The Red Roses kick off their
#WomensSixNations
campaign today!
If you would like to learn more about
@RedRosesRugby
, my book is out now in all major bookshops!
📚 Waterstones:
📚 Amazon:
📚 Bookshop:
I’m on first-name terms with the local ice cream van man, Eddie, and I even have his number.
Now it’s 30 degrees, suddenly everyone wants an ice cream, but what road does Eddie head to first? Mine. All the hard graft in the off-season is about to pay off BIG time
This stuff stops rugby’s fan base growing. We have to be welcoming of people with little knowledge of the game and get rid of our moral superiority over football.
What we wear and what we look like has nothing to do with why sexual harassment happens. It happens to pretty much every woman at some point.
It’s often about the man wanting to feel some control and power when that’s lacking in their lives. How sad!
Tonight I was sexually harassed in Sainsbury’s. I reported it, I’m home safe, I’m angry. I only went out to get snacks to watch the rugby with. I don’t tweet this for attention or sympathy but because I think it’s important to be honest about how often this happens.
One day I’ll share details of the time two international* rugby players tried to spike my drink.
But judging by some men’s reactions to a woman walking home, I’m really not ready to hear how I deserved it. 🤦🏼♀️
*Not a European team
Only Farrell, Williams, Itoje and George came over to fans to say thank you for our support. The other Lions players went straight back to the changing rooms without acknowledging the fans.
Japan lined up and bowed in front of the Lions fans to say thanks for the support. Class.
Today’s football and rugby union*:
08:05: New Zealand v Tonga🏉
13:00: Ireland v Japan🏉
15:00: Wales v Canada🏉
17:00: Lions v Lions🏉
17:00 Czech Rep v Denmark⚽️
19:00: Romania v Argentina🏉
20:00: Ukraine v England⚽️
(*Other sports and matches are available)
After my Grandad died last year, a friend pointed out that he is wearing the same jumper in most of our photos together over 22 years.
My parents had it made into a cushion that I can cuddle when I miss him 🥺❤️
🚨 Transfer news 🚨
Next month I’m joining
@TimesSport
as a digital sports sub-editor! I’m thrilled to be joining a fantastic sports desk during this huge year.
Can’t wait to start. Hope to bring some more women’s rugby content to the desk!
This heatwave has made me think how weird it is that women can wear summer dresses to work but, in most offices, it would be frowned upon for men to wear smart shorts and a short-sleeve shirt. Wearing a suit in this heat sounds like torture
I’m sitting with my parents who are watching a documentary about Zara and Mike Tindall. I am so unimpressed with “now he has a son, there might be another rugby player in the family”
He had two daughters before his son. Someone tell
@channel5_tv
that women and girls play rugby!
How much would you pay to be three pints deep in the Principality, listening to the choir before the anthems start, savouring the smell of Brains and hot dogs, chatting to your new best pals in the row in front?
I’ll start: £50,000, my first born, and a kidney. Not even Welsh.
If I ever, ever, call myself “little miss rugby” assume it’s a sign that I’m being held hostage and need urgent help
I wish I could reply to these boys without risking my job
(I’m completely fine. Watching tele, not crying, just ate a doughnut. Just find these funny)
Nobody could watch today’s final and say women’s rugby is boring. It was a fantastic display and so great to watch it on tele. More of that please
@btsportrugby
😃👏🏼
Today I presented my first rugby match and I loved it 😁
I wish the photos could show just how chaotic the weather was. We were getting soaked from all angles!
Thank you
@EnglandRugby
@Premier15s
for the opportunity 🏉
Credit for the third photo:
@RWRedmanPhotos
#CrazyHair
Also hated being told that it was unprofessional to get players’ autographs and being so “fan-girly”.
I will always be a fan first, and I was there as a fan with my family. I am nowhere near big time enough not to chase Mike Tindall down the street for an autograph! Fun police🚨
If I make a Women’s Six Nations fantasy league will you join? Reply or DM me if you want to.
