In an intriguing addition to the rugby calendar, the Black Ferns are due to meet a “Black Ferns XV” on 5 July at the Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei. The game acts essentially as preparation for the O’Reilly Cup match against the Wallaroos, which takes place a week later at Wellington. Since the BFs have never lost
As a first step towards the World Cup teams, please find below the six Six Nations squads as originally published. Inevitably there will be additions and subtractions along the way. Their summer programmes differ widely: the dates of training sessions and warm-up matches adding to the unpredictability of future events. Even the number of players
Let’s try to put the good news from Edinburgh in its place. Scotland will play their first planned match at Murrayfield next spring against England. This is a huge leap of faith by the SRU and congratulations to them. I add ‘planned’, as there was that accidental match in 2020 that I reported on at
A sideways look Derby First, records Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones take pride of place. After their remarkable opening stand of 222 at Derby, with both scoring tons (Jones’ her very first after a dozen years of trying), they repeated the dose at Leicester, falling 20 runs short of their previous effort. Both scored another
A Aitchison’s Surprise move Holly Aitchison’s decision to move from Bristol Bears to Sale Sharks comes out of the blue. But her reasoning makes it as clear as her departure from Saracens. She left StoneX to be sure of a starting chance at No 10. Her place had been blocked by Zoe Harrison. The switch
Now hardly seems the time for an appraisal for the 2025-25 PWR season. But a number of issues make it appropriate. Tigers First, my growing concern about one club, Leicester Tigers. In quick succession they have lost the services of Amy Cokayne, Charlotte Fray, Claire Gallagher, Francesca McGhie and Meg Jones. That is, their only
Sean Lynn has named a squad of 45 (see below) to start training for a schedule which looks different from many of their fifteen rivals for the RWC trophy. They have the usual initial training sessions, but in July thirty of them will set off for a two-match tour of Australia. That number 30 is
The training season the the World Cup is getting into full swing. All over the world sixteen squads are starting the ritual of getting into the best form possible. The first step for head coaches is to announce a squad considerably larger than the 32 allowed at the main event. Then comes the uncomfortable business
1 May Allan Bunting names 33 Black Ferns for the Pacific Four Series; Chelsea Bremner, Renee Holmes and Ruby Tui omitted; new contracts announced 1 May Sione Fukofuka (USA head coach) explains his decision to place Ilona Maher at 13, not wing 1 May Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian) wins the Energia All-Ireland League Division Player
Derby This is England, so a black cloud hovered over the ground and the umbrellas went up, but not for long. Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and decided to bat. The game worked out just as we should have expected. Off the first two overs Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones each hit a four, to
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