IRFU Announce Ireland Women’s Sevens Team Structures

Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in Ireland, Irish Rugby, Sevens, Women's Rugby

The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced details of the Ireland Women’s Sevens structures as the Ireland Team begin the journey that will hopefully end in qualification for the IRB 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.

The process began with an interprovincial blitz at the beginning of April that acted as an initial talent screening day to assess the players capabilities and adaptability to the sevens game.

Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster and the Exiles all took part in the blitz to allow newly appointed Women’s Sevens Coach Jon Skurr to view the top players and make a decision on a reduced 21 player training and competition squad. Gemma Crowley, who is the fifteen-a-side Women’s Team Manager, will also work with the Sevens panel over their extended preparations.

In addition to the programme and structures for the Women’s team, the IRFU Club Sevens competitions, which were announced recently, are also part of the long term women’s sevens programme to continue to build a sustainable sevens culture in the women’s game.

Jon Skurr, who coached the Ireland Men’s Team in the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, has selected an elite squad of 21 players which he will work with through weekend camps and rotate through three warm up tournaments in Kinsale, Amsterdam and Bournemouth during May and June.

The squad are already two weeks into the training programme and contains a number of experienced members of the Women’s Team that competed strongly in this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship. It includes Ireland’s most capped player Lynne Cantwell, versatile back Amy Davis and strong running number 8 Joy Neville as well as a number of players who made the breakthrough at international level recently such as Ashleigh Baxter.

The IRFU yesterday received confirmation from FIRA of the Ireland Team’s entry to the European competitions that will give countries qualification for the IRB 2013 Sevens Rugby World Cup in Moscow. The qualifying schedule begins with a tournament in Ghent, Belgium from June 8th – 10th and includes strong opposition with Scotland, Poland, Georgia and Belgium seen as the main contenders.

The Ireland Team will need to have a top two finish in that competition to progress to the final European qualifying tournament. This will take place in Moscow from June 28th – July 1st, with only the top five teams going through to the World Championships the following year in the same venue.

Fiona Coghlan, Captain of the fifteen-a-side Ireland Team, who is currently recovering from injury, said, “This is a great step forward that the IRFU have taken for the women’s game and hopefully we can bring some of our recent good form and success from the fifteen-a-side game to sevens. It is a totally different type of game in terms of physical preparation and tactics, but hopefully at the end of the training camps and tournaments, we will know how far this can take us.”

Scott Walker, IRFU Director of Rugby Development and the Club Game said: “Ireland has a small pool of women players and one concern has always been about maximising the competitiveness of the team, while balancing the physical and personal demands on an extremely talented generation of amateur players.

“The results of the women’s team have been particularly encouraging, especially this season where they played an exciting brand of rugby, so this opportunity of beginning a successful sevens culture was one that was presented to the women’s panels in the four provinces. We were delighted with the response and the numbers who were willing to commit to what is an intensive programme, especially for players who are not training full time.

“The programme is a reflection of the preparation of other competing nations, who have less strong rugby traditions but have committed to the sevens game under their own Olympic elite organisation programmes and support structures. The women’s squad have begun their preparations which will hopefully culminate with qualification for the World Sevens next year, with a view to looking at future Olympic participation."

Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad *:
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exiles)
Nicole Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Amy Davis (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Ashling Hutchings (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Bristol RFC/Exiles/Connacht)
Jacqueline Mulligan (Sligo/Connacht)
Jennifer Murphy (Richmond/Exiles)
Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Áine Ní Chatháin (Garda RFC/Leinster)
Mollie O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Laura O’Mahony (Tralee/Munster)
Beth O’Brien (Oxford University/Exiles)
Rachael Potter (Saracens/Exiles)
Meadhbh Westwood (Waterloo/Exiles)

*Final player to be confirmed following April training camps.

