For Harlequins Ladies the gap between the old and the new season has been shorter than ever.

The summer is a race against time, to sort out niggly injuries that have been patched up game to game to get through the season, and in many cases now is the time to undergo surgery to sort out the more serious issues.

The pre season has already started before pre season has even begun, if you get my meaning.

The players have their individual plans to follow before proper pre season training begins at Surrey Sports Park in July. 

Rachael Burford, Jess Breach, Shaunagh Brown and Ellie Green have all gone under the knife and not to feel left out Jade Konkel, The Queen of Rehab, stabbed herself in the eye with a hairbrush that necessitated a trip to A&E.

For the Red Roses in the Quins bouquet of talent, there has also been no let up, Chloe Edwards, Leanne Riley, and Abbie Scott were all on England duty against the Barbarians,and will soon be off on national service to San Diego in the Women’s World Series.

There are players who will be hoping for a bit more luck this season, Ellie Miles has been in rehab since I’ve known her, if any person deserves a bit of luck then it’s her.

Also Debs McCormack is another who is owed some good fortune both on the club and international front, she had a frustrating 2018/19 so close to a come back only to be thwarted by last minute set backs on so many occasions, both Debs and Ellie are due a big break.

This will be the third season of the Tyrrells Premier 15s and Quins record is hugely impressive, only marred by two defeats to Saracens in the 2018 and 2019 Finals.

In the 41 matches they have played since the league began on 16 September 2017 they have lost only 7 and drawn 1.

Even during these long summer days they are working hard to make it third season lucky, and I for one wouldn’t bet against them.

Paris seems to be centre of all things sporting at the moment, with the Women’s Football World Cup seeing plenty of action at Parc des Princes, the HSBC World Sevens enjoying a glorious weekend at Stade Jean Bouin, and Rafa Nadal barely having time to re-align his water bottles following his French open victory, before the folks from Clermont and Toulouse invaded the city of lights for the Top 14 Final at Stade de France.

Yellow vests have been visible for quite some time in the French capital, but the ones that headed north from the Auvergne on Saturday were a much more amicable bunch than had recently been seen on the boulevards and avenues.

Yellow continues to be the colour of the capital, as in a few weeks a bloke riding a bicycle whilst sipping champagne, will be doing a few laps around the Champs- Elysees also wearing a yellow shirt.

But it was not all yellow on Saturday, there was plenty of rouge et noir, or red and white to those us who found CSE French a little challenging.

The TGV’s unloaded their southern French human cargo at Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse from the early hours, and with an 8.45pm kick off, (subsequently delayed due to President Macron’s eternal hand shaking) the bars and cafes stretching up to the northern suburbs of Saint Denis, shimmered in the summer sunshine as the espresso’s and Kronenberg’s were delivered at a pace.

La Ville Rose, The Pink City, or to give it its proper title Toulouse, is a proper rugby town, it is also the centre of the European aerospace industry but this season their rugby team is flying almost as high as their Airbus A320’s.

Toulouse citizens swapped the banks of the gorgeous Garonne for the sunny Seine, the red berets dreaming once again of Top 14 glory, and after a season of playing some glorious attacking rugby they beat Clermont in a pulsating final.

Thirty two year old Yoann Huget rolled back the years, and pinned back the ears, to score two tries for Toulouse in the 28th and 55th minutes whilst Clermont relied on six penalties, five of which came from the boot of Greg Laidlaw, failing to cross the rouge et noir try line.

The Top 14 gets a lot of stick outside of France, and indeed inside it, but those who don’t quite get the it, should attend a final, it embraces every art form, in glorious technicolor under azure skies, and it is it about much more than rugby, the first French championship final took place in 1892 and was won by Racing, the trip to Paris for the final has become a right of passage handed down from grandfathers and fathers to their sons and grandsons, the new generations temporarily hold the legacy before passing on the baton.

Paris was painted red on Saturday night, the long day irrelevant to the victors, but for the losers the fatigue kicked in, for players and fans alike, the moment Jerome Garces blew the final whistle.

The chartered train bringing Clermont fans to Paris for the day was due to arrive back home at 0446 on Sunday morning, the Michelin men will be disappointed and exhausted but boy will they have some stories to tell and some great memories to cherish, that is what the Top 14 is all about.

