Jade Betsen’s rapid rise continues: Next stop, the PWR Next Gen Cup final

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Jade Betsen. In the summer, Betsen made the step from Championship side Richmond to JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby PWR outfit Trailfinders Women, and after four matches in the green and white, she already has her first senior cup final to look forward to.

Betsen has started all four matches on Trailfinders’ run to the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup final, including their 33-14 win at home to Sale Sharks in the semi-finals that booked their place in the final where they will take on Saracens.

It has been a rapid rise for the 23-year-old who started the sport late, but who took big steps while studying at Loughborough University and continued her development with Richmond before Trailfinders came calling.

“We had a slow start, but we picked it up in the second half,” Betsen told RugbyPass in the aftermath of their semi-final victory.

“We took more accountability in the second half, and we knew what we had to do, and we did it. We’ve been focusing on each game individually and haven’t spoken about the final.”

When it comes to her development, Betsen has plenty of people at Trailfinders to turn to if she wants some advice.

There’s Scotland captain and flanker Rachel Malcolm, England back rowers Abi Burton and Haidee Head, and New Zealand’s Alana Borland among others. Meanwhile head coach Barney Maddison knows about life in the pack after a playing career that included Ealing Trailfinders, London Irish and Rotherham Titans.

“It has been so good, everyone has been so welcoming and really friendly,” Betsen said. “They’re accessible and made to feel welcome and included. The older players are helpful with their advice, and it is easy to chat to them.

“It has built confidence and has stopped me feeling like an imposter. I feel that I have had an audition for a place in the team. I’m really aware of who is to come back [from WXV Global Series], and I want to learn from them.”

Of course, the France-born Betsen doesn’t have to go far for a source of advice on back-row play. Her father Serge Betsen is a former France flanker, famous for hunting down many a ponderous fly-half.

Late in his career, he moved from Biarritz to London to play for Wasps and has stayed in the area ever since. It took Betsen a while before she enjoyed rugby, with the noise and time spent on the sidelines not initially to her liking.

Once she had a taste though, Betsen didn’t looked back and Betsen senior is now a regular figure on the sidelines wherever his daughter is in action.

“At first he waited till I asked him [for advice],” Betsen said. “It is mostly about work rate. He always tells me to give 200%, to play to my maximum and understand what my task is and not just run around.”

Kate Zackary’s departure at the end of last season has left a space on the openside flank.

While Betsen has made huge strides since she crossed from south of the Thames to north, the expectation is that the season ahead is about her maintaining her development.

“Jade is great, she has come in and been like a duck to water.,” Trailfinders assistant coach Stephen Shingler told RugbyPass. “Her physicality runs in the family, she is seriously explosive and she has done very well.

“In a year’s time, you want to see her competing for a starting spot. For Jade now, it is to learn and to know what professionalism looks like. She’s signed a contract, which is great, and she learn off them [senior players] and then push for that starting spot.

“You never know though. In rugby, you have one or two injuries and she’s in the mix.”

Trailfinders’ appearance in the Next Gen Cup final will give them the chance to continue their momentum from reaching last season’s PWR final. Saracens again stand in their way, and will likely start as favourites, especially with memories of their 52-14 defeat fresh in the memory.

That said, Betsen wasn’t at the club at the time of the final, which means her focus is fully on the match and continuing her rapid ascent.

“I’ve learned so much,” Betsen said. “From Champ rugby the step up is huge, but I know that with hard work I have been able to make an impact and I can play at this level.

“It will be amazing [to be in a final], and even if I don’t make the team, I will be backing whoever does because everyone has worked so hard.”