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Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:25 am
by eldanielfire
backrow wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
SaintK wrote:No fewer than 9 girls from my very small local Hertfordshire club were in the Saracens Ladies match squad for their Premier League match at the weekend
8 of them started the match and 6 of them are under 20!
Image

It should be noted that the last few England U20's sides have been stacked with talent since 2015. A lot are already breaking into the England team right now and are the better players for their clubs. the likes of Lagi Tuima, Abigail Dow, Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach, Lotte Clapp, Sarah Bern and Catherine O'Donnell look the real deal. And other understudies like LeAnn Riley and Poppy Cleall have kicked on. And I think England are choosing all their very best players from the premier league.

I feel my posts hyping some young English players seem justified now :)

um,,, 5, daylight, 9, a million light years, the rest

presume these are more Kiwi poaches ?
:lol:

I'm quite smitten with the redhead on our left.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:46 am
by backrow
ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:49 am
by eldanielfire
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:34 am
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
You've also seen her g/f then? I forget how I stumbled upon it, but ...

https://twitter.com/rosie_galligan

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:42 am
by SaintK
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
Steady on!! I know her Dad, he was a very good hooker
She is going to be an absolutely outstanding prop!!!

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:43 am
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
You've also seen her g/f then? I forget how I stumbled upon it, but ...

https://twitter.com/rosie_galligan

Yeah. I am jealous. Like really jealous.....

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:45 am
by eldanielfire
SaintK wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
Steady on!! I know her Dad, he was a very good hooker
She is going to be an absolutely outstanding prop!!!
Already in the two tests against Canada she played made England's scrum stronger and stopped it going back. Also she has been part of a dominate Saracens forward pack all season and is alright in the loose. She is only 18 or 19. Imagine how good she could be in 5 years time?

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:57 am
by Rugbygirl
eldanielfire wrote:
SaintK wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
Steady on!! I know her Dad, he was a very good hooker
She is going to be an absolutely outstanding prop!!!
Already in the two tests against Canada she played made England's scrum stronger and stopped it going back.
Not exactly surprising considering she’s about 20kg heavier than the prop she’s replacing. Time will tell if she can add an element of fitness to her game (on an England scale).

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:04 am
by Uncle Fester
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
backrow wrote:ah, you want to count coins in her pot of Gold at the end of her rainbow yep ?

#6 looks like a fecking Bond Villian !
She also has great taste in women and is gonna be an awesome prop.
You've also seen her g/f then? I forget how I stumbled upon it, but ...

https://twitter.com/rosie_galligan
This thread needs more of this posting.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 8:18 am
by Anonymous 1
backrow wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
SaintK wrote:No fewer than 9 girls from my very small local Hertfordshire club were in the Saracens Ladies match squad for their Premier League match at the weekend
8 of them started the match and 6 of them are under 20!
Image

It should be noted that the last few England U20's sides have been stacked with talent since 2015. A lot are already breaking into the England team right now and are the better players for their clubs. the likes of Lagi Tuima, Abigail Dow, Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach, Lotte Clapp, Sarah Bern and Catherine O'Donnell look the real deal. And other understudies like LeAnn Riley and Poppy Cleall have kicked on. And I think England are choosing all their very best players from the premier league.

I feel my posts hyping some young English players seem justified now :)

um,,, 5, daylight, 9, a million light years, the rest

presume these are more Kiwi poaches ?
5,9,3,4,8,2,7,1 I don't care what you say 6 ain't happening

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:20 pm
by eldanielfire
Good that tomorrow (Sunday 3rd) you can watch 2 women's games. Richmond v Wasps is shown on Sky and Quins v Saracens is being streamed by the RFU :thumbup:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 1:55 pm
by eldanielfire
Wasp ahead on the TV game, but Richmond Scrum and distance of kicking is saving them. Plus classic experience at the breakdown.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 2:27 pm
by eldanielfire
Wasps running away from Richmond now. Their all England front row have got into the Richmond pack now and the pace and skill of their backs is telling now. Wasps really have a quality side, they had a rough start and it was only after 3 weeks into the new season they required the group signing of the summer of 5 England players in Rocky Clark, Amy Cokayne, Justine Lucas, Harriet Millar-Mills and Danielle Waterman. Which tops even Quins and Saracens collection of signings. Their matches against Quins and Saracens will be very interesting.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:19 pm
by DragsterDriver
Waterman is absolute class.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 4:46 pm
by eldanielfire
DragsterDriver wrote:Waterman is absolute class.

