Significant steps have been taken since my last update a week ago
Outlook
The most significant detail for women’s rugby came from cricket circles: the Women’s World Cricket Cup, due to be held New Zealand next February and March, has been postponed to the following year. The RWC organizing committee is holding its cards close to its chest, but if a parallel event can be affected so far in advance, we must fear for the survival of the RWC within its proposed time-span.
With the dates of the renewed 6 Nations confirmed Adam Griggs has taken a lead in announcing an extended squad of 36:
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)
Anna Caplice (Harlequins / IQ Rugby)
Aoife Doyle (Railway Union / Munster)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union / Leinster)
Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock / Connacht)
Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Claire Keohane (Railway Union / Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere / Ulster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian / Munster, Captain)
Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps / IQ Rugby)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock / Munster)
Edel McMahon (Wasps / IQ Rugby)
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Ellen Murphy (Blackrock / Leinster)
Enya Breen (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock / Leinster)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Judy Bobbett (Blackrock / Leinster)
Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere / Ulster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock / Leinster)
Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union / Leinster)
Laura Feely (Blackrock / Connacht)
Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks / IQ Rugby)
Leah Lyons (Harlequins / IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock / Leinster)
Neve Jones (Malone / Ulster)*
Nichola Fryday (Blackrock / Connacht)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Shannon Touhey (Suttonians / Connacht)*
Victoria Dabanovich O’Mahony (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Just three asterisks to indicate uncapped players. Let’s hope that Beibhinn Parsons was spared the trials that faced other school exam takers in recent days.
Ireland have two tests to play, against France and, all important, against Italy to clear the way towards another World Cup.
For a second training sequence at Marcoussis (17-21 August) France have stuck to the same 36 players as last time.
The Red Roses don’t yet know where they will play away to Italy on 30 October. But spectators who possess tickets for the original date will be able to use them – assuming, of course, that local regulations have ended the ban on attendance.
Another Tie-up
Worcester Warriors have announced a tie-up with Worcester RFC (a separate club). It allows the latter to establish a women’s section while offering a vital chance for last year’s Warriors Development players to continue to play. Sixways will be open to them all.
This new programme has the fingerprints of Jo Yapp all over it. On the list of newly appointed coaches are such starry names as Donna Kennedy (115 Scottish caps), Tracy Balmer (43 caps) and Akina Gondwe (England U20s).
This is another example (after Bristol, DMP, Gloucester-Hartpury and Loughborough) of clubs endeavouring to overcome the loss of the Development league, which must have caused a deal of heartache.
Player movements
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised: after a very long wait Exeter Chiefs have revealed the shape of things to come. Susie Appleby has made two major signings from Spain, Patricia Garcia Rodriguez and Laura Delgado. Garcia is the key. She plays a similar role in Spain to Sara Barattin in Italy, on and especially off the field. She is very much the mistress of all she surveys. You could imagine her orchestrating every detail of the first game the Chiefs play, however little contact she has gained with her fellow players.
There has been little news of retirements till now. But Quins were saddened to announce the departure of Deborah McCormack and Zoe Saynor, both from the second row. They gained Scotland and England caps respectively and will be sorely missed.
It leaves Quins in a greater state of flux than most of their rivals in the Premier 15s (Lydia Hartridge, Emma Swords and Giada Franco left the club earlier). Karen Findlay and Gary Street have stepped down from their dual role as head coaches. They will be around, but we still await news of the choice of a successor.
Another once familiar face at Quins, Holly Myers, has left Stade Toulousain and is taking up refereeing.
Money, money, money
The black cloud that hangs over the women’s game was darkened as Tony Rowe, Exeter Chiefs’ Chairman, warned of dire consequences if spectators cannot be allowed into matches for the rest of this year.
August advances and all England awaits the news of the future of the Red Roses. Will they be the lucky recipients of more generous contracts, or will they have to surrender their dream of professional rugby?
