Latest news with #Gloucester-Hartpury
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Monaghan and Parsons in Ireland RWC training squad
Ireland's Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons have both been included in a 37-player training squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Scott Bemand's side begin their tournament against Japan on 24 August with New Zealand and Spain also in their pool. Co-captain Monaghan has not played international rugby since the 2024 Six Nations with the 31-year-old lock missing this season's championship and last year's WXV1 campaign through a knee injury sustained playing for her club Gloucester-Hartpury. Olympian Parsons has also been absent through injury after she suffered two leg breaks in the space of four months, the second coming when representing Ireland Sevens in December. With 26 Tests to her name, only Enya Breen has more caps than Parsons among the backs in Bemand's panel. Forwards Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri and Shannon Ikahihifo are all included after missing out on the Six Nations where Ireland finished third with two wins and three defeats. Alma Atagamen and Ivana Kiripati are the only two uncapped players in the panel. Influential forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall have already been ruled out of the tournament through injuries sustained in the Six Nations. Ireland's final squad for the competition will be reduced to 32 players with the side playing warm-up games against Scotland in Cork on 2 August and Canada in Belfast seven days later. The side did not qualify for the 2021 World Cup after finishing eighth on home soil four years prior. Forwards: Alma Atagamen, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan, Christy Haney, Cliodhna Moloney, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Edel McMahon, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Jane Clohessy, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Siobhan McCarthy. Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Corey, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons, Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Eve Higgins, Katie Corrigan, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Murphy named Gloucester-Hartpury head of rugby
Three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury have appointed Dan Murphy as their head of rugby for the 2025-26 has worked as scrum coach at the club for the past four seasons and steps up following Sean Lynn's departure this spring for the Wales head coach prop Murphy made 91 appearances for Gloucester during his playing career and also represented London Irish and Harlequins before retiring in 2022."It's an absolute honour to take charge and help [the team] kick on further after a very successful few years," Murphy, 39, said."To work with those women who are so driven, so determined. I'm in awe of them sometimes and it's an absolute privilege to be able to lead them."Lynnie [Sean Lynn] always spoke about inspiring the community and I believe we did that by winning the three-peat. But now it's about capitalising on that, creating, building and finding the next act for The Circus." Gloucester-Hartpury have become the dominant force in English women's rugby during Lynn's tenure, surging to a third consecutive league title in March when they beat Saracens in Lynn's final game. Murphy - who has been part of the staff for all three titles - began his coaching career with Championship side Hartpury while still playing and this April led Hartpury University's men's team to their first BUCS Super Rugby title in six was then seconded to Wales women to work as their defence coach during the recent Six Nations campaign alongside Lynn.
Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Natasha Hunt: I still have not reached my potential and the Lions carrot is dangling
Natasha Hunt wants to set the record straight. 'I don't hate people mentioning my age,' says the England scrum-half. 'The thing I hate is when people mention my age and it's tied with, 'Look at how she's playing now'. It's this perception you should get worse as you get older. I'm playing some of the best rugby I've ever played and I still haven't reached my potential. It's exciting.' Hunt has been a mainstay in a white shirt for more than a decade. She might be entering the twilight of her career, but her outlook on the game has not changed. She still has designs to be quicker, to refine her box-kicking and fine-tune her ball distribution. And, aged 36, she has an even bigger goal in mind. 'If I'm honest, the Lions carrot is dangling,' she says, referencing the inaugural British and Irish Lions women's tour to New Zealand in 2027. 'I'd love to give myself the best opportunity to vie for a shirt there. If that doesn't come off or I decide before then that I'm done and my body can't take any more, I'll be so content in what I've done in my career. 