Women’s Six Nations rugby contests held back

The Women’s Six Nations rugby tournament, which was delayed last year and then curtailed, has hit further hold-ups in 2021.
Hawick's Lisa Thomson, former Scotland women's captain, in action against South Africa (library image by Scottish Rugby / Carl Fourie)Hawick's Lisa Thomson, former Scotland women's captain, in action against South Africa (library image by Scottish Rugby / Carl Fourie)
Hawick's Lisa Thomson, former Scotland women's captain, in action against South Africa (library image by Scottish Rugby / Carl Fourie)

Six Nations has confirmed the Women’s and U20s’ 2021 competitions are being postponed. The women’s tournament will instead be scheduled in revised windows later this spring or early summer.

Uncertainty over Covid-19 has forced the move, although Six Nations also onfirmed it will finalise the respective timings and formats for both the Women’s and U20s’ competitions in consultation with all unions, broadcast partners and stakeholders.

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Full details are expected to be announced by the end of January.

CEO of Six Nations Rugby Limited, Ben Morel, said: “We are fiercely committed to the promotion and development of rugby at all levels, particularly the women’s game, where we see such exciting opportunity for growth.

“This is not a decision we rushed into and we are confident that, in looking at a new later window, we will be in a far stronger position to deliver two fantastic tournaments, delivering exciting rugby for fans, and ensuring the safest possible environment in which to stage them for our players.”

“The dynamic nature of the external environment and the ongoing challenges it presents, particularly for sports and teams of amateur status, meant a collective agreement to push both Championships to new later windows was prudent to ensure, where possible, that both competitions can be played safely and without interruption in 2021.”

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The Borders has been very prominently represented in the Scotland women’s team over recent seasons, with several players making regular appearances. Until recently, when she ruled herself out because of work commitments, Selkirk’s Mhairi Grieve was a familiar face at scrum half, while former captain Lisa Thomson, of Hawick, at centre, front-row forward Lana Skeldon, from Hawick, and full back Chloe Rollie, of Jedb urgh, have been near-automatic choices.

Head of girls’ and women’s performance rugby, Gemma Fay, said: “While it is disappointing that the tournament could not go ahead as scheduled, we support the decision taken by Six Nations and will work closely with the tournament to identify dates on which all postponed matches will take place.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of this virus, it is important that we continue to be agile and flexible, as we have been for the past year, in dealing with these situations, particularly as we strive to be ready for the qualification tournament for this year’s World Cup.

“Throughout this difficult period, I have continually been impressed by how our players and management have adapted to each challenge and I have no doubt they will continue to work hard as we prepare for Six Nations and the World Cup Qualifiers.”

Scottish Rugby is committed to playing in the U20 Six Nations when the timings and the format of the Championship are confirmed.

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