Formed 2004 ... Herts 7s U14 Runners-up 2005 ... North Herts U14 team, Herts Youth Games 2005 runners-up (coached by Letchworth)... Herts Superteams U14 Runners-up 2005 ... Herts SuperTeams "Fairplay" winners 2006 ... Rochford 10s U17 Champions 2006 ... East Midlands 10s U17 Runners-up 2007 ... East Midlands 10s U17 "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... National 10s U17 5th place and "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... Herts 7s U17 Plate runners-up 2007 ... National 7s U17 Plate winners 2007 ... RFU "President's XV" Award winners 2007 ... Herts Superteams winners 2007 ... Midlands 10s U18 Runners-up 2008 ... National 10s U18 4th place 2008 ... North Herts U11 team, Herts Youth Games 2008 runners-up (coached by Letchworth girls) ... London and SE 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2008 ... Herts 7s U18s runners-up 2008 ... National 7s U18s quarter-finalists 2008 ... Gloucester City 10s U18 Bowl runner-up (6th) 2009 ... Worthing 10s U18 Plate runner-up 2009 ... National 7s U18 Plate winners 2009... Worthing 10s U15 Plate winners 2010... Worthing 10s U18 Shield winners 2010... Herts 7s U15 and U18 Bowl runners-up 2010... National 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2010...

Saturday, March 21, 2009

"Best Ever" Six Nations ends this weekend

The closest and most exciting women's six nations ever finishes this weekend. As we go into the final round of matches three teams are on six points, and in theory four teams could still win it.

In practice it would take a series of unlikely results for the title to go anywhere other than England. Thanks to a far superior points difference to everyone else they need only beat Scotland today, which they should do by a cricket score - with all of England's sevens stars now back, if Scotland get within 50 points it will be an achievement!

However, the "minor places" battle will be fascinating. France play Italy on Sunday, but by the time they play the runners-up spot should be decided. Wales and Ireland today will be a battle between two nations who have both had a wonderful championship. The improvements these teams have made are breathtaking - only three or four years ago this might have been a wooden spoon play-off. It will be a fascinating battle between the two best kickers in women's rugby -Non Evans from Wales (one of the most experienced players in international rugby) and Niamh Briggs for Ireland, who is in her first full season for her country. And then there are try-scorers such as Lynne Cantwell for Ireland and Mel Berry for Wales.

If there was any justice they, along with England's Fiona Pocock and Emily Scarratt, would be well-known names in the sport - used to seeing their faces in the newspapers and regular press interviews. 

That is partly why I've started up a Facebook group - Let's improve media coverage of women's rugby!. In the 24 hours since I launched this its generated 189 members - which isn't bad(!) - but the main thing I am hoping is that, if anything is to change, members will not just join the group but actually do something - write or email or fill in some online forms - and complain to the BBC or newspaper of their choice. Lynne and Non and Niamh and Emily are dedicated and hugely talented - even brilliant - international sportspeople. They deserve to be household names beyond their own households. And, frankly, its only prejudice that stops this happening!

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