'Equally, if I'm not good enough to keep playing the level I need to be able to attain something like that, then that's OK. It's not going to define my career.' Hunt, one of four members of England's Six Nations squad who won the Rugby World Cup in 2014, considers retracting the Lions comment for fear her ambition might be perceived as borderline arrogance. In the end, she decides not to, feeling empowered by the fact that deep down, she has more to give. Hunt has reinvented herself as England 's first-choice nine since her shock omission from the 2022 World Cup squad. In the intervening years, she has become the beating heart of a Gloucester-Hartpury side who have won consecutive honours in the women's domestic game. In her team's latest title-winning campaign, she was the league's in-form scrum-half, spearheading Gloucester-Hartpury's attack with rapid ruck distribution and snappy offloads. And yet Hunt detests how praise for her performance is inherently linked to her age and the raised eyebrows that follow. It is quite bewildering when one considers the increasing number of women competing well into their thirties. The great footballer Marta, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, played in the Paris Olympics final last year at 38, showing age and experience should not be a barrier to peak performance in an era where science is prolonging many athletes' careers. Earlier this week, New Zealand rugby player Portia Woodman-Wickliffe announced she was coming out of retirement, aged 33, to target a spot at the World Cup. 'It's talked about now because we're the first generation doing it,' says Hunt, who started her international career in the pay-to-play era as an amateur. 'Sarah Hunter [the former Red Roses captain] played until she was 38. Mike Brown [39] has spoken so much in the media about how people keep talking about his age. 'There's so much you can do to look after your body now from a nutritional perspective or sports-science view. As long as you get your recovery right and you know what works for you, we'll see careers go on and on. This is the best job in the world – why wouldn't I want to do it for as long as possible?' As part of her quest to make John Mitchell's World Cup squad later this year – and have a shot at redemption after cruelly missing out in 2022 – Hunt has joined her club and country team-mate Zoe Aldcroft in forgoing alcohol. 'I think the antioxidants in red wine helped me but I've actually given up alcohol,' she says. 'We're just trying to put ourselves in the best possible space for this year. I gave up chocolate before the 2014 World Cup so I thought I had to go big [this year]. Love a glass of red, me.' Hunt stepped away from the England set-up for a year in 2021, citing her unhappiness within the team environment. She has since credited Sean Lynn, the former Gloucester-Hartpury coach who is now leading Wales, for positively shaping her last few years, and she holds Mitchell in equally high regard. 'Mitch has made a huge difference to the squad, especially in the brutal honesty that he brings,' says Hunt of the head coach. 'We all know where we stand and what our jobs are. I had a good sit-down chat with him after the Ireland game to see what I need to work on and I just love how much he gets people. I feel like he really understands you as a person and drives me in the way I need to be driven.' Her next assignment is helping England chase an 80-minute performance against France in another Grand Slam decider at Twickenham on Saturday. The Red Roses are on a 24-match winning streak in all competitions – and 14 consecutive wins over the French – so does Hunt believe a defeat would benefit the team ahead of the pressure of a home World Cup? 'I don't think it would be the worst thing,' says Hunt, diplomatically. 'There are so many ways to look at it. If we can go the whole way and not lose another game until I'm done, that'll be awesome. As long as you review and you're on it with everything that has been asked of you, you can get what you need out of the right situation.' Right now, Hunt is getting the most out of hers.
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Emma Sing faces biggest game of career in Grand Slam decider
John Mitchell has backed Emma Sing to showcase her 'world-class' qualities against France after star full-back Ellie Kildunne was ruled out of England's Women's Six Nations Grand-Slam decider. Sing, who will start for only the third time in a Red Roses shirt, faces the biggest test of her fledgling international career at Allianz Stadium on Saturday because reigning World Player of the Year Kildunne is sidelined for the winner-takes-all encounter with a hamstring injury. Kildunne's injury is not deemed to be serious and Mitchell, the England women's national team head coach, indicated his decision to leave her out of the marquee fixture was more precautionary in World Cup year. The Harlequin has had a game-heavy 12 months, having represented the Great Britain sevens team at last year's Paris Olympics, played the entirety of last year's WXV tournament and featured in all four matches of England's Six Nations campaign. Sing, 24, has long been a secondary choice to Kildunne, whose eye-catching exploits in England's back line in recent months have elevated her to poster-girl status. Now Sing, who played a key role in Gloucester-Hartpury's Premiership Women's Rugby three-peat, has a golden chance to prove herself and capitalise on an inopportune injury scenario that could strike again later this year. 'Emma's a world-class full-back and it's given us another chance to deal with a situation that might occur further down the track so we're more than confident to make that decision,' said Mitchell. Reshuffled back and Feaunati power play Mitchell has reshuffled his back row for Saturday's crunch clash, which will be the last time England play at Twickenham before potentially contesting World Cup final on September 27. More than 35,000 tickets have been sold for the match, which will mark the fourth time the Red Roses have played a standalone match at the national stadium. In a not-so-subtle sign that England will look to destroy France with their power game and target them at the set-piece, Maddie Feaunati has been given the nod over Sadia Kabeya – crowned Player of the Match in this fixture two years ago – at openside flanker, with no place for former captain Marlie Packer in the match-day squad either. France, as they have done all tournament, have opted for a 6-2 split on the bench and field a pack in which openside flanker Lea Champon earns her first start of the championship. While she played openside a handful of times for Exeter Chiefs last season, Feaunati has only ever been deployed as blindside or No 8 in her 14 Test caps under Mitchell. 