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Une tournée féminine des Lions en 2027 en Nouvelle-Zélande
Les British & Irish Lions envisagent de constituer une équipe féminine avec une série de trois tests en et contre la Nouvelle-Zélande en 2027.
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Cette tournée historique inclurait des matchs supplémentaires pour préparer les Lions à une série de tests contre les championnes du monde en titre, bien que le programme complet reste à définir. Une annonce officielle sur la tournée devrait intervenir à la mi-janvier.
Une idée née en 2021
En novembre 2023, le comité des Lions confirmait que le concept était déjà bien avancé.
« Les British and Irish Lions étudient actuellement le concept d’une première tournée féminine des Lions à la suite des résultats encourageants d’une étude de faisabilité qui a examiné tous les aspects clés de la création d’une première tournée féminine des Lions », était-il écrit dans un communiqué.
Cette étude de faisabilité a été menée par une agence de marketing, alors que l’idée avait émergé en octobre 2021. A ce moment-là, le Royal London acceptait de financer l’étude sur la viabilité financière et le calendrier approprié d’une telle tournée.
Dans le comité de pilotage de 13 personnes, on retrouvait entre autres la pilier Shaunagh Brown, internationale anglaise, Niamh Briggs, ancienne demi d’ouverture irlandaise, mais aussi Anthony Eddy, le directeur du rugby à sept et du rugby féminin de l’IRFU et Hannah John, responsable par intérim de la haute performance féminine de la fédération de rugby du Pays de Galles.
Un comité de pilotage mis en place
« Le rugby féminin connaît une croissance sans précédent dans le monde entier, avec des niveaux de participation qui continuent d’augmenter chaque année », avant déclaré Ieuan Evans, le président des Lions, à l’occasion de la mise en place du comité de pilotage.
« Une équipe féminine des Lions est une grande opportunité pour le rugby féminin, et j’ai hâte de travailler avec le groupe de pilotage pour évaluer sa viabilité. »
Si le directeur général des Lions, Ben Calveley, voyait dans ce projet une « énorme opportunité » pour le sport, il ne cachait pas les défis que cette idée représentait.
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« Il y a un certain nombre de défis à prendre en compte lorsque l’on cherche à créer une équipe féminine efficace », disait-il alors. « La viabilité financière et une programmation adéquate dans le calendrier du rugby féminin nécessiteront une analyse rigoureuse, des recherches et une réflexion minutieuse. »
La tournée aurait pu avoir lieu en France
L’agence marketing mobilisée sur ce projet n’avait pas tardé à livrer des conclusions encourageantes, le rugby féminin étant plus que jamais porteur. C’est d’ailleurs, selon les dernières données communiquées à l’automne 2023, la version du rugby qui progresse le plus dans le monde.
Selon le Times, le conseil d’administration des Lions a passé les dix derniers mois à examiner la structure, le calendrier et la destination d’une tournée.
La France et le Canada, demi-finalistes de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2021, jouée en 2022, étaient des destinations potentielles. Il a également été envisagé que les Lions accueillent les séries de tests.
Finalement, un accord a été conclu pour une tournée en Nouvelle-Zélande, qui avait accueilli la dernière Coupe du monde, attirant une foule record de 43 217 personnes lors de la finale.
Qui pour composer les Lions féminines ?
La sélection a été un autre sujet de discussion majeur, avec une prédominance attendue des joueuses anglaises en raison de leur niveau actuel. Les Red Roses ont en effet remporté 30 tests consécutifs et cinq Tournois des Six Nations, dont quatre avec un grand chelem, le dernier étant en 2023.
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La question des quotas ne devrait pas être d’actualité, l’enjeu étant plutôt de mettre sur pied une équipe composée des meilleures joueuses, sans dérogation spéciale pour les différentes nations d’origine.
Il est attendu que la création de cette équipe devrait générer des revenus conséquents qui seraient automatiquement consacrés aux programmes féminins des fédérations nationales participantes afin de contribuer à l’amélioration du niveau et de la compétitivité du rugby féminin.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
83 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
1 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
20 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
83 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
83 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
20 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
83 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
83 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
20 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to comments