Women ‘cannot copy men’s Lions tour’

Giselle Mather, Wasps director of rugby and coach of the first women’s Barbarians side, says a British and Irish Lions women’s team should not copy the format of the men’s tour.

Lions representatives have met the English, Scottish and Welsh unions about the possibility of forming a women’s side. Talks are also scheduled with the Irish union.

While Ben Calveley, the Lions chief executive, has previously said a women’s tour was a case of “when, not if ”, Mather is adamant the team must have their own identity.

“I don’t believe we have to be the same format as the men,” she said. “It won’t be competitive. The key thing for a British and Irish Lions women’s team is that it’s the most competitive it can be as that generates interest.

“If you think you know who’s going to win it before you start, then what’s the point? That’s what generates so much energy and enthusiasm in the men’s series.”

Mather’s comments echo those of England captain Sarah Hunter, who insists any side would have to be tailor-made to suit the global women’s rugby calendar and not tour concurrently with the men’s team. The 2021 Lions tour to South Africa would interfere with New Zealand’s hosting of the Women’s World Cup.

A women’s schedule could target the United States and Canada strongholds as opposed to the men’s southern hemisphere venues such as South Africa and Australia.

“Do you take a British and Irish Lions tour to Europe?” added Mather. “They can play in France, because of the support that’s there.”