Tigers right to finally set up women’s team
ABSENCE HAD BEEN PUZZLING, PERHAPS EVEN STAIN ON CLUB
WHILE there is still lots going on in rugby, with international matches and particularly the Lions tour reaching the point where the serious business of the Test matches is about to begin, the biggest story in the game locally is the decision of Leicester Tigers to step into the modern world and to start to embrace the women’s game.
For a club as community focused as Leicester, with more youngsters interacted with than the rest of the Premiership and the rugbyunion, it could be argued the Tigers’ failure to have a women’s team is at best puzzling and at worst something of a stain on the club.
When almost all the rest of the Premiership are involved in the Women’s Premiership, the Tigers’ failure to join in this growth area has not been good for the club and its image.
While there is much talk that the Leicester club did not want to step on toes, particularly of the excellent Loughborough Lightning brand, locally, the reality is the Tigers board previously had members who let it be known the only way a women’s team would be countenanced would be in a scenario involving their dead bodies.
Presumably those dissenting voices have been moved on, or persuaded differently.
As chief executive Andrea Pinchen said: “One of the driving forces at the Tigers is to promote the game of rugby at all levels within our community.”
Involving half the population definitely fits this aim.
England international Vicky Macqueen has been appointed as head of women’s rugby and the club is also looking to recruit a women’s and girls’ rugby development officer and team manager, among other key roles.
Vicky, who earned 34 caps for England in Tests and Sevens rugby during a five-year international career, is an RFU level four coach, and the founder of the hugely successful and internationally franchised Didi Rugby brand involved in introducing youngsters to the game.
She is the recipient of the British Empire Medal for her work.
I am fortunate to know Vicky and there could not be a better person to develop the Tigers Women’s team.
She once said to me that the most important development for women’s rugby in the region would be for Leicester Tigers to get involved.
I suspect she will be proved right.