New year, new WRU? The finer details suggest otherwise...
New year, new WRU? I think not. Christmas seemingly came early for the Welsh women’s squad, who are now set to be granted ‘professional’ contracts from January 1 next year.
A total of ten full time contracts and fifteen retainer contracts will be offered to the women’s squad. My timeline was flooded with people coming out to congratulate the WRU on its investment in the women’s game, yet I saw very little criticism – perhaps because the finer details where only revealed in a press conference later in the day.
?An historic moment for women's rugby in Wales The first contracts are set to be offered to female players as part of a major investment in our women’s performance programme
FULL STORY https://t.co/8Fz4HFFg8I pic.twitter.com/F7lRZ8jSmH— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 3, 2021
When you look deeper into this so called ‘investment’ it really is laughable. Each full-time contract is set to be worth around £19,000 per year, with retainer players earning significantly less on £7,500.
You would earn more working as a Retail Sales Associate in Aldi than you would being a professional female rugby player for Wales, which is ridiculous. These women have mortgages to pay, children to feed – and the WRU expect them to drop it all for a measly £19,000 a year? Then, to add insult to injury, you expect these women to be grateful to the WRU for investing in them? No.
It is not enough to accept this decision and celebrate it, we must question the motives behind the choice, and demand more, we aren’t even scratching the surface here.
I am sick and tired of this grateful narrative that is repeatedly shoved down our throats, women are given scraps and then expected to be ecstatic about it. No. We need to be teaching the next generation, the girls and boys that will come after us, that we deserve more, we are worth more and we need more.
The problem with gratitude in women’s sport? There is no agency, no autonomy, no ambition.
We are kept dependent on hand outs. We are at the mercy of what other people think we are worth or what we are ready for.
Bored with that.
— Alice Soper (@alicesoapbox) October 15, 2021
To those who will inevitably come back at me saying the contracts are good news and a positive first step shown by the WRU, I would say I don’t think there is any shame in asking for more. In fact, I think the shame lies in accepting something that is significantly lower that what you deserve.
You’re effectively telling these women and the rest of the world that they aren’t worth it, which let’s face it doesn’t stem too far from the WRU’s behaviour in the past few years.
It is possible that the news is only being so well received because the WRU set such a low bar for themselves with its treatment of the women’s team, that this miniscule offering is seen as something far bigger than it actually is.
Let me be clear here, fault does not lie with the players themselves. I actually think it’s a smart move from the WRU to frame the decision as a joint one between the players and the union. They are unable to criticise the decision because they supposedly chose it themselves. Their hands are tied, and they must adhere to showing the world they are grateful for the investment, when actually behind closed doors they have very different thoughts.
In the video below, Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap gives credit to the 123 players who banded together to write an open letter to the WRU demanding more. She also speaks of the consultations which have been happening behind closed doors over the past few months. Although this is admirable, as Ali Donnelly hints at below, it must be exhausting being a female in sports. Players have to fight tooth and nail to receive the bare minimum and are then expected to brand it up as a fantastic opportunity.
This is admirable but God how exhausting it is being a woman in sport. The biggest battles players fight are far too often off the pitch. It shouldn't be like this. https://t.co/wn9up4yNvR
— Alison Donnelly (@AliDonnelly) November 3, 2021
When a decision like this is made, its always essential to analyse the motivations behind it. A few weeks ago, we saw arguably one of the best women’s rugby players come out and indirectly criticise the WRU for its lack of investment. After Jaz Joyce inadvertently called out the WRU, we started to see some rumblings of change. This added to the pressure mounting from the open letter signed by 123 former players, and we saw the WRU appoint two interim coaches to guide the squad to the World Cup. With yesterday’s news in mind, the question of authenticity must be raised here. Did the decision stem from a genuine want to invest and build in the women’s game, or was the WRU attempting to rebuild its shambolic reputation in the rugby world?
We need to be inspiring younger children to ask for more, we need to move out of this cautious gratitude to unashamed ambition. We need to be teaching young girls to ask for more, and to do that we have to lead by example and take no less than what we deserve.
This offering is an insult. If you are going to do something, then do it properly. Women’s rugby has fallen into a gratuity trap, and we need to break out of it. I am sick of saying thank you for receiving the bare minimum in this sport. If you think the issues in this article are restricted to women’s rugby alone, you are wrong. They run deep into the fabric of society, and its about time some one started asking for more, after all if you don’t ask you don’t get.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments