Gemma Crowley, the immensely experienced Women’s XVs National Teams Programme Manager for Ireland, has resigned from the post after only six months. This is a stark indication of the difficulties to be overcome before a streamlined operation can be put in place.
Crowley was previously Ireland team manager at their greatest moments, Grand Slam winners in 2013, then at the 2014 World Cup where they beat New Zealand. In addition, she worked with the B&I Lions on two tours, so her CV could hardly be more impressive.
The crux of the matter is location. The IRFU has decided to base its activities at the High Performance Centre at Abbotstown, Dublin. Crowley lives in Cork. The centralisation to Dublin is very understandable, but at once we see the potential drawbacks.
Other nations have the same problems writ large.
Canada has established a main base at Langford on the west coast, with what you might call an out-station in Halifax on the Atlantic. Langford has long been a successful centre for Sevens but it must lie thousands of miles from the homes of many of the 32 Maple Leafs at the recent World Cup. In the hoped-for advent of contracts, each must then decide: do I sacrifice my local job or studies to be part of the grand scheme of things?
The greatest wish for every coach is to have every single player available when training sessions are called.
You could see the problem acutely in Rob Cain’s travels. The nearest thing to a national training centre USA Rugby has is the Olympic TC in Chula Vista, California. The Super Series of 2019 (involving Canada, England, France and New Zealand) took place there. But Cain’s players come from all over the States and are still overwhelmingly amateur. He must have travelled many thousands of miles in the cause, and he reminded us that he is the only full-time professional on the Eagles’ books.
Add Australia to the North Americans, and you have three of the nations to reach the last eight of the RWC. Jay Tregonning offered a clear-eyed view of what needs to be done to improve the wallaroos’ lot, but that means a complete rethink by RA. They have consistently prioritised Sevens over Fifteens. Charlotte Caslick walked off with the 7s Player of the Year award in Monaco; a change of direction would take a lot of weighing-up for a team sport that ranks way below others in Oz.
None of them has the funding to solve this geographical problem with a flick of the fingers.
Though Ireland is a much smaller country it suffered a blow the others were spared: they failed to qualify for the RWC and have three years to put matters straight. The Irish quandary is exposed by the decision of three test-players, the captain, Nichola Fryday, Sam Monaghan and Neve Jones to continue playing in the Premier 15s in England. That doesn’t make the position of Greg McWilliams, head coach for less than a year, any easier.
It will be quite fascinating to see the fall-out from each of the twelve participating nations over the coming months. The next RWC rushes ever closer.
