Welcome to the top women’s rugby news for Apr 12-18! We’re picking up from last week where we talked about the Wales Rugby Union receiving lots of online criticism due to their team’s performance in the Six Nations. They responded by stating that they are “committed to developing the female game” but have indicated that the pandemic interrupted those plans. Is this true or is this another case of using the pandemic as a convenient excuse? We’ll have to keep our eye on this.
In XVs news, Russia celebrates their teams attendance at the Inaugural 1991 Women’s Rugby World Cup, we review Round 3 of the Six Nations which caused a small shake-up in the World Rugby rankings, we also look at Round 17 of Allianz Premier 15s who is getting closer to their playoffs, and the USA Rugby DI Elite semi-finals.
In 7s news, Canada has completed their probe into former head coach John Tait but won’t share findings until all parties are notified. Spain and Russia are in camp, Spain only a week for while Russia will go until the end of April.
In “other news”, we learn the three candidates for the World Rugby Executive Committee, Guinness is working with Wikipedia to build profiles for players in the Six Nations and NIRA adds three more teams which gets them that much closer to the critical number of 40 NCAA rugby teams.
We wrap the week up with 11 player features and 16 media!
tl;dr: Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News for Apr 12-18 begins with the WRU responding to criticism, and we cover Round 3 of the Six Nations.
Video Summary
Featured Women’s Rugby News
Last week we covered the criticism that the Wales Rugby Union has been receiving in adequately supporting their women’s teams. The WRU responded to the criticism but their response doesn’t really hold any water.
We also look at an article from RugbyPass who reinforces what kind of support is needed and another article from Kerin Lake’s partner sharing her rigorous schedule just to play for her country.
Weekly Women’s Rugby News
XVs
- The celebration of the Inaugural 1991 Women’s Rugby World Cup continues with articles from USA and Russia
- Round 3 of the Six Nations saw France defeated Ireland handily and Italy blasted Scotland setting up the Super Saturday Finals Day:
- Final: England v France, Twickenham Stoop, London – Saturday 24th April, KO 2pm (BST)
- Third/fourth-place play-off: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Saturday 24th April, KO 12pm (BST)
- Fifth/sixth-place play-off: Scotland v Wales, Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Saturday 24th April, KO 5pm (BST)
- Spain overtook Wales in the World Rugby rankings
- Round 17 of Allianz Premier 15s moves this competition closer to their semi-finals
- Lindenwood and Life move on to the USA Rugby DI Elite Championship on May 1
7s
- Canada has finished their probe into former head coach John Tait but won’t share any results until all parties are notified
- Spain and Russia are in camp preparing for the summer 7s events
- India has played their first 7s tournament of the year as they return to play
Other News
- The World Rugby Executive Committee has an open seat and we learned that there are two females and one male applying
- Guinness is making sure that the women’s Six Nations players have a presence on Wikipedia
- Ugo Monye speaks about why he is an ally for women’s rugby and how rugby shouldn’t have a gender
- NIRA adds three teams as they race to 40 teams for NCAA rugby
Women’s Rugby Player Features
- BBC Sport England’s Shaunagh Brown explains why she is not worried about their final and how she will be spending her time off
- Zimbabwe’s Rumbidzai Chabveka is relishing her new role as a ZRU National Panel referee
- Talking Rugby Union talks with 19 year-old England’s Maud Muir about her journey and hopes
- England’s Maggie Alphonsi talks with World Rugby about her successful broadcasting career
- USA’s Lauren Doyle talks about switching from track to rugby and her Olympic dreams
- England’s Sara Cox and Nikki O’Donnell share with World Rugby their rise in the referee ranks
- Ireland’s Nora Stapleton chats about her challenge with retirement
- Rugby Americas North hosts a Q&A with Cristina Flores Justic
- Ireland’s Sene Naoupu talks with World Rugby about her recent appointment as Head of Strategic Projects and Research at International Rugby Players (IRP)
- Wales’ Jasmine Joyce discusses life as a professional athlete, her hopes for the Games and juggling rugby commitments with World Rugby
Women’s Rugby Media/Podcasts/Videos
- The Good, The Bad and the Rugby has England’s Shaunagh Brown on
- RTE Rugby talks with Lynne Cantwell about her appointment in South Africa
- Women’s Rugby Pod Wales’ Warren Abrahams and Ireland’s Jenny Murphy about the Six Nations so far
- The Black Ferns visited HerStory, a new women’s rugby exhibition at the New Zealand Museum
- Try Hards talks Six Nations with Danielle Waterman
- BBC ScrumV has Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap on to talk about her disappointment in the match against Ireland
- Michelle Hooper, tournament director for the 2022 Rugby World Cup, talks to Ashley Stanley in part two of LockerRoom’s video series, The Big Four
- Women’s Six Nations gives insight into France’s Jessy Tremouliere journey
- RugbyJoe talks with Zainab “Zee” Alema and her ambitions of becoming the first Muslim woman to play for England
- USA’s Naya Tapper is featured by Team USA
- Worcester Warriors’ quick chats with Elizabeth Shermer
- Irish Rugby shares Kathryn Dane’s journey to the jersey
- Ben Ryan has Dr Sherylle Calder about her work with Rugby World Cup teams
- Royal London talks with England’s Maggie Alphonsi about a Women’s Lions team
- Lao Rugby is featured by World Rugby and their Lao Unstoppables
- Great Britain’s Celia Quansah shows how the 7s squad is practicing
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https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1381648181415514121
Many of Wales Women's squad are balancing rugby with full-time jobs.
