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Jaz Joyce: 'I needed to show that I want to do this full time, but I can't'
It shouldn’t have to take an international player calling out their own union for women’s rugby to be taken seriously but in the case of Jasmine Joyce, it took exactly that. After a sensational performance at the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series, Joyce took to social media to express concerns for her future in the sport. From December, the star will no longer be a full-time athlete, as Team GB is set to be replaced with a squad of England players under the RFU’s newly reinstated full-time sevens programme.
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For the Welsh international, this means returning to balancing a full-time career in teacher training with rugby very much being put to the sidelines. Joyce told RugbyPass: “I am looking forward to starting a different career, but in an ideal situation I would go down that route in five years’ time when I am done with rugby. I didn’t think I would be doing it so soon.”
Just days after the double Olympian’s social media post went viral, the WRU issued a statement which promised reform in the women’s game. WRU chairman Rob Butcher acknowledged mistakes had been made in the management of the women’s game. Since then, the WRU have appointed two interim coaches to lead the team into the autumn series but it remains unclear who the team’s permanent head coach will be.
Looking to the 7s set-up in Wales, the Welsh women’s team are currently competing in Rugby Europe 7s, which is effectively the league below the World Rugby 7s Series. Joyce said: “I have come to terms with the fact that in my career Wales as a nation will not be a part of the World Series. We aren’t good enough yet and we don’t have the platform to build on that.”
It’s mind-blowing that a player as talented as Joyce will not be given a platform to showcase her skillset on the world stage because her nation cannot provide adequate infrastructure to support her. The fact that she was awarded player of the final two weeks in a row speaks volumes to her talent. However, unless the England 7s programme is reformed to include players from Team GB, Joyce will not get the opportunity to play on the World 7s circuit.
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Joyce is widely considered to be the poster girl for rugby 7s, with some going as far to say she could be the face of women’s rugby. She used her platform as a rising star in a smart way, to highlight issues which run far deeper than affecting just her future. Conversation has recently focused on the lack of performance pathways available to young girls in Wales. Earlier this year 123 former Welsh representatives came together with an open letter to the WRU, urging the body to provide performance pathways across the region.
Since that time, and after receiving no firm solutions, the open letter was turned into an online petition. Multiple people in the rugby world have been asking questions about the future of women’s rugby in Wales, but no official response has come until now.
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Speaking on the future, and on the call to action made by Joyce, former Welsh international Philippa Tuttiett said: “At the moment I don’t think fully professionalising the Welsh women’s 7s squad would be the quick fix everyone wants. Semi-professionalism could be an option, but we need a player base, we need lots of women and girls competing for places in teams to get the best out of them.
“We have the players in Wales, we just need to provide more of a supportive environment and that starts with player pathways. It’s scary if you think about the number of girls who are losing out on the opportunity to step up and develop, because of a lack of support.”
It is obvious that women’s rugby in Wales has been neglected. As a result, in recent months we have seen a power shift, players like Joyce are slowly starting to realise they hold a fair amount of sway over unions. You only have to look at the likes of England’s Poppy Cleall and her Twitter page to realise that player advocacy for the women’s game is on the rise.
When asked the reasoning behind her social media post, Joyce said: “I wanted to be honest with how I was feeling on social media. From coming off the back of two brilliant weekends where I was literally living my dream, I needed to show that I want to do this full-time, but I can’t. I want people to know that this isn’t what I do full time, I don’t think fans understand what we have to do in day-to-day life to actually enable us to play rugby. People need to be aware of the wider picture.”
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This isn’t just about Joyce’s future, it’s about the players who come after her. It’s about the young girls in Wales who look up to the likes of Joyce and want to pursue rugby as a full-time career when they are older. The recent bout of silence from the WRU has been deafening. It’s almost as if they assume that if they ignore the various calls for change among the women’s rugby community, those voices will eventually grow tired of campaigning and stop talking.
It’s frustrating that it takes a high-profile player like Joyce to speak out about the game for issues to even be recognised in the first place. Joyce has obviously ruffled a few feathers at the WRU, simply by highlighting her individual situation. However, if and when solutions do eventually come, the hope is that they are bigger than just one person. While her social media posts have undoubtably shined light on a wide range of issues, the problems run far deeper than just affecting one international player.
UNSTOPPABLE!@joyce_jaz#HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/XWbfZzoOt8
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) September 27, 2021
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