Why womens rugby is the bastion of true skill and an inclusive sport for all! 

Growing up in the 70’s rugby was played by a right bunch of misfits but in those individuals, you got players that shone across all age grades, club, district and international level and you got pure individual brilliance.  The debate will always be would the likes of Jim Renwick (Scotland), Barry John (Wales), Jean-Pierre Rive (France), Serge Blanco (France), Fran Cotton (England), etc. make it into an International side today?  The debate across generations will always be can you compare different eras but controversially I would say now size matters so much and backs have become forwards and forwards backs.

The last 20-years of women’s rugby has seen the sport develop, increase in popularity and honouring those rugby values as the game is played to physical constraints.  I remember watching the Women’s Rugby World Cup when it was held in Scotland in 1994 when England won with a pack that drove the length of the field and were physically so much bigger.  But even then, the Scotland team showed glimpses of what was to come with the likes of Kim Littlejohn and Pogo Paterson in the centre. Not physically big but athletes that had natural flare and ability with skills in abundance.

Since the early 90’s the men’s professional game, and even through the amateur ranks bulking up, hours in the gym and protein diets have become the norm.  Ball skills, speed, agility and cardiovascular fitness are all becoming secondary to bulking up.  What does this all mean in terms of injuries, recovery and sadly the exclusion of individuals as they are not the 6’5” 19 stone Centre, Wing, or Flanker.  It also does not attract the late developers who have played other sports. The men’s game needs to change for a number of reasons!

So why do I make the statement about women’s rugby? 

The clubs across the country have introduced women’s rugby teams and they are attracting youths and adults who have never picked up a rugby ball before.  In rugby, they have found that they don’t need to be a certain size they are included in to the rugby family and enjoy putting on a pair of boots at the weekend and playing with and for their team mates.  In amongst these new starters you come across some gifted individuals who have not been coached to the point of doing things in a metronomic fashion and suddenly do that something special during a match.  Not saying coaching is not important but a good coach will allow the individual brilliance to become part of their game and not try and coach it out of them!

Certain areas of the women’s game have adapted and have added to the spectacle of the game.  Not limitations but differences such as kicking to touch versus the quick tap and go.   A 50-metre touch finding kick in the men’s game replaced with a pick and go, ruck and grubber kick in the ladies’ game making the most of physical attributes and providing more time with the ball in hand.

An argument might be as the sport is relatively new it is still developing and attracting individuals but this can be countered by the argument that people develop at various stages and ages and girl’s rugby in schools is not a mainstream in physical education classes.  How many of the young boys on a weekend morning at mini rugby get to a certain age and as they perceive they do not have the right shape or size stop doing something they have enjoyed and end up in front of an Xbox or Playstation? 

I would suggest any reader make the time to go and join a club, pick up a ball and get involved.  If you are unsure spend an afternoon and go and watch a female rugby game, see the skills, camaraderie and most importantly the smiles on the faces; ENJOY!

To finish off I thought I would share some of the recent comments of the University of St Andrews Women’s Rugby Team on why they play.

I PLAY RUGBY BECAUSE…..

• I am Stronger than I Look
• I know my Friends have my Back On and Off the Pitch
• It Makes me Feel Alive
• Netball Never Did it for Me
• I Can
• I Like Mud
• I’m Good at It
• My Strength is an Advantage and Celebrated
• Of the Ladz, Bantz and Booze
• I am Stonger than I Ever Thought I Could Be