Brown: £3m grant will help bridge gap
SHAUNAGH Brown questions why Wales don’t already have the basic professional requirements to compete but says the ‘levelling the playing field’ campaign of the British and Irish Lions women’s team founding partner, Royal London, can help bridge the gap on England before the inaugural tour to New Zealand in 2027.
The £3m grant from Royal London and the Lions to be shared between the home unions is aimed at developing more players and coaches ahead of the tour to the world champions.
Brown, 34, won 30 England caps between 201722, winning four Six Nations titles and reaching a World Cup final in 2022. The back row/prop has since become an ambassador for the Lions tour.
She told The Rugby Paper: “England will put their grant into the player pathway, while Ireland and Scotland will put it into player development and coaching setup, so that the quality is there by 2027 with an internship and mentor support programme.
“Wales are going to have a set piece coach, a specialist skills coach and sports scientists but why don’t they already have that in place? It’s sad Wales don’t have that but the funding should help level the playing field, so this is a step in the right direction.”
The gulf in quality between England and the rest of the home unions has raised concerns that it’ wil reduce the Lions squad to virtually an all Red Roses outfit. Brown is certain England will provide the majority of players but hopes others from the home unions will make a case for inclusion.
She added: “It’s likely to be England dominated but it sometimes happens in the men’s game as well, depending on the coach and who won the Six Nations that year. The fact it could be England dominant isn’t unique but that’s why this campaign is in place to bridge the gap. When we were having conversations we were strong on it being the best of the best rather than having quotas for the coaches and players.
“There’s plenty of talent across the other nations; Claire Molloy has just got back into the Ireland squad and is a dynamic player that you want on the pitch beside you, Neve Jones (Ireland), Jasmine Joyce, Sisilia Tuipulotu (both Wales) show there’s plenty of talent in those nations but because there’s not the support for the whole team that’s probably why we haven’t seen it come together on the pitch yet.
“If you put Ireland, Wales, Scotland in a system that fully supports them with dedicated nutritionists, specialist coaches and being full-time it will soon result in those nations thriving as well.”