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...

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Six Nations rugby live: why are we still waiting?

This fascinating newsreel of (men's) rugby from the 1922 was recently unearthed - its fun to watch, look out for the hilarious lineout, not to mention the awful rucks (you'd expect U12s to play better than this these days and I am not joking!). However, when watching it I was struck by how attempting to following women's international rugby today must be very similar to what it was like to follow men's rugby 70 or 80 years ago because you have to largely rely on written reports. As usual none of this year's Six Nations games could be watched live by anyone, unless you were at the ground:
  • England games were available as short, five minute, highlights issued by the RFU to the media (and well used by the BBC).
  • Wales had all their games filmed by BBC Wales - but again only short highlights are available
  • France publish recordings of some of their games on their website
  • Scottish Rugby TV record occasional women's games, but the SRU do nothing
  • Italy and Ireland never seem to issue any recordings of any of their games
Back in the 1920s there was a excuse for the lack of coverage - like they hadn't invented TV yet - but today? Even the excuse about there not being TV channel show it doesn't work - we have the Intenet. Canada, the USA and even (for heaven's sake!) the Bahamas have all webcast live women's rugby within the last year. Indeed when it comes to the first two you almost take it for granted that their home internationals will be available.

If small, cash-strapped unions like those in North America can manage it, then why do the Home Unions have a problem? Most games are already being filmed anyway - so why not stream them? Its hardly expensive these days - and any cost would surely be justified by the promotional boost it would give.

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