Big challenge to get Team GB up to speed – Rowlands
FLY-HALF Helena Rowland is one of three Red Roses attempting to win the Six Nations before claiming Olympic gold this summer but fears Team GB are behind the field as Tokyo looms.
England have blitzed their way to Saturday’s Six Nations final, beating Scotland 52-10 and Italy 67-3, but Loughborough fly-half Helena Rowlands is concerned Team GB will struggle for the same cohesion.
“Lack of preparation time compared with our Olympic rivals is the biggest worry,” the 21-yearold said. “The tournament in mid-May at Marcoussis has been cancelled, so we have no GB squad match time together. It is going to be pretty challenging to get a team together in time.”
Rowland, Alex Matthews and Meg Jones switched back to XVs after the RFU scrapped the Sevens programmes in August. They are the only XVs internationals trying to double up with Rio 2016 captain Emily Scarratt focusing on 15s.
Worcester flanker Matthews, 27, earned 41 caps in XVs and was a World Cup winner in 2014 before switching to Sevens full-time in 2017. Wasps flyhalf Jones, 24, was a non-playing reserve at Rio 2016 aged 19.
Rowland added: “GB has the challenge of combining from four home international squads to try and team build. We are a bit of an unknown quantity this year. It is a fantastic opportunity and one I didn’t think I would get.
“I am fortunate playing fly-half in both versions, so decision-making is OK, but collisions and fitness for 15s is a new demand.”
Women’s head coach Scott Forrest named a training squad in January. Only recently have they been able to join up and train at camps in Loughborough. The squad announcement is expected at the end of June.