How are things looking for the ten PWR clubs? The Premiership Women’s Rugby schedule is to be announced on 9 August. To every committed fan it will be a matter of some heart-pumping. But does it make much difference when Team A plays Team B home and away? Do they prefer an easy start or
Kit comes first Fighting for the lead in self-promotion, the ten clubs are offering three choices: signings and re-signings, the sufferings of pre-season training and the New Kit. Let’s stick to kits for the moment. They are being given more and more prominence, not least because they provide useful income for clubs. Supporters young and
Giselle Mather has dropped a sizeable bomb by announcing the move of Kate Zackary, the USA captain, from Exeter Chiefs to Trailfinders. This adds mightily to the strength of the squad she is gathering. Quite apart from past and present Red Roses like Abi Burton, Abby Dow, Amy Wilson Hardy, Ellie Boatman, Emma Uren, Liz
A Lot going on A slight variation this month. News of signings etc is placed separately at the end. It’s a bit more parish-pump. 1 July Apologies for missing this from 28.06.23: Simon Middleton becomes High-Performance Advisor to the Japanese squad 1 July Plans to introduce a 10-team world competition for men in 2026 parallels
Let’s take a look at how the men’s and women’s teams for select nations compare in world rankings (with many thanks to Capgemini, who provide World Rugby with these stats). W M
Thoughts on the 2022-23 Season The sixth season of the (Allianz) Premier 15s league was always going to be dramatic, but few could have imagined how earth-shaking. The end of the second 3-year-block would see a review of the ten clubs’ performances, with the unavoidable possibility of one or two repeating the demise of Richmond
Scott Bemand, long-serving ex-England assistant coach, has been appointed Ireland’s head coach. This excellent news comes not a moment too soon and is a fitting tribute to Bemand, who offered England unstinting service for eight years. He will be in no doubt about the challenge he has taken on. The IRFU has matched the WRU
Let’s try and see how well the ECB’s pathway is working for girls’ and women’s cricket. Here is the Under 19 squad that took part in their first Under 19 World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa last January: Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker, Josie Groves, Liberty Heap, Niamh Holland, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Emma Marlow, Charis Pavely, Davina
England’s latest home venues Now at last we know where both the England-Canada games will take place. Saracens’ StoneX Stadium takes its place alongside Sandy Park Exeter. The choices are fascinating – and disturbing. Once more the deep south-west finds favour with Twickenham. By contrast StoneX hasn’t hosted since 2018, when it was still Allianz
As a brief addition to Julian Thompson’s ongoing run-down of Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy matches this summer, [http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2023/07/25/rachael-heyhoe-flint-trophy-2023-group-stage-matches/], here are the current best two in four categories of batting and bowling: Most runs: Lauren Winfield-Hill 461 Paige Scholfield 331 Highest batting average: Tazmin Brits 107 Sophia Dunkley 103 Most wickets: Georgia Davis 19 Katie Levick 18
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