, Floate, Edinburgh Accies centre, has another, more immediate concern. Cash.
Her own team has just announced the biggest deal of women's rugby in Scotland so far, sponsored by Keir Moodie, Edinburgh solicitors. But it is a slightly different story when it comes to the national side.
``The tribute to Ian has helped, but there is still a lot of fund raising to do on the way to the World Cup target of Pounds 30,000. We were having talks with a potential sponsor, but that fell through.
``We're now hoping that there will be a big response to our sponsorship raffle. Companies or individuals can buy Pounds 180 tickets.''
The winners of a draw in two months' time will become the team's official sponsor.
Whether Scotland's chances in the World Cup turn out to be something of a lottery also remains to be seen.
The women will carry the best wishes and hopes of many when they set off for Holland. The ultimate aim must be to line up against champions America or other main contenders, such as England, the runner-up last time around.
But what kind of a hope does Scotland really have in the first stage?
``I reckon we'll do well,'' says Floate. ``We might just go through.''
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1993
Source Citation
"The female pack attacks with new-found pride; Scotland." Sunday Times [London, England] 3 Oct. 1993
All-women Scots rugby is assembling menacing skills as the national team limbers up for the World Cup next spring, reports Ginny Clark.
LAST night in Edinburgh Ian McGeechan was once again the focus of attention as Scottish rugby paid tribute to one of its finest sons.
However, honouring the man who bowed out as Scotland and Lions coach at the end of last season was not the sole purpose of this gala dinner. The future of women's rugby was high on the agenda and the question of how to raise cash to help send the women's national team to their first appearance in the World Cup.
Holland 1994 will mark a tremendous achievement for the women, who readily admit that the sport here is still some way behind the south, not to mention other parts of the globe.
Nevertheless, Scotland has come a long way in a short time. Just 18 months ago our women had to pick themselves up from a resounding 74-0 defeat by England. That was in the bad old days, when they were not officially recognised by the Scottish Rugby Union and the organisation came under the control of the Women's Rugby Football Union of England.
Not so now. A 10-0 defeat of Ireland earlier this year gave notice of the squad's intention to put Scotland firmly in contention for international honours. This new season brings, not only new challenges for the recently formed Scottish Women's Rugby Union, but the support and back-up of associate membership of the SRU.
Predictably, the sport has had its critics. Sarah Floate, of the SWRU, says: ``There are still some men who think that women just should not be playing rugby, that it's not suitable for us. And, initially, a lot of the guys who actually came along to our matches, did so for the novelty.
``But we are winning them over. I think they have been surprised by our skill level, the emphasis on touch and control. Some of those men are now among our strongest supporters. Both Gavin Hastings and David Sole have given us practical help, with coaching as well.''
Although their sights are firmly set on Holland in April, the SWRU will not forget that they still have a lot of ground-work to do. The women's league has three divisions, with a total of 20 clubs. But only West of Scotland and Edinburgh Academicals are women's sections of established sides. The remainder are mostly university or college teams.
``That is definitely the way forward,'' says Floate. ``In fact, we may eventually have two leagues, one for clubs and one for university sides.''
Meanwhile, the SWRU has another problem to address, namely the virtual non-existence of girls' rugby at secondary school level. It is one that their counterparts in women's football have also tackled recently, planning an under-16 set up and instigating coaching programmes.
Floate agrees: ``At primary school the `new image' version of rugby is growing in popularity. This is played with both boys and girls in each side. But once they start secondary, and are segregated in sport, the girls usually have no rugby level to progress to.
``Obviously we hope to change this and we're getting help from the SRU eventually to set up a new structure, plus the organisation of special coaching and schools courses.''
It is simple enough. If girls' rugby is to go on the secondary timetable, you need trained staff to teach it. That means a determined publicity campaign to get more women involved in the sport.
And there is no question that success on the international field would be a great boost for Scotland, attracting more followers as well as silencing the critics.
The squad will have several opportunities to do just that before their World Cup trek, facing Wales on December 19, North of England on January 9 and Ireland on February 13. So, as a new season gets under way, Floate, Edinburgh Accies centre, has another, more immediate concern. Cash.
Her own team has just announced the biggest deal of women's rugby in Scotland so far, sponsored by Keir Moodie, Edinburgh solicitors. But it is a slightly different story when it comes to the national side.
``The tribute to Ian has helped, but there is still a lot of fund raising to do on the way to the World Cup target of Pounds 30,000. We were having talks with a potential sponsor, but that fell through.
``We're now hoping that there will be a big response to our sponsorship raffle. Companies or individuals can buy Pounds 180 tickets.''
The winners of a draw in two months' time will become the team's official sponsor.
Whether Scotland's chances in the World Cup turn out to be something of a lottery also remains to be seen.
The women will carry the best wishes and hopes of many when they set off for Holland. The ultimate aim must be to line up against champions America or other main contenders, such as England, the runner-up last time around.
But what kind of a hope does Scotland really have in the first stage?
``I reckon we'll do well,'' says Floate. ``We might just go through.''
Copyright (C) The Sunday Times, 1993
Source Citation
"The female pack attacks with new-found pride; Scotland." Sunday Times [London, England] 3 Oct. 1993
Friday, 3 April 1992
National Cup final
The Women's Rugby Football Union holds the final of its national cup competition at Blackheath on Sunday. Richmond meet Saracens in a repeat of last year's final, which Saracens won 11-8. Richmond won a recent league match between the sides 7-6.
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