‘World Cup heroes could end up in the Jobcentre’
MP hits out at decision to axe England Women RFU claims team is still ‘focused’ on tournament
The Rugby Football Union’s decision not to renew the contracts of the England women’s team has been described as “a kick in the teeth” and “totally unacceptable” by a Labour MP after it was confirmed that players would lose their jobs even if they won next month’s World Cup.
The governing body has confirmed contracts for the 15-a-side game will expire after next month’s tournament in Ireland because the focus will shift to sevens.
Since introducing central contracts in 2014, the RFU has operated on a cyclical basis, with emphasis alternating between the sevens and XVS programmes. The governing body has confirmed that remains the case, less than 24 hours after the England women’s cricket team won the World Cup in a thrilling victory over India in front of a packed house at Lord’s.
Tonia Antoniazzi, who is Labour MP for Gower and a former Wales rugby international, said: “In a week in sport where we had the cricket team doing so well, England footballers flying so high, this must be a kick in the teeth for them to be treated like this.
“I don’t know the finances of this; the intricacies of the deals but to treat women like this, particularly in light of how the women working for the BBC got paid, it highlights a massive inequality in Britain.”
She added: “I feel very strongly about it as an ex-women’s rugby player. The England women’s rugby team are an absolutely excellent first-class unit and I really, really feel, as a woman, as an MP, as an ex-sportswoman, to be treated like that just before they are going to the World Cup, where they will be expected to be the winning team, is totally unacceptable.
“It is the wrong message to be giving about women, sport and equality. It is lousy timing. I feel for those girls, I haven’t spoken to any of them, but it is not good for their morale. Are they going to be able to get their jobs back that they gave up to pursue a professional rugby career? The thought of them going to the Jobcentre after the World Cup is hardly acceptable, is it?”
However, Nigel Melville, the RFU director of professional rugby, stressed that players were made aware of the changes.
“The women’s squad were always aware that contracts would end in September, after the World Cup. The squad was informed in April that the next contracts will be focused on sevens, reflecting the cyclical nature of the women’s game. The squad fully understands the position and are focused on the World Cup in Ireland next month.”
Despite this, Antoniazzi stressed
‘With the cricket and football teams doing so well, this must be a kick in the teeth for them’
the psychological impact on the players. “I don’t think it matters that players already knew. For it to be in the public domain now, two weeks before the World Cup, it is not doing anything for morale. It would be really nice to hear from some of the girls to find out how they are feeling.”
Recalling her own experiences of representing Wales in the 1998 Women’s Rugby World Cup, she sees how far the women’s game has progressed. “It was a great honour to represent my country, having bought and financed most of it ourselves, buying our own jackets and boots and things. Women’s rugby has come on so much.”
Simon Middleton, England’s head coach, named a 28-player squad to travel to Dublin and Belfast next month. England are the only nation participating in the tourna- ment to give their players contracts of this nature, so they could focus solely on World Cup preparation. Other unions such as New Zealand, Ireland and Australia have players on sevens contracts.
The RFU will return to contracts for XVS players in preparation for the next World Cup. Melville added: “The women’s game works in cycles between the XVS and sevens programmes and, as a result, next year there will be 17 professional, full-time fixed-term sevens contracts to prepare England to compete in the two big global tournaments on the horizon – the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“Contracts will then revert to XVS contracts again to prepare for the next big global tournament – the Women’s Rugby World Cup.”
The RFU reiterated its support for the women’s game: “The RFU has made a multimillion-pound investment in women’s rugby in the last three years and that investment increases year on year. Our record investment applies not just to the elite game but also to the community game.”
This investment includes the launch of a new women’s domestic competition for the 2017-18 season.