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Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:54 pm
by Lobby
eldanielfire wrote:England squad for the tst series against Canada.

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Sadly not to many countries are playing tests. I know South Africa just played two, behind closed doors games against England academy. I have no idea what Wales or Scotland are doing.
The French women's team are playing tests against Spain and Italy in November:

11/11/2017 : Espagne - France (Guadalajara - 16h00)
19/11/2017 : Italie - France (Biella)

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 6:20 pm
by eldanielfire
Wales only have the one match against The British Army. Scotland at leats have a single test against Spain. That's quite poor really.

I'm surprised Wales, Scotland, ireland don't at least arrange some tests for their women's national sides. They can't expect to make progress on 6 Nations and RWCs alone and it is obvious the women's game is starting to kick-off in a big way. I'd think for Wales if Spain have come up to the UK it would make sense to schedule a test against them. Same for Ireland. Especially as Spain is a decent side and outside the 6 Nations. Perhaps grab the Neatherlands too who are approaching decent.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 9:10 pm
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:England squad for the tst series against Canada.

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Sadly not to many countries are playing tests. I know South Africa just played two, behind closed doors games against England academy. I have no idea what Wales or Scotland are doing.
Plenty of names I don't know in that. Scouting report?

I don't know if we've even named a new head coach yet, let alone a team???

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:12 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:England squad for the tst series against Canada.

Image



Sadly not to many countries are playing tests. I know South Africa just played two, behind closed doors games against England academy. I have no idea what Wales or Scotland are doing.
Plenty of names I don't know in that. Scouting report?
A lot of the excellent U20's team from the past few years are breaking through. I've said before, Lagi Tuima is a superb talent at Fullback or centre. A bt of her in the build-up to this try:

https://twitter.com/WomRugbyComp/status ... 8076762112

A similar story for Abi Dow whose an excellent wing with a real nose for a gap and runs superb lines. She's tall, long legs means she tends to pull away from defenders chasing her down. Imgine somnee with the brain on Tommy Bowe in his prime with a tall wingers body like north or Cuthbert. Lottie Clapp is another excellent winger who is playing great rugby for Saracens.

Though I opinion is there are deffo some omissions: Quins have quite a few a few players that might be hard done by, Shaunagh Brown has been devestating at 6 (though England have ridiculpus riches in the backrow right now) and Natasha Bradshaw is new but looking devestating ont he wing, her acceleration is the fastest I've seen in the english league besides Garnet Mackinder from Sararacens who I also thin should be seen by England XV (though she play 7's she 15 trying scoring has been exceptional). A bit of her pace here: https://twitter.com/WomRugbyComp/status ... 6695760896 , Sydney Gregsonfrom Bristol is another player i think should be considered, I've never seen a back as aggressive on the floor as her before and her defence was immense lack weekend. Gloucester-Hartbury also should have more players represented.

Overall I feel they are sticking with the old squad but intergrating the U20 team. Sadly it mean those players who are in their mid-20's or weren't picked out as a future star in the U20 set-up are being overlooked. It's not quite picking from form strictly speaking, it's been picked based on old favourites and the new talent that has high expectations from the U20 days IMO for England.


I don't know if we've even named a new head coach yet, let alone a team???
Woah. I just checked, I can't find anything. It's quite bad when Rugby Canada's website announces thee England-Canada test series and only has quotes form the English coaches about the match.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:29 pm
by eldanielfire
Nice to hear the RFU have decided that they have been looking into paying the women (since the shit they got for not paying the Xvs) . I don't think they will go to contracts again for now but I believe they have been lookng into standard paymenst for training camps and matche fees. :thumbup:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... urn-match/

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:51 am
by eldanielfire
Today Gloucester-Hartpury Women v Saracens Women is being streamed live at 2:30pm Uk time:

http://www.premier15s.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt7jxhW ... e=youtu.be

They are currently 2 of the top 4 or 5 best sides so it should be good, though I think Sarries pack and their gas on the wings will win it for them.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:27 pm
by Nieghorn
Kat Merchant just said that most of the Worcester first team have jumped ship this season, hence being on the foot of the table. :?

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:41 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:Kat Merchant just said that most of the Worcester first team have jumped ship this season, hence being on the foot of the table. :?

