Childhood heroes Dream dinner guests Lending a hand Griggs’s picks Growth spurt Gardens party
Kong the following Friday at 7pm and Canada on 24 November (11.30am).
The Saturday kick-offs are early but do allow supporters to take in both the women’s match and the men’s Tests at the Principality Stadium next door. And with ticket prices at just £5 for adults and £1 for U16s, they will be looking to pull in decent crowds.
Coach Rowland Phillips has used the Women’s Regional Championship, which involves Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets and RGC 1404, to determine his Wales squad for the November fixtures. He has also brought in former Ospreys and Dragons hooker Hugh Gustafson as forwards coach. Shane Williams and Elen Evans. Elen is the same position as me and is world class. I aspire to
be the player she is
It would have to be people who are funny. Keith Lemon. Rita Ora. And the Queen!
Joyce, who has impressed for Scarlets, is pleased to see a meaningful fixture list. “I didn’t play in the autumn last year, when we had friendlies against Scotland and the Armed Forces. They weren’t capped, more warm-up games (for the Six Nations). These will be awesome Internationals. I’d love to play in them.”
There are other goals, too. Not least the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. This season’s Women’s World Sevens Series doubles as an Olympic qualifier, with England having the responsibility of trying to guarantee Team GB a place.
For now, though, Joyce is looking to put her pace to good use on the artificial turf at Cardiff Arms Park.
Scotland have appointed two new assistant coaches for the season – sevens coach Scott Forrest (defence) and Bryan Easson (attack), who works at the Scottish Rugby Academy.
Ireland head coach Adam Griggs has selected three development players – Beibhinn Parsons (below), Daisy Earle and Aoibheann Reilly – in his squad for the November Tests against USA and England.
There has been a 14.6% increase in female playing numbers in New Zealand in 2018, with the number of registered players in the country now 27,838.
The Tyrrells Premier 15s final will be played at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 27 April. There is an early-bird ticket offer of £5 for adults – see englandrugby.com/tickets for info.