News from the islands

The women's rugby world is growing, but is still not fully connected - and two of its more important "islands" of rugby had their major championships this week.

East Africa's teams - especially Uganda and Kenya - have been playing women's rugby for close to a decade now but rarely get to play anyone outside their region at sevens, and never at 15s. The Women's Rugby World Cup passes them by - it might as well not exist.

However, that does not stop them playing - and improving their game - and yesterday saw the second leg of the annual competition between these two great rivals, with Uganda (in orange) taking back the Elgon Cup with a 29-10 win over Kenya on the day, and a narrow 39-32 win overall.

Since 2006 Uganda have played 14 internationals and Kenya 12 - but they have never played anyone other than each other, or neighbours Rwanda. If the World Cup in 2014 is to be a truly worldwide competition they must be given the chance to at least enter.

A similar challenge faces this team (right) which lives in another island of rugby - in this time literally so as this is Trinidad & Tobago, winners (again) of the NAWRA Caribbean Championship - rattling up the small matter of 179 points in three games, while conceding a single try. One player - Juliana Straker - scored 79 points on her own!

Yet they too never play anyone else, with their regions World Cup places going to the USA and Canada without either having to ever compete for them on the field. Again - somehow - T&T must have a chance to qualify for Paris '14, otherwise what is the point?