Agreed. Still got loads of gas and her footwork is out of this world. She was massively missed in the world cup final. What's more this season she has become a real playmaker at Fullback as well. Giselle Mather is really bring out the best in her.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:17 pm
by eldanielfire
Quins Ladies v Saracens is about to start via RFU stream :nod:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:35 pm
by eldanielfire
Quins strike first after Sarries pressure, great scrum and then gas on the right wing by Holly Myers. Interesting Quins scrum looked on top for that first scrum.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:37 pm
by eldanielfire
Not liking this ref. The opponents need to have hands on the ball for holding on.

Sarries strike back with a lineout, maul for a try for Packer.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:58 pm
by eldanielfire
Quins scrum crushed Sarries there for the Penalty try.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:24 pm
by eldanielfire
Sarries won. Quins lost it with few injuries. Though Sarries were cynical, the ref was indifferent to an offside line from them.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:02 pm
by eldanielfire
SaintK wrote:No fewer than 9 girls from my very small local Hertfordshire club were in the Saracens Ladies match squad for their Premier League match at the weekend
8 of them started the match and 6 of them are under 20!
Image

Oh i forgot to ask (and therefore didn't get an answer) what was the club these girls came from?

I'm increasingly impressed by that group of players and it's awesome and impressive so many were developed from one club (I'm particularly impressed at their canniness in the breakdown at such a young age). Of Northampton do a women's elite women's team they have really missed out on a generation of outstanding talent there.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:03 am
by eldanielfire
Interesting Quin's Ladies are trying to bring in a talented sprinter (fast, particularly at 200m) into Rugby. She is Lucy Hoad, daughter of Jason Hoad who played in the 1980's. It's looking very promising apparently:

https://twitter.com/LucyHoad/status/936358601987411970

https://twitter.com/GaryStreet9/status/ ... 2604695552

https://twitter.com/hoadyho/status/926213419958767616

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:11 am
by eldanielfire
eldanielfire wrote:
SaintK wrote:No fewer than 9 girls from my very small local Hertfordshire club were in the Saracens Ladies match squad for their Premier League match at the weekend
8 of them started the match and 6 of them are under 20!
Image

Oh i forgot to ask (and therefore didn't get an answer) what was the club these girls came from?

I'm increasingly impressed by that group of players and it's awesome and impressive so many were developed from one club (I'm particularly impressed at their canniness in the breakdown at such a young age). Of Northampton do a women's elite women's team they have really missed out on a generation of outstanding talent there.
I worked it out now :)

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2017 5:02 pm
by eldanielfire
Richmond ladies travel up north and only find the game is abandoned when they arrive:

Image

Image

Image



They thought they would haveto wait 7 hours for their train home, but Virgin trains saw their tweets:

https://twitter.com/rjball87/status/942050945277616128

and sorted them out:

Image

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:51 pm
by eldanielfire
NZ appear to be launching heir own more professonalised domestic women's competition now:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11959917

This is good, Southern Hemisphere attitudes to women's Rugby are way behind up here in the north. Hopefully a bit of a knock-on effect will be created.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:54 pm
by eldanielfire
Eldanielfire's mid-league break thoughts of how the teams are doin and where they at at so far in the Premier 15s League:

Worcester Valkyries: A tragically terrible season. This time last year they had a class team, but for the new league somehow they lost their entire 1st team to other sides and it shows. the list of players they lost is huge and somewhat ridiculous which suggests there must have been something a lot of players had issue with at the club and the new professional set-ups of other teams were too attractive.

Firwood Waterloo: The newbies. Like Worcester they have not won a game yet, but they give every side a big physical battle and always seem to be credited as competitive from their opponents.

Richmond Womens Rugby: had a bright start but faded badly. Like Worcester they lost a lot of players to other sides, mainly Harlequins. Still have a big scrum but lack quality in the backs and in defense. Sadly had 5 point deducted for fielding an unregistered player. Gaelle Mignot joined the side to find out why English Rugby is so successful, I'm not sure she joined the right club for that, but Richmond are always a club people love playing for and love the culture and characters and they always have great team spirit.

DMP Sharks: Doing alright, getting more competitive as the season goes on. They have a new stars but very little depth, but like Waterloo they give every team a battle. Another team to lose some excellent players, like Abbie Scott to Harlequins, that stunts their ability to challenge for now and it doesn't help when they lose their England players like Taylor and McLean as they lack the depth of other teams. But with great young talents like Jo Brown and Rachel Woosey shows they have young talent build around as well.

