It will be the first time a Red Roses squad has come together since winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September.

The squad will assemble today at Pennyhill Park (Monday 12 January).

“2025 was a memorable year for everyone involved with the Red Roses, and one that will go down in history for rugby in this country,” Mitchell said.

“As we enter a new cycle, this camp will focus on aligning our communication and resetting our culture to win.

“It is natural for a rugby cycle to go through regeneration which presents exciting opportunities for young players over the next four years. The quicker they can adapt and contribute to the environment will enhance their opportunities.”

He added: “It is awesome to learn how many supporters have already committed to watching the Red Roses at Allianz Stadium and Ashton Gate in the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Thank you for your unwavering support and we are look forward to getting back out there in front of you in the Spring.”

The Red Roses’ first match of 2026 will be at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 11 April when Ireland visit the world champions in the opening round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Over 50,000 seats have already been sold for the match with tickets priced from £20 for adults and £5 for juniors. Purchase your tickets from englandrugby.com/tickets.

Red Roses squad for January camp

Forwards

Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 74 caps)
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Jasmine Adonri (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 4 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 21 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)
Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 31 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 81 caps)
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 112 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Zoe Stratford (Gloucester-Hartpury, 69 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 81 caps)
Nicole Wythe (Harlequins, uncapped)

Backs

Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 53 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 65 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 36 caps)
Sophie Hopkins (LOU Rugby, uncapped)*
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 88 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 33 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Sarah Parry (Harlequins, uncapped)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 46 caps)
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 7 caps)

*Playing for LOU Rugby whilst on a study placement year ​

With thanks to England Rugby

All three are in the news, though rugby’s Red Roses don’t get into action till 22 August when the World Cup starts in Sunderland.

They are hot favourites to win; but have yet to prove themselves.

The cricket squad has been engaged in a tough struggle at home to India.

Let’s look at a few points of comparison. For the sake of brevity I’ll use F for football, R for rugby and, you guessed, C for cricket.

Popularity

F is the true global game, far and away the most popular team sport.
R is much smaller, but likes to claim it’s the fastest growing aport for women and girls.
C is disgracefully limited. (I won’t delve into my reasons here, because they are lengthy and complicated.)

World Rankings

F (pre-the Euro final) 7th – 196 nations listed with points.
R 1st – 66 nations listed with points.
C 2nd in ODIs and T20s (but not for much longer?) – out of 16 top-tier nations only.

Head coach

F Sarina Wiegman, Dutch, 55, female
R John Mitchell, New Zealander, 61, male
C Charlotte Edwards, English, 43, female

A strange mixture: two women, one man; only one native-born and the only one to have played for England.

That indicates England’s long-term failure to create successful coaching paths for women; a feature not confined to F, R and C.

Captains

F Leah Williamson (Arsenal); age 28. Achievements: OBE, captained England to Euro victory in 2022. This week’s victory the latest in a string of triumphs.

R Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury); age 28. Achievements: World Player of the Year 2021. Several Grand Slams.

C Nat Sciver-Brunt (Trent Rockets, The Blaze); age 32. Achievements: one of the 5 Wisden Players of the Year 2018; formerly top-ranked all-rounder in the world.

Currently facing:

F A well-earned holiday.
R Two warm-up tests against Spain and France, then a home World Cup.
C The 50-over World Cup in Sri Lanka in October.

Fans’ reactions

F After the victory in Switzerland, total glory. The only questions: “Why do you keep us on edge like that?” “Any chance of a simple win?”
R Full of praise after a second long unbeaten run, but nerves still jangle.
C Very different! Adverse critics everywhere you look. Targets aimed at include: the ECB, the head coach, the assistant coaches and then the players – in particular their attitude, performance and fitness.  It makes a striking contrast with the other two squads.

Attendances

An obvious reflection of success.

