Much the most positive news this week comes from Rugby Europe. They announce that the two outstanding international matches to decide the winners of the Rugby Europe qualifiers for the 2021 World Cup will take place as follows:
Spain v Russia (20 February), and Spain v The Netherlands (28 February); both games to take place in Guadalajara, Spain.
The one match already played saw Russia beat NL 27-21. The winner moves on to dispute the final European place with Ireland, Italy and Scotland. So it is a long hard road ahead for the winning nation.
The news has all sorts of implications. First and foremost, the three nations deserve congratulation for having fought through all the barriers of travel restrictions and quarantine to make this possible; second, it marks a major step forward in the much delayed progress of the RWC’s qualifying process. Whether other parts of the world will be able to follow suit over the same time-scale is doubtful. But it’s an encouraging boost.
It’s an irony that Holland is experiencing Siberian-style weather conditions at present. Let’s hope both teams can travel hazard-free.
In playing terms, it means that the three test players involved in the Allianz Premier 15s are likely to be absent on higher duty for the next few weeks. Patricia Garcia and Laura Delgado have already returned home in readiness. Linde van der Velden must surely follow their example as the captain of her national side. She has been in dominant form this season.