After ten long months the Top 14 season has come to a close, although down south in Toulouse the celebrations may well continue for quite some time.

a bientot

 

 

 

Warren Gatland has been appointed head coach for the Tour of South Africa in 2021.

Gatland is unbeaten in two consecutive tours to Australia and New Zealand as head coach of the Lions, and following today’s appointment becomes only the second person to lead a third tour after Sir Ian McGeechan.

The 55-year-old will start as head coach on 1 August 2020, and will work exclusively with the Lions until the conclusion of the 2021 tour to South Africa 12 months later.

Gatland knows first-hand the challenge posed by the Springboks, having already been part of a touring party to South Africa in 2009 as McGeechan’s forwards coach, but is confident of delivering success for the Lions in 2021.

Should Gatland avoid defeat, he would create Lions history by becoming the first person to lead tours to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and remain unbeaten.

“I’m hugely honoured and delighted to lead the Lions again,” said Gatland.

“It is exciting and a great challenge to coach the best players from the four Home Nations.  The Lions rightly have a truly special place in the game and I jumped at the chance to be involved again when I was approached about the role.

“South Africa is a special place to play rugby. They have some of the most iconic stadiums in the world which will be packed full of passionate fans, and the Springboks have shown in recent times that they are back to being one of the dominant forces in the game.

“Having toured there in 2009 I know the scale of the task ahead of us – playing in South Africa presents a number of unique challenges such as playing at altitude, while the Boks will always be physical, aggressive and highly motivated.

“History tells you it’s a tough place to tour, but I am 100 per cent confident that we can go there and win – I would not be here if I thought differently.

“I’m delighted to now have everything in place to begin full-time in August 2020 as that gives me the best possible chance to plan for South Africa, but for the time being my focus is entirely on the Rugby World Cup and delivering a successful campaign for Wales.”

Gatland is unbeaten in two tours as head coach of the Lions, winning the Test series 2-1 against Australia in 2013 before a remarkable tie against New Zealand four years later – with the tourists drawing a dramatic final Test against the All Blacks.

He is also currently the longest-serving international rugby coach in the world, and since his appointment in 2008 Wales have won three Grand Slams and a further Six Nations title, as well as twice reaching the knock-out stages of the Rugby World Cup.

Following this year’s Grand Slam victory Wales remain on a record-breaking 14-match winning run, and having also coached Ireland from 1998 to 2001, Gatland is unparalleled in terms of experience at international level with 158 Tests to his name so far.

Domestically, Gatland has also coached Connacht and Wasps – winning three English Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup during his time in London – before a stint with hometown side Waikato in New Zealand where he claimed the Air New Zealand Cup.

Ben Calveley, managing director of the British & Irish Lions, said: “We’re delighted to have got our man; Warren is a world-class coach, boasts a proven track record, and knows the Lions better than anyone else currently coaching in world rugby – so naturally he was our first-choice candidate from the start of the process.

“This was a unanimous decision from the Lions board, and it was important that we moved swiftly and proactively to secure Warren’s signature.

“Appointing him two years ahead of time ensures Warren can also be involved in planning the logistics and scheduling elements of the tour. I’m looking forward to working alongside him to give the Lions the best chance of success in South Africa.

“The supporters are central to what make the Lions special, and with the world’s finest coach at the helm, excitement will grow even further.”

Lions chairman Jason Leonard knows exactly what it takes to triumph against the Springboks – the three-time tourist played eight matches, including one Test, in 1997 when the Lions last beat South Africa.

He added: “Warren’s record as a Lions coach is almost unparalleled and the challenge of quickly blending a successful team together from the four Home Nations cannot be overestimated.

“One of his greatest strengths is the ability to galvanise a group quickly, and the last two tours have shown clearly that Warren understands – and truly loves – the Lions.

“He has the skill set and the know-how to make a Lions tour work as it should, so we’re certain he is the right man to lead us to a Test series victory.

“We may be playing away in the heartland of South Africa,but I am confident that yet again, our fantastic supporters will make the matches feel like home games to the team. To me as a player, it made all the difference, and now I can’t wait to be part of the famous sea of red enjoying the tour of a lifetime.”