F Wembley sold out! No more proof needed.
R 58,498 at Twickenham, though numbers have fallen since. 338,000 tickets thus far sold for the home RWC.
C Still a long way to go. Hopes were raised by a “full house” at Lord’s for the last World Cup held there, but I wasn’t convinced.

Over 5,700 at the Oval finals on Sunday, but reports from Northampton for the tier 2 finals the day before reflected the lack of proper preparation, publicity and management for a big event.

A Batting-order

Looking at the organisations in charge, the FA, the RFU and the ECB, we can compliment the first two on backing the women’s sector so well. The two squads have produced the goods. The fans have flocked to support.

To me the ECB looks more like an HQ that has suffered a bomb-blast. The structures change from season to season. It’s hard even to know who’s playing for whom, and which format of the game is coming next: a 4-day test, a 50 or 20-over game or the Hundred (get it over with quick!)?

Summary

The overall picture is very encouraging. An enormous increase in public interest (and acceptance by former sceptics – all male?).

The provision of contracts has helped enormously, but still leaves tricky questions for the future.

Lead photo shows England’s Class of 25; cricket star Sarah Glenn, footballer Niamh Charles and rugby international Ellie Kildunne together at The Kia Oval, London, to celebrate a huge summer of women’s sport. The trio, who all turned 25 in 2025.

Hartpury are the opposition for the University men’s 1st XV on Wednesday 16th October (6.30pm kick-off), providing a classic Bath v Gloucester rugby rivalry for what is always a highlight of the student year.

The past two Anniversary Games at the iconic home of Bath Rugby have seen crowds of more than 6,000 fans roar the hosts to memorable victories, over Durham and Cardiff Met respectively, and – with free tickets available – organisers at The SU Bath are expecting another big turnout.

Sponsoring the match for a second successive year is Colour Studios, based in nearby Radstock, which provides exhibition, event and display solutions with a focus on using eco-friendly products.

It is part of the Dragon Group and Director Rowan Freeman, who has specific responsibility for Colour Studios, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Anniversary Game once again. It was a fabulous experience last year and the atmosphere in The Rec was amazing. The crowd was so up for it, and it was great to see the players rise to the occasion and play so well. I am sure this year’s occasion will be just as memorable.

“The Dragon Group has a long history of sporting partnerships. We are passionate supporters of local clubs, teams and athletes, and love helping them develop and progress.

“We have worked closely with the University of Bath and Team Bath for many years – visitors to the Hall of Fame in the Sports Training Village will be familiar with our work – and we are delighted to enhance that partnership.”

Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, added: “A huge thank you to Colour Studios for supporting the Anniversary Game once again and Bath Rugby for hosting what is always a great occasion.

“It is not only a highlight of the student sporting calendar but also an event that is well supported by the wider Bath community. That whole mixture of students, families and the public coming together makes for a fantastic experience and provides lifelong memories for all those proudly representing the University on the pitch.”

Sports Performance student Max Pearce is one of several Bath Rugby Academy players who represent the University in BUCS Super Rugby. He experienced the Anniversary Game for the first time last year and said: “The biggest thing for the boys is the crowd. People really turn out in big numbers and the atmosphere is electric – it feels like we are playing for the whole University, not just the rugby club.

“This year’s match is a local derby too. I have a few mates at Hartpury and it will be a tasty match, we’re excited for it.”

The Anniversary Game is staged annually to mark the University of Bath being granted its Royal Charter on 25th October 1966. Register for free tickets by visiting teambath.com/AnniversaryGame. For more information about Colour Studios, visit www.colourstudios.co.uk.

Bath begin their 2024-25 BUCS Super Rugby campaign with a home match against Durham at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 25th September. Kick-off is the earlier time of 5pm and admission is free to spectators.

With thanks to Team Bath

The 22 international rugby sevens captains chasing their Olympic dreams were welcomed by Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco at The Prince’s Palace of Monaco on Thursday ahead of the World Rugby Sevens Repechage tournament kick off.

The three-day Repechage event takes place from 21-23 June and will decide the final men’s and women’s qualifiers for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 rugby sevens competition.