— Katie Sands (@KESands) April 12, 2021
That means limited/no rest days, and constant juggling while giving so much to represent Wales.
An important insight here:https://t.co/7UsUnrw4qW
We covered the online criticism that Wales received last week and it hasn’t stopped. The WRU has responded to the criticism their women’s team has received claiming to be “committed to developing the female game” but conveniently blame everything on COVID. We’re seeing this across the board, when a team doesn’t perform it’s easier to blame COVID rather then take a real look at the issues. Wales has been falling behind for quite some time now.
Jess at RugbyPass makes that point effortlessly and we also look at article from Kerin Lake’s partner where he shares the reality of playing international rugby while balancing a career and motherhood.
XVs
#OnThisDay | April 14, 1991
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) April 14, 2021
The #USWNTXVs defeated England 19-6 to win the first ever @rugbyworldcup. pic.twitter.com/FKEUHjM6hg
#wrugby: A look back to the first Women's @rugbyworldcup from Maria Rose Starkova, one of the members of the USSR team. (@ScrumQueens et al may want to use a popular online translator of your choice!) https://t.co/Fz7hfPu6Ks pic.twitter.com/Qj6tAGICcH
— Russian Rugby (@russiarugby) April 13, 2021
The celebration of the Inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup continues. It’s well known that USA won that first event but Russian rugby has provided a rare window into their team’s presence at the event as well.
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1383490647596802058
Round 3 of the Six Nations had closer scoring lines as France defeated Ireland 56-15 and Italy bested Scotland 41-20. This sets up the Super Saturday Finals Day next week.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1382015891295113216
Wales poor performance in the Six Nations causes them to drop to 10th in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings, with Spain replacing them in ninth. This is the lowest-ever position for Wales since August 2017.
✅ Upsets
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) April 18, 2021
✅ Nail-biting thrillers
✅ Top-four confirmed
✍ Here's what happened yesterday in an action-packed Round 17: https://t.co/FCEn5yuCco#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/CIx4qlLxx1
Round 17 is in the books! It started with a monumental first win of the 2020/21 season for DMP Durham Sharks over Bristol Bears, a hard fought win for Wasps on the road to Gloucester-Hartpury, Harlequins are a step closer to a home semi final after beating Worcester Warriors, Loughborough Lightning came off second best in their top four encounter with Saracens and Sale Sharks ended their final home game of the season with a victory over Exeter Chiefs.
The DI Elite National Championship is set, as @LUWomensRugby defeats @BYUWomensRugby 74-7 in the semis.
— The Rugby Breakdown (@TheRugbyBD) April 18, 2021
Lions will host @WLifeRugby on May 1 for the trophy
At the USA Rugby DI Elite semi-finals, Lindenwood defeated BYU 74-7 and Life squeaked past Central Washington University 29-20. Lindenwood and Life now look to the May 1 final in St. Charles, MO.
Watch the final 7 p.m. CT on May 1 on FTFnext.com.
7s
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383420202717642766
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1381673676651831296
With Spain’s Iberdrola league on a break, 19 of their 7s players are participating in a week long camp.
https://twitter.com/RugbyRussia/status/1382560603089346561
Russia is also in camp from April 11-30 with 19 players attending. They are preparing for the 1st stage of the European Championship set to take place in mid-June.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1381970566287085569
Rugby India has finally played their first rugby match in over a year, the tournament took place at the picturesque Srinagar. India is one of the countries badly hit by the Coronavirus, but despite the difficulties they were able to push through and organize a 7s tournament.