WARREN GATLAND FACTFILE

Coaching career:

·       Connacht (1996-98)

·       Ireland (1998-2001: 38 Tests)

·       Wasps (2002-05: 3x Premiership titles, 1x Heineken Cup)

·       Waikato (2005-07: 1x Air New Zealand Cup)

·       Wales (2007-19: 4x Six Nations titles, 3x Grand Slams, Rugby World Cup semi-final and quarter-

        final, 114 Tests to date)

·       British & Irish Lions: 2009, 2013, 2017

o   2009 – Assistant coach (forwards)

o   2013 and 2017 – Head coach

–          Gatland is the longest-serving international rugby coach in the world.

–          He also holds the record for the most Test matches overseen (158 to date).

–          Gatland is the only coach to have won three Grand Slam titles.

–          He has led two British & Irish Lions tours as head coach, and was unbeaten in Test series’ against Australia (2-1) and New Zealand (1-1-1).

–    

The 2018/19 Top 14 season began on 25 August 2018, last weekend the semi finals took place in Bordeaux, and there are probably Merlot grapes that have had a shorter season than their rugby playing counterparts, such has been the length of this exhausting campaign.

Whilst there is sanguine advice to drink the Bordeaux grape juice in moderation, player welfare in France does not carry any government health warnings.

After the first semi final on Saturday night, between Toulouse and La Rochelle, the only warning should have been to spectators, it was mainly a turgid affair and it would have been advisable not to drive or operate any heavy machinery due to the drowsiness it caused, thank heavens for Cheslin Kolbe who managed to turn a fully induced coma to a cat nap every once in a while.

Sunday afternoon proved to be a much more entertaining affair, as Clermont eventually beat Lyon 33-13, the Michelin men pulled away after 50 minutes and ended up comfortable winners, although the half time score of 16-8 gave food for thought.

84,113 spectators drank in the sunshine at the Matmut Atlantique stadium over the two days, and to cap it all that full bodied Georgian red, Davit Zirakashvili, made his 248th Top 14 appearance when he came of the bench for Clermont.

So the top two teams of the league stage, deservedly head north for one final fling in Paris next Saturday, where the vin rouge of Bordeaux will be replaced by champagne for one of the protagonists, lets hope the rugby as well as the bubbly is vintage.

After ten months duration the 2018/19 Top 14 season will finally come to an end “Plus ca change.

 

In a word association test the psychologist presents a series of words to an individual, for each word given they are instructed to respond with the first word that comes to mind, Freud believed that such responses provided clues to people’s personalities.

Egg followed Bacon with many, as did cart with horse, but if the word Barbarians would have been offered it would surely elicit a three word response, Mickey Steele Bodger.

Mickey sadly passed away a few weeks ago, aged ninety three, Twickenham felt a little empty yesterday without his presence.

He had been on the Baa Baas committee since 1946, and president since 1988, a lot of Guinness has flowed under the bridge during that time, the drink that displayed the Barbarian colours was given ample endorsement by Mr President.

How proud and delighted he would have been to see the men’s and women’s teams grace the home of English rugby for the first time together, at the ground where he wore the red rose during an international career that spanned nine caps between 1947 and 1948.

Yesterday we said goodbye, yet we also said hello to rugby inclusion, it may seem a small thing but the Barbarians announced their men’s and women’s teams at the same time, and on the same tweet, a tiny detail but a huge step in terms of how the bright ever growing world of women’s rugby is developing, and just typical of the Barbarians to be the trend setters.

The sun shone from early dawn, and the balmy temperatures felt more like Tenerife than Twickenham, 17,902 spectator’s basked in the heat as they witnessed history being made, the Red Roses bloomed and the Baa Baas wilted, as the England forwards relentlessly knocked the stuffing out of them.

14-0 up after 19 minutes, England never looked like losing, and a 28-0 half time confirmed their ascendency.

The Barbarians had a much improved second half and at last put together some phases  putting pressure on the England defence, they clawed back two tries to make the score 28-14 before England pulled away again to take the score to 40-14 and a comfortable win was assured.

For old timers Rocky Clarke and Danielle Waterman, who have been the pathfinders for the women’s game, this history making Barbarians fixture may well be their last appearance at Twickenham, but thanks to them and many others along the way, the younger players and those yet to come will find matches like this will now be the norm.

