Welcome to the top women’s rugby news for Sep 13-19! It was a huge week with the Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifiers, the Fast Four Tournament at Vancouver 7s, and more.
The European Qualifiers began on Monday with Italy defeating Scotland 38-13 and Spain narrowly upsetting Ireland 8-7. Then on Sunday, the teams swapped opponents and we watched Ireland stifle Italy 15-7 while Scotland beat Spain 27-22.
This leads us to a make it or break it weekend as the teams are tied with 5 points. Winning is the most important goal for the teams while the tie breakers will be win/loss between the teams, then points difference and then number of tries. The overall winner goes straight to the RWC while the second place finisher goes to the Final Qualification Tournament.
The Fast Four Tournament in Vancouver saw Great Britain and standout Jasmine Joyce scoring a hat-trick to take the Cup over USA 34-12. Third place went to the hosts Canada as they defeated Mexico 48-0. Teams now look forward to Edmonton 7s this weekend where the overall winner will take the 2021 HSBC 7s Series title.
In more 7s news, Asia has announced that they will host their 7s tournaments in the United Arab Emirates on November 19-20. These will serve as the Asian qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup 7s 2022 and England has “made a u-turn and reinstated [their] full-time sevens program”. This leaves players like Jasmine Joyce and others out in the cold as Great Britain 7s will not continue.
We close out the week with 2 “Other News”, 10 features and 12 media.
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tl;dr: Under the Posts – Women’s Rugby News for Sep 13-19! An action packed week with the Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifiers and the Fast Four Tournament at Vancouver 7s. We also look at all the domestic competitions and some 7s news.
Video Summary
Featured Women’s Rugby News
The RWC 2021 European Qualifiers began with Italy defeating Scotland 38-13 and Spain narrowly upsetting Ireland 8-7. The teams then swapped opponents on Sunday and Ireland outlasted Italy 15-7 while Scotland fought back and beat Spain 27-22.
This leads us to a make it or break it weekend for all four teams as they all have 5 points. Results between the teams counts first, then points difference and then tries. The overall winner goes straight to the RWC while the second place finisher goes to the Final Qualification Tournament.
Top Women’s Rugby News
XVs
International
- Tommy Conlon writes for Independent.ie about Ireland’s critical match this weekend while giving us a look back at how they got there
- Over 100 Wales players have signed on to an open letter asking on the Welsh Rugby Union to “do better” amid anger over its strategy for the women’s game
- We also finally learn a bit more about why Rachel Taylor left the WRU coaching staff
- Jay Tregonning has been appointed head coach of the Wallaroos as they continue their preparation for the RWC 2021
Domestic
- Round 1 of France’s Elite 1 sees French Stadium and Montpellier on top of their conferences
- Round 1 of Hong Kong’s Premiership sees DAC Kowloon and Kroll USRC Tigers on top
- Canterbury stays on top of the Dr Farah Palmer Cup Premiership while Manawatu stays on top in the Championship but Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour will not continue this season due to COVID-19
- Bristol moves to the top of Allianz Premier 15s but is chased closely by Saracens
- Corstorphine leads Scotland’s Tennnet’s Premiership
- Connacht breaks their silence on Interpro facilities saying that they “would request that a review of the decision-making process which led to these circumstances be conducted and our hope is that more thought will go into decisions like this for the women’s game in the future.”
- The Texas Rugby Union announces their annual All Star tournament will be in December in Houston, TX
7s
- Asia has announced that they will host their 7s tournaments in United Arab Emirates on November 19-20; these will serve as the Asian qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup 7s 2022
- England has made a “u-turn and reinstates full-time sevens program”
Other News
- World Rugby reveals the 7s stars who retired after the Olympics and the list includes Canada’s Brittany Benn and France’s Fanny Horta
- The Texas Rugby Union has announced that their annual Summit Conference on the Game will take place in the greater Austin area on November 5-7
Women’s Rugby Features
- England’s Kat Merchant has received anonymous hate messages after she posted a video online but says she refuses to “give in to bullies”
- Lauren Heskin writes for Image about the Interpros scandal and the continuance of women’s sports being treated as second class
- Stella Mills also writes about the Interpros scandal for RugbyPass
- Club Rugby NZ and Adam Julian tell the tale of how Peter Joseph and Aotearoa Māori came to be
- Iroquois Roots Rugby co-founder Melanie Squire spoke with World Rugby about how the organization coped during the pandemic and what the future holds
- World Rugby is rumored to be considered Rugby World Cups every two years instead of every four
- Former Waratahs and Netherlands international player Inge Visser has jumped into coaching full force
- Rugby Africa Women’s Rugby Manager, Maha Zaoui talks with World Rugby about the new sports management program, which aims to inspire growth in female participation across the continent
- The Ric Suggit Women’s Rugby Memorial Award is highlighted by the Pronghorns
- Jess Hayden writes for The Times about how the Harlequins Women use science to address taboos of their players’ health and performance
Women’s Rugby Media
- #BackTheGirls releases episode 4 & 5 with Wales’ Rachel Taylor, Jess Kavanagh and Gemma Howlett
- The Women’s Rugby Show covers the Allianz Premier 15s clash between Loughbourgh and Wasps
- Women’s Rugby Pod talk the Interpros incident
- Watch all the tries from the Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifiers
- GrassRoots Women’s Rugby talks balancing life with rugby with Aterians Ladies and Sleaford RFC
- Sinéad Kissane shares videos with Ireland’s Ciara Griffin and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe after their shock loss to Spain in the RWC 2021 European Qualifiers
- Teledeporte talks with Spain’s Patricia Garcia Rodriguez, Isabel Rico Vazquez and Olivia Fresneda about their win over Ireland
- Black Fern Ariana Bayler tells of three knee reconstructions on her path to playing with the Ferns
- Tamara Van Leeuwen, President for Curaçao Rugby Federation talks with Gift Time Rugby
Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifier – Match Day 1/3
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1437428954437148672
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1437477100555051013
Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifier – Match Day 2/3
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1439604023406043140
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1439648608199008268
Rugby World Cup 2021 European Qualifier – Match Day 3/3
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1439662561138552839
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1436328786379874304
XVs
International
The IRFU’s historical neglect of women’s rugby has left the national team fighting for its very existencehttps://t.co/1r2vvU32mw
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) September 19, 2021
5 months ago we wrote to the WRU urging them to provide performance pathways.
