This is not only the first Women’s Six Nations to be televised in full, but also the first to feature a fully professional squad. England have not won the title that for seven consecutive years was exclusively theirs since 2012. But, if they do not win it this year, we may have to revise all that we hold sacred about the efficacy of the professional way.
Ireland have won two of the four championships since England’s last triumph, and they host the World Cup later this year, but their captain, Niamh Briggs, does not expect to be giving up her day job as a garda in Limerick any time soon. Not that that need be a hindrance.
“I don’t know if we need it,” she says. “Athletes are very structured people. I like to know that I get up to train in the morning, I work, then I train in the evening. It’s like that five or six days a week. When you come out of that environment you have a huge amount of time free. It can be difficult to understand what to do with that time, when you’re used to being so busy.
“You can’t help but be envious of what England are doing. While I have no doubts that Ireland will get there eventually, we’re definitely not there yet. We can’t think about what other countries have, we just have to concentrate on ourselves. You’ll hear no excuses our end if results don’t go our way.”
It is a beautifully subtle way of piling the pressure on England, who might resent it, what with that failure to win any of the past four championships. Nevertheless, this year’s edition has their undivided focus. Last year was not a success. Having focused their resources on the Olympics, the Great Britain team, made up mostly of professional English players, failed to win a medal, while the compromised Six Nations squad were pipped to the title by France, who also denied them a grand slam with defeat on the final weekend.
Since then, 38 England players have been placed on contracts of varying levels of commitment, 18 of them full-time. “Last year the priority was the Olympics,” says Sarah Hunter, England’s captain, “but now we’re in World Cup year it’s back to XVs. A lot of the girls that were at Rio have come back into our squad. Their experience of the last two years has really added strength. Now we’ve come on board on 1 January, it’s something we’re really excited about - and that I never thought would happen in my rugby career.”
The women’s game continues to transform itself and its profile. Sky will screen all England’s games, but every fixture in this year’s championship will be available, either televised or streamed. There will also be a highlights programme on BBC2 every Sunday night.
“People come up to me on the streets,” says Lisa Martin, the captain of Scotland, who boast one professional among their ranks, “and say, ‘We saw you on BBC Alba, you played so well, it’s the first time I’ve ever watched women’s rugby.’ And that’s what you want. To get people watching, get them inspired and get the kids playing. And act as role models, which is what young girls need and relish.”
With it all, though, comes extra pressure. England, in particular, will be feeling that.
