Another breakthrough for women's rugby

It has been a remarkable 12 months for women's rugby - the first Sevens World Cup, and Olympic bid based on true equality between the men's and women's game, the appointment of the IRB's first official (Susan Carthy) charged with promoting the women's rugby, the most competitive women's Six Nations ever, and now a major breakthrough. The first woman to be appointed to the the body that, in effect, runs the world game.

The very male nature of the IRB's Executive Committee was mentioned on here just over a year ago - along with several other problems that the IRB then faced with their Olympic bid. This breakthrough clears most of them away (or at least the ones which the IRB have power to do anything about - the attitudes of national Unions may take a bit longer to sort out!).

The woman who will making history - Carol Isherwood - will be no stranger to anyone who has been involved with women's rugby. Carol was the first captain of Great Britain and England, and was the RFUW's Director of Rugby until she suddenly left in January last year. The strength of women's rugby in England is in no small way due to Carol's efforts.

The growth of women's rugby is also beginning to have an effect on the rugby media with the launch by Heavensgame.com of a dedicated women's rugby news website - Ladies Rugby - which, it is claimed, with cover worldwide news on the women's game. With the forthcoming launch of Scrumqueens as well women's rugby may at last get the coverage it deserves.