Management:
Coach – Jon Skurr
Manager – Gemma Crowley
Physiotherapist – Dr. Ulrik McCarthy Persson
Physiotherapist – Dom Hoban
S&C Coach – Ross Callaghan
Analyst – Gillian Burke
Nutritionist – Ruth Kilcawley
Squad Coordinator – Jean Casey

Ireland Women’s Sevens Schedule:
Date/Event
April 6th: Interprovincial competition/screening (65 players)
April 13th – 28th: Weekend training camps (21 players)
May 4th – 6th: Kinsale Sevens (12 players)
May 12th – 13th: Camp (21 players)
May 18th – 20th: Amsterdam Sevens (12 players)
May 26th – 27th: Camp (21 players)
June 1st – 3rd: Bournemouth Sevens (12 players)
June 8th – 10th: FIRA Qualifying, Ghent, Belgium (12 players)
June 23rd: Camp (14 players)
June 28th – July 1st: FIRA Qualifying, Moscow (12 players)

Six Nations winner Wilson called up to England Women’s Sevens squad for Hong Kong

Posted on Mar 20, 2012 in England, England Women, English Rugby, Sevens, Women's Rugby

Bristol’s Kay Wilson has been called up to the England Women’s Sevens squad to compete in the second IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup this season, in Hong Kong March 23-24.

Wilson, who scored two tries in this season’s Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, replaces Georgina Roberts who picked up an injury in training at the weekend.

20-year-old Wilson, who has 11 caps for England, now joins three other Six Nations winners – Rachael Burford, Isabelle Noel Smith and Michaela Staniford – in a strong Sevens line-up which see’s England looking to emulate their second place finish in the inaugural Dubai IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup in December.

12 teams will compete for glory in the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup with Canada, England, Australia and the USA the top four seeds respectively. Olympic Games 2016 hosts Brazil, Asian Women’s Sevens champions China, the Netherlands and Dubai Plate winners Spain are seeded five to eight. Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 hosts Russia, Japan, Hong Kong and Tunisia complete the invitational line-up. England have been drawn in Pool B and will face Japan and China in the initial stages.

England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong

Rachael         Burford (Richmond)

Abigail            Chamberlain(Richmond)

Heather          Fisher (Worcester)

Sonia Green (VC)    (Saracens)

Sarah Guest(Worcester)

Isabelle          Noel-Smith    (Bristol)

Alice   Richardson   (Richmond)

Leanne          Riley   (Saracens)

Michaela        Staniford (C)(Wasps)

Lydia  Thompson     (Worcester)

Joanne          Watmore        (Worcester)

Kay Wilson (Bristol)

Hong Kong IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup Schedule

Friday, 23rd March 2012, Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley

910am local time: England v China

1150am local time: England v Japan

14:00  Bowl SF         3rd Pool A v 3rd Pool B     

14:40  Plate SF         2nd Pool A v 2nd Pool B  

15:00  Plate SF         2nd Pool C v 2nd Pool D  

16.40 Bowl FINAL

Hong Kong Football Club – HK Stadium  

18:12 PLATE Final, Hong Kong Football Club – HK Stadium 

Saturday, 24th March 2012, Hong Kong Football Club – HK Stadium  

11:42  Cup SF          1st Pool A                  v          1st Pool B    

16:50  CUP Final

Evans return bolsters Wales Women

Posted on Mar 9, 2012 in Wales, Welsh Rugby, Women's Rugby

Wales Women head coach Rhys Edwards has made four changes, one positional, for the RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (KO 5.00pm).

After last weekend’s disappointing record defeat to Ireland, Edwards has taken the opportunity to freshen up his backline for penultimate round of fixtures.

Elen Evans will make her first start of the tournament at centre after recovering from a dislocated elbow. She comes in for teenager Rebecca de Filippo who drops down to the bench.

Caryl James comes in for Charlie Murray on the wing with Mared Evans getting a first start of the campaign at fly half. Her inclusion sees Naomi Thomas switched to inside centre with Adi Taviner dropping out of the match day 22.

“With Elen’s return along with that of full back Aimee Young who starts the game on the bench, competition for places in the backline is now extremely competitive,” explained Edwards.

The only change in the forwards sees vastly experienced Clare Flowers get the nod ahead of Vicky Owens in the second row.

Wales will be searching for their first victory over the Italians for the first time in three years. Wales lost 12-8 in La Spezialast year and in 2010 went down 15-19 at Bridgend.

Wales Women v Italy Women, Millennium Stadium, Saturday 10 March (kick-off 5.00pm)

15 Rosie Fletcher

14 Caryl James

13 Elen Evans

12 Naomi Thomas

11 Philippa Tuttiett

10 Mared Evans

9 Laura Prosser

1 Caryl Thomas

2 Rhian Bowden (Capt)

3 Jenny Davies

4 Clare Flowers

5 Shona Powell Hughes

6 Lisa Newton

7 Sioned Harries

8 Jamie Kift

16 Lowri Harries

17 Megan York

18 Vicky Owens

19 Sian Williams

20 Amy Day

21 Rebecca de Filippo

22 Aimee Young

Alphonsi and Hunter return to England women’s starting line-up for France match

Posted on Mar 7, 2012 in England Women, English Rugby, Women's Rugby

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has made three changes to the starting XV that will take on France in a potential Six Nations title decider this Sunday at the Stade Charlety in Paris, kick off 1245pm GMT.

Backrow partners Margaret Alphonsi and Sarah Hunter both return to the starting line-up while Bristol’s Marlie Packer moves from open-side flanker to blind-side flanker. Also in the 22, Richmond lock Rebecca Essex returns from injury having missed the first three rounds of Six Nations action, while Isabelle Noel Smith is also back on the bench. Fly-half Katy McLean will lead England once again with Alphonsi as her vice-captain while Wasps wing Michaela Staniford, who is England’s top try scorer in the Six Nations with five tries, is set to claim her 50th cap.

“We have performed well over the last three games but we are now at the business end of the championship and it is important that we have consistency in the starting XV,” said England Head Coach Gary Street. “This is a strong England side ready for a very big game against a powerful French outfit that’ll be looking to upset our run.”

With England and France the only two unbeaten teams in the Six Nations Sunday’s match is set to be a thriller with everything to play for. England are the reigning Grand Slam champions but France could well be smarting from their 2-0 victory over a young England side in Marseille in the autumn.

“We took a young and inexperienced side to France in November and although we lost both games it was invaluable preparation for our three test series against New Zealand, which we went on to win, and obviously also for the Six Nations,” added Street. “Some of our younger players, the likes of Isabelle Noel Smith and Ceri Large, also had the opportunity to experience how tough it is playing in France and with them being selected for this game that is going to be a real heads up for them. They will know what they are now going to be up against.”

England head into Sunday’s match on the back of victories over Scotland, Italy and Wales. They have scored 123 points and conceded just three as they look to secure a record breaking seventh consecutive title and another Grand Slam.

Street added: “On Sunday we will be looking to build on our three performances so far but we know France will be a lot tougher opposition than our previous opponents. Competition for places to get into this 22 is hotter than ever so I’m sure that this squad will want to make a real mark ahead of the final game against Ireland on March 17th.”

England

15        Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

14        Kay     Wilson            (Bristol)

13        Emily  Scarratt          (Lichfield)

12        Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

11        Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

10        Katy    McLean (c)    (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

9          La Toya          Mason            (Wasps)

1          Laura  Keates            (Worcester)

2          Victoria           Fleetwood     (Lichfield)

3          Sophie           Hemming       (Bristol)

4          Rowena         Burnfield       (Richmond)

5          Tamara           Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

6          Marlie Packer            (Bristol)

7          Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens) VC          

8          Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)

Replacements:

16        Amy    Turner            (Richmond)

17        Rochelle        Clark   (Worcester)

18        Rebecca Essex (Richmond)

19        Isabelle Noel Smith (Bristol)

20        Georgina       Rozario          (Lichfield)

21        Ceri     Large  (Worcester)

22        Kimberley      Oliver  (Bristol)

England’s Six Nations Fixtures:

February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, WON 47-0

February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Recco, Nr Genoa, WON 43-3

February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, WON 33-0

March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 1245pm GMT

Live on Sky Sport HD2 Red Button.

March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm.

Ireland women’s team to play Scotland

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 in Ireland, Irish Rugby, Women's Rugby

The Ireland Women’s team to play Scotland Women in Ashbourne RFC on Friday, March 9th (kick off 19:30) has been named.

There is one change to the starting XV with Paula Fitzpatrick making her first start of the championship in the front row between Fiona Coghlan and Ailis Egan.

Gillian Bouke moves to the replacements. The experienced Shannon Houston has also been recalled to the squad and is named on the replacements bench.

Ireland are third in the Women’s Championship following a five try win over Italy, a single point loss to France and a six try victory over Wales last weekend.

Ireland Women’s Coach Philip Doyle said “The win over Wales was fantastic and we enjoyed it but next day the focus switched to Scotland. We have put ourselves in a good position and the girls are playing some great rugby”.

“This week has been about fine tuning things and again the commitment in training has been excellent”.

Ireland Women v Scotland Women (Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath – Friday 9th March 2012, Kick-off 7.30pm)
15 – Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
14 – Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13 – Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
12 – Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11 – Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht)
10 – Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
9 – Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1 – Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2 – Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
3 – Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4 – Sophie Spence (Exile)
5 – Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6 – Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
7 – Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8 – Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16 – Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
17 – Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht)
18 – Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
19 – Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20 – Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster)
21 – Shannon Houston (Blackrock College/Leinster)
22 – Jennifer Murphy (Exile)

Ireland Women’s 2012 Fixtures
Friday, March 9 – Ireland Women v Scotland Women, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, March 17 – England Women v Ireland Women, Esher RFC, 2pm

England Women’s U20s named to take on France

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 in Age Grade Rugby, England Women, English Rugby, Women's Rugby

The England Women’s Under 20s team to take on France in their first international of the season on March 11th at the Suzan Lenglen Stadium in Paris has been announced, kick off 930am GMT.

The England Under 20s side will be led by the experienced Richmond scrum-half Fiona Davidson who will start her third year in the U20s squad. Lichfield flanker Fiona Fletcher has been named as vice-captain.

Davidson will lead an U20s side which sees 12 players in the 22 set to make their England U20s bow. Four players; Rachael Jones, Amy Needham, Carys Williams and Megan Goddard have been called up to the squad after impressing in the RFUW Divisional Programme after initially missing out on selection into the 2011/2012 Under 20s squad.

Amanda Bennett, who is joined by assistant coach Steve Halsey again this season, said:  “It is so exciting to see such talent in young players. Although this is a relatively inexperienced squad, we will look to the likes of new players Lauren Cattell and Rachel Jones for big performances just as much as Captain Fiona Davidson, who brings vast experience. Nurturing young talent is rewarding, and this year’s squad has the potential to play some great rugby.

“We have had a relative luxury of a series of training camps which have allowed the squad to grow together and also for us to work hard on team development, game strategy and of course, continuing to build on the core skills.”

England will also take on France on April 4th and 7th at Moulton College as well as host the USA in a two test series in July at the same venue, and they’ll be looking to build on the success of last season which saw England defeat Canada, the USA, France, Wales, Scotland and South Africa, completing a clean sweep of international victories.

Bennett added: “There aren’t many teams who would choose to play three tests against France in a season as they are such a tough side. However, these games present an opportunity for the England squad to learn from one game to the next and benchmark improvements in performances against high quality opposition. We will be looking for pre-determined goals to be met by the third game and for individual players, as well as the whole squad, to improve in designated areas.

“We have played France twice in the last two years and are all square when it comes to results. We lost in 2010 but genuinely feel our preparations this year are more comprehensive and players have an excellent understanding of what is expected of them, regardless of the environment.”

England Women U20s

(Name, Club, County, Division, Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence College)

15        Georgia          Peedle           (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)

14        Rachel           Jones(Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands)

13        Hannah         Edwards        (Wasps, Middlesex,London & South East)      

12        Louise            Dennis           (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)

11        Rebecca        Hughes (Bristol, Somerset,            South West)

10        Lauren Cattell (Chesham, Buckinghamshire, South West, Moulton College)

9          Fiona  Davidson       (Richmond, Surrey,             London & South East) Captain   

1          Mica    Evans(Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East)        

2          Emily  Hatherall        (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West)        

3          Catherine      Pugh  (Rochford Hundred,            Essex, London & South East)     

4          Ellen   Gattlin            (Saracens, Essex, London & South East)        

5          Abbie  Scott   (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks,           Northumberland, North)  

6          Fiona  Fletcher (Lichfield, Staffordshire,             Midlands) Vice-Captain    

7          Megan            Oaten(Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West)   

8          Katie   Turnbull (Thornbury, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

Replacements:       

16        Charlotte        Notman          (Penryn, Cornwall, South West) 

17        Amy    Needham (Paviors, Notts, Lincs & Derbys, Midlands, Moulton College)

18        Courtney       Gill      (Plymouth Albion, Devon, South West, Hartpury College)

19        Carys  Williams         (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands, Moulton College)

20        Bianca Blackburn (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

21        Megan Goddard (Hartpury, Gloucestershire, South West, Hartpury College)

22        Sian    McGuinness(Tyldesley, Lancashire, North)

England Under 20s 2011/2012 Fixtures:

March 11th, France U20s v England U20s, Suzan Lenglen Stadium, Paris, KO 930am GMT

April 4th, England U20s v France U20s, Moulton College, KO 230pm

April 7th,  England U20s v France U20s, Moulton College, KO 1pm

July, Dates TBC, England U20s will play the USA in two test matches, Moulton College