I’m sure Mickey was looking down with a Guinness in his hand and smiling a smile of gentle satisfaction, as the club song tells us “For it’s a way we have in the Baa Baas and jolly good way too”.

 

 

 

 

At three o’clock on 31 May 1995, at Free State stadium, Bloomfontein, Japan faced Ireland in a rugby World Cup Pool C match.

As the match kicked off in front of 15,000 spectators, Japan fly half Sejii Hirao was about to play his thirty fifth and final international match for Japan.

Born in Kyoto on 21 January 1963, Hirao went on to play in three rugby world cups, his first as a nineteen year old in 1987, as Japanese captain in 1991, and finally in South Africa 1995.

Sadly Sejii Hirao passed away on 20 October 2016, at the ridiculously young age of 53, in hospital where he was being treated for an undisclosed illness.

One of the most popular Japanese players of all time, he was known in Japan as “Mr Rugby” he was so proud and honoured that his home country was chosen to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

After graduating from university in Japan he spent 1985 in England where he played for Richmond, following his joyous sojourn in Surrey he returned home and became Japan national coach from 1997 to 2000.

 An esteemed member of the world rugby hall of fame, he was looking  forward to his country hosting the next rugby World Cup, in 2019, with a mixture of intense pride and excitement.

As for that rugby World Cup match in 1995 at Bloomfontein, Sejii Hirao scored a try after fifty nine minutes, a match which Ireland went on to win 50-28.

Sadly Sejii will have to watch the tournament from a heavenly viewpoint but there is no doubt his shadow will cast an earthly warmth over Rugby World  Cup 2019.

From the Bay of Biscay to the River Tyne is a journey of 1,294 kilometres, La Rochelle swapped their Atlantic coastal home for the North Sea on Friday night, as they faced Clermont in the European Challenge Cup Final.

There are no direct flights between Charante-Maritime and Tyne & Wear, so the journey for supporters was not a simple or inexpensive one, when added to the extorniate hotel room charges the average fan was virtually priced out of the occasion.

Yet still they came, Newcastle was transformed into a sea of yellow as fans from both teams ebbed and flowed past St James Park, though on this occasion both yellow shirted teams decided on a change of strip, La Rochelle decided on black and white, perhaps in a horizontally striped tribute to the Magpies.

In fact the only men wearing yellow on the field of play were the match officials, headed by referee Wayne Barnes.

This was La Rochelle’s first major final, whilst Clermont’s record of ten defeats, in various finals over the last twenty years, was hanging over them in sword of Damacles fashion.

The boys from the Bay of Biscay did not play in the Top flight of French rugby until 2010, but were immediately relegated, they returned in 2015 and their rise has been rapid, with a Top 14 semi final berth in 2017, and a Champions Cup Quarter final last season.

But they were second best this time out, Clermont thoroughly deserved their win, La Rochelle had no answer to the their powerful driving maul, and in the end the Michelin men won with something to spare.

For the jaune et noir, Kevin Gourdon was immense, constantly breaking the gain line and offloading majestically.

Ouini Antonio scored La Rochelle’s only try a three metre rumble after which he was replaced, at 6ft 6 and close on 24 stone, presumably the distance got the better of him, as he left the field looking totally shattered.

Stade Rochelais are now established in the big time, and despite the hurt of this loss it will be a big learing experience to fuel them for further challenges to come.

The team will get a huge ovation at their next home game at Stade Marcel Deflandre, where the hard core fans, “Les Bagnards” will march from the city centre banging their drums as they go.

On 10 January 1941 Marcel Deflandre became president of La Rochelle, he joined the “Honor and Homeland” group of the French resistance in 1942, where he commanded the supplies and gasoline section. He was arrested on October 9 1943, and executed by the Nazis on 11 January 1944, sometimes the pain losing a European final needs to be put into some kind of perspective.

One thing is for sure Le Jeaune et Noir are here to stay and Bon Chance to all of them.

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It’s now been a week since Harlequins Ladies defeat to Saracens in the Tyrrells Premier Final at Franklins Gardens.

I’ve watched the match on you tube countless times this week, and the final score still won’t change, but I will keep on repeating the process until it does.

