World Cup next Month! All Systems go!
September 1 Kendra Cocksedge, the most capped Black Fern, announces her intention to retire post-RWC
September 1 Simon Middleton announces squad to face USA
September 1 Kevin Rouet announces Canada’s RWC squad, first of the 12 nations
September 2 Worcester Warriors women face a backlash over the club’s non-payment of wages to the men. Club can’t provide full medical cover for the women, so no full-on contact employed (See Sept 26)
September 3 England 52 USA 14; France 21 Italy 0
September 4 Chilly-Mazarin (Paris) lose 7-28 to Railway Union (Dublin) in rare cross-border contest
September 5 RFU asks for Request for Proposals (RFP) from clubs wishing to apply for membership of next year’s Premier 15s
September 7 London Irish announce the appointments of Lydia Crossman (NZ), Abi Chamberlain (England) and Karen Findlay (Scotland and ex-coach of Quins) to form their new coaching team. They join Graham Smith (ex-England assistant coach)
September 7 RFU halve the Red Roses’ fee for two capped warm-up matches – from £800 to £400. RFU refuses to say whether the men’s team was docked as well (£17K)
September 8 Malone RFC (Ulster) regret their withdrawal from the AIL. 9 clubs left
September 9 The SRU decides to cancel all matches over the coming weekend, to include the test below, as a mark of respect at the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The RFU in ongoing discussion with the relevant Gov dept, DCMS, about cancellations or not. The DCMS allows Saturday men’s Premiership games to go ahead with befitting decorum, but Friday’s won’t take place
September 9 Return match: Italy 26 France 19, Biella
September 9-11 World Series 7s, Cape Town, Australia win gold
September 11 Scotland v Spain, Edinburgh – cancelled, royal mourning
September 11 France RWC squad announced
September 10 First round of All-Ireland League (AIL) programme (minus Malone – (see Sept 8 above)
September 13 Australia and New Zealand RWC squads announced
September 14 England 73 Wales 7, Bristol
September 14 New Zealand Rugby penalised $280,000 for failing to reach 40% female representation on its board
September 15 Dept. for Culture, Media & Sport apologises for stating Worcester Warriors were in administration; they weren’t (yet!)
September 20 England RWC squad named
September 21 Wales RWC squad announced
September 22 France fly nearly 22,000 km to New Zealand; pent-up excitement
September 22 Fiji and South Africa are last nations to announce their RWC squads
September 22 Both Worcester Warriors and Wasps (men’s) teams face relegation as they come close to administration. No direct news of the fate of the two women’s sections (both in Prem 15s)
September 23 England fly economy class to NZ because ‘they are loss-making’.
September 23 Rugby Canada seeks a head coach for the new National Academy, based in Langford, BC
September 24 Fiji 7 Canada 24 in Suva
September 24 NZ 95 Japan 12 – final pre-RWC warm-up match
September 24 Majadahonda (Madrid) beat Cocodrilas (Sevilla) 36-12 to win the Spanish Cup
September 25 18th edition of France’s Night of Rugby at the Olympia, Paris; Laure Sansus chosen as Player of the Year
September 26 Worcester Warriors suspended by RFU, including women’s University of Worcester Warriors from the Premier 15s
September 28 Women’s 6 Nations schedule announced for 2022-23 season
September 29 The month closes with Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO of the Gallagher (men’s) Premiership, saying he ‘made a call to clubs that we need a really clear picture of things’. He had previously encouraged the women’s Premier 15s to include more of his clubs. Two Worcester and England players appearing in the RWC in New Zealand, Laura Keates and Lydia Thompson, don’t have an active club to return to. (See 26th)
