International women's rugby website launches

Scrum Queens - the first independent website dedicated to women's rugby worldwide - has been launched. Edited by former Irish Women's RFU's press officer Alison Donnelly it includes contributions from across the rugby world and will aim to cover all international women's rugby.

The growing team of writers come from all parts of the world, not just major nations such as England or the USA, but growing nations such as Singapore and Kenya as well, and will aim to cover the women's game from a independent viewpoint.

The site also makes full use of the latest internet technology with feeds on Twitter and Facebook.

Maggie on top of the world

England and Saracens flanker Margaret Alphonsi was last month named the Women’s Rugby Personality of the Year at the IRB’s awards ceremony, in association with Emirates Airline.

The dynamic 22-year-old was short-listed together with New Zealand fly half Anna Richards and France number eight Delphine Plantet. Alphonsi, who is a rugby development officer for Saracens, played in all of England’s five IRB Rugby World Cup matches this September in Edmonton, Canada, including the 25-17 defeat to New Zealand in the final.

Said Maggie Alphonsi “I am so pleased to have won this award. I have really enjoyed this season, being part of a team that won the Six Nations Grand Slam and finishing as runners-up in the IRB Rugby World Cup final has been terrific, though of course we would have preferred to take the title. This award has certainly capped off a great year.”

She continued, “The whole of the England team worked so hard to get where we are today and it’s a shame that we came so close in the final of the Rugby World Cup and didn’t come away with the prize we desperately wanted.

“Hopefully this award will go some way, for all the members of the squad, towards knowing that what we achieved in Canada has been recognised.

Stocking filler? World Cup DVD

Just released!

Relive the colour and atmosphere of the best women's rugby world cup ever, with exclusive behind behind the scenes footage, the story of the three qualifying rounds, highlights of the two compelling semi-finals and then the knife-edge final that went down to the wire to decide the World champions.

93 minutes of action for only £11.99.

Buy one for your club so that they can show show something different on the big screen instead of the usual ancient highlights!

Senior competitions 2007-8: RFUW proposals

The Competition’s Review Group (CRG) was set up 12 months ago to look at the Competition Structure for the 2007/08 Season, we gathered feedback from the RFUW Conference and also gave your club a chance to sit on the review group as well as write in with your concerns and ideas. To all those clubs who responded, we would like to thank you very much for your input.

Feedback

The major issues that arose from the feedback were;

• Traveling at Premiership 2 level was increasing as this league is National.
• Some teams want the opportunity to play at a higher level but are stuck due to the amount of clubs in their area.
• Standard of referees / lack of referees.
• Cup Competition and teams not willing to play if they feel they may lose a fixture. 50% of fixtures were being cancelled.
• Cup - no clubs wishing to play the top teams in Premiership 1.
• Lack of players at grass root rugby.
• Rearrangement of fixtures.
• Increase the number of leagues that can play to the full IRB Rules as opposed to U19 laws.
• Lack of quality coaches / coaching opportunities.
• London clubs sending weakened side to play matches in the North.
• The calendar being disrupted by England so clubs feel a lack of continuity.
• Problems with play offs.

Some of these points have already been addressed as follows;

• We have successfully launched a referee’s recruitment programme.
• The onus of rearranging fixtures at National Challenge 1 and below has been given to the clubs and it is up to both teams to agree to rearrange a fixture, if one team refuses the fixture stands on the original date.
• We have run a number of women only coaching courses designed for coaches who are coaching within the women’s game.

These targets are also in the new RFUW strategic plan.

Previous CRG Changes & Success

Three years ago the CRG brought in new guidelines including reducing and matching the number of players to get matches played and U19 IRB Laws for Division 2 and below, These have proved very successful we went from 65% of matches being completed to:

• Season 03/04 – 80% completed 679/844 games played
• Season 04/05 – 90% completed 722/854 games played
• Season 05/06 – 84% completed 822/978 games played

Although there was a dip last season we must take into account that there were 48 players removed from League Rugby and due to the World Cup we had a very compacted calendar with the running of the Super League alongside the League Programme.

2007/08 Proposals

Taking into account the feedback we received we have put together the following proposals. It is imperative that we still run a National league (Currently Premiership 1) that has a geographical spread of clubs which enables all players the opportunity to play top class rugby. Whilst this league is not currently a closed shop, there is a strict criteria to this league, clubs who do not keep to this criteria will find themselves removed and replaced where possible.

We have looked at changing the names of the leagues to help the partners we work with these include the referee societies, where there has been some confusion regarding the playing rules.

The proposals could mean a movement in leagues for a number of clubs, these clubs would be expected to fill in their “Intention to Affiliate” forms with the guidance of the League Criteria as to which league they feel they would be best suited.


Proposals: League

1. Change the titles of the leagues to help our partners.

The current Premier 1 league to be known as ‘The Championship’.
The current Premier 2 to be Premier 1 and National 1 leagues become Premier 2.


2. Current Premiership 2 – Regionalized to Premier 1 North and Premier 1 South.

• Reduces traveling with an increase in Leagues to give clubs the opportunity to play higher up the leagues.
• Increases the number of teams that can play full IRB Rules.

3. Close the Championship so we have a geographical spread of clubs which enables all players the opportunity to play top class rugby.


Proposals: Cup


The Championship – Top 4 teams to play at the end of the season for a “Super Cup” this will offer further competition to help aid the development of the Elite Squads.

Premiership 1 North and South – The winners of the two leagues will play off for the Premiership Cup.

Regional Cup - Available to all other teams to enter on a regional basis.

Super League – The top 88 - 100 players to play in a Super League competition (3 x English qualified teams; 1 x Celtic qualified team).

PROPOSED COMPETITION STRUCTURE DETAIL 2007/08

Championship (Full IRB Rules) – Will consist of 8 geographically spread clubs, this is to enable players to have the opportunity of playing top class rugby wherever they are situated in the Country.

Relegation - Closed League providing all the clubs sustain their development plans and continue to grow and develop rugby within their region. Any club failing to do this will be removed and the option of going into the Championship will be offered to the Premiership Champions.

Or:

Play offs – winner of Premier Cup to play off with bottom of Championship.

Premiership 1 North and Premiership 1 South (Full IRB Rules) – Will consist of a maximum of 8 sides.

Clubs will qualify for the North league if they play their rugby in the North or the Midlands Leagues.

Clubs will qualify for the South League if they play their rugby in the South East or South West Leagues.

The winners of the league will playoff in the Premiership Cup to find the Premiership Champions.

Relegation - There will be a minimum of 1 side and a maximum of two sides relegated from each league at the end of the season.

Premiership 2 (Full IRB Rules) - North, Midlands, South East, South West.

Promotion – Winning sides will be promoted to Premiership North and South respectively.

Relegation –There will be a minimum of 1 side and a maximum of 2 sides relegated from each league at the end of the season. These teams will go into their regional league depending on their geographic location.

National Challenge 1 (U19 Laws) - North, Midlands, South East and South West, 15 a side.

National Challenge 2 and below (U19 Laws) - Teams can match numbers.

All leagues where possible will be produced with a geographical spread that will hopefully reduce traveling eg, North East, Midlands West.

Please send any comments regarding these proposals by 14th November 2006 to:

Competition Review Group, RFUW, Rugby House, Rugby Road, Twickenham, TW1 1DS or e-mail to RFUW@therfu.com

Confirmed: OAs to host England's 2007 Six Nations campaign!

Breaking news:

It has been confirmed today that England will again be playing two of their home fixtures in the season's Six Nations at Old Albanians ground in St Albans.

On Saturday 3rd February England will face Scotland, who had a very good world cup - coming within touching distance of the semi-finals beford finishing in sixth place overall.

Then on Sunday 11th March its the big one against France in what may well again be the title decider.

In addition England will also host Italy - who replace Spain in the championship this season - at Twickenham on 10th February.

Last season the games at OAs prefaced with displays by Herts U14s (before the game against Wales) and Herts U17s (before the Ireland game). What will happen this year - if anything - has yet to be decided, but its still worth making a date in your diary NOW to see our World Cup heros defend their Six Nations crown.

Sexism at the BBC? Women's rugby invisible on the BBC website

Just weeks after England made the World Cup Final, women's rugby has become invisible again on the BBC's rugby website (ie. probably the most popular news source for the game) - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/default.stm

Well, you may say, that's amatuer or women's sport for you - the media just isn't interested.

But this is not the case. If you look around the BBC Sport website you will find that in every other sport - cricket, football, tennis, golf, athletics - there is a page for news on the women's game, with a link from the sport's front page.

ONLY the BBC's rugby pages fail to acknowledge even the existance of the women's game.

There is a feedback page to make a complaint about this - see http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml. So if you have a few minutes, why not drop them a line.

World Cup: Kiwis complete hat trick of titles

In the end it was a problem that had been hinted at in the games with the USA and Canada - and even right back to Wales - an inability to turn possession and territory into points.

Without question England possess the strongest pack in world rugby. For the first thirty minutes or so they pushed the New Zealanders around, almost at will, with almost the entire first half taking place not only in the Kiwi half, but inside their 22. In particular England successfully targeted - and all but neutralised - New Zealand's full back and possibly leading player of the tournament, Amiria Marsh.

But despite all that pressure the only reward was a single penalty early on. New Zealand, on the other hand, found their way into the England half maybe three or four times, scored a try just before half time, and came in at he break leading 10-3.

The English tactics of keeping the ball with the forwards worked much of the time, but the few times it was released to the New Zealand backs they looked devastating, slicing through the English defence at times with amazing speed. And it was a flowing backs move at the start of the second half that lead to their second try, and a 15-3 lead.

This was soon cut to 15-10 when English pressure finally resulted in a penalty try, but from then on it was the turn on of the New Zealanders to put on the pressure. With the English tight five beginning to showing the effect of all the hard work they'd put in, the boot was now on the other foot and a classic forwards try, driving from a line out, extended the Kiwi lead to 10 points with only minutes to spare.

But England were not finished. With 77 minutes on the clock the fresh legs of Helen Clayton finally drove the England pack over the New Zealand line. With Shelley Rae slotting the extras the score was 20-17 as the game moved into injury time. Could we have a fairy tale ending?

No, in short. Desperate attempts by England to win back the ball from the restart lead to their being penalised from offside and pushed well back into their own half. Now having to run the ball from deep saw England turned over, and the ball in the Black Fern backs' hands - and finally into the hands of Amiria Marsh. For once free of English pressure she touched down in the corner to complete what was, ultimately, a deserved 25-17 New Zealand win.

So England have been frustrated by New Zealand again. What is the answer? Well, Sue Day, talking straight after the match, thinks its you! :

"If I can just add the big thing that is chaging in England, I think, is that girls are playing from a much younger age and some of the talent coming through is very exciting. They play the right kind of rugby - really good, exciting rugby - and I'm really looking forward to those players coming through when I'm sitting on the sidelines in a few years time"

World Cup Final LIVE on Sky!

If you have Sky then set your videos / DVDs / whatever - or be prepared for a blearly start to the week - because the World Cup Final between England and New Zealand will be on Sky Sports 3 live from 11.55pm on Sunday night.

So not exactly a huge build-up to the game anticipated being as it starts at midnight, but even so its good to see.

The semi-finals also went out on Sky last night - 24 hours after the matches actually took place, but broadcast "as live" so you saw the entire games. Basically it seems to be the same coverage as the 24.7 internet broadcasts - Sky have not gone to the trouble of actually having reporters out there or anything.

Both teams should be fully up-to-strength and England seem confident that they can steal it. So remember to tune in - could be a memorable night!

World Cup: England 80 minutes from glory!

It nearly all went horribly wrong in the last few minutes, but England are in the World Cup Final on Sunday after a 20-14 win over Canada. At 17-0 up early in the second half everything seemed to be running to script. A Canadian try reduced the deficit, but on 73 minutes Charlotte Barras went over for her second try of the game and that seemed that.

But the Canadians had not read the script and came storming back. With most of England's first choice forwards now on the bench Canada came within inches of stealing the match - a last ditch tackle by Kim Shaylor denying a third Canadian try in the 79th minute - and England hung on.

New Zealand had few problems overcoming France in the other semi (40-10) and so the two teams will meet on Sunday in a repeat of the 2002 final.

Up until yesterday England seemed to be the form side - each perfromance better than the last while the Kiwis seemed to have peaked early. And it may well be that England relaxed too soon here, taking the place in the final for granted.

Where they have met common opposition New Zealand (Canada and France) have produced more convincing wins that England have managed, and must start on Sunday clear favourites. But if anyone can stop them it is England.

Incidentally you may be wondering - does all this matter? How would an England win affect me? Well, about 13 years ago the same two countries met in a women's world cup final where New Zealand started as favourites. It was also a time when the English men's team was pretty hopeless, and so when the England team won - and on TV too (thanks to a last minute change of mind at the BBC) - an event that had been ignored up until then suddenly grabbed headlines. Stars were born. Bouyed up on this the separate women's and men's governing bodies merged, with the women getting a cut of all of the men's sponsorship deals, and inclusion in TV contracts. The game remains now one of the highest profile women's team sports, with its national team taking part in an open-top bus ride through London last summer after they beat Australia. Before the win the sport struggled to raise even regional teams, now virtually every county has a side.

