Video: RFU outline how they'll improve England women's team as most capped player Clark walks away
RFU CEO Steve Brown has told RugbyPass that their women’s XVs players might be offered full time professional contracts by the start of the season. Following a disappointing Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco, Brown confirmed that they will still be funding a women’s 7s programme but having lagged behind for so long, the XVs players may now be offered contracts too.
Brown said, “What we’re planning to do at the moment is continue with our 7s programmes, full time contracts. Our ambition, although we’re not quite there yet, is to have the same for XVs, so they are distinct professional contracts. It’s frankly down to money and affordability and making sure we’re in a position that we can invest in that. It’s at the top of our list and an absolutely key investment for us.
“The fastest growing participation is from the women’s game. That’s great because it’s growing a potential pipeline of players that can come through and then go and expand the professional end of it. So, it’s important that we get the top end right and design it right now, and our ambition is to do that as quickly as we possibly can. We’re in this period at the moment where we’re just looking at our financies and taking stock. We need to make sure that we’re making the right prioritisation call because something else has to give.”
When pressed about the timescales involved, Brown was optimistic suggesting, “Our ambition would be to get them done for this season. We just need to make sure we’re in the right shape to do that and there’s quite a key review and consideration of that taking place as we speak.”
England’s Women will play their next international matches in the Quilter series in November with confirmation of their opponents to be announced soon. The Women’s U20s will face Canada and the USA on tour to North America.
Meawnhile England’s most capped player Rochelle Clark has called time on her international career, 15 years after earning her first cap.
The 37-year-old made 137 international appearances, surpassing Jason Leonard’s previous record of 114 in November 2016, before going on to feature in her fourth Women’s Rugby World Cup last summer.
She retires as the world’s most capped women’s international, ahead of fellow Red Rose Tamara Taylor and former Scotland international Donna Kennedy, who both have 115 caps.
The Wasps loose-head prop made her England debut in 2003 and was awarded an MBE for Services to Rugby in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, having been part of the Red Roses’ 2014 winning World Cup squad.
Clark, who has also played for Worcester Valkyries, will carry on playing club rugby at Wasps next season in the Tyrrells Premier 15s.
Over the course of her 137 tests, Clark scored 23 tries for the Red Roses, including one on her record-breaking 115th England appearance against Ireland in November 2016.
She said: “It’s with a heavy heart that I have decided it is time to retire from international rugby.
“To receive my first cap was a dream come true and it was with the same pride and hunger that I walked out a further 136 times for England. It was always an honour and a privilege to take to the pitch wearing the rose.
“I look back on my 15-year England career and think of the friends I have made and the opportunities we were given. I have shared some incredible experiences with so many great people.
“The highlight has to be winning the 2014 World Cup, made all the more special having come close twice before.
“To those who kept me going when times were tough and who made the experience so special, I want to say a huge thank you; all my friends and family, team mates, coaches and support staff.
“I have been incredibly lucky to wear the shirt through some major changes to the game, playing as both an amateur and professional. I am excited for the direction women’s rugby is headed and am proud of the contributions we made as players along the way.
“I look forward to continuing on the pitch with Wasps and in my career as a coach for Chesham Stags.”
Red Roses’ head coach Simon Middleton said: “Rocky Clark is a true legend of rugby. To have remained at the top of her game for 15 years is a remarkable achievement.
“She gave as much off the pitch as on, and is recognised by her team mates as one of the great leaders within the squad. She’s been an absolute inspiration to us and embodies everything a Red Rose should be.
“I speak on behalf of everyone to say that it has been an honour and a privilege to work with Rocky over the years.”
Clark, who is training as Level 4 coach, will continue in her role as head coach of Chesham Stags and as a personal trainer.
Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
2 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
2 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to comments