2014 Women's Rugby World Cup

[johnbirch Profile]

They might be invited, but would they turn up? Australia's record on taking up test invitations in recent years is not particularly impressive...

[victorsra Profile Website]

IRB should simply continue Womens Nations Cup in 2015, but restricted now to NZ, AUS, CAN and USA. One year played in NA and the other year in Oceania, rotative. If succesful it should be expanded in the shape of IRB Junior World Trophy for non-european sides, with 8 sides.

About professional womens club rugby I was wondering if it's plausible to think in the next years about a European Womens League, as this discussion emerged after England's display. I don't see viable now any professionalization of national league, but a franchises league could concentrate not just the best European players but also North American and Southern Hemisphere ones (as I also don't see viable now professional womens rugby XV competition in NZ or AUS...).

Maybe begining as a 6-franchises league with sides based in (exemple!) Dublin, London, Bristol (West Country/Wales), Paris, Toulouse and Lyon. 20 rounds + semifinals and final, salaries close to Pro D2/RFU Championship, thinking about attendances of 3-5k.

[johnbirch Profile]

IRB should simply continue Womens Nations Cup in 2015, but restricted now to NZ, AUS, CAN and USA. One year played in NA and the other year in Oceania, rotative. If succesful it should be expanded in the shape of IRB Junior World Trophy for non-european sides, with 8 sides.

Trouble is that the Nations Cup is not an IRB property - it "belongs" to the USA, Canada and England who rotate the tournaments between them, with other teams added by invitation. So the IRB would have to create - and fund - something new.

Its also worth adding that the 12 in Paris are not the only 12 teams. Japan and Hong Kong are Asian XVs teams with signigicant development potential, and while Kenya and Uganda also have a major commitment to XVs (rather a stronger one, frankly, than Australia!). You can also add in half-a-dozen European teams outside the 6N that need encouragement and support, like Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Russia, and Sweden - and then there is the Caribbean... and so on.

Any plan has to include something for these nations as well, if the aim is truly a world game.

[Wendigo7 Profile]

England's womens senior team are now fully paid professionals which is very cool.

A good step on the road to a pro league here.

[stuartdm Profile]

England's womens senior team are now fully paid professionals which is very cool.

A good step on the road to a pro league here.

Only the sevens squad.