Loughborough Lightning: The team usually blamed for Litchfield Ladies being rejected from the new super league. The politics in their favour, nor the addition of England Captain Sarah Hunter hasn't really made them much of anything, though a good scrum and a fair bit of decent youth talent may mean their future is bright, but they have got a long way to go to be a worthy successor to Litchfield Ladies, even if they now seem set to occupy the top half.

Gloucester-Hartpury Women: Flying high early on but a bit patchy in the past few months. A team of some good rugby brains, but with a lack of pace and power across the side but some very, very good youth in the side means they can continue to get better. But they have a few really superb players in the likes of Killdunne, Bern and the 10-12 axis of Large and Goddard, but they don't have much depth when they miss a key player. Will likely challenge Bristol or Wasps for a top 4 spot. There's an element where they are in no-mans land, too good for most of the league but not showing they can give the top 3 a challenge. The difference being they probably need more power in their forwards despite Sarah Bern being one of the most physical forwards in England.

Bristol Ladies: Had a bit of a bad month in November after the loss to Harlequins but a change of head coach has seem them return to form and should be contending for a top 4 spot. Mostly down to a great set of backs and a gritty forward pack. Their future seems bright as they seem to be the natural next step from Exeter Uni's excellent rugby program and have some brilliant young players like Tuima, Attwood, Gregson among others and a strong contingent of Welsh and Irish players in Phillips, Molloy and Snowsill. Though the loss of Packer and Cleall to Saracens and Hunter to "Luffbur" certainly would impact any team, that is basically England's first choice backrow afterall, but Bristol is stiil a very, very strong side, likely top 4 side and dark horses with Reed and Noel-Smith leading the team forward.

Wasps Ladies: IMO Wasps are the biggest winners from Litchfield's reaction to the league ad the exedos from Worcester. They gained Rocky Clark, Amy Cokayne, Justine Lucas, Harriet Millar-Mills and Danielle Waterman after the season started. They also recruited from the military and have some fab youth players in Abby Dow. It's taken a little while to gel but they are getting there. They don't seem quite ready to challenge the top 2 yet but with Gis

Harlequins Ladies: Despite being caught out by Saracens a few weeks ago, Harlequins can probably claim to be player for player the best side in the league. They score the most tries, have a near perfect blend of experience and youth, a powerful pack, a great lineout and maul and tons of threats in attack ready to be released by Rachel Burford probably the best all round back in the game. Bradshaw, Myers, Cowell, Wooden and of course Jess Breech must make the most set of wingers and fullbacks for any club ever in the women's game. Lots of credit have to be given to Harlequins who have made big efforts to promote the women, probably the most out of nay women's side, often showing them side by side with their men and initiaves that encourage tons of fans to stay after the game the other week. Also applauded their ambitions to get the biggest ever audience for a women's game against Richmond. The only blemish to their season is the game where they were exposed as slight less streetwise and clever as:

Saracens Women: Top of the league. A dominate forward pack and what's shocking they probably have the youngest and brightest squad in the league stacked full of England players, new England players and future England players so they can get better without even recruiting again. Which is scary. They have a strong scrum, a fantastic driving maul and player who from 1 to 15 seem to know exactly how to boss the rucks. They are also powerful and mobile too. Obviously getting Poppy Cleall back and Marley Packer with her was the coup of the year for any team not named Wasps. But it's their youth like Harrison, Clapp, Rowland, Wardle, Perry, Botterman, Austin and Galligan among others all playing like they are experienced classy England players already despite being mostly in their 20's or teenagers.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:51 pm
by Nieghorn
I was tempted to have a crack at the Waterloo head coach job recently, but found it weird they didn't seem to have one in place. Two assistants? Thought maybe they'd also promote from within. Seemed a bit amateurish.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:17 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:I was tempted to have a crack at the Waterloo head coach job recently, but found it weird they didn't seem to have one in place. Two assistants? Thought maybe they'd also promote from within. Seemed a bit amateurish.
They seem to be the team who have appeared out of nowhere. I genuinely have little idea about them at all. But considering they never were in the elite leagues, results aside they are giving it their all to play at this level.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 9:33 am
by eldanielfire
Referees for the Women's 6 Nations:

Wales v Scotland

Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant 2: WRU Appointment
TMO: Claire Hodnett (England)

