Ella Fowler (aged 15) eats, sleeps and breathes rugby – it is her world! The Women’s World Cup will be the highlight of Ella’s whole year. She is a Red Roses fan through and through and one day she hopes to be on that grassy stage herself – we hope to be there to cheer
The crucial issue for the Red Roses was, who was fit to play? The good news is that Helena Rowland, Claudia Moloney-Macdonald and Mackenzie Carson are all aboard, Rowland slotting in at 10 for a change. That means in turn that Holly Aitchison is still AWOL. Two players. Abi Burton and Lilli ives Campion make
Kevin Rouet becomes the first coach to reveal his side for his second match. The assumption has been all along, head coaches would make wholesale changes across the three group-stage games, if only to give all 32 players an outing. It hasn’t quite worked out like that in this case. Here’s the squad to play
Over the coming weeks rugby fans around the world are likely to be suffering the severe effects of withdrawal symptoms. “I can’t wait for next weekend.” Fortunately, the RWC is now so popular that there are all manner of medicines to stave off the worst effects. First and most obvious, replays of whole matches or
Looking back The tenth world cup got off to a tumultuous start in Sunderland. An unparalleled build-up, then the biggest crowd yet seen at the tournament. We must give due credit to the three women in charge, Sarah Massey, MD of the whole caboosh, Yvonne Nolan, competition director and Sally Horrox, in charge of women’
Ireland v Japan All Irish fans knew their team had the beating of the Sakura. The worry was, could they be sure they’d maintain recent progress? Sam Monaghan was back, but Scott Bemand didn’t risk Aoife Wafer. The answer was a resounding yes. The Sakura; famed for their fast, disciplined approach, couldn’t withstand the all-round
Contents 1. Australia v Samoa 2. Scotland v Wales 3. Canada v Fiji 4. France v Italy The RWC organisers wisely decided to restrict matches to the weekend, allowing more people to attend, and giving teams a proper break. That means seven per weekend, and with the big launch at Sunderland on Friday eight between
England started their long-awaited pursuit of the World Cup hesitantly. Later the cork popped out and the fizz flowed. Thr forwards failed to take the kick-off on the full and had to scramble. This was repeated twice more, leaving Abbie Ward in uncomfortable gymnastic positions. The Eagles pressed hard, built nice little moves but couldn’t
As we creep ever closer to opening time, English voices grow more concerned. I’ve asked before: what can possibly go wrong? One curt answer is, the opposition proving better on the day. But the Red Roses have all the advantages: the top-ranked side for ages, one loss in the last 59 matches, unparalleled strength across
Last Friday the French squad assembled at the Roissy- Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris. The plane flew them to London from where a coach hauled down the long winding road to Exeter. But the accommodation awaiting them there made up for the rigours of the journey. This was Woodbury Park; a few miles outside
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