Welcome to the top women’s rugby news for April 19-25. The first ever Women’s Six Nations Finals Day was fantastic! England took their third consecutive title after outlasting France 10-6, Ireland took third with their win over Italy 25-5 and Scotland landed fifth place with a strong win over Wales 27-20. We also look at an article from Sara Orchard looking at the future of the W6N.
In 7s news, Japan held a test event ahead of the Olympics complete with COVID protocols, matches, staff…all the things. Glad to see they are testing 95 days ahead of the event, but Japan just entered their third lockdown…
In “other news”, we look at World Rugby’s new strategic plan and USA Rugby is hosting identification camps to try and find their next generation of athletes.
We wrap up the week with 5 player features and 14 media.
tl;dr Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News Apr 19-25 reviews the first ever Women’s Six Nations Finals Day where England took home their 3rd consecutive title and Japan held a test event ahead of Olympics complete with COVID protocols, matches, staff…all the things.
Video Summary
No video this week as Wendy has been sick (not COVID).
Weekly Women’s Rugby News
XVs
- England took home their third consecutive title in the Women’s Six Nations defeating France 10-6
- Ireland took third beating Italy 25-5
- Scotland is fifth over Wales with a 27-20 win
- England and France will play again April 30 but we’re awaiting final details
- Sara Orchard chats with Ireland’s Fiona Coghlan, England’s Danielle Waterman, Wales’ Gemma Hallett, Scrum Queen writers Ali Donnelly and John Birch about possible futures for the Women’s Six Nations
7s
- Japan held a test event ahead of the Summer Olympics despite the country entering it’s third lockdown due to the pandemic
Other News
- World Rugby has released their strategic plan through 2025
- USA is hosting seven camps to try and unearth a new generation of male and female talent
Women’s Rugby Player Features
- England’s Emily Scarratt explains how she refines her skills and how kicking is changing the women’s game
- World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship recipient and leading Fiji lawyer, Ana Tuiketei, wants to see more female involvement at executive board level in the Oceania region
- England’s Vicky Fleetwood is trying to raise awareness of bowel cancer after her mother’s death from the disease five years ago
- Italy’s Silvia Gaudino followed in her father’s footsteps but didn’t play rugby until she was 17
- England’s Danielle Waterman talks with The Guardian about how the game has grown and why it’s seeing so much change
Women’s Rugby Media/Podcasts/Videos
- Stripped Back Sport talks with England’s Rachael Burford about her beginnings in rugby and how one conversation with Gary Street changed everything for her
- Sara Orchard shares the behind the scenes preparing for commentating an International match
- England’s Zainab Alema recently met Maggie Alphonsi and it was amazing
- Fill Your Boots talked with Ed Marsh, Kim Johnson & Ryan Sabet about starting a women’s rugby team
- Guinness Six Nations profiled Italy’s Michela Sillari and Scotland’s Lana Skeldon
- World Rugby featured England’s Emily Scarratt on their series Jersey Tales
- Rugby Coach Weekly shares episode 3 which shares an extraordinary series of events that occurred before the 2014 RWC team even arrived at their first pre-World Cup training session in France
- Women’s Six Nations profiled Italy’s Sara Barattin
- RTE talks with Bernard Jackman on the challenges facing Ireland
- Rugby Americas North hear from Canada’s Jess Neilson on her journey in rugby
- Try Hards breaks down the Six Nations with England’s Danielle Waterman
- Rugby Connections also breaks down the Six Nations
- The American Rugby Show talks 2020 Tokyo with Abby Gustaitis and Nicole Heavirland
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couldn't name a better Saturday#WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/HeMiIkt0Bj
— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 24, 2021
The first Women’s Six Nations Super Saturday didn’t disappoint! It started with Ireland’s Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe scoring two tries and providing tough defense on the way to defeating Italy 25-5. Ireland took third place overall in the tournament.
England secured a third consecutive title as they held off a second-half France fightback to triumph 10-6 at the Twickenham Stoop.
The last match of the day saw Scotland victorious over Wales 27-20. With their win, Scotland takes fifth place while Wales is last overall.
Future of @Womens6Nations: What next for the Championship after 2021's adjustments.
— Sara Orchard (@Sara_Orchard) April 23, 2021
Thanks to @CoghlanFiona @nolli15 @GemHallett and @ScrumQueens for taking part #wrugby https://t.co/a9KTvo0rIy
Sara Orchard asked former Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan, England World Cup winner Danielle Waterman, former Wales forward Gemma Hallett and ScrumQueens.com writers Ali Donnelly and John Birch for their thoughts around how the Women’s Six Nations should evolve.
7s
A test event for rugby sevens was held at Tokyo Stadium on Thursday as preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games continued#Tokyo2020
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 23, 2021
Organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held an operational test event for rugby sevens on Thursday, with 95 days to go before the first match of the tournament on 26 July.
Match-day operations were simulated as they will be during the Olympics, complete with match officials, ground staff, the teams being announced on the stadium speakers and music being played after every try.
“We are massively excited about being back in Japan,” said World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin.
“It is a great opportunity for us. We know that a successful rugby sevens program in the Olympics is a great showcase for our sport, a great driver for future fans and players and is an inspirational pathway.”
“We know Japan will be great hosts, no matter what the circumstances.”
Three months out from the start of the Olympic games, a state of emergency has been declared in Tokyo https://t.co/858aO7gtq7
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 23, 2021
Japan declared “short and powerful” states of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and two other prefectures on Friday as the country struggles to contain a resurgent coronavirus pandemic three months before the Olympics.
The state of emergency – a third round for Japan that also includes Kyoto and Hyogo – will cover nearly a quarter of the population and last through the looming “Golden Week” holidays, dealing another blow to the tourism and services industries.
Other News
World Rugby has launched ‘A Global Sport for All’, a new strategic plan for the advancement and growth of the sport through to 2025.
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) April 21, 2021
The plan is underpinned by a focus on evolving the game, with advancing player welfare at heart. pic.twitter.com/ML7RkRcLtN
World Rugby has launched ‘A Global Sport for All – True to its Values’, a new strategic plan for the advancement and growth of the sport through to 2025.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1385639917737451522
USA is set to hold seven camps in May and June, designed to unearth a new generation of male and female talent, with a focus on those from non-traditional backgrounds.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1384945185776447488
“I didn’t want anyone to treat me differently.” Extremely grateful to @vickyfleetwood for sharing very personal, yet beautiful, reflections of her late mother Pam, who passed away from bowel cancer five years ago - and how rugby helped her deal with grief https://t.co/8hhzoK8gNu
— Fiona Tomas (@fi_tomas_) April 23, 2021
Something special for the @Womens6Nations #GrandFinal
— Kate Rowan (@KateLouiseRowan) April 23, 2021
Had the pleasure of @EmilyScarratt talking me through the art of kicking - take it as a kicking masterclass!
Exclusive #EngvsFra #RedRoses
⬇️ https://t.co/8vrFDzpyWD
A touch of rose-tinted glasses here (the @Womens6Nations is not "increasingly competitive") but an interesting synopsis of the history of women's rugby. @bird_burgess @emmamit09 @MaggieAlphonsi https://t.co/aSmEz7rmec
— Amanda Bennett (@ABCymru10) April 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1384920829750910980
This week on #StrippedBackSport I spoke to @RachaelBurf12 who’s been one of the most astounding contributions to women’s rugby. Growing up playing in the same team as her mother and sister, rugby is quite literally in her blood and she is the epitome of dedication. Link in bio! pic.twitter.com/YnTeNTWeIy
— Kirsty Gallacher (@TheRealKirstyG) April 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1384431896554258433
https://twitter.com/Womens6Nations/status/1384554495934451712
https://twitter.com/fyb_rugby/status/1384776078875676673
This weeks @TheAmRugbyShow talking #Tokyo2020 with @USARugby W 7’s ⭐️’s @AbbyGustaitis & @NicHeavirland plus @usmlr analysis from @ToddsClever Rob Hoadley & I! https://t.co/XRghEYcR7d pic.twitter.com/BiBMqXmRa9
— Alex Corbisiero (@AlexCorbs) April 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/theeamonnhogan/status/1384856241546186753
Player Profile: Sara Barattin
— Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 20, 2021
She's the most capped @Federugby Women's player EVER....but it didn't all start with rugby!
Find out what she did before picking up the oval ball.#WomensSixNations pic.twitter.com/q9sK4embtt
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1384823109954461697
My Rugby Life: Michela Sillari
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) April 21, 2021
"Without doubt I will always be grateful to my father. Thanks to all you have done. I managed to achieve something marvellous."
A lovely insight from the @Womens6Nations to how it started for the @Federugby centre. pic.twitter.com/tAqx8vl76q
Here are the views of @bernardjackman on the challenges facing the Ireland set-up. #AgainstTheHead pic.twitter.com/mRYmxCOjYG
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) April 19, 2021
In the latest edition of our "RAN Offload" segment, we hear from @RugbyCanada international turned @YorkLionsWRugby Head Coach @jessneilson13 and her journey in Rugby! https://t.co/UZBfuSp7VC #RANRugby #WomenInRugby @WorldRugby
— RugbyAmericasNorth (@RugbyAmericasN) April 20, 2021
Happy Hump Day Try Hards... Lovely little pod hitting the apps right now.@MissLJJ goes off on a tangent about sustainable clothing, but @nolli15 gets us back on track with her breakdown of the two @Womens6Nations matches from the weekend!@MatchPint plaudits dealt out too! pic.twitter.com/7jyn1V6UcD
— Try Hards Podcast (@TheTryHardsPod) April 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/veroniquelandew/status/1385281467685777411
My Rugby Life: @skeldonlana
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) April 22, 2021
"This is the first thing I did that I thought, I am good enough."
Inspirational from the @Scotlandteam hooker. pic.twitter.com/UOCH5LxR7h