I did mention this on page one. A few like Lydia Thompson are on a post world cup break, but given their state I'm imagine she would play elsewhere, especially wih Gloucester and Bristol part of the current top 4 and genuine contenders.. But as alluded to on page 1 Worcester lost an obscene number of players to everywhere else. I'm not sure what happened, but it wasn't as you speculated that some palyers moved to clubs in easier areas to travel to. Players moved across the country in a fair number of cases this season. All the London clubs gained massively except Richmond. Harlequins, Wasps and Sarracens seemed to grab players from everywhere. I can only guess that some clubs were very pro-active in their visions of the game and ambitions. I can only also guess Worcester did something wrong in how they sold their future to players. I was speaking with the Harlequins squad last week (those not playing) and they certainly confirmed Harlequins had an awesome set-up where they get to train with the men in their facilities. That was hugely attractive it seemed. They also conformed they were interested in seeing Sarracens afterwards.

This can be amplified in that everyone in women's rugby knows everyone else. So if a club gets an influential collection of players, they convinced everyone else to come. Poppy Cleall was the player of the year last year, she was at Bristol who are genuine contenders, but moved back to Sarracens where her sister was and Marlie Packer was her flatmate in Bristol and went with her. Saracens women look as shit hot as their men's team do.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:58 pm
by eldanielfire
Great bomb to set-up Ellie Kildunne for the try from 10. Once again I have no idea why Ceri Large isn't in the England set-up.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:07 pm
by Nieghorn
I guess that's the new normal if this is to be the foundations of a professional (or more intense) league. You go where you will get game time and maximise your potential, whether it's coaching, facilities, playing alongside certain complementary players, etc.

Other clubs will have to up their game to make themselves more attractive / supportive if they want to retain what they've got.

Do you know how involved these clubs are with girls? We've got a mix of clubs that have strong partnerships with a number of local schools that feed into their club team(s) (many have a U18 team that'll have girls from 13 up, but more are adding a U16 squad) and with a good turnover to the women's team. Other clubs rely on post-secondary students joining them in summer and benefit from being in urban centres were jobs are rather than doing that level of focused development (all try, I think, but some aren't very good at it, if I can be frank. Summers can be busy, but club rugby is pretty low commitment for teens - one practice, one game a week for two and a half months).

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:10 pm
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:Great bomb to set-up Ellie Kildunne for the try from 10. Once again I have no idea why Ceri Large isn't in the England set-up.
Agreed. Apart from size (which I've said before, she doesn't even use that well) Amber Reed doesn't have her skill set. I could have also pointed out flaws in Large's game for England over the years, but I felt that she had the makings of a McLean with more support.

... just popped over to Ceir Large's twitter, and it seems she's a retained firefighter. Not sure what the field is like there, but here it's so competitive to get on full time here that if you get a foot in the door like this, you drop what you must to make it a priority so maybe she's pulled herself out of England contention as well? Working as an RFU community coach as well.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:44 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:Great bomb to set-up Ellie Kildunne for the try from 10. Once again I have no idea why Ceri Large isn't in the England set-up.
Agreed. Apart from size (which I've said before, she doesn't even use that well) Amber Reed doesn't have her skill set. I could have also pointed out flaws in Large's game for England over the years, but I felt that she had the makings of a McLean with more support.

I disagree a bit about Amber Reed, her passing is incredible. She has the fastest and most precise pass I've seen, a good place kicker too in the women's game. But she is a superior player at 12, she doesn't have the brain for 10 yet I think. She is also great in defence and a really good organiser for her team as I witnessed last week. Of course Mclean isn't perfect either, the world cup final showed me that like in 2010 she really goes into her shell under pressure and loses the ability to think and thus repeats mistakes over and over rather then play what's in front. I wonder if England are picing her on reputation right now?

Though I'm sure you'll find it interesting that Rachel Burford has been playing 10 for Quins. Quins who are currently undefeated. And she was excellent in the win over Bristol I saw at the Stoop last week.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 2:59 pm
by eldanielfire
Richmond deducted 5 points for fielding an unreqistred player:

http://www.premier15s.com/news/tyrrells ... 39624748=1

Bit sad about that, I'm sure it was a genuine screw-up.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 4:14 pm
by Luciano
Thread not worthy of Rule 1?

