It’s eleven weeks since I attempted to read the runes about next season’s pro-contracts for the Red Roses. They are due next month. A window in November has opened for a resumption of hostilities. We may yet see the 2020 Six Nations completed, but in the meantime, what about those contracts? The news about the
The news escaping from the RFU via the Daily Telegraph is the worst to hit England rugby players since the lockdown began. All the men’s and women’s Sevens players stand to lose their contracts at the end of August for five months, in line with the original finishing date of the Tokyo Olympics. There is
The two continental members of the Six Nations are suffering the same privations caused by the pandemic, but the picture in Italy looks much more flaky. France Annick Hayraud, the manager of the French team, spoke with guarded optimism about future plans. The first-ever tour to New Zealand has regretfully been cancelled, but she hopes
It’s reliably reported that World Rugby is seriously considering reducing the number of replacements allowed. At present it is a very generous eight. Once upon a time it was zero. If a player had to retire from the field through injury, too bad. Famous stories were told of teams winning a game they had played
What we do know Kazakhstan have high hopes of making it to their seventh World Cup. When they failed to get to Ireland in 2017 that was their first absence from the top table since independence. Last summer they beat China in a double header to qualify for the final stages of qualification in Asia.
Back in May Selina of rugbyaufeminin.com put together a fascinating survey of French fortunes since Samuel Cherouk took over as head coach in January 2017, and especially since the last World Cup. This was the inspiration for a parallel browse through the Red Roses’ stats. It makes for interesting comparisons. First a few French Figures
It has been suggested recently that England, Scotland and Wales might combine permanently to form a Great Britain Sevens squad. It brings with it all sorts of fascinating imponderables. As far as the Olympics are concerned, it is a done deal. Either a GB team is entered or none. The first squad of its kind,
It’s tempting to think that women’s sport always comes second. The latest possibility: Championship cricket is scheduled to start on 1 August. For women’s cricket… a void. Decisions are still being made. In truth, even without the pandemic helping to cause chaos, the structures of English women’s cricket needed urgent overhaul. And Clare Connor, Director
It’s nothing new for an ambitious young player to move abroad to raise her skill-set and experience rugby of a higher standard. The question is: how far does that help her native land in raising its own profile? Before the fourth season of the Premier 15s gets under way, news comes trickling through of players
2021 offers both the top events of women’s rugby inside a couple of months. For elite players all over the world this means making a decision: can I do both; if not, which one do I choose? One player has made her mind up: Marjorie Mayans, the great French flanker, famed for the quality of
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