Zimbabwe reach first Rugby World Cup since 1991
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Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Scotland women's captain Rachel Malcolm unhappy with off-field disruption, saying it's 'unfair' on players ahead of Rugby World Cup
Scotland women's captain Rachel Malcolm insisted her players have been put in an 'unfair' position ahead of the Rugby World Cup — with off-field issues threatening to derail their preparations for the competition. Malcolm said news of head coach Bryan Easson's imminent departure had also come as a shock and insisted the timing of it was 'quite upsetting'. Lack of certainty over players' contracts with Scottish Rugby, meanwhile, have been an ongoing issue, which she labelled a 'disruptive' influence. Several Scotland players have been in the dark as to whether they would have their contracts renewed post-World Cup. 'No, it hasn't been ideal prep whatsoever,' admitted Malcolm. 'It has been very disruptive. 'My ethos as a captain is to make my players feel like superwomen. It's to make them feel valued and it's to make them feel like they belong — and the processes which have gone on behind the scenes have definitely done almost the opposite of those three things.' While Malcolm admitted that conversations had continued behind the scenes, she said these had been 'frustrating' and insisted 'we probably haven't had too much sympathy towards our case'. 'I think the timing piece is the most frustrating,' she continued. 'As players, we want to have 100 per cent of our focus on performing for our country at the biggest tournament in our careers, but there's obviously been that distraction piece. 'I think all of us are very passionate that the game in Scotland needs to grow, and all of us are very passionate about being part of that process, but not at the detriment of our performance at the World Cup, which ultimately is the most important part of our careers as players and I think its slightly unfair to put us in a position where that distraction is there.' News that long-serving coach Easson would soon be leaving, meanwhile, has also hit home hard. It was announced by Scottish Rugby last week that Easson would be stepping down, following Scotland's World Cup campaign. Malcolm said this had come as a surprise, insisting she 'hadn't been aware of it too long'. 'It was probably similar timings to you guys (the media) finding out, so it's obviously a shock. I think, for us as players, the timing of it was quite upsetting. 'Having, on a personal level, worked with Bryan for the majority of my Scotland career, and been through some pretty impressive highs and a lot of lows, we've always stuck together and kept true to what we want to achieve. 'I think what we have achieved in that time is pretty spectacular in terms of records here, there and everywhere, I think it's upsetting that he's obviously stepping away from the post, but also I think the opportunity to go and do his career justice at this World Cup is definitely something that is driving us as players.' Malcolm appeared to suggest the decision had been taken out of Easson's hands, saying: 'I don't think much of it was within his control, so obviously Scottish Rugby decided that was the time to do it, and that's when it's done, so there's not much else we can do about that.' Mail Sport understands, however, that it was Easson himself who made the decision to announce his departure sooner rather later — and that he stepped down from the role of his own volition. Speaking to the media ahead of Scotland's Summer Test against Italy this weekend, he said: 'I had a discussion with Alex (Williamson, CEO), maybe three, four weeks ago and with my contract running out, it was felt that it was the right time to move on.' Scottish Rugby, meanwhile, said it had been 'engaged with the Scotland women playing group over many months to work through the contracting process in a timely manner ahead of the Rugby World Cup', insisting they had now 'concluded' contract discussions with all members of the World Cup training squad.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Red Roses announce squad