Stade Louis II in Monaco, which hosted final qualification events prior to the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, will again provide the stage for this crucial, winner-takes-all event.

Following the withdrawal of Papua New Guinea’s men’s and women’s teams earlier in the week, the competition will now feature 11 men’s and 11 women’s teams vying for the ultimate prize of representing their country on the Olympic stage, with only the winners securing their tickets to Paris.

VIEW POOLS AND FIXTURES >>

South Africa’s Blitzboks, Olympic bronze medallists at Rio 2016, will be strong contenders after winning the first round of SVNS 2024 in Dubai, but will face tough competition from a line-up which also includes HSBC SVNS 2024 teams Canada, Great Britain, and Spain.

MEN’S TOURNAMENT PREVIEW >>

The women’s tournament features a wide-open field with Czechia making their Repechage debut and China in confident mood having dominated the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024.

WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT PREVIEW >>

Participating teams:

• Men’s teams: Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Great Britain, Hong Kong China, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Tonga, Uganda.
• Women’s teams: Argentina, China, Czechia, Hong Kong China, Kenya, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Poland, Samoa, Uganda.

Poland and Czechia women will kick-off the tournament at 13:00 local time (GMT+2) on Friday, 21 June. The pool matches continue throughout Friday and Saturday, before what promises to be an exhilarating finals day on Sunday

Sunday’s action, which falls on Olympic Day – the global celebration of the Olympic Movement – will begin with the quarter-finals from 09:30 local time, before the semi-finals take place from 14:22 and the all important women’s and men’s finals will kick off at 18:01 and 18:36 respectively when the rugby sevens Olympic line-up will be completed.

WHERE TO WATCH >>

South Africa men’s player Impi Visser said: ““We really did ourselves no favours this time around, but luckily for us, we have one more opportunity and this time we must make it work.”

“Some of us were in Tokyo last time around, but we did not get a podium finish, so in a way there will be unfinished business for us. However, the reality is that we need to get the job done here first, before thinking about anything else.”

Great Britain men’s captain Robbie Fergusson said: “Preparations have been good coming in to this one. We got some boys back playing minutes at the last Series event in Madrid and we had a good training week last week in London so we’re in a good spot coming in to this weekend.

“We had our backs against the wall a little bit towards the end of the World Series with the format trying to get into that top eight and we dug out a big result to get to the final in Los Angeles and backed it up in Singapore getting a bronze to secure our place in the World Series which was huge for us.

“If we can get across the line and qualify on Sunday, I think that emotionally would out do the Tokyo Olympics, with everything we’ve been through to from as Great Britain and to achieve that with this group would be huge.”

China women’s high-performance consultant Gordon Tietjens said: “I know the Olympics is the dream. And it comes down to a one-off tournament. You’ve just got to hit every game, tick the box and treat it like another tournament, and we’ll do that and give it our very, very best.

“It has been a particularly good season for the China women’s sevens team. I think the coaching team have done a really, really good job. I think the athletes themselves; they can be proud of their performances.

“But again, the sport can be ruthless at any given time. And we’ve just got to attack one game at a time, starting with Mexico on Friday night.”

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The Olympic Games are the biggest multi-sport event in the world and a stage like no other for rugby sevens players. Stakes will be high and we expect intense and passionate world-class rugby in Monaco over the three days as teams compete for the final Olympic spots.

“We wish the best of luck to all teams involved in the pursuit of their Olympic dream and hope to see many fans at Stade Louis II for this fantastic tournament. Our gratitude and thanks to Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco and the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby for hosting this prestigious event for the third time in succession.”

OLYMPIC GAMES RUGBY SEVENS >>

After the conclusion of the Repechage tournament, the Paris 2024 pools for rugby sevens will be announced alongside the pools for the wheelchair rugby competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Register to watch the announcement at 20:00 here.