— Mellissa Berry (@WelshieBerry) September 13, 2021
On May 10th former players met with the CEO.
We were told recommendations from the review would be shared & implemented.
As elite rugby deteriorates further, we demand action #DoBetterWRU pic.twitter.com/aAF59t0xTg
'Do better!' More than 100 ex-Wales players publish open letter demanding change from WRU https://t.co/c3Nu6hnnxd
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) September 13, 2021
Wales coach who mysteriously quit just months into new job finally reveals details of 'traumatising' exithttps://t.co/WhiOlc3zQs
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) September 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/rugbycomau/status/1437635974113206277
Domestic
https://twitter.com/Elite1Feminine/status/1438906171012927489
https://twitter.com/Premier15s/status/1439289954149048323
A real shame, but it's due to their inability to train or play under COVID-19 Alert Levels.#FarahPalmerCup
— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) September 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438940842404814852
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438302517062950922
2021 Mary Graham All Star Tournament – Dec 4-5, 2021 https://t.co/JdmADid6dY pic.twitter.com/ETn1qlYshb
— Texas Rugby Union (@TexasRugbyUnion) September 17, 2021
7s
https://twitter.com/WorldRugby7s/status/1439745201749299208
The wait is over! Asia Rugby kicks off the Sevens calendarhttps://t.co/p3drH2gHTc pic.twitter.com/zPg7ocDbqD
— Asia Rugby (@asiarugby) September 16, 2021
Exclusive from @KateLouiseRowan: RFU makes U-turn and reinstates its full-time sevens programme https://t.co/mZcsofa220
— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) September 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1439303271861075979
Other News
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438216284089561097
https://twitter.com/premrugby/status/1440002184335200259
I spoke to @rosie_galligan and Olivia Withers, head of medical and lead physiotherapist for Harlequins Women, about how the club uses science to combat the taboos in women’s rugby.https://t.co/ggWhKcc4Or
— Jessica Hayden (@_JessHayden) September 14, 2021
“Apologies only come when PR is impacted, not when players are”
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2021
- @stella_mills_ on the latest damaging and needless situation to tarnish the reputation of the women's game in Irelandhttps://t.co/fQ4dPZbn6w
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438578520591056902
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1439590250477666306
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1437898964137873412
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438140701544525835
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1439227774326214659
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1437853664530649092
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438548580608905217
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1439348519274418181
https://twitter.com/BackTheGirlsPod/status/1437728191523786754
https://twitter.com/WomensRugbyShow/status/1438040511877615617
https://twitter.com/podwomensrugby/status/1438196964231979012
Episode 5 of @BackTheGirlsPod is live Seen the @BBCSportWales & @WalesRugby Latest news ??!
— Philippa Tuttiett (@PhilipaTuttiett) September 17, 2021
We explain all!
And chat with the amazing woman behind the most heartwarming rugby tweet ever . . .
With @GemHallett @Lowrih15 @Laurada02036191 @gabriellajukes pic.twitter.com/LBBXb6VxSM
https://twitter.com/teledeporte/status/1437542271528886275
You can hear and see the emotion in Ciara Griffin after Ireland's shock loss to Spain last night. Sunday's qualifier against Italy will be up there as the biggest of their lives and one of the biggest for the national women's team. pic.twitter.com/TSIc0XTZno
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) September 14, 2021
Episode 3 is here. We are joined by @AretiansLadies, a little cameo from @SleafordWRFC and Mollie has an unfortunate injury. We discuss balancing life with rugby and gear up for the season. Not for those of a sensitive disposition.....! #grassrootsrugbypod pic.twitter.com/rXQRBjOSmd
— GrassRoots Women's Rugby Pod (@gr_rugbypod) September 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1439660577887035395
A remarkable story about adversity & determination.
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) September 15, 2021
Three knee constructions later and @WaikatoRugby halfback Ariana Bayler finally got that Black Ferns call-up she'd been waiting for.#LoveEveryMinute pic.twitter.com/T28QutxIik
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe says they can fix what went wrong against Spain for Sunday's qualifier v Italy.
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) September 15, 2021
She also has her say on what happened last Saturday and changing conditions for Connacht women.
Spoke to Amee-Leigh from their base in Parma - more on @VirginMediaNews at 5.30 pic.twitter.com/zPq8kiuC80
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1438503139745828872
https://twitter.com/ToniaAntoniazzi/status/1438397291421917184
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