England have announced who will be representing the country at the Women's Rugby World Cup tournament is being held in England this year, so it's a huge moment for the members of the squad,.Scrum Half Natash 'Mo' Hunt has been included in the squad after controversially being left out of the line-up in 2022. There are many faces fans will recognise, like TikTok sensation and prop Sarah Bern, and powerhouse centre Tatyana centre Emily Scarratt is set to become the first English rugby union player to appear at five World will be eight squad members who will be making their World Cup debuts, such as Abi Burton who, during her first cap in the 2025 Six Nations, scored not one but two tries. Zoe Aldcroft, who took over from Marlie Packer as captain in January and lead the team to victory at the Six Nations earlier this year, will be the Red Roses' captain during the World narrowly lost the most recent World Cup final to New Zealand in Auckland in November 2022 but have won all 25 matches they have played since that last time England won the World Cup was in 2014 - can they do it again? England's full squad ForwardsLark Atkin-Davies Sarah BernHannah BottermanAbi BurtonMay CampbellMackenzie CarsonKelsey CliffordAmy CokayneMaddie FeaunatiRosie GalliganLilli Ives CampionSadia KabeyaAlex MatthewsMaud MuirMarlie PackerMorwenna TallingAbbie WardBacksHolly AitchisonJess BreachAbby DowZoe HarrisonTatyana HeardNatasha HuntMegan JonesEllie KildunneClaudia Moloney-MacDonaldLucy PackerHelena RowlandEmily Scarratt Jade ShekellsEmma Sing When can I watch the Rugby World Cup? The Rugby World Cup kicks off on 22 August in Sunderland's Stadium of Light, with England playing the opening match against tournament is taking place all over England, with matches in Brighton, Northampton, Exeter, Salford and final will take place on 27 September in London, at match will be live to watch on BBC iPlayer and to listen to on BBC Radio 5Live.
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sarah Hunter on why she cut short maternity leave to coach England to home World Cup glory
The former Red Roses captain gave birth to daughter Olivia in October last year and returned to her role as defence coach just six-and-a-half months later Sarah Hunter had no doubts about cutting her maternity leave short to be back in time to coach England at a home Women's Rugby World Cup. The former Red Roses captain gave birth to daughter Olivia in October last year and returned to her role as defence coach just six-and-a-half months later. Hunter, who retired from playing in 2023, aims to be a role model for others wanting to combine coaching with having a child. 'Becoming a mother has been the best thing ever, I feel really lucky to have Olivia,' the 39-year-old said. 'It was a decision between myself and my partner Nathan, who also works in rugby, that actually I do want to come back to work. 'I do want to show that you can be a female coach in a high-performance environment and still be a mum. 'I was very adamant that I wanted to juggle the balance of that. Then you throw a home World Cup into it all, and I just didn't want to pass up the opportunity to have that opportunity to do it. 'I feel very lucky and privileged that I am part of the Red Roses and have been given the opportunity to do it through the Red Roses, the RFU and the Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA) to try and be the best coach I can be.' Hunter joined the Red Roses coaching staff only a few months after retiring, as part of the first cohort of female coaches on the Gallagher High Performance Academy. The North Shields native was given support through mentoring and workshops, as well as being embedded with the England team for the first WXV tournament, which the Red Roses won. Sixteen more female coaches will be part of the GHPA at the Rugby World Cup, with World Rugby aiming to have women making up at least 40 per cent of coaching staff at the tournament. Hunter is joined by Lou Meadows and Kate Tyler as mothers as part of the England backroom staff and has cited football coach Emma Hayes and Keely Hodgkinson's coach Jenny Meadows as inspirations. She said: 'Hopefully in time, Olivia will look back and see and be proud of what her mum has done. 'The opportunity to coach your national side who are one of the best teams in the world at a home World Cup may never come around again. 'When you are away from her, the times are hard, I just have to keep reminding myself of the reasons why and the importance of being in camp and the importance of doing my very best so there is something for her to be proud of when you return home. 'I want to take that role on and it is a bit of a responsibility to showcase that you can do both.' Hunter and England head into the home World Cup, which begins on 22 August at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, having not lost since defeat in the final of the previous World Cup in New Zealand. Ticket sales are continuing to break records and the chance to be a part of it was too good for Hunter to turn down. 'The hopes around what this tournament could be back when the announcement happened to what it is now, all those plans that are coming to fruition,' she said. "The expectation of what we thought it could be to how it is now and hopefully by the end of September that is going to be blown out of the water.'