Other News
The 3 candidates for a place on World Rugby's powerful Exec Committee now confirmed. Brilliant to see 2 women nominated. Currently just 1 woman is on the 11-person group.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 15, 2021
- Cristina Flores (Rugby Americas North)
- Ada Milby (Asia Rugby)
- Jonathan Webb (Rugby Football Union)
An opening on the World Rugby’s Executive Committee has sparked interest all over. Scrum Queens confirmed that there are 3 candidates:The upcoming election for a spot on its powerful Executive Committee gives @WorldRugby a golden opportunity to prove it is serious about its "unwavering commitment to advancing women in rugby" More on the early runners here.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) April 14, 2021
➡️https://t.co/pgD1mokM5J pic.twitter.com/Ow0FVPRw1d
- Cristina Flores (Rugby Americas North)
- Ada Milby (Asia Rugby)
- Jonathan Webb (Rugby Football Union)
NIRA continues their sprint to 40 colleges adding University of New Haven, Lander University and Adrian College. All three programs will look to kick off in the fall of 2021.The #SprintTo40 Continues: NIRA approves three new rugby programs to take the pitch in fall of 2021.
— USA College Rugby (@USACollegeRugby) April 16, 2021
SEE STORY » https://t.co/pdqzW53SpC pic.twitter.com/bzbCB3AWXb
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1381683664451407872
https://twitter.com/RugbyAfrique/status/1381939474037411840
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1382816069929340929
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383540789360300037
Lauren Doyle knew she did not want to run track in college so when she got a packet in the mail all about rugby, she decided to switch gears.https://t.co/SqI3NcLArg
— KSAN News (@ksannews) April 13, 2021
Nora Stapleton on the hardest thing in Irish sport: ‘I really struggled with retirement’ https://t.co/C3GI571UPW
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) April 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383178527244173313
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383827737912090624
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1381542572481462273
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1382091267773972484
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383465587158913024
https://twitter.com/BlackFerns/status/1381473212098248705
https://twitter.com/GoodBadRugby/status/1381574709343567872
The first high performance manager for the @WomenBoks @cantwelll tells #AgainstTheHead of her early days in the role pic.twitter.com/L0JYDg6Yfo
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) April 13, 2021
We’re half way in the women’s 6 Nations! This week we chat to @W_Abrahams & Ireland favourite @JennyMurphy045 talking
— Women’s Rugby Pod (@podwomensrugby) April 14, 2021
England’s performance, the Welsh campaign so far & Murphy’s take on Ireland’s impressive win.
Listen now ⬇️ https://t.co/IKo4llHEuZ pic.twitter.com/7EuCDIvOIP
WATCH | The Black Ferns squad were honored to be among the first to go through HerStory - a new women's rugby exhibition at the @NZRugbyMuseum.#LoveEveryMinute pic.twitter.com/ioYf1Bhb80
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) April 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/TheTryHardsPod/status/1382954772953767936
https://twitter.com/RoyalLondon/status/1381525046276030464
https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1382016989816836096
https://twitter.com/WorcsWarriorsW/status/1382294350890209283
“I may have a different way of life to my teammates. But that’s what rugby is about, isn’t it?”@alemazainab outlines her ambition of wanting to become the first black Muslim woman to play rugby for England. pic.twitter.com/YfHDvCrpzO
— RugbyJOE (@RugbyJOE_UK) April 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383057639618326529
https://twitter.com/BBCScrumV/status/1382409067856072711
LRF’s CEO, @ViengsamaiS is featured on @WorldRugby talking about the Lao Unstoppables coming together last March to develop their leadership, network and make a plan to improve the environment for girls and women in rugby. #Unstoppables #WomenRugbyhttps://t.co/TC0uCHkm0G
— Lao Rugby Federation (@Laorugby) April 13, 2021
She’s been on the staff of the winning 2003 and 2007 @rugbyworldcup teams. She has worked with Ernie Els to win the Open & added her skills & support in the NFL, F1 & many, many others too. @sheryllecalder is the guest on tomorrow’s episode - link in bio. The Ben Ryan Podcast pic.twitter.com/8tpl4YW6R5
— Ben Ryan (@benjaminryan) April 13, 2021
Olympic hopeful @Nayatapper is ready to create a legacy for herself while also inspiring current and future athletes.
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) April 14, 2021
What's Your Why, presented by @Devryuniv. #RoadToTokyo
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1382760382280847362
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1383827737912090624
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