As we approach mid-July, clubs are announcing large numbers of signings.
You may be aware of my underlying hope – that the weaker clubs should be strengthened. But that means the stronger clubs must be weakened, and won’t happen, no matter which government is in power.
With only nine clubs involved again, each weekend is reduced to a mere four games. That in turn increases a club’s wish to obtain the strongest squad possible. To my mind that means a widening of playing strength across the league, not a narrowing.
Here’s a list of signings I have spotted this month:
Maja Meuller (Sweden) from Loughborough Lightning to Quins
Sara Svoboda (Canada) from Loughborough Lightning to Quins
Olivia Ortiz (USA) signs for Sale Sharks
Liv McGoverne returns to Exeter Chiefs from NZ
Laura Delgado (Spain) from Gloucester-Hartpury to Quins
Mikiela Nelson (Canada) to Exeter Chiefs
Rachel Phillips (Scotland Futures) to Sale Sharks
Alex Callender (Wales) to Quins
Robyn Wilkins (Wales) from Exeter Chiefs for Sale Sharks
Gwenllian Pyr (Wales) from Bristol Bears back to Sale Sharks
Trudy Cowan from Gloucester-Hartpury to Sale Sharks
Chloe Rollie (Scotland) from Loughborough Lightning to Trailfinders
Nicola Haynes from Saracens to Quins
Sofia Stefan (Italy captain) from Valsugana to Sale Sharks
Kaylee McHugh from Thurrock to Trailfinders
Rosie Dobson from Quins to Trailfinders
Emma Swords from Trailfinders back to Quins
Flo Long via Bristol and Worcester to Exeter Chiefs
Georgina Tasker from Loughborough Lightning to Exeter Chiefs
Jade Shekells from GB 7s and Worcester to Gloucester-Hartpury post-Olympics
Jemima Moss from Leicester Tigers to Quins
Lori Cramer (Australia) returns to Exeter
It includes all manner of moves such as: players returning to their former club; a number of NEQPs (non-England qualified) (re-)joining the fun; two players left unaffiliated by Worcester’s demise returning to the 15s game; and one player promoted from a Championship club, Thurrock, to the big time.
Of course the nine clubs’ requirements vary enormously. At one extreme Leicester Tigers (9th last season) still lack a head coach. Vicky Macqueen’s departure was announced on 25 May.
While Tigers’ Chief Executive officer, Andrea Pinchen, voiced the club’s gratitude to Macqueen, no indication came of when a replacement might be named. It’s taking a long time, and the new season is being squeezed to make room for next year’s World Cup. This helps to explain their absence from the transfer market thus far.
That’s not what the PWR wants for the club that finished bottom in its first season.
It’s a relief to see Sharks (8th last season) acquiring some important names, though their desire to become a nursery for the best talent in the north-west hasn’t yet borne an orchard of fruit.
At the other extreme Gloucester-Hartpury add Jade Shekells to their strength. While my preference would have been for her to join a less well furnished club, she has every right to make that choice: she was educated at Hartpury College and was one of many Warriors to suffer the shock of the club’s sudden demise. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
An individual player may prefer to move clubs because her path is blocked by another player. That would be the case with the top four clubs, Gloucester-Hartpury, Bristol Bears, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs. Competition for a starting place can be uncomfortably strong. When a club has three Red Roses vying for one position in the national team, an ambitious young No 8 might see her future best spent somewhere else. That adds to a DoR’s task of keeping everyone happy.
There is no Allianz Cup next season to help vary the line-up and the PWR is pleased to call the two byes every club suffers per season ‘rest weekends’.
An additional factor is the squad-size permitted. This has varied almost from year to year. If it had proved possible to return to a ten-club league, the total could have been reduced, leaving fewer players unoccupied.
But belonging to a club at the top of the tree has its advantages. You can assume high-quality staffing and training facilities and a vibrant club atmosphere. It remains to be seen how Sean Lynn solves his selection quandaries. With Shekells’ signing, who plays in the centre? – Shekells, Heard, Hyatt, Hendy, Hannah Jones, Lund?
This is an ever-changing scene. My list will be out-of-date very quickly.
