Though grassroots participation in women’s rugby has increased,a swathe of main players are missing the Six Nations to concentrate on sevensWomen’s rugby is used to fighting its corner but never like this. Next Friday England’s women will launch their Six Nations championship campaign against Scotland in Cumbernauld without the majority of their main players, who will once again be representing their country at sevens in warmer climes. To say there are split loyalties is a massive understatement.
Who could begrudge anyone trying to win an Olympic medal? The present policy of the England hierarchy, or however,to prioritise the shortened form of the game continues to divide opinion. “What we’ll see in this Six Nations might not be as competitive as it would possess been,” says Maggie Alphonsi, or the best women’s player England has produced. “You’ll probably see Italy and Wales do really well because England,France and Ireland will all be involved with sevens.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com