Tickets for the Repechage event are available at www.monaco-rugby.com

With thanks to World Rugby

In the Cup so far, Wasps have already faced Harlequins Women and Bristol Bears Women back in November 2021 suffering defeats to both teams. However, having already beat DMP Durham Sharks twice this season in the Premiership, Wasps are confident in a successful trip North.

Despite five Wasps players selected across England and Ireland, there is plenty of depth in the Wasps squad leaving acting Head Coach Ollie Bishop with a fiery team to restart the cup.

Elizabeth Crake is back in a starting shirt heading up the front row with Cliodhna Moloney at Hooker and Morgan Ransley moving off the bench to start as prop. Melanie Combebias and Christiana Balogun form the second row with Kay Searcy, Helene Caux and Rowena Burnfield completing the pack.

Sammy Wong will start at nine with returning Wasps player Lizzie Goulden slotting into fly half. Flo Williams and Jess Cooksey take centre stage and another returnee, Suzie Flowers, rejoins the back line alongside Emily Stone and Rosie Wright.

A wealth of experience on the bench in Claire Molloy, Harriet Millar-Mills and Kanyinsola Adefemiwa Afilaka. And completing the match day squad Stevie Farrow and Alex Wilkinson are set to add energy to the finish.

Kick off is at 4:30pm and all match action can be followed LIVE on twitter.

Team Line Up

15. Rosie Wright
14. Emily Stone
13. Jess Cooksey (Sponsored by RSK and GinJar)
12. FLorence Williams
11. Suzie Flowers
10. Lizzie Goulden
9. Sammy Wong
1. Elizabeth Crake
2. Cliodhna Moloney
3. Morgan Ransley
4. Melanie Combebias
5. Christiana Balogun
6. Helene Caux
7. Kay Searcy
8. Rowena Burnfield
16. Stevie Farrow
17. Kanyinsola Adefemiwa Afilaka
18. Claire Molloy
19. Harriet Millar-Mills
20. Alex Wilkinson

With thanks to Wasps

• Tākarokaro has been developed as part of the ‘In Our Backyard’ Project which is led by Sport NZ in partnership with MBIE, the Ministry of Education, and four National Sporting Organisations; New Zealand Rugby, Yachting New Zealand, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Football.
• Tākarokaro is part of the govt.’s Healthy Active Learning initiative to improve the wellbeing of tamariki and Sport NZ’s Every Body Active: Strategic plan 2020 – 2024 aimed at addressing inactivity in children and young people.
• Sport NZ research shows only 7% of children and young people aged 5 – 18 in New Zealand are meeting the govt. guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
• Rugby World Cup 2021 (playing in 2022) is driving the project as part of its legacy plan to impact beyond the tournament from 8 Oct – 12 Nov 2022.
• All Black legend and three-time Rugby World Cup veteran Ian Jones aka The Kamo Kid attended the launch of the programme at his old school Kamo High School.
• Kamo High School students among the first in New Zealand to see the Rugby World Cup 2021 trophy up close during the programme launch.

School students will play a leading role at getting Kiwi communities more active with a programme that draws inspiration from the three women’s World Cups taking place on home soil over the next two years.

Tākarokaro – Let’s Get Active – is an initiative by Sport NZ, in partnership with New Zealand Rugby, Yachting New Zealand, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Football, that provides learning experiences through sport to children in years five to 10 throughout Aotearoa.

The programme was launched today (Thursday 10th March) at Kamo High School where students took part in Rippa Rugby activities and were treated to a visit from All Black legend and three-time Rugby World Cup veteran Ian Jones aka The Kamo Kid. A Kamo High School old boy, Jones chatted with students and staff on the importance of being active from a young age and the impact that hosting the Rugby World Cup 2021 in Whangārei will have on the region.

Students also got the chance to see the Rugby World Cup 2021 trophy before it takes off on an offical Trophy Tour throughout Aotearoa and Oceania.

Schools and kura are being invited to take part in Tākarokaro over terms two and three where students will be tasked with designing activities to get their communities more active, taking learnings from the four sports.

The free programme draws on what is a historic moment in time for women’s sport in the Southern Hemisphere with three women’s World Cups taking place in New Zealand over the next 18 months – starting with the Cricket World Cup 2022 in March, followed by the Rugby World Cup 2021 (playing in 2022) from October to November and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Sport NZ research shows only 7% of children and young people aged 5 – 18 in New Zealand are meeting the government guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Tākarokaro forms part of Sport NZ’s Every Body Active: Strategic plan 2020 – 2024 aimed at addressing inactivity in children and young people and complements the government’s Healthy Active Learning initiative to improve the wellbeing of tamariki through healthy eating and drinking and quality physical activity.

Sport NZ Project Lead, Dean Stanley says, “We are excited by the opportunity that the three women’s World Cups provides to help get our tamariki and rangatahi more active, and we are really looking forward to the launch of Tākarokaro alongside Rugby World Cup 2021. The excitement across the country generated by the event will provide real motivation for schools and kura to get involved with the programme.”

The Tākarokaro programme follows three stages – research, design and testing – with each participating school teaming up with a local sports club to learn from coaches and players about the activities they use and how they go about designing them. At the end of the programme the school and club will jointly host a Tākarokaro festival to engage whānau in the students’ research and activities and enable them to present their work.

Students at Ahipara School and Kamo High School in Northland are piloting the programme this term, alongside Te Rarawa and Kamo Rugby Clubs, before it is rolled out nationwide from Monday 24th April.

Ahipara School Principal, Lisa Murray says, “It’s interesting to watch them [the students] as they not only take responsibility for their own learning, but also contribute to the programme development process. Seeing a real life reason for their learning and knowing that their actions might make a difference in our community also seems to be adding to their motivation to learn.”

Registrations are now open for schools and kura. Registered schools will be sent a pack containing RWC 2021 flags and posters for classrooms, video links to RWC 2021 ambassadors talking about leadership, interactive booklets (including a ‘design your own jersey’ activity), and a festival pack to assist schools in running their end of programme celebrations with their sports clubs.

Rugby World Cup 2021 Tournament Director, Michelle Hooper says, “Tākarokaro forms an important part of our legacy project which is aimed at ensuring Rugby World Cup 2021 has a lasting and meaningful impact in Aotearoa beyond the final whistle in November.

“We hope we can inspire our tamariki by showcasing the world’s best women’s rugby players in their own backyard. We know they are fantastic role models for both girls and boys and there’s nothing more powerful than seeing your idols in action at a young age. We can’t wait to see what the students are able to learn and achieve through this programme and we look forward to seeing them in the stands, with their whānau, cheering on their favourite team.”

The Rugby World Cup 2021 runs from 8 October to 12 November in Auckland and Whangarei. Organisers are targeting a world record attendance for a women’s rugby match as the Black Ferns take on Australia during opening match day at Eden Park. Tickets are just $5 for children and $10 for adults. Go to Home | Rugby World Cup 2021 to find out more.

Volunteer applications have also officially opened for RWC 2021. Over 400 volunteers will be recruited, trained and deployed across Auckland and Whangārei for the event. To apply go to https://rwc2021.rosterfy.co/register

For more information and to register for Takarokaro – Let’s Get Active, go to https://www.takarokaro-sport.net/

On 4 March the cricket will get under way. But the visiting squads will be subjected to ten days of complete isolation before a ball is bowled. However much they may be steeling themselves for the ordeal – and most will have past experience – it will be no sort of preparation for such a momentous occasion. Covid restrictions are at full blast. You might find yourself imagining special uniformed police patrolling every corridor of every hotel waiting to catch any glimpse of a door opening.

Financially, New Zealand Cricket is hardly in a position to offer special terms to the six teams involved, where they could practise out of doors still in complete isolation.

