Women’s Rugby: 2013 Nations Cup Brings More Heartbreak for England

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 31, 2013

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It has not been an easy 2013 for the English women's rugby program.

Once seen as a near unstoppable power in global rugby circles, England's women have suffered a series of disappointing results that will leave many of their supporters asking questions about the state of the national women's game.

Last February, England lost a pair of matches in the 2013 RBS Six Nations, both to France and to the eventual tournament champions from Ireland; it would not be the last title England would surrender this year.

Having made bold statements about attempting to win both the Sevens and Fifteens World Cups, England's management watched their team struggle to a disappointing sixth place finish at the Sevens World Cup in Moscow in June.

A short time later, the full England fifteens team departed for a three-match tour of New Zealand, only to suffer three consecutive defeats at the hands of the New Zealand Black Ferns.

With many nations having to combine their player pools for both Sevens and Fifteens, the management of elite players and their workloads is becoming an even greater challenge for those charged with overseeing the England women's game.



England were forced to do battle against New Zealand without many of their front-line stars, including Jo Watmore, Heather Fisher and Maggie "The Machine" Alphonsi.

When the English team departed New Zealand, nine players and several coaches boarded a separate flight to Denver, Colorado, where, yesterday, they took to the field as part of an England Nations Cup squad that were looking to defend their title from 2011.

While the English Senior women had been touring New Zealand, England's Under 20's suffered a series of unexpected upsets against South Africa, the USA and Canada at the Junior Nations Cup, which was held in the UK.

Canada defeated the Americans in the final of that tournament to take the Junior Nati...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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