For players and staff thoughts have already turned to next season, one hopes the Barbarians team to face England women On June 2 will contain a few Quins, the Red Roses side most certainly will, before a bunch of them head off to San Diego to play in the Women’s World Series starting in late June, where England will face the world’s best.

So as we say goodbye to the 2018/19 season it is worth mentioning some facts about Quins Tyrrells premiership season that will either entertain you, or send you to sleep, so either way it’s a win-win for every reader.

For Harlequins Ladies pre season training is just a matter of weeks away, in reality the seasons are never ending these days, there is no doubt they have entertained and inspired rugby lovers of all ages, and they have done it with a smile on their faces, long May that continue.

MATCH RECORD 2018/19

Played 20 Won 15 Drawn 1 Lost 3

 

• Quins recorded 10 straight wins between 29 September 2018 and 12 January 2019.
• Quins first try of the season was a penalty try against Gloucester-Hartbury 10 mins into the opening game of the season.
• Emily Scot played in 17 of the 18 league matches.
• Quins are unbeaten at home since 3 December 2017.
• Quins scored 14 points in the final four minutes (Ellie Green scoring 9) to draw with Bristol Bears after being 26-0 down at half time.
• Rachael Burford scored a try in the first and last matches of the season.
• Heather Cowell scored a hat trick in 11 minutes against Bristol  (21,29 & 32 minutes)
• Quins were the only team to beat Saracens in 2018/19 (20-17 at the Stoop 20/10/18).

 

FULL LIST OF TRY SCORERS 2018/19 (120 TRIES SCORED)

• Heather Cowell   20
• Jade Konkel   11
• Davinia Catlin   10
• Shaunagh Brown   8
• Leanne Riley   8
• Emily Scott   8
• Fiona Fletcher   7
• Jess Breach   6
• Chloe Edwards   4
• Chloe Butler   4
• Vickii Cornborough   4
• Lucy Packer   4
• Penalty Tries   3
• Bethany Wilcock   3
• Georgia Newman   3
• Rachael Burford   3
• Beth Dainton   2
• Katy Mew   1
• Ellie Green   1
• Stacey White   1
• Zoe Saynor   1
• Deborah McCormack   1
• Charlie Wellbelove   1
• Tove Viksten   1
• Sarah Cornforth   1
• Kristine Sommer   1
• Leah Lyons   1
• Jade Mullen   1
• Sam McCarthy   1

 

REPRESENTATIVE APPEARANCES 2018/19

• Deborah McCormack   Scotland
• Jade Konkel   Scotland
• Leah Lyons   Ireland
• Emily Scott   England
• Jess Breach   England
• Abbie Scott   England
• Shaunagh Brown   England
• Leanne Riley   England
• Vickii Cornborough   England
• Rachael Burford   England
• Kristine Sommer   USA
• Ellie Green   England U20
• Chloe Edwards   England U20
• Beth Dainton   Army
• Alex Hardy   Army
• Jade Mullen   Army
• Bev Gilbert   Army
• Victoria Peterssen   Sweden
• Tove Viksten   Sweden

 

• Rachael Burford achieved her 80th England cap in 2018/19
• Deborah McCormack earned her 30th Scotland cap in 2018/19 against France in Lille
• Abbie Scott captained England against Wales in Cardiff in the 2019 Six Nations
• Jess Breach was top try scorer in the Six Nations with 9 tries for England

Sunday April 29 2018, with 81:16 on the clock Quins are on the attack, trailing 24-20, one score and the title would surely be theirs, one bounce of the ball, one refereeing decision could change everything, but a knock on just outside Saracens twenty-two brings the game to an abrupt and gut wrenching end.

That blustery icy cold day at Ealing will never be forgotten by Quins and their fans, or indeed by this correspondent.

The team and management vowed, almost immediately, that they would return for the 2019 final, and the disappointment of that day has been a huge motivating factor this season, and they have been true to their word.

So a year later and some eight five miles further north, from last year’s venue, the 2019 final is just days away one thing that hasn’t changed are the protagonists, Harlequins Ladies and Saracens women.

Last years try scorers Holly Jane Myers, Jess Breach and Deborah Mc Cormack are all in contention for a place in the Quins squad looking for revenge,but there will be host of new faces lining up at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday evening.