France v Ireland

Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant 1: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant 2: FFR Appointment
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Italy v England

Referee: Rose LaBreche (Canada)
Assistant 1: Tim Backer (Hong Kong)
Assistant 2: FIR Appointment
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)

England v Wales

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant 1: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant 2: RFU Appointment
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Scotland v France

Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistant 1: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant 2: SRU Appointment
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Ireland v Italy

Referee: Tim Baker (Hong Kong)
Assistant 1: Rose LaBreche (Canada)
Assistant 2: IRFU Appointment
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Scotland v England

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant 1: SRU Appointment
Assistant 2: SRU Appointment
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

France v Italy

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant 1: FFR Appointment
Assistant 2: FFR Appointment
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)

Ireland v Wales

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant 1: IRFU Appointment
Assistant 2: IRFU Appointment
TMO: Claire Hodnett (England)

France v England

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant 1: FFR Appointment
Assistant 2: FFR Appointment
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Wales v Italy

Referee: Marie Lematte (France)
Assistant 1: WRU Appointment
Assistant 2: WRU Appointment
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)


Ireland v Scotland

Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant 1: IRFU Appointment
Assistant 2: IRFU Appointment
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

England v Ireland

Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Assistant 1: RFU Appointment
Assistant 2: RFU Appointment
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)

Wales v France

Referee: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Assistant 1: FIR Appointment
Assistant 2: FIR Appointment
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Italy v Scotland

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant 1: FIR Appointment
Assistant 2: FIR Apppointment
TMO: Claire Hodnett (England)

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 6:11 pm
by eldanielfire
Ireland women cap a lot of new players:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42456088

Ireland coach Adam Griggs has named nine uncapped players in a 38-strong squad for the 2018 Women's Six Nations.

The backs yet to play at senior level are Michelle Claffey, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Susan Vaughan, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins and Megan Williams.

Laura Feely, Aoife McDermott and Edel McMahon are the uncapped forwards.

Griggs, who has been appointed until the end of the championship, will name his captain in the new year after the completion of scheduled training camps.

Ireland play France in their opening game in Toulouse on Saturday, 3 February

That will be followed by three home games with Italy on 11 February, Wales on 25 February and Scotland on 11 March, then England away on 16 March.

Ireland will also travel to face Wales in an uncapped warm-up fixture in January.

Nine players named are part of the Ireland Women's Sevens programme and with the Sydney Sevens taking place on 27 and 28 January, players who are selected for that tournament will not be available for the game in France.

Laura Feely, Aoife McDermott and Edel McMahon are the uncapped forwards in the squad, with Michelle Claffey, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Susan Vaughan and Megan Williams the backs who have yet to appear in the senior green shirt.

"Over the course of the interprovincial fixtures I've had the opportunity to see the players in competitive and challenging games, and it was very valuable for me to see them in action," said New Zealand-born Griggs.

"There is good experience in the squad, with most of the players selected competing at this level for a number of seasons.

"In addition to those experienced players, there are also nine uncapped players named, and they've all earned their inclusion by performing well in the Interpro games and for the Irish Sevens, and I've no doubt there will be good competition for places throughout the campaign."

Ireland will hope to make up for a disappointing World Cup which saw coach Tom Tierney resign after a defeat by Wales in the seventh-place play-off meant they will have to qualify for the next tournament.

Ireland Women's Six Nations Squad 2018

Forwards: Elaine Anthony (Munster),Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster), Anna Caplice (Munster), Ciara Cooney (Leinster), Laura Feely (Connacht)*, Paula Fitzpatrick (Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Connacht), Ciara Griffin (Munster), Leah Lyons (Munster), Aoife McDermott (Leinster)*, Edel McMahon (Connacht)*, Claire Molloy (Bristol), Cliodhna Moloney (Leinster), Ciara O'Connor (Connacht), Chloe Pearse (Munster), Lindsay Peat (Leinster), Fiona Reidy (Munster).

Backs: Niamh Briggs (Munster), Nikki Caughey (Ulster), Michelle Claffey (Leinster)*, Mairead Coyne (Connacht), Nicole Cronin (Munster), Jeamie Deacon (Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Leinster), Kim Flood (Leinster), Louise Galvin (Munster), Mary Healy (Connacht), Katie Heffernan (Leinster)*, Eve Higgins (Leinster)*, Ailsa Hughes (Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Ulster), Alison Miller (Connacht), Sene Naoupu (Leinster), Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Munster)*, Hannah Tyrrell (Leinster), Susan Vaughan (Leinster)*, Megan Williams (Leinster)*

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:04 pm
by themaddog
eldanielfire wrote:Ireland women cap a lot of new players:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42456088

Ireland coach Adam Griggs has named nine uncapped players in a 38-strong squad for the 2018 Women's Six Nations.

