RFUW
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 to Showcase Women’s Game
Julia Hutton
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 (WRWC) was officially launched at Twickenham Stadium on November 23rd. The RFU will host the sixth WRWC in August and September next year with the aim of producing the biggest and best WRWC so far. The world’s best 12 sides will battle it out over 30 matches, all aiming to be crowned the world champions on September 5th. New Zealand are the reigning champions but hosts England, ranked second, will certainly be looking to take advantage of their home status. The showpiece tournament kicks-off on August 20th at the impressive new multi-million pound Surrey Sports Park in Guildford with all the pool games staged at that venue. Twickenham’s The Stoop, home of Guinness Premiership side Harlequins, will then provide a fitting finale to the tournament with the semi finals and final staged at the 14,200 capacity stadium. The match schedule for the tournament also features some mouth-watering opening fixtures including England v Ireland and holders New Zealand v South Africa. Sky Sports will be the host broadcaster for the tournament and have committed to live broadcast of at least seven matches. Tickets for the WRWC 2010 will be available in March exclusively through Ticketmaster. Never before has a ticketing service been brought on board for a Women’s Rugby World Cup, with tickets previously being distributed through the host union and host venues. In another exciting link-up rugby fans who buy tickets for the WRWC 2010 will automatically be put on a priority ticketing list for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. RFU Chairman Martyn Thomas said: “The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 in London is a marvellous opportunity to raise the profile of the women’s game in England. Women’s rugby is a rapidly growing sport but to have the showcase event on English soil will undoubtedly help raise the profile of the sport and get more people into the game, and we have a range of legacy programmes designed to achieve just that. “And it will be an outstanding event. We have got some fantastic partners in Sky, Surrey Sports Park, Harlequins and Ticketmaster who I know will all help us deliver a successful and well attended WRWC 2010. With RWC 2015 in England also just around the corner rugby fans have got a lot to be excited about.”
Nicola Carries Torch for Women’s Rugby
Julia Hutton
Nicola Eames from Reading Girls RFC has been recognised for her efforts in rugby at the annual Torch Trophy Trust Awards which were held in November. Held at the Army and Navy Club in London, the event saw Eames as one of 15 prestigious national winners. She picked up the award for her outstanding contribution to rugby as head coach of Reading Under 15s and Under 18s girls. Eames has held this role for the last eight years, and has seen great success for both sides. Nicola was also praised for her attitude to coaching, and the morals and values she instils in all the girls she works with. Rosie Williams, Managing Director of the RFUW, said “Nicola is a great ambassador for our sport, working tirelessly to promote the game and its values”. The Torch Trophy Trust was established in 1962 to encourage and support sports volunteers and is actively engaged in encouraging and helping voluntary workers at club level. The Trust operates a Bursary Scheme to provide financial aid for those wishing to increase their knowledge and their ability to help others on a voluntary basis by taking courses to qualify as club coaches, officials or administrators
