6Nations England RR v France Women

Apologies for posting it here but there isn't a section that is for other rugby teams.

Six Nations England Red Roses v France Women preview
sponsored by Porsche Centre Sheffield (www.porschesheffield.co.uk)
Sunday 10th February, at Caste Park, home of Doncaster Knights (www.drfc.co.uk)

“There are records of women's rugby being played in France as early as the mid-1890s, and in the 1920s a form of the game called "barette" was very popular, with national championships. However, after the 1930s the game had all but disappeared, and was not revived until 1965 when groups of students in Lyon and Toulouse decided to take part in the great charitable campaign against world hunger. Most of them had brothers and friends who played rugby, so they decide to organise a charity game at Bourg-en-Bresse.

So successful was this that a regular series of games began, with clubs being formed as students graduated, initially mainly in the south. In 1969 a national association - the ARF [Women's Rugby Association] - was formed. Despite initial opposition to the game from both the government and the FFR (who briefly banned any FFR officials from officiating at women's games) by 1976 12 clubs were taking part in national competitions.

In 1982, by which time the number of clubs had more than doubled, the ARF signed a memorandum of understanding was agreed with the FFR which finally gave their gave official backing - and in the same year France took part in the first ever women's rugby international.” (Wikipedia)

“The England women's national rugby union team first played in 1982. England were the 2014 Rugby World Cup champions after beating Canada in the final. Their coach is Simon Middleton after their coach Gary Street, who had been head coach since 2006, contract wasn't renewed. Street now coaches Harlequins Ladies.
In 2017New Zealand beat England in the final. France came third in the last two World Cups.
‘Always the bridesmaid,…; France have yet to play in a World Cup final but they have come third in six of the eight Women’s World Cups.
France Women’s rugby have fared better in the six nations because they have won six of the 17 World Cups. This includes 2018; so they are the current Six Nations champions. They with a Grand Slam last year and on five of their previous six Six Nations titles.

From 2002-2006 the Six Nations included Spain but not Italy; Italy have replaced Spain since 2007. Spain came third in 2005, they also finished third in 2000 and 2001, and fourth in 2002 and 2005. I don’t know why the Women’s Six Nations doesn’t become Seven Nations. It was ‘winning’ the wooden spoon in 2006 with a 12-16 loss to Scotland that triggered Spain’s exit. If Spain had scored five points more, I wonder if Scotland would have been asked to leave?
The Six Nations committee deemed that Italy Women should play because Italy Men play in the men’s Sic Nations. Spain Women have not lost to Italy Women for nearly 12 years. It rankles amongst Spanish Women’s rugby circles and there is talk of creating a European Four Nations that would include Russia and the team that finished bottom would have to play to stay in the competition.


Women’s rugby in France started many years before in England but our Red Roses hit the ground running and are only behind the NZ Black Ferns in the World rankings.

The women’s rugby World rankings are:

1 New Zealand
2 England
3 France
4 Canada

Last week (2nd Feb) France Women 52- 3 Wales Women. England Women and Ireland Women haven’t played yet, so France Women top the Women’s Six Nations 2019 League table.
Caroline Thomas (Hooker) scored a hat-trick and both Romane Menager (No. 8) and Lea Maurie (Prop) scored a brace of tries in the game against Wales.

Before the England Red Roses game against Canada Women Doncaster Knights Chief Executive Tony De Mulder said: “It is a great honour for us at Castle Park and Doncaster Knights. We’re so proud of our stadium and the facilities we have here. It’ll be a great chance for thousands of people to see it and a great occasion for South Yorkshire to host an international rugby fixture”

“We have a women’s rugby programme that involves schools, our own team the Doncaster Demons, as well as Yorkshire that train at Castle Park, so it will bring a spotlight to women's rugby to the good people of South Yorkshire. We can’t wait to play our part and encourage local girls and women to take up the sport and cheer on the Red Roses.”

To now be hosting a Women’s 6 Nations game is an even greater honour. It promises to be a very closely-fought contest when the second best team in the World play the third best team. If any team is the historical form Six Nations team, it is France but that is in the past. England are currently ranked higher than France, so the Red Roses need to begin to alter the Women’s Six Nations record book.


COYRR