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'I literally just turned to my Mum and said 'I could do that. I could rock on that pitch right now!'
Shaunagh Brown looked at me strangely when I said she reminded me of Mr Benn, the book and cartoon character that used to occupy a different job every day. “Like Nessa from Gavin and Stacey,” I say, which was a more familiar comparison to the 31-year-old. Like Mr Ben or Nessa, Brown has had so many jobs in the past that she is never far away from a good story.
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A commercial diver, British Gas engineer, firefighter, Commonwealth Games hammer thrower and professional rugby player – Brown has done it all. It’s clear to see how, she is a bundle of energy and exudes positivity. Brown became a women’s rugby player with such determination that she felt confident enough to tell her mum she was going to be a Red Roses player when watching them live for the first time. “I know if an idea is in my head then it’s just me pushing myself, but if I tell my mum then I have to do it,” she laughs.
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On 12 March 2016, after playing rugby for a year, Shaunagh went to watch England v Wales at Twickenham Stoop in the Women’s Six Nations. “I literally just turned to my Mum and said ‘I could do that. I could rock on that pitch right now!’ That was sort of the start of the journey. That’s when my mindset changed.
Within weeks, she contacted Harlequins Women and arranged to visit a training session and join in. “After a couple of weeks, they realised I was still turning up, and they were like ‘alright then’. They definitely liked my determination to play.”
While Brown has had an elusive and interesting career, she is set with professional rugby now, although she says she always likes to be building towards something else. That new goal is likely to be in rugby, she says, as she has found her feet in the England squad.
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There is lots to build on at the moment, with the new WXV tournament announced last week. The global competition will take place once a year in the autumn, following the regional tournaments like the Women’s Six Nations that take place before June each year. It’s highly likely that England will be in Tier 1 of this new tournament, the highest level of three. That high level of elite, regular rugby is a draw for players who otherwise might only play international rugby against regional counterparts at the Women’s Six Nations or have to wait for the Rugby World Cup.
There’s also the feasibility study into the women’s Lions programme, which could add another accolade to Brown’s already extensive collection. I get the sense from Brown that she likes to defy expectation and be what others can’t – her career path is far from the ordinary. To be in the first women’s Lions team would certainly continue her desire to be the best at everything she does.
Brown’s optimism in women’s rugby gives me hope, because the last week has made it difficult to be a women’s rugby fan. The Women’s Six Nations starts on 3 April, and the handy countdown timer on the Six Nations website tells me that we are 11 days, three hours, three minutes and one second away from the start of the tournament. How do they know? They haven’t even released the kick-off times yet.
Such is the joy of following women’s rugby that we are so close to the tournament, yet we still don’t know the kick-off times, venues, squads, or if the games will be broadcast. There were unconfirmed rumours that the BBC had the rights to all the Women’s Six Nations games in the previous window, but it is unclear if the new window will have a similar broadcast deal. Brown says the new window is a “good experiment” for the women’s tournament, and I agree. The last few weeks could have been a great time to really push the women’s game and get fans watching. Last weekend was round 15 of the Premier 15s, which included the huge Saracens Women v Exeter Chiefs clash, a game that had 125,000 streams last time the teams played. It would have been brilliant to be able to advertise the tournament during that game, and the other live streams available.
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There is some concern that the tournament won’t go ahead, as this is a familiar position for women’s rugby fans – one we know all too well since the last time this tournament was postponed. How can any fan plan their weekends without knowing when the rugby will be on? Even more so in women’s rugby, where kick-off times often overlap and games aren’t on television. It’s often a mission to find enough screens to watch all the games you want to; last weekend I needed four screens to watch all the women’s rugby live streams.
It’s been said time and time again that this new window provides opportunity for the women’s game. As a women’s rugby journalist, I feel like I’m pointing people to an empty room. Where is this fantastic tournament I have promised? It’s time for Six Nations Rugby to announce the dates and broadcast details so that fans can watch the tournament.
Maybe Six Nations Rugby has been side-tracked by the CVC deal – a “long-term strategic partnership” that promises extra money to the game, but how much the women’s game gets is unconfirmed.
Six Nations told women’s rugby website Scrumqueens: “The objective of the partnership is to invest to grow and develop the game; to further enhance the sporting spectacle of all the tournaments, the teams and the brands and that will have a huge positive impact on the Women’s Championship… CVC recognises the huge potential Six Nations Rugby has and is aligned with our vision, an important part of which is growing the women’s game. Their impressive track record in investment in sport and long-term value generation supports the six unions’ strategic priorities, one of which is accelerating growth in the women’s game.
“Elevating the women’s game will be one of the biggest levers available to us in growing a more diverse global fanbase, which is another of our key strategic priorities.”
How much of that money goes to the women’s game is dependent on each union and how much they want to invest. According to Scrumqueens, England and Ireland have been direct in their commitment to fund the women’s game, Wales have failed to confirm any guaranteed investment in their women’s programme, and Scotland said the women’s game would “invariably” benefit from the investment. Italy did not mention the women’s game and France has not yet responded.
No investment will have instant results and it will likely take time for the likes of CVC and others who invest in women’s rugby to see the return. But, optimism like Brown’s is a reminder of how far we have come and the investment, determination, and sacrifice it has taken to get here. Young girls and women can aspire to play regular international rugby, and maybe soon a British and Irish Lion.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments