As many of you probably know by now the England Women’s rugby team won team of the year at the BBC sports personality of the year awards earlier this week. They proudly accepted this award ahead of the Europe Ryder Cup team, the GB and Northern Ireland athletics squad and the Mercedes F1 team, however this is just one of many things this year that has not only propelled the England women’s team, but women’s rugby in general.
England beat Canada 21-9 in Paris to win the World Cup this year, finally winning the tournament for the first time since 1994 after three final defeats their “bogey” team the All Black’s, or Black ferns as they’re known in the women’s game. This victory was even more astonishing when acknowledging the fact the players are in fact amateur, and had been combining work and family life (in some cases) with the brutal training regime they were put through.
After this famous win it was then announced to the delight of everyone involved in the game that 20 players were to be given professional contracts, to play sevens in what the RFU described as a “significant step forward in the women’s game”. Therefore they will now compete on the World sevens circuit and try and qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, entering as “Great Britain”. These said contracts will allow the players to train five days a week at Twickenham Stadium and at Surrey Sports Park. Here they will receive a number of forms of support including: strength and conditioning, medical, nutritional, lifestyle and psychological support.
Therefore, understandably this award was the icing on the cake for many members of the squad. Kay Maclean, the captain was quoted as saying “This is a massive turning point for women’s sport” going on to thank all of the people that helped the team on the way, and ending it with saying “This is for you guys”. The sheer camaraderie is clear to see.
The man behind all of the success is Gary Street, mostly an unsung hero who avoids the limelight. He has guided the team to the World Cup of course and alongside this: five Six Nations in a row, and two Nations Cup. Street has been a central figure in transforming women’s rugby in England, seeing playing numbers double since his involvement and says it would be “crazy not to support it further.
Women’s rugby in England seems to be in great hands, with great people involved and I for one am looking forward to watching it grow further. If they can have that much success whilst still amateur, it is scary to think the success that could be had when the sevens compete professionally, and hopefully the fifteen a side team follow suit in the future.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @PittMate. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LWOSWorld and @Lastwordonsport and liking our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
