The introduction of an Under 18 Six Nations Tournament represents a major step forward for women’s rugby in Europe. All six unions have agreed to stage a festival at the DAM Health Stadium Edinburgh. It runs across two days, 9 and 13 April.
This development has innovation written all over it. Below U20 hardly any international rugby has been attempted before, Ireland and Italy coming entirely new to this U18 level. It is seen as an essential stepping-stone on the pathway to international honours. The more familiar U20 championship should be the natural progression, though till now only a handful of countries have committed to that level, England, Canada, France and USA prominent amongst them.
Initiatives below senior level from the past have tended to dry up rather than thrive, so this news is an important turning-point.
The Proposed Schedule:
9 April – each nation to play 2 x 35-minute matches:
Scotland v Wales
England v Ireland
France v Ireland
Italy v Wales
England v France
Scotland v Italy
13 April – one 70-minute match each
Ireland v Wales
Italy v Scotland
England v France
Since all structures need firm foundations it seems sensible to set off with this younger age group rather than the U20s. Time will tell whether it is sensible to extend this modified format to the traditional round-robin arrangement. Then the next inevitable step: a fully-fledged U20 Six Nations
