The first round of the third season kicks off on Friday evening with a surge of optimism. (Fixtures below).
The latest good news sees Gallagher add the PWR to its existing sponsorship of the men’s Prem.
The obvious sign of success will be a marked increase in attendances. If an RWC final can attract over 80k, clubs can surely follow suit in proportion? If they published their gates regularly, that would be a guarantee of progress.
It’s intriguing to guess what benefits this new support will bring. Evidence from the men’s version is none too promising; the ten clubs are swimming in debt. Figures published three months ago show a combined loss of £32 million. Three of them have gone to the wall. Since women’s clubs were encouraged to link up with men’s by the Chief Executive, Simon Massie-Taylor, they have been accused of riding on the men’s coat-tails. At least the barometer of the women’s game is on the rise.
New Faces
The transfer market has been as active as ever. The most dramatic trend is the appearance of three current Black Ferns, Amy Rule, Alona Borland and Georgia Ponsonby. They were aware of the need of more consistent quality rugby than Kiwiland can provide. This is a bitter pill for NZR to swallow, but they too realise the need and have given the trio their blessing.
The advantage for southern hemisphere players is they can return home for their more condensed season.
The trend may well continue.
All of this means that the four fixtures each week will be like an RWC in miniature; spot the uncapped players if you can.
It’s been the task of coaching staffs to integrate the new faces into playing styles that may be very different from what they’ve known before.
And that goes for English players too, even Red Roses. For example, Holly Aitchison has moved to Sale Sharks and Meg Jones to Trailfinders – both big draws.
Status
I have found no change to player qualification from last season. 13 in every squad of 23 must be England qualified. The remaining ten may well all be NEQPs; they have to earn their corn!
Take for example Trailfinders. Of their likely squad this season the following belong to that tribe:
McGhie, Wassell, Malcolm, Thomson (Scotland); Johnes, Cox, C. Williams (Wales); Gallagher, Schell, Nelson, Taylor (Canada); Borland, Ponsonby (NZ); Moore (Ireland); Head (Australia) and Zackary (USA).
You might fancy sticking them all in your starting XV, but you can’t. Is the balance right?
The one club I fear for is Leicester Tigers. Despite being one of the most distinguished in the land, their women’s sector has fallen apart. No fewer than seven players have followed their head coach, Tom Hudson, to Sale Sharks. I can’t honestly see them winning a single game this year. What happens when the board reviews standards next spring?
Coverage
The PWR board’s other big plus concerns media coverage. For the first time every match will be available. TNT again leads the way, taking the pick of the four matches each week*. The BBC follows on with another game; the other two will be accessible via YouTube.
Sunny side up
For the rest it should be all sweetness and light.
Round One Fixtures
Friday 24 October: Quins v Loughborough Lightning; KO 19.30 at the Stoop
Saturday 25 October: Trailfinders v Exeter Chiefs; KO 15.00 at Vallis Way – and
Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers; KO 19.00 at Heywood Road
Sunday 26 October: Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens; KO 15.00 at Kingsholm.*
