The Welsh RFU have been doing wonders since the men's and women's unions merged last year. One major project has been tracing their national women's team's history - a project that probably puts them ahead of pretty much any other union anywhere.
Their latest is a real gem. Video of the first ever England v Wales women's rugby international - a game which was also the first international for both nations.
The game took place at Pontypool Park on 5th April 1987 - and England and Wales have played at least once a season ever since - 23 times in all - making it comfortably the the longest-running series in women's rugby... and England have won every game.
A "Great Britain" team had played the season before - losing 14-8 to France at Richmond - so for many of the the players this was not quite their first international, but this is still a very early event in the history of the game. The first inter-club tournaments in the UK had only started the season before, most players would have been playing for a handful of years, and it would be another seven years before the RFUW would be formed - the quality of play (and come to that the size of the crowd) is therefore all the more impressive.
Final score: Wales 4, England 22
(before anyone says anything, a try did not become worth five points until 1992/3...)
LOVE THIS POST! I re-posted it at my site and gave you the credit. This really is a gem!
ReplyDeleteI also added you to my links page, would you mind adding me to yours?
Thanks!
Wendy
Your Scrumhalf Connection
http://westrugby.blogspot.com