We can sense the strengths and weaknesses of the current women’s game in England by comparing two consecutive days of cricket. On Wednesday 8 May four Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy matches saw all sorts of admirable records set. A mountain of runs were scored (2,164); four players made centuries (Eve Jones 136*, Sophia Dunkley 130, Emma
Pacific Four Series Preview This can’t help being a fascinating clash. On the Wallaroos side we have Jo Yapp, a (relatively) new coach picking her first team and causing one or two upsets in the process. For the Maple Leafs Kévin Rouet is building a squad that looks increasingly potent. These are the teams selected:
There was an astonishing amount of news from on and off the rugby field on one single day. Here is a cross-section in alphabetical order. You can decide your own order of importance. Africa Cup The Cup continues to delight and frustrate. Once more only four nations are taking part; we still await a meaningful
In the final leg of the HSBC series in Singapore, GB 7s finished eighth on 39 points, 27 points behind Ireland in seventh place. The winners, New Zealand, finished two points ahead of Australia on 126. France were third on 104, USA fourth on 85. I detail these positions to help point out Great Britain’s
Sunrisers v SE Stars South-East Stars gained a satisfying win over Sunrisers at Northampton, to leave them equal top of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint trophy table with Southern Vipers. It was a game largely dominated by Kent players. Grace Scrivens led the home side, coming fresh from a match-winning 118* against Sparks on Wednesday. It has
The Red Roses completed one of their most impressive Six Nations series to ensure John Mitchell got away to a perfect start. One record that has been little remarked: they became the first team to record full points (28) in a campaign involving three away matches. Their previous Grand Slam wins (with bonus points) all
Hard to fit it all in 1 April Vickii Cornborough (England and Quins prop, 75 caps and mother of twin daughters), announces her retirement 2 April GB7s post adjusted squad for Hong Kong Sevens 4 April France announce a 33-player squad for remaining 6N matches 4 April World Rugby has issued an apology for publishing
The gap between England and the five other nations has widened, but the competition for places intensifies. First, the three Celtic nations. They share much in common: a past neglect by their unions that amounted almost to contempt, a belated reaction, the introduction of the Celtic Challenge, and, in Ireland’s case, a change of management.
Attendances Let’s take that easy topic first. But even it is riddled with tricky questions. Do gates matter? – Notice how clubs and nations only publish attendances when they reflect well on them. Bill Sweeney, the RFU’s COE, has given a hopeful response: “Long term we believe it (the Red Roses’ programme) is going to
Jo Yapp has announced her first Wallaroos squad in preparation for the coming Pacific Four Series. It contains 30 players: *Allana Sikimeti (ACT Brumbies), Asoiva (Eva) Karpani (NSW Waratahs, 21 caps, Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs, 3), Bridie O’Gorman (NSW Waratahs, 17), *Sally Fuesaina (ACT Brumbies), *Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force), Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies, 10),
Social Networks