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 4:39 pm
by eldanielfire
Luciano wrote:Thread not worthy of Rule 1?

Plenty of totty in the PremiershipXV. I'll post a sample later over the weekend (when I'm not in work)

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:38 am
by eldanielfire
I didn't realise I didn't post it, but nice new in The Barbarians are fielding their first ever women's team to play Munster.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/barbar ... omen-team/

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:55 am
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:I didn't realise I didn't post it, but nice new in The Barbarians are fielding their first ever women's team to play Munster.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/barbar ... omen-team/

One of my friends just announced that she's been picked! :thumbup:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:39 am
by eldanielfire
Luciano wrote:Thread not worthy of Rule 1?

OK Deborah Fleming:

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Abbie Brown:

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Harlequins lock Abbie Scott:

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Bristol Center Sydney Greyson (also the most aggressive female back I've seen in the rucks):

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Bristol captain and lock Amelia Bucklan-Hurry (doing a great job)

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Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:39 am
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:I didn't realise I didn't post it, but nice new in The Barbarians are fielding their first ever women's team to play Munster.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/barbar ... omen-team/

One of my friends just announced that she's been picked! :thumbup:
Great to hear. :thumbup:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:50 am
by Nieghorn
eldanielfire wrote:
Nieghorn wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:I didn't realise I didn't post it, but nice new in The Barbarians are fielding their first ever women's team to play Munster.

http://www.englandrugby.com/news/barbar ... omen-team/

One of my friends just announced that she's been picked! :thumbup:
Great to hear. :thumbup:
I know it's all part of her dream, but if anyone's interested in the realities of playing at this level, she'd used up her work vacation time for training camps, I think. Then had to negotiate un-paid time off for the World Cup itself - work is very sympathetic, so it wasn't a big issue for them to get a temp in. I don't know how she's managing this but it'll probably mean more unpaid time off. Not sure if the Barbs are paying for flights, etc... hopefully they do!

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:40 pm
by eldanielfire
The Barbarians should have the travel costs covered. I see no reason why they wouldn't. Especially as the RFU pay them for the women's leagues.

Also, I saw off twitter, the women's Barbarians game will be show on this link:

http://www.punditarena.com/

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:44 pm
by eldanielfire
Wales women face the army tomorrow.

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Good stuff but a shame they don't have an actual series to play this A.I. like England do.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 10:08 pm
by eldanielfire
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First ever women's Barbarian's match was on this afternoon, the new Barbaas won 19-0 against Munster. Megan Goodard was man of the match. Should be noted the rain was pretty bad, same for the men's match against Tonga.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2017 10:12 pm
by eldanielfire
Should mention Robbie Deans presented the women with their jerseys along side the men.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:11 pm
by eldanielfire
This try by the New Barbaas was awesome:

https://twitter.com/PunditRugby/status/ ... 5643914240

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:57 pm
by Lobby
I see the French women's team had a good start to the autumn series with a 97 - 0 thrashing of Spain.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:38 pm
by Plastic Sarrie
First test between England & Canada on Friday night at Allianz Park, apparently c2,000 tickets sold :thumbup:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:39 pm
by Edinburgh01
eldanielfire wrote:Sadly not to many countries are playing tests. I know South Africa just played two, behind closed doors games against England academy. I have no idea what Wales or Scotland are doing.
Scotland have just beated Spain in Spain.

They also have 'competitive training' (whatever that is) organised with Wales.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:44 pm
by Puma
South American Women's 7s played this weekend.

Brazil won it for the 13th time in a row and qualified for the 7s RWC.

Argentina came 2nd for the 13 time, and will have to play a repechage. Both teams have qualified for next year's Hong Kong 7s...

XV isn't played down here. Argentina has moved from 7s to 10s this year, aiming towards forming full XV sides. But the entire continent is miles away from a full XV game.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 pm
by P in VG
They should be called the Bra-baas......... :smug:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:14 pm
by SaintK
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!
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Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:05 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

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.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:09 pm
by eldanielfire
Plastic Sarrie wrote:First test between England & Canada on Friday night at Allianz Park, apparently c2,000 tickets sold :thumbup:
Great, have you got a link?