The backs yet to play at senior level are Michelle Claffey, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Susan Vaughan, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins and Megan Williams.

Laura Feely, Aoife McDermott and Edel McMahon are the uncapped forwards.

Griggs, who has been appointed until the end of the championship, will name his captain in the new year after the completion of scheduled training camps.

Ireland play France in their opening game in Toulouse on Saturday, 3 February

That will be followed by three home games with Italy on 11 February, Wales on 25 February and Scotland on 11 March, then England away on 16 March.

Ireland will also travel to face Wales in an uncapped warm-up fixture in January.

Nine players named are part of the Ireland Women's Sevens programme and with the Sydney Sevens taking place on 27 and 28 January, players who are selected for that tournament will not be available for the game in France.

Laura Feely, Aoife McDermott and Edel McMahon are the uncapped forwards in the squad, with Michelle Claffey, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Susan Vaughan and Megan Williams the backs who have yet to appear in the senior green shirt.

"Over the course of the interprovincial fixtures I've had the opportunity to see the players in competitive and challenging games, and it was very valuable for me to see them in action," said New Zealand-born Griggs.

"There is good experience in the squad, with most of the players selected competing at this level for a number of seasons.

"In addition to those experienced players, there are also nine uncapped players named, and they've all earned their inclusion by performing well in the Interpro games and for the Irish Sevens, and I've no doubt there will be good competition for places throughout the campaign."

Ireland will hope to make up for a disappointing World Cup which saw coach Tom Tierney resign after a defeat by Wales in the seventh-place play-off meant they will have to qualify for the next tournament.

Ireland Women's Six Nations Squad 2018

Forwards: Elaine Anthony (Munster),Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster), Anna Caplice (Munster), Ciara Cooney (Leinster), Laura Feely (Connacht)*, Paula Fitzpatrick (Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Connacht), Ciara Griffin (Munster), Leah Lyons (Munster), Aoife McDermott (Leinster)*, Edel McMahon (Connacht)*, Claire Molloy (Bristol), Cliodhna Moloney (Leinster), Ciara O'Connor (Connacht), Chloe Pearse (Munster), Lindsay Peat (Leinster), Fiona Reidy (Munster).

Backs: Niamh Briggs (Munster), Nikki Caughey (Ulster), Michelle Claffey (Leinster)*, Mairead Coyne (Connacht), Nicole Cronin (Munster), Jeamie Deacon (Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Leinster), Kim Flood (Leinster), Louise Galvin (Munster), Mary Healy (Connacht), Katie Heffernan (Leinster)*, Eve Higgins (Leinster)*, Ailsa Hughes (Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Ulster), Alison Miller (Connacht), Sene Naoupu (Leinster), Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Munster)*, Hannah Tyrrell (Leinster), Susan Vaughan (Leinster)*, Megan Williams (Leinster)*
Sophie Spence has retired from international rugby after being left out of the squad.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 11:22 am
by eldanielfire
themaddog wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:Ireland women cap a lot of new players:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42456088

Ireland Women's Six Nations Squad 2018

Forwards: Elaine Anthony (Munster),Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster), Anna Caplice (Munster), Ciara Cooney (Leinster), Laura Feely (Connacht)*, Paula Fitzpatrick (Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Connacht), Ciara Griffin (Munster), Leah Lyons (Munster), Aoife McDermott (Leinster)*, Edel McMahon (Connacht)*, Claire Molloy (Bristol), Cliodhna Moloney (Leinster), Ciara O'Connor (Connacht), Chloe Pearse (Munster), Lindsay Peat (Leinster), Fiona Reidy (Munster).

Backs: Niamh Briggs (Munster), Nikki Caughey (Ulster), Michelle Claffey (Leinster)*, Mairead Coyne (Connacht), Nicole Cronin (Munster), Jeamie Deacon (Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Leinster), Kim Flood (Leinster), Louise Galvin (Munster), Mary Healy (Connacht), Katie Heffernan (Leinster)*, Eve Higgins (Leinster)*, Ailsa Hughes (Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Ulster), Alison Miller (Connacht), Sene Naoupu (Leinster), Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Munster)*, Hannah Tyrrell (Leinster), Susan Vaughan (Leinster)*, Megan Williams (Leinster)*
Sophie Spence has retired from international rugby after being left out of the squad.