That sport was cricket, not rugby. But it shows why winning things like the World Cup is important. The parallels between women's rugby today and women's cricket in 1993 are remarkable - and if England win on Sunday it could be your sport that gets the open top bus treatment in 10 years time or so. And you might even be on the bus!

So - come on England!

World Cup: England through to semi-finals!

The long wait until midnight last night was rewarded by what in the end was a remarkably comfortable win by England over France to gain a well deserved semi-final berth. A dominant English forward display meant that France rarely threatened the English line.

England's first try can on eight minute from wing Danielle Waterman, picking up from behind a stong forward drive, and similar forward pressure - this time a scrum - saw the a second try by Danielle just before half time. With Sue Day scoring two more tries within ten minutes of the restart England were home and dry. The final score was 27-8, but that barely reflects the English dominance - it wasn't until the 71st minute that France made any impact on the scoreboard.

Elsewhere perhaps the performance of the night came from Scotland. With two wins under their belts already a semi-final berth was there for the taking - just New Zealand stood in their way! In a terrific game the Scots held off the Kiwi charge for 56 minutes knowing that a single bonus point would see them into the semis. But then the dam burst, with New Zealanders running in three tries in six minutes to take the game but - to Scotland's credit - not a bonus point.

In the remaining games Canada beat Kazakhstan 45-5, Ireland beat South Africa 37-0, Spain made up for a things in the earlier game with a 14-12 winover Samoa, and the USA continued to do well with a 10-6 win of over Australia.

So who went through? The USA finished sixth thanks on nine points, but Scotland, France and Canada finishing on 10 - so it was down to tries scored... and it was Scotland lost out.

So on Tuesday England play Canada (at midnight our time again) after New Zealand have taken on France, which should give us the much anticipated Anglo-Kiwi final next Sunday.

Update...

One remarkable, and hiterto uncommented on fact, is that this semi-final line up is exactly the same as four years ago (when England beat Canada 53-10 and New Zealand beat France 30-0). In addition the three teams of the four teams competing for 5th to 8th place are also the same as four years ago (USA, Australia and Scotland being joined by Ireland this time instead of Spain).

World Cup: England march on...

A throughly professional and effective performance by England saw them run in twelve tries against South Africa and rack up the largest total by any team in the world cup so far... until Canada beat it a couple of hours later!

74-8 was the score at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton, with the try scoring bonus point wrapped up before half time thanks to a brace of tries from Nicky Crawford, one from captain Sue Day, and another from Shelly Rae - who is now the tournament's highest scorer with 27 points thanks to the eight conversions she also kicked.

Another eight tries followed in the second half, including a three more from left wing Sue Day who was clearly having the sort of day that most people can only dream about. The only blot on the copybook came on 62 minutes when the South African pack managed to drive their flanker over the line for their only try of the game.

Anyway - lots of comment and more detailed reports will appear on the RFUW website and elsewhere (hopefully) - but the questionis... where does this leave things?

Because England were not the only team playing impressively. In the game of the night France - England's next opponents - put in an impressive performance, complete with try bonus, beating Australia 24-10. In fact that scoreline flatters Australia a bit - France were 17-0 up at half time with three tries already on the board, and had their bonus point wrapped up and pocketed before the Aussies had managed to cross their line for the one and only time.

Its not as if Australia are a poor side - though they are not the giants of the women's game as their men are - they racked up 68 points against South Africa last Thursday, only two tries less than England last night. Also if England have the tournaments best scorer then France have the second best - right-wing Catherine Devilliers, who has score five tries so far.

Elsewhere New Zealand ran in 50 unanswered points against Samoa, Canada destroyed a woeful Spain 79-0, the USA came back from their defeat against England to beat Ireland 24-11 and Scotland continued their 100% record with a 32-17 win over Kazakhstan.

Which leaves us with only four unbeaten teams, three (New Zealand, France and Scotland) on maximum 10 points and England one behind on 9. However with New Zealand also playing Scotland on Friday as well as France playing Engalnd only two teams can hope to finish the pool stage unbeaten. So there is hope yet for Samoa (who should destroy Spain), Canada (who will be too much for Kazakhstan) and either the USA or Australia who provide the warm-up act before the France/England battle.

Predictions? England should have enough to get by France - just. Certainly not by 30+ points they managed in Paris! And England know that they HAVE to win - defeat will almost certainly see them out before the semi-final stage. France - onthe other hand - can still qualify even if they lose, and just a single bonus point should be enough to secure a top four place.

