Scots news roundup

East retain Donna Kennedy Trophy at the end of a big weekend for Scottish Women's Rugby (Photo: SRU)

Yesterday, Scotland launched a newPerformance Development Programmewhich will replace the U20 programme.

The aim for talented female players will be identified and developed to raise the standard of the women’s game – it’s something that Shade Munro told he was wanting to develop whenwe spoke to himbefore the last Six Nation.

A talent identification day for female players aged between 16-20 was held at BT Murrayfield on Saturday. Up to 50 players will now be selected for the regional programme that will form a key thread in the women’s pathway. The players will receive individual programmes and attend regular training days throughout the season. They will be aligned to either BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh or West of Scotland in Glasgow.

Players will be supported by a strength & conditioning coach, a physiotherapist and a coaching team in the east and west. A doctor will support both squads.

Former Scotland Women international Sarah Dixon, a sportscotland Development Officer, has been appointed programme Manager. She won six caps for Scotland Women following her debut in 2011 and also featured in Scotland Women 7s before retiring last year.

Napier University’s Rugby Coordinator and Coach, Ian Dryburgh, has been appointed Head Coach of the East squad. Murrayfield Wanderers player and Head Coach of Napier University Women, Sarah Quick, who retired from Scotland Women ahead of this season, is the East squad’s Assistant Coach.

Kilmarnock and Glasgow & the West BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Coach, Mark Senter, has been named Head Coach of the West squad.

Head of Women’s and Girls’ Rugby, Sheila Begbie, said: “We will be selecting the best players from all four regions to be part of this new programme, which will have a positive impact on the club game as players raise standards. We envisage the national side also benefiting from the programme as young players will feed into the Scotland Women squad.

“The programme will provide players with the tools to maximise their growth and potential. They will work on individual skills and also take part in workshops on leadership and balancing rugby, education and their social lives. The squad coaches will also support players in the club environment by attending training sessions and matches to provide feedback to players in conjunction with club coaches. It’s a very exciting programme and will have a long-term benefit to the women’s game in Scotland.”

The Performance Development Programme replaces Scotland Women under-20, following a review of the age-grade structure. England and France are the only other European countries with women’s under-20 teams at XVs, after Wales closed replaced their age-group programme with sevens a few years ago).

AsShade told us in February, without the Performance Development Programme, identifying talented young players the U20 programme had been a difficult and haphazard activity so its cancellation is not unexpected. As Sheila said yesterday: “The under-20 structure wasn’t benefiting our players and the work that still needs to be done to reach high performance levels. The new programme still includes a game element, with a series of east v west matches forming part of the calendar.”

The other major story was the appointment of Dee Bradbury as thefirst female Vice-President of the Scottish Rugby Union. Bradbury, representing Oban Lorne RFC, becomes the first female Vice-President of a Tier 1 rugby nation and a major sport in Scotland, but the positive effect of having women on the board of major Unions has already been demonstrated in Austraia.

Bradbury will serve a two-year vice-presidency with new Scottish Rugby Union President.

Speaking immediately after the AGM Dee Bradbury said: “I am delighted the clubs have supported me and voted for me to take this role.

“The women’s and men’s unions integrated in 2009 and, since then, it has become very clear to me that out of most sports, Scottish Rugby is one of the most fully-integrated and welcoming for women.

“I did not undertake this role to be a broad feminist gesture, purely that I thought I had qualities to bring to the role.

“My first reaction was delight that the clubs have had the vision to support me in this role. And then I think the second reaction was that I must go and phone my 85-year-old father which I did, and that was an immense moment.”

Scottish Rugby CEO Mark Dodson said: “It’s an historic day not just for Scottish Rugby but both Scottish sport and international rugby. I think it shows how seriously we are taking women’s sport and women’s rugby in general.

“Our Head of Women & Girls Rugby, Sheila Begbie has spoken of a clear pathway for women and girls through rugby from the pitch to the boardroom and with Dee’s appointment we can show it is now a reality in Scotland.

“Dee’s appointment alongside that of Sheila Begbie and having former Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson on our board means we have women in very senior roles throughout our organisation.”

Scottish Rugby’s new President Rob Flockhart who had his appointment ratified at the AGM today said: “It is fantastic for Scottish Rugby and Scottish sport that Dee has been appointed to this role. It sends a message out that rugby really does encompass every part of society, men and women, boys and girls. Dee’s appointment is especially key given the opportunity to keep developing rugby in the west of Scotland.”

She represents the Women’s Rugby Forum on the Scottish Rugby Council.

Finally,East retained the Donna Kennedy Cupon Sunday 21 August, improving last season’s 36-10 to win this year by 43-10.

East full-back Chloe Rollie had an outstanding game, running in four tries and receiving the Keri Holdsworth award for the player of the match. West – for whom hooker Lana Skeldon was the outstanding player – were frustrated by East’s well-organised defence.

East got off to a good start and they took the lead after just two minutes, centre Lisa Thomson’s pace setting up Rollie went for her first try, converted by scrum-half Sarah Law.

After 14 minutes East were celebrating again, Murrayfield Wanderers’ Rollie collecting the ball some 30 metres out and bursting through the defence with a couple of nice hand-offs along the way. She went on to score her second try, and when No.8 Karen Dunbar went over for her side’s third try before the end of the first quarter the East were in control. That was the way it stayed until half-time with defences on top for the next 20 minutes with East 17 - 0 ahead.

Five minutes after the interval Rollie was at it again, bagging her third try which Law converted to put them 24-0 up and leave the West with a mountain to climb.

However, West got a new lease of life and in the 50th minute got the try their hard work deserved. Skeldon who touched down and then her own tricky conversion attempt hit the post to leave things at 24-5. But on the hour East grabbed their fifth try, Law going over. Try number six came when Dunbar got her second of the match after a mix-up in the West defence. Claire Bain converted.

Although it was the East’s day, the West did manage to get their second try, replacement Aimee Watson squeezing in at the corner for an unconverted effort. Fittingly Rollie had the final say on proceedings, running in for her fourth try with Bain converting to finish things at 43-10.

Full-time: East 43 - 10 West

Scorers: West: Tries: Skeldon, Watson. East: Tries: Rollie 4, Dunbar 2, Law. Cons: S Law 2, Bain  2.

Keri Holdsworth player of the match award: Chloe Rollie (East).

West: Mairi McDonald; Andrea Gaffney, Caitlan Harvey, Megan Gaffney, Rachel Shankland; Catherine Shennan, Emily Irving; Siobhan McMillan, Lana Skeldon, Heather Lockhart, Kirsty Reid, Jenny Johnston, Louise McMillan, Jemma Forsyth, Hannah Telling. Subs: Lisa Croniken, Mary Lafiki, Stella Kyalikunda, Lauren Hagan, Tamsen Tysen, Anna Stodter, Kelsey Swift, Caitlin Haldane, Aimee Watson, Rachael Mulholland.

East: Chloe Rollie; Harriet Cumber, Gillian Inglis, Lisa Thomson, Rhona Lloyd; Claire Bain, Sarah Law, Katie Dougan, Lucy Park, Lisa Robertson, Emma Wassell, Nicola Howat, Lucy Winter, Karen Dunbar, Charlotte Runcie. Subs: Suzy Hex-Rook, Alisa Luke, Hannah Kurtz, Cat Syme, Liusaidh McMaster, Kelly Shields, Rachel Law, Louise Pullan.