For the English there are added burdens. They are coming off a winless Ashes tour of Australia; neither the first nor the A team managed a single win in any of the three formats on offer, a test, ODIs and T20s. Somehow the staff has to revive them from the psychological blow those reverses delivered. Ten days trapped in your room isn’t the perfect pick-me-up.

Squads consist of 15 players with three reserves permitted to travel. Before you look forward to a paid holiday in Aotearoa, consider the thought of that 10-day confinement plus the near-certainty of not getting to play a single match. The reserves who choose to accept the offer are made of stern stuff.

And next October…

By the time October comes around New Zealand Rugby, not to mention the NZ Government, must be hoping against hope that the current restrictions will have eased – or better still, removed completely. Part of their promotional plan for winning the right to host the event offered the twelve teams 4-star hotel accommodation in (and around?) Auckland. Fitness centres and practice areas were essential add-ons.

For the players the restrictions to be placed on the cricketers would be just as unwelcome. A much applauded innovation was to extend the tournament to 35 days. That is excellent, till you add on a preliminary ten days of isolation.

Fairness

Then we come to the question of fairness. Nothing is fair in love or international sports tournaments.

But will the New Zealand cricketers have an even better chance of winning than with normal health conditions prevailing? They have just taken a 2-0 lead in their ODI series against India in Queenstown. Or even, do the Indians have an advantage, after their organisers were clever enough to lay on a series in the country immediately before the World Cup, thus placing the dreaded ten days long before the big event?

It will be fascinating to see whether Sevens can thrive in this completely new format. Never before has a fully professional league been attempted.

They don’t do the women’s game many favours, but we can enjoy the teams’ names that have been plucked out of the ether. The six are: Experts, Headliners, Locals, Loggerheads, Loonies and The Team.

Let’s take a pause as we recover.

Right, Sevens is meant to be fun, but will a professional version manage to keep a smile on its face?

The bad news is that only four of the six teams will offer a women’s version, an imbalance that is all too common in the sporting world. The last two in the list can provide only a men’s team in the initial stages. So the women will have a particularly hard job convincing a new public with only four sides competing at every tournament.

The Championship will open at the Autozone Park Memphis on 9 October. It has a seating capacity of 14,000.

Players with England international and representative experience have been turning out in both the Premier 15s and Women’s Super League in recent weeks and months, showing that the skills you develop in Touch are transferrable into the other versions of rugby.

Freya Aucken has taken her three European Junior Touch Championships gold medals earned with the England Girls 18s team in 2017, 2018 and 2019 into a promising top flight career. Versatile enough to play scrum-half, wing and everywhere in between, Freya was in the first team at Richmond aged just 17, before moving to Harlequins during the most recent Premier 15s campaign and was a member of several match day squads during Quins’ title-winning season. Freya remains in the England Women’s Open training squad.

One of Freya’s 2018 team mates, Orla McCallion, has experienced both the Premier 15s and Women’s Super League in these past few months, turning out at Number 8 for DMP Durham Sharks in the 15-a-side game and then scoring two tries in Leeds Rhinos’ first few matches.

Also at DMP Durham Sharks is Lauren Torley, who came into the squad in February 2021 and was a regular on the wing during the remainder of the campaign. Lauren wore the England Lions shirt in the 2019 European Touch Challenge Trophy and is in the England Mixed Open training group.

Another member of the current England Mixed Open training group, India Perris-Redding, had five first team appearances for Sale Sharks Women, with India joined by her sister Georgie in both the Sharks and Crewe and Nantwich Touch Club squads.

Lucie Skuse was a European silver medal winner with the England Mixed 18s in 2018. This season she has been a regular in the new Bristol Bears set-up in the Premier 15s, playing in 17 out of the team’s 18 league matches at either inside centre or fly half.

Another noteworthy former Touch Rugby player is Chantelle Crowl. Regarded as one of the world’s leading female Rugby League players, England international and 2021 Challenge Cup winner Chantelle played for both Manchester Chargers and Halton Storm Touch Rugby clubs during her formative years.