My guess (my hope?) is that as Saturday dawns we will see a final pool table looking like this:

1. New Zealand (15); 2. England (13); 3. France (11); 4=. Canada, Scotland (10); 6=. Samoa, USA (9); 8. Australia (6); 9. Ireland (5); 10=. Kazakhstan, South Africa, Spain (0).

World Cup: Free "highlights" available

Roughly 90-second clips from each of the games in the opening phase if the World Cup can now be downloaded. Click here now to see the best women rugby players in the world in action!

And tonight its round two with England aiming to get maximum points against South Africa. The coach - Geoff Richards - is ringing the changes a bit so as to rest some players before the crucial game with France on Friday. Is this wise? Log in tonight to find out!

What's it like to be an international rugby player?

You cannot get a better idea that three blogs which a couple of players are doing during the World Cup. Okay, they are US players (scrumhalves Lee Knight and Claudia Braymer, and prop Jamie Burke) but its still really great stuff.

You can almost smell the Ralgex!

Take a look!

World Cup: England begin with a win.

England have started their World Cup campaign with a win, but it was a frustrating night for everyone on both sides of the Atlantic.

Followers of the game around the world attempting to use the internet-based live broadcast were faced with blank screens for part or all of some of the first round games - including England's match. Australia's game with South Africa was unavailable until the second half, and there were reports from some viewers of problems with the Katakhstan/Samoa feed as well.

Then - just as everyone was taking their seat's for the game of the night- a power cut at England's ground cut transmission before it had begun. Second half coverage was promised but whether this came on I cannot confirm as your correspondent had given up by that point.

The good news is that the semi-finals and final will be on Sky - assuming England get there.

They should do - but fact is that last night it was well into the second half before England broke the deadlock, and it was not until the the USA were reduced to 14 players by a sin-binning that England were able to force their way across the Americans' line. And in a game dominated by the forwards and robust defending it was not until the last minute before England were able cross the line again.

The size of England's task was emphasised by 66-7 thrashing New Zealand gave to Canada earlier in the day. Canada beat the USA only a few weeks ago, and are seeded two places above them for this tournament. On this evidence there is a gap of some 30 points between the top two seeds.

But teams can peak too early in tournament like this. England's Six Nations had a shaky start as well, with England going behind to Wales at OAs before eventually winning the game - and then then tournament - quite comfortably. Hopefully this is just eveidence of a slow start again.

Elsewhere Australia beat England's next opponents - South Africa - by 68-12, a margin of victory that England should significantly exceed on Monday if they are to show progress. France - England's final pool opponents - beat Ireland 43-0, and play Australia next. Scotland recorded a comfortable win over Spain and may have a good chance of a semi-final place, while in the final game Samoa prepared for their game with the Kiwis on Monday with a 20-5 win over Kazakhstan.

• More photographs, a detailed match report, and reaction from the England camp can be found on the RFUW website.

World Cup kicks off TODAY!

Its only hours away now.

At midnight tonight, our time, the team many of us saw lift the Six Nations title at Old Albanians in March start their World Cup campaign against the USA.

That's a heck of an opponent to draw first up - possibly the strongest opponents in the tournament other New Zealand - it'll give us the best indication yet as to how England will do. New Zealand also have a tricky opener against hosts Canada, who drew their recent two-match series with the USA.

England are also due to take on South Africa (who they beat by over 100 points in 2005) on Monday (9.30pm our time) and then France (who England beat fairly comfortably in Paris in February) in their final pool game on Friday (also midnight our time). Then its the semi-finals the 12th, and - hopefully - the final at midnight on Sunday 17th September (county trials day!).

Anyway - spare a thought to the team when you go to bed tonight. After all, in a few years' time, it could be you!

PS - Good article in The Times (who actually have a correspondent out there, ex-England cricketer Sarah Potter) and Planet Rugby have a preview as well.

Watch every match LIVE from the Women's Rugby World Cup

While we await any news about UK TV broadcasts (... long silence ...) , the IRB has announced that it is bringing you will be able to watch every match LIVE or replayed as live from the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup 2006 through the internet.

The tournament, which is being staged in Edmonton, Canada, begins on 31 August and climaxes with the final on 17 September. The Black Ferns of New Zealand are the defending champions but the competition is set to be stiffer than ever.

You can watch a single match LIVE for £2.50. Or you can follow ENgland through their three pool games, LIVE, for £6.50. Access to every single game is also available via a "tournament pass", covering all 30 games, costing £49.99. There are also packages for the semi finals and final.

You can also watch a replay of every match as live, for £1.50. More details at http://www.rwcwomens.com/EN/News/video+home.htm