I'm actually taking a school trip to one of the games as tickets range from cheap to free. There is a real buzz about women's rugby in England right now. Heck in Wales over the past 4 or 5 years they invested in encouraging the women's game have gone from the playing numbers in the hundreds to thousands in a few years.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:14 pm
by SaintK
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.
Zoe Harrison and Lotte Clapp both came through my club's age groups before moving on to Saracens
Watch out for Hannah Botterman at tight head. Only just 19 and already attended a full England squad training camp.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:23 pm
by eldanielfire
SaintK 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.
Zoe Harrison and Lotte Clapp both came through my club's age groups before moving on to Saracens
Watch out for Hannah Botterman at tight head. Only just 19 and already attended a full England squad training camp.

What's more Sarries and Quins are dominating the league righ now. Both sides have 8 from 8 after greatly adding to two reall good teams already. Though I do believe Wasps, who gained a number of England players from Lichefield after the league started, have greatly closed the gap quality wise with those 2 teams.

Zoe Harrison is interesting, she has been awesome but behind what is easily the most dominate pack of the premiership.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:36 pm
by eldanielfire
Some great news for the game in England:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... irls-play/

The Rugby Football Union has announced a £10 million Action Plan for the women and girls’ game designed to attract a further 100,000 players to the game over the next four years. The union intends to set up 350 more active women’s teams by 2021.

The aim of the project is to get more women playing more often. There has been a significant upturn in the numbers playing the game over the last four years, figures showing that over 10,000 women and girls have been exposed to contact rugby since 2014.

There are currently 512 women and girls’ teams in England and 27,500 existing players. The aim is to introduce the sport to some 100,000 females with a view to having a long-term uptake of about 25% of them, almost doubling the current figure.

The RFU has targeted having 8,000 matches for women per year, recognising that they need to recruit 1,650 new officials if this is to happen.

“We have called it an Action Plan rather than a strategy as we want to make it happen,” said RFU rugby development officer, Steve Grainger. “Since the women’s union was incorporated into the RFU in 2012, there has been an internal change of perception [towards the women’s game]. We must never stop on this work. This will be our clear plan over the next four years as we look to create an exciting new landscape.

"Our current achievements are only the beginning and we are determined to enable as many women and girls as possible to experience and enjoy taking part in rugby union. Research shows that women’s attitude to sport are changing. They want physical activity to satisfy a number of needs, from contributing to a healthier lifestyle to becoming the best version of themselves. The Action Plan incorporates this insight.”

That is some big plans for the women's game. Wonderful stuff.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:41 pm
by Plastic Sarrie
eldanielfire wrote:
Plastic Sarrie wrote:First test between England & Canada on Friday night at Allianz Park, apparently c2,000 tickets sold :thumbup:
Great, have you got a link?

I'm actually taking a school trip to one of the games as tickets range from cheap to free. There is a real buzz about women's rugby in England right now. Heck in Wales over the past 4 or 5 years they invested in encouraging the women's game have gone from the playing numbers in the hundreds to thousands in a few years.
https://saracens.shop.secutix.com/selec ... 1221216462

Tickets there.

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:52 pm
by eldanielfire
Plastic Sarrie wrote:
eldanielfire wrote:
Plastic Sarrie wrote:First test between England & Canada on Friday night at Allianz Park, apparently c2,000 tickets sold :thumbup:
Great, have you got a link?

I'm actually taking a school trip to one of the games as tickets range from cheap to free. There is a real buzz about women's rugby in England right now. Heck in Wales over the past 4 or 5 years they invested in encouraging the women's game have gone from the playing numbers in the hundreds to thousands in a few years.
https://saracens.shop.secutix.com/selec ... 1221216462

Tickets there.

I've got tickets (50 in fact :lol:) . I just wondered where the 2000 tickets sold figure was reported (and was planning to dig around as to how many are sold for the other two events :)

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:07 pm
by Plastic Sarrie
Ah, that's a secret :lol:

Re: Women's Rugby thread

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:36 pm
by eldanielfire
Plastic Sarrie wrote:Ah, that's a secret :lol:
:((