“We’re always delighted and proud to see players who we have worked with in the past and who we continue to work with achieve high things in other versions of rugby,” says England Touch’s High Performance Director, Ben Powell.

“They are all really talented players and it is really pleasing to see them continue their Touch journeys alongside their other sporting commitments.

“It also reiterates that the skills, fitness and game awareness you can develop in Touch can be transferred into both of the other versions of rugby, and – as with Orla McCallion – there is nothing to stop you moving between Touch, Union and League.”

With thanks to Chris Wearmouth for this article.

The Gallagher Prem is to be extended to 13 then 14 clubs; in each of the coming two seasons one club will be allowed up from the Championship. Thereafter promotion-relegation will kick in, restricted to one-up, one-down. In this way Jeff Blackett, the RFU President, hopes to satisfy all parties. One group has been especially vocal, those against the removal of pro-rel, as desired by several elite clubs.

One crucial effect of the Prem’s decision is to lengthen the season. How that is to be achieved is hard to discern; there is mounting concern over player-welfare. International players are most at risk; their season is carefully monitored. When it comes to vital games, clubs must not be tempted to invite a leading player to overlook a minor niggle to ensure the desired result.

And the Women’s League

The men’s and women’s leagues differ markedly. Most obvious is the overwhelming presence of amateurs in the AP 15s. The money expended on the two operations is as wide as could be.

If the AP 15s is to be extended, problems loom.

First, if every club that wanted to join was allowed in – that is a string of Premiership clubs like Bath, Leicester, London Irish, Newcastle and Northampton, plus the ambitious Ealing Trailfinders – the season could last a calendar year.

If the league was extended by one or two only – the most likely move – the season would still be worryingly long. And what would happen to the unsuccessful clubs? Would the RFU operate a third three-year-block of no change 2023-6?

Third, meaningful promotion-relegation could only become a reality if and when the Championship (Division Two, if you like) consisted largely of clubs similarly funded to the elite ten. And even there, the money at club treasurers’ disposal varies vastly.

Ambitious clubs hoping to catch the RFU’s eye for admission would be much less happy with the one-up, one-down arrangement of the Gallagher Prem; it could so easily mean an extended stay at the lower level. But what they all desire would mean a top division of around sixteen clubs, hardly a workable proposition – unless it rejected the home-and-away arrangement.

The Task ahead

Then again, clubs only now setting up a women’s section should have no illusions about how hard it will be to reach the necessary standards. Even a club like Bath with a ready-made neighbouring club on hand, Bath Ladies, would need to seek other player-resources to have a chance of success. The AP 15s is not a glorified academy, where promising players can find their feet. The proof comes with the two great academies that are already prominent members, Loughborough Lightning and Gloucester-Hartpury. Both have produced untold numbers of internationals, but both have needed to sign up top players from elsewhere. And neither has yet proved strong enough to reach a play-off final.

One ready source of the right material lies overseas. That was Exeter Chiefs’ policy. It’s open to question how many more overseas players of the required standard would want to follow that example. Could the day ever dawn when a limit is applied to the number of non-English qualified players attached to a club?

If yet more Celtic players were invited into the AP 15s, that would ignore the vital need of the IRFU, SRU and WRU to establish well funded competitions in their own lands. We still await news of the findings of the committee looking into the future of women’s rugby in Wales.

I ignore the added possibility of Celtic clubs joining the AP 15s.

No decision on a global calendar will be taken before 2024, so difficult is it to reach a pattern that satisfies all parties. In England women’s clubs might be perfectly happy with a season stretching from September to April or May, with the Six Nations placed at the end, dovetailing in with the AP 15s play-off finals. But those nine months are not long enough to allow all those would-be applicants to take their seat at the table.

It will be fascinating to see how they go about acquiring the player strength needed to survive at the top. They may well be able to show the necessary Minimum Operating Standards, the other great requirement for admission. It is on the field of play where they face the greatest challenge.