There is no doubt that Quins are a much better side than the one that came up just short in 2018.

The depth of the squad is now incredibly impressive, and this season they have learned how to win ugly displaying both the beauty and the beast.

With Jess Breach and Heather Cowell on the wings tries are never far away, Rachael Burford is the glue that holds everything together in defence and attack, and Leanne Riley is one of the best scrum halves in the game.

Up front Jade Konkel comes at you like a runaway train, and if she can’t get you then Shaunagh Brown most definitely will.

At lock Quins are blessed with world class international personnel from England Scotland and Australia in the form of Abbie Scott, Zoe Sayner, Debs McCormack and Chloe Butler, whilst the front row will either bludgeon or frighten you to death, Leah Lyons, Vickii Cornborough & Davinia Catlin have scant regard for the Geneva convention and don’t take any prisoners.

So when Saturday comes everyone’s hopes and dreams wll be condensed in to eighty minutes or so of rugby, but win or lose one thing that won’t change is the character of those involved with Harlequins Ladies, a group of people who have welcomed me for the last two seasons, they’ve eaten all my welsh cakes but have also helped me through some very difficult times, in the process they have become become my friends, and it’s worth remembering whilst trophies  gather dust, memories last forever, but let’s get that trophy as well please.

So from that first training session at acmosquito infestested Surrey Sports Park  in July we find ourselves awaiting curtain up on the final act, the twentieth match of the season, for all our sakes I hope the fat lady will be singing a Quins aria long before the clock hits 81:16

With love respect and thanks to Debs, Jade K, Vicky P, Gary, Karen, Ali, Merrick, Matt, Michele, Ash, Gilly, Dawn, Harry, Graham, Marc, Rachael, Beth, Leanne, Ellie G, Ellie M, Emily, Jess, Heather, Khadi, Charlie, Zoe, Shaunagh, Leah, Vickii, All The Chloe’s Abbie, Tove, Jade M, Alex, Tash, Jenny, Courtney and of course Gary and Karen, and everyone of the gang.

In Greek mythology Zeus, the most powerful of the Olympian gods, was the master of the thunderbolt, Cyclops the men of the golden race gave him the weapon.

In yesterday’s Tyrells Premier semi final between Harlequins Ladies and Loughborough Lightning, at Twickenham Stoop, the away side produced some glorious flashes, but it was Quins that provided the thunder that ultimately won this contest.

Their line speed, and defensive brilliance constantly drove back Lightning, Khadidja Camara. the Quins centre had more hits than Take That, she tackled everything that came her way.

If there were to be a Greek goddess of back row forwards then Jade Konkel would fit the bill perfectly, scoring two tries, battering the gain line constantly, and she came off the field exhausted and battered  justifiably won the player of the match award.

At full time the teams looked absolutely shattered, both sets of players had given absolutely everything, Hypnos the greek god of sleep was not be required last night.

1,265 turned up on a cold afternoon at the Stoop, it appeared that another greek god, Boreas, the god of the north wind, had provided an icy accompaniment to proceedings, but it didn’t take long for things to warm up on the field of play.

Quins scored first through Jade Konkel in the 4th minute, two minutes later Carys Williams, who looked dangerous throughout scored a sparking try for Lightning to levels the scores at 5-5.

Jade Konkel got her second try on 38 minutes, and an Ellie Green conversion gave Quins a 12-5 lead at half time.

Twelve minutes into the second half Vickii Cornborough powered over for a try converted by Ellie Green, and on 69 minutes Leanne Riley’s quick thinking earned her a well deserved try once again the conversion was supplied by Ellie Green.

Megan Davey got a consolation try for Lightning on 78 minutes, but the game was won by that stage,

This was a clash of the titans, the physical contest was immense and the hits ferocious, both sides suffered injuries and at one stage the pitch resembled a battle field, we can only hope that Apollo, the greek god of healing will assist to ensure Quins are at full strength for the final in two weeks.

Quins now face Saracens in the final, at Franklins Gardens, on April 27, a repeat of last years final, it may well be worth getting in touch with Fortuna, the greek goddess of good fortune, it certainly can’t do any harm.