Good to see women making huge impact in rugby as well

LAST week saw the announcement that Leicester Tigers season ticketholders will be able to attend the games played by the newly formed women’s team.

The squad will play six matches at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the Women’s Championship North.

There is also the option for non season ticket-holders of a very reasonably priced women’s season ticket for fans who only want to commit to supporting the Tigers’ women.

In an innovative – and probably very sensible move on the basis that attendances will become more attractive and habitual once the team, hopefully inevitably, get entrance as a franchise to the Premier 15 competition – the club is also offering free women’s season tickets for women and girls playing club rugby.

After too many years of ignoring the growth of the women’s game, Leicester are now steaming full speed ahead in its support.

Last season was the first season of involvement and while the partnership with once giants of the women’s game, Lichfield, did appear to be unplanned when it happened, it has undoubtedly accelerated progress towards the aim of playing at the top level.

It’s worth bearing in mind the rise of England Women’s rugby.

The national side has won the Six Nations championship 18 times out of 27 occasions – winning the Grand Slam 16 times and the Triple Crown 22 times – making them the most successful side in the tournament’s history.

They won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1994 and 2014, and have been runners-up on five other occasions.

They are ranked number one in the world and have a winning streak of 23 consecutive games against the best teams in the world.

The performances of the Lionesses of England’s women’s football team has been a tonic for the nation, but they’re not the only English woman’s team doing us proud!

These innovative moves by Leicester Tigers are indeed welcome, and the presence of what may well become record-breaking crowds in the second tier of English women’s club rugby will almost certainly be used to good effect when the next round of franchises are awarded for the Premier competition.

It’s worth remembering that Welford Road hosted a record crowd of more than 15,000 for a Women’s Six Nations fixture when England met Ireland this season, so there is a proven demand.

While such dizzying heights aren’t likely to be replicated this season, a place at the top table in 2023 and who knows?