DN:
What were you doing before you arrived on the rugby union
scene?
RH:
Originally, I am from Leeds, and joined Leeds Rugby League
club where I was for two seasons. After that, I travelled
the world where I ended up playing rugby in Australia. When
I eventually returned to the UK, I decided to study Sports
Science at UWIC. When I left I became the National Development
Officer for Rugby League for two years.
DN:
How do you think you can use these experiences in your role
as Director of Women's Rugby?
RH:
When I started working as National Development Officer, there
was nothing going on for boys and girls as far as League was
concerned. Now there are 3000 children playing Rugby League
in South Wales. The same could be said of Rugby Union. There
is nothing going on for girls in Wales at the moment, so I'll
simply be doing what I did with League, but on a bigger scale.
It is almost like starting with a blank sheet of paper. I'll
be able to put my ideas into action and make sure it all gets
done the way I know best.
DN:
What does your new role involve?
RH:
I'll be looking after 13-21-year-olds really. We've got a
Welsh Youth side, which is U19 but there is nothing below
that. We have to get something co-ordinated straight away.
We have to reach the girls in primary school then make sure
that there is a clear path for them all the way up to senior
level. At the moment, once they have left primary school there
is nothing for them to do. We also have a huge number of clubs,
but what we need to do there is slow down the amount of teams
that are forming and instead create a strong player base.
The
priority is to increase the level of competition at the top
tier. We have also tried to bridge the gap between club and
international level rugby by setting up the regional Tournament.
As far as international rugby is concerned, many members of
our squad have gone to play in England - nine of our girls
now play in Clifton. It is up to us to put a structure in
place and pull them back.
DN:
But how are you going to address these problems? What changes
can you make?
RH:
At the bottom there are no changes to make simply because
there is nothing going on! We are now working with all the
District Directors to ensure there is an U16 team in each
district. We are visiting all the schools at the moment with
videos and posters and we are organising training so that
by the end of January every girl who is interested in rugby
will have had two or three sessions. Then they'll get together
for one weekend and play. So if there is a girl aged 13-16
in the district who wants to play rugby we can give her the
chance to do it.
DN:
The WRU has 10 districts but the further north you go, the
bigger they seem to get. Is the current system practical?
RH:
It's not ideal - districts such as North Wales are large but
for now, at least, it is easier to travel to Wrexham than
have to travel to Cardiff. Basically we have to sow the acorns
from which the tree can grow.
DN:
What progress do you need to make at international level?
RH:
Internationally, the squad has excellent fixtures - the Five
Nations and the European Championship and the Youth squad
is fantastic. Some of the younger girls are already coming
through to the senior level, so the only changes I think we
need to make there is to be able to fill the gaps left in
the youth team.
DN:
Do you think women's rugby is taken seriously in Wales?
RH:
Yes, I think it is taken seriously. We have just secured a
major sponsorship deal with Synchro Systems for the next two
seasons and they wouldn't have come on board if they thought
Welsh women's rugby wasn't going to work. Securing their support
is a big coup for us and has taken a lot of work. We have
also taken on another three sponsors - including the Post
Office and Envy, who will kit out the girls at official engagements.
Apart from that, I have seen women's club rugby and the enthusiasm
from the helpers, the girls, their friends and families is
unbelievable.
DN:
Of course, to achieve all this you have to work closely with
the Welsh Rugby Union. How has this been so far?
RH:
I have had fantastic support from the WRU and the District
Directors of Rugby have been first class.
DN:
Do you have any personal ambitions?
RH:
If I can make sure that there is a clear pathway of development
for girls to follow their own rugby ambitions then I will
have done my job. If a girl at primary school decides that
she wants to play rugby, she should be able to progress to
U12 rugby through competitions that will mirror U16, then
play at U13-U16 level. By the time she hits 16 years of age
there should be a youth structure in place and she can follow
her ambitions from there.
DN:
You have a 3-year contract to see out. What do you think you'll
enjoy most about the time ahead?
RH:
That I will be able to give girls opportunities to play
rugby. If a girl rings up, wanting to play, whether she is
aged 8, 18 or 38, instead of telling her to call back in a
few months time, I can tell her exactly who to contact for
more information. If I can make sure that there is that outlet
for them, I think I will have achieved something.
DN:
So, do you believe that you'll see success during your time
as Director?
RH:
I may be just 24 years of age, but I have also got experience.
When I worked in Rugby League I made a success of that. If
I can achieve even half the success for girls here as I did
for the children who now play League, I think we'll certainly
be going down the right road.
by
Cathryn Janes
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