Rachael Burford: 'I was brought back to where women's rugby was five years ago with just the old man and his dog watching'
Considering everything that has happened this year, with all the restrictions, law variations and covid violations; the women’s league is in an exceptional place. This weekend, for the first time in over a year, fans have been invited back to the stands to cheer on teams competing in the Allianz Premier 15’s semi-finals. Quins will be facing Wasps at the Stoop, whilst just down the road at the StoneX Stadium, Saracens will fight it out with Loughborough.
Historically, the result of the semi-final has often been predetermined, leaving little room for other teams to have a real shot. However, this year feels different. Speaking from a Quins perspective, I can say this year is perhaps the most competitive semi-final we have ever faced. If we don’t bring our A-game from the start, Wasps could pose a serious threat to us.
As captain of the Quins squad, you would think admitting that would be a challenge. But when you take a look at the bigger picture it’s actually positive news. The league is now competitive, which is something we, as players, have always wanted. Matches are no longer predictable, instead they are gripping, edge of your seat games of rugby which bring the sport to a whole new level for both players and fans.
As players, we have almost become acclimatised to the noises of the fans and music on game day. Running out to the sound of a roaring crowd before a match is something that players embrace with open arms. We love it. So, when this was taken away from us at the start of the pandemic, I was brought back to where women’s rugby was five years ago with just the old man and his dog watching the match.
This weekend is going to be worlds apart from that. I know the Stoops capacity is set at 4,000 seats, and I would be incredibly surprised if all of the tickets haven’t been snapped up by game day.
I am so excited to hear the raw of the crowd again, it sounds so cliché, but we as players, rely on our fans and their voices to carry us through the match. Each and every person in that stand contributes towards elevating the atmosphere and environment, and I cannot wait to be back amongst it on Saturday.
What is interesting now is we are seeing a lot of Premier 15’s teams building their own strong fan bases. So, to have them back in the stadium with us and getting that face time in will be incredibly rewarding for both sides. Fans now have the opportunity to truly immerse themselves into the women’s game, they can actually see the game in the flesh instead of through a TV screen. They get to experience the anticipation and excitement of the match in real-time, with players just a touching distance away.
As we move into some sense of normality, it is crucial to highlight the importance of young girls getting access to these games, particularly as so many of them have missed out on rugby this year. As players, we all know how important it is for us to ensure we continue to inspire the next generation. We have a responsibility to make sure the game is left in a good place for the next set of players to take over.
Just getting some topflight sport back onto the agenda is so vital for our young people, it is important that these young girls and boys feel like they are a part of the game. After all, they will be the ones to carry it through long after I, and others, have left the field.
Reflecting on the growth of the women’s game over the last few months it has to be said some great things have happened.
For example, just last week London Irish announced they will be forming a professional women’s team in the hopes of bidding for a place in the Premier 15’s. This is excellent news for the game, as it opens up more opportunities for young girls to become involved with the sport.
When I look back to when I was sixteen years old, my only option to continue playing rugby at a good standard was to move away from my family and go to sixth form to play rugby alongside my studies. Now, as a young girl, there are more opportunities afforded in terms of education and playing. The player pathways and academy options are growing, we are seeing more hotspots where education and elite level rugby are being forged together.
Allianz @Premier15s semi-final weekend 👋
Some serious match-ups to consider in @HarlequinsWomen v @Waspsladies 🤜🤛
How about Celia Quansah vs @jessbreach for a start? pic.twitter.com/B9ELI8pHkJ
— Rugby Journal (@JournalRugby) May 21, 2021
Through my work with Girls Rugby Club, I want to ensure that the female figures who are involved in the game at an elite level are made available to young girls as role models. I want young girls to look at these role models and feel like they can do the same thing. The best thing about the current crop of professional players is that they are all more than keen to get involved and develop the next generation. They know that for us to grow the game, and for it to be where we really want it to be, they have to play a crucial role.
I just know there is a young Emily Scarratt out there, playing at grassroots level, who is yet to see elite level rugby as a viable career option. Because she has not had the chance to watch competitive matches like the ones being shown this weekend.
This weekend’s semi-finals should not be missed. If you are unable to get down to the stadium and cheer the players on, make sure to watch both matches live on the BT Sport app. Also, don’t feel disheartened if you can’t make noise in the stands – start talking about the games on social media! The more noise we can make about this weekend’s fixtures, both online and in person, the better.
Keep up to date with me on Twitter, and be sure to give Quins a follow too!
To get your hands on tickets for this weekends match, click here.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments