The Lions
In a shock statement Mark Robinson, Chief Exec of NZRU, has revealed that none of the three tests the Lions will play on their inaugural tour in 2027 will be held at the national stadium, Eden Park.
The ground manager has expressed his shock and disappointment.
Instead the Black Ferns will play at the Go-Media stadium that holds around 25,000 people.
This tells us much about the state of rugby in Kiwiland. All stands or falls by the performance of the All Blacks. They are the only team that really attracts national attention.
Attendances at women’s games are sluggish. The authorities had to work extra hard to bring in customers for the 2021-22 RWC.
This in turn helps to explain the torrent of Black Ferns now arriving in England. Not only do they have an unwanted 4-month gap in their schedule, but they can enjoy playing in front of much bigger crowds.
So the Lions are not expected to be a big enough draw to warrant the best setting Aotearoa can provide. Such is Robinson’s thinking.
“Injury Cover”
This is the magic phrase we must get used to.
Maia Roos becomes the latest Black Fern to arrive, in her case at Trailfinders. It’s officially a case of “injury cover”, yet the welcome afforded her by the club makes not a single mention of injuries to other players.
Gloucester-Hartpury have a much better case in their signing of Niamh O’Dowd, the Irish prop. They have had both Mackenzie Carson and Maud Muir under treatment, and they are not willing to give up on a fourth consecutive trophy win for a ha’porth of tar. They’d be quite happy to keep it for a decade.
But the acquisition of the top overseas players only heightens the queries surrounding the place of NEQPs in the PWR.
Run your eye down the eight team-sheets for Round 5 and spot the native English players. They seem to grow fewer and fewer.
WER
This brings us directly to the leading possible rival to the PWR, the USA’s Women’s Elite Rugby.
Player declarations start on 1 December. Then we will discover whether any USA Eagles will forfeit their place at an English club, and how many of the RWC squad will be participating.
R360
We hear that this bright new concept won’t bear fruit till 2028. Oh dear! We were told that 200 players had signed provisional contracts, but not what the provisions were.
Eight men’s franchises, four women’s. Any sign of gender equality here?
Quiz question
What do these players have in common?
Ashton Adcock
Joia Bennett
Courtney Greenway
Hanna Marshall
Solana Shaw de Leon
Katie Shillaker
Eva Wood
Jorja Aiono
Nia Fajeyisan
Eloise Hayward
Abigail Pritchard
Ellen Scantlebury
Hollie Williamson
Correct! They are Great Britain’s squad for the Dubai 7s this weekend.