Ireland have had quite a few retirements. I think i posted them in here earlier (maybe the WRWC thread) like Nora Stapleton. I'm surprise Spence was constantly a sub in the RWC to be honest. She may not be force she was but she always seem to bring a physicality and directness Ireland missed the whole World Cup an it upped the teams attacking threat.

It will be interesting to see where the Irish ladies go, you have the likes of England and France and to a less extent Wales kicking on with professionalism and the Irish women not even been given a half decent prep for the RWC and even less respect and attention after it. Which is a shame as this generation just gone did so much for the women's game with 6 Nations titles and that big win against the kiwis int he 2014 RWC. The foundation was there.

I can only imagine when Claire Molloy returns to the squad from Bristol and is full of the stories about how great the increasingly well supported and professionalised the English teams have become and the positive vibe it's generating, it will continue to sow those seeds of discontent in the women's game there with their bosses.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 11:41 am
by eldanielfire
Here's the retirements article I just referenced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41095737

It should be added Ireland also have to qualify for the next Wold Cup. Shouldn't be a problem in theory unless Scotland (who have sent a few players to France's professional league) and Spain (who are a danger on their day) improve a bit and that Ireland have really dropped down (which is possible).

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:04 pm
by eldanielfire
A nice image of where the womn's 6 Nations games will be played.

Image



Oh and Rocky Clarke and Kat Merchant got married at the weekend :nod:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 10:52 am
by eldanielfire
ENgland women's 4 day training group:

Image

My commentary:

Helena Rowland has been having a great season at Saracens. So has Cara Wardle at 13 and Harriet Austin at 6/7 but they haven't been picked. Clara Nielson is doing a storming job at hooker at Bristol. And of course Brynony Cleall who is as devastating as her sister. I suppose you can't call-up everybody. Rachel Woosey is a good call-up and she is rapid.But otherwise not much to judge as there are clear omissions who will be in the 6 Nations squad come February.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 10:55 am
by eldanielfire
Also Jessica Breech is joining the women's 7's squad. Not all surprised,

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 12:28 pm
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:Also Jessica Breech is joining the women's 7's squad. Not all surprised,
Any idea of who might be called up to replace? I wondered if Holly Myers might give them a power option like Honey Hireme gives the Ferns (she seems to be bigger than most wingers anyway).

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 12:40 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:Also Jessica Breech is joining the women's 7's squad. Not all surprised,
Any idea of who might be called up to replace? I wondered if Holly Myers might give them a power option like Honey Hireme gives the Ferns (she seems to be bigger than most wingers anyway).
Myers certainly has some gas and long strides and likes to get involved more than Breech (who is brilliant but still an incomplete winger). Woosley is rapid, she's playing Outside centre but I recall her being on the wing for U20. It was interesting when breech pulled up in training against Canada it was Waterman pushed to the wing with Killdunne left at 15. I suspect Lottie Clapp will be the next in line into the first XV though. Though I agree with you that England lack a power player in the backs despite all the improved depth.

It's weird looking back at only the 2016 England squad and how limited the options were when players were away at 7's. Now plenty of the 7's players may well struggle to return to the XV's squad in 2019 if they perform like they did against Canada.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:01 pm
by eldanielfire
A bit of why i'm certain Lagi Tuima could well be a big star for England:

https://twitter.com/WomRugbyComp/status ... 3928844288

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:31 pm
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:
It's weird looking back at only the 2016 England squad and how limited the options were when players were away at 7's. Now plenty of the 7's players may well struggle to return to the XV's squad in 2019 if they perform like they did against Canada.
Says something about the development structures and the next generation coming through when the mixture of 1sts and 2nds got thumped by a similar make-up of Canucks ... was it a couple of years ago in the US? ... and now there's this great level of competition for spots.

In my circle at least, there's a bit of worry about where we're heading over the next few years. :? I'm told by a friend in British Columbia, where I used to coach, that the women's premier league is basically one team now and even they aren't as stacked as they used to be.

I think things are looking better in Ontario's top league, but our national coaches still seem to over-value people who play in British Columbia. Many good players have moved out there over the years, but I often wonder which good ones who are firmly rooted in Ontario (especially, though there could be hidden gems in other provinces as well) with jobs, family, etc. are over-looked?