'The team mix is a tactical mix, said Mitchell. 'When England play France your first principal is the set-piece. There's no need to hide that. That's the first place we'll be going after them.' The Red Roses are on a 14-match winning streak against France, who have perennially been their closest competitors in the Six Nations. England have averaged a greater winning margin (24 points) than Les Bleues across the championship but Mitchell is nevertheless expecting a stern test. 'This opportunity on the weekend is like playing knockout football in a World Cup,' he said. 'This is the stage you want to get to. These girls have worked hard to have this opportunity and it just happens to be our home tournament that's really important to us where we have set a standard. When you set a standard, people want to chase you. 'We're continually searching for that complete performance. I guess that's the fun part of the game and the challenge for the girls. The game is never finite and it's always giving you feedback that you can get better.' However, Mitchell also warned against the temptation to treat the occasion as a dress rehearsal for a World Cup final. 'We've got to be careful [about] focusing on a World Cup final because we've got to earn the right to contest it,' Mitchell said. 'So it's nice to get another chance to be back at Allianz Stadium. That's the way we see it, it's an isolated situation and we've presented ourselves an opportunity to complete a goal. 'Without a doubt this is the biggest test we've had in this Six Nations,' he added. 'They've been a consistent side, have been using their group quite well and look like they have an identity that's really clear. It's a bit different from last year. We're excited by what they'll present.' England v France, Saturday, 4.45pm, Allianz Stadium England: Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury); Abby Dow (Ealing Trailfinders), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs); Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury); Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears), Zoe Aldcroft (captain, Gloucester-Hartpury), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury). Replacements: Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Abi Burton (Ealing Trailfinders), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning). France: Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais); Joanna Grisez (Stade Bordelais), Marine Ménager (Montpellier), Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac), Kelly Arbey (Toulouse); Carla Arbez (Stade Bordelais), Pauline Bourdon-Sansus (Toulouse); Yllana Brosseau (Stade Bordelais), Manon Bigot (Blagnac), Assi Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais), Manaé Feleu (captain, Grenoble), Madoussou Fall-Raclot (Stade Bordelais), Charlotte Escudero (Toulouse), Léa Champon (Grenoble), Teani Feleu.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales' faith in coach Lynn will pay off
Wing Carys Cox insists Wales' players are fully behind Sean Lynn despite his miserable start as head coach. Lynn won back-to-back Premiership titles with Gloucester-Hartpury before taking over Wales in March. But he is still waiting for his first Test victory, with Wales bottom of the Six Nations and fighting to avoid a winless campaign with only a trip to Italy to come. Lynn insists he needs more time to change things around for the World Cup later this year as he attempts to bring in a more expansive game. "Everyone has completely bought into what he is doing," said Cox. "Sean has been brilliant, especially with the culture and atmosphere in the camp. Everyone is really enjoying being in the environment. "No-one should expect results to happen straight away under a new coach. But we're confident that with a little more time with him, performances are going to come over the coming months and then the World Cup." Italy v Wales rearranged due to Pope's funeral Scrum V: Wales target Tandy for head coach role Hurt Wales coach Lynn needs 'good pre-season' Despite the losses, Wales have scored almost twice as many points in the Six Nations as they had at this stage in last year's tournament. Trailfinders player Cox is evidently enjoying life under Lynn, having gained more metres than every other player in the Six Nations except England stars Ellie Kildunne and Abby Dow. Only Italy's Sara Tounesi has made more offloads than Dow, who is also the only player with more linebreaks than Cox. The Wales speedster opened the scoring against Ireland last Sunday before Hannah Bluck followed. It was the first time the backs had scored all of Wales' points since they faced Italy last summer. "Out attack is much more varied now and I'm really enjoying being involved far more," said Cox. "In the past we've relied heavily on our forwards to score tries but that's not rugby. You need an all-round game and that's a big positive for us. "We've been given freedom to give things a go, try new combinations and moves without fear of failing as we build to the World Cup." The Italy fixture is to be rearranged due to the funeral of Pope Francis. The two teams were due to meet in Parma at lunchtime on Saturday, 26 April in the final round of the tournament, but the Pope's funeral will take place at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) that day. Tournament organisers have yet to confirm when - or where - the game will now go ahead.
