It’s a delight to see so many Red Roses featured in the New Year’s Honours List.
Two players, Zoe Stratford and Marlie Packer receive the OBE; they are the current captain and her predecessor.
Three players are awarded the MBE, Ellie Kildunne, Meg Jones and Sadia Kabeya.
Massive congratulations to all five.
John Mitchell receives the OBE too.
A reminder: this award divides into three categories. In ascending order; MBE, OBE, CBE DBE/KBE
No Englishwoman in rugby is likely to reach that last category, a Damehood, until the RFU, SRU or WRU see fit to appoint a woman as head coach.
Sarina Wiegman has been awarded a honorary damehood as head coach of the (football) Lionesses. Here rugby lags badly behind football.
Many people baulk at the BE in the title (British Empire), but no more up-to-date replacement has yet found favour.
Some Background
Compiling these annual lists involves many people, many committees, many discussions. At the end of the line the Prime Minister passes a final list to the King for his approval.
In this quintessential team game it’s next to impossible to decide who will pass through all the hoops and who not. To reward an entire team would merely detract from the value of the award.
One obvious category is captaincy, hence the two OBEs. Selecting the MBEs must have caused the relevant committees endless concerns. We can, I hope, agree the three recipients are worthy winners. But I suspect you would be equally happy with three quite different choices. Such is life.
The trio join a select list that includes: Karen Almond, Katy Daley-Maclean, Sue Day and Emily Scarratt.
Head Coaches
Here we tread in quicksand. Bear in mind first Mitchell’s OBE. In 2014 there was prolonged uproar after Gary Street saw England through to their second RWC win in Paris.
No reward.
In the RWC final in Auckland an incident took place which helped prevent a third trophy. In 2021 Simon Middleton received an MBE for “Services to Rugby”, not for leading England to glory. What if?
Sooner or Later
To show how haphazard these awards can be, five of England’s men’s football team that won the 1966 World Cup had to wait decades before receiving their MBEs. It remains the nation’s solitary success.
It was good to see the belated publicity given to the four pioneers, who organised the first women’s RWC in 1991. Carol Isherwood and Deborah Griffin (now RFU President) were awarded OBEs.
But now we can rejoice in these latest honours. Well done to all concerned.
Take your place outside Buckingham Palace (or Windsor Castle?) to enjoy the day.