Tips will be offered! It will be open to all, even if you haven’t watched women’s rugby before. No judgement, just a friendly league 🏉
Rugby needs to be in front of as many eyes as possible. The Six Nations should be on free to air TV and online video content should be shared freely. Putting international rugby behind a paywall will not grow the audience at the scale needed to make the game sustainable
Saw this post on Facebook and expected to see sexist comments underneath, as there always tend to be. There wasn’t one. That is such progress!
Viral video clips like the one of Jaz’s incredible cover tackle do so much to build the profile of women’s rugby.
Also, stop with this shit about rugby fans being better than football fans. Nobody gives a shit and it makes you look self-righteous. The scenes in London are awful but there shouldn’t be any point scoring here
I have a baking Insta account and a while ago I was talking to a baker on there. She told me she was moving to Northampton from Swansea. Then I realised her name was ‘Biggar Bakes’ not ‘Bigger Bakes’
So that’s how I accidentally became baking friends with Dan Biggar’s wife…
@Deeqtheone
@gunnerblog
You really can’t tell the difference between this and putting your hand on the back of someone’s neck? Please stay away from women
A few years ago I did my master’s dissertation on the representation of women’s rugby in the press. There had been 15 or so pieces in nationals (over 500 words and online) in the previous year. Two were written by me.
We probably beat that this month. How amazing is that?
Five years ago today I sustained a brain injury on a rugby pitch that led to a seizure. I go on about it a lot because although I recovered relatively quickly, not everyone is as lucky.
Today I’m thinking of everyone affected by brain injuries. Let’s keep banging the drum.
“It was inside Wembley shortly before kick-off, and women working in the hospitality areas were harassed by drunk male fans. Fair play to the former rugby union player, Ugo Monye, for stepping in to help the terrified women.”
👏🏼
It’s International Women’s Day and I’m writing a piece about elite women’s rugby players having to fundraise for their own surgery.
If I’m honest, I’m not supportive of the clubs celebrating IWD when their players are having to ask the public for money.
My rugby viewing schedule for the rest of the day:
13:00 Wales v Argentina (S4C, Sky channel 134 for me)
15:00 England v Canada (Channel 4)
17:00 Cell C Sharks v British & Irish Lions (Sky Sports)
19:15 Ireland v United States (Channel 4)
Two years ago today I sprinted through Paddington station to get a selfie* with
@samwarburton_
, now I sometimes get to sub-edit his
@TimesSport
columns 🤩
*heavily filtered because I was sweaty, a bit drunk, and starstruck
@Billyed57893386
@shinycoIIarb0ne
I think we all knew it was a stereotype. Pretty obvious stuff. If you told me you were interested in something traditionally ‘female’ (like baking, the example given by someone else below) I wouldn’t ask you to recite the recipe for flapjacks.
Right. If you don’t watch women’s rugby, or you only watch the Women’s Six Nations, tomorrow is your chance to get into club rugby! It will be an incredible game.
🏉 Premier 15s final
🧍♀️Saracens v Harlequins
⏰4pm KO
📺BT Sport 1 (or stream for free at )
In my MA dissertation I argued for better representation of women’s rugby.
To have my own women’s rugby column now, for
@RugbyPass
, is just a dream come true.
I will do all I can to raise the profile of this wonderful sport! 🏉
“I can't apply for a mortgage and l'm on antidepressants. I'm also one big injury away from not having a job in July yet I'm starting for Wales every week and the WRU is making tens of millions from international matches.”
Exclusive: 🏴players to discuss possible strike action at crunch meeting ahead of
#SixNations
clash with England as contractual chaos engulfs the country’s national game. Full story here for
@MailSport
, including shocking player detail:
#WALvENG
The off-pitch drama of the Lions this week has soured it a bit, for me. I love a bit of Lions drama but I remember the days when drama meant a player had been bitten by a lion, not that a director of rugby has posted an hour long video about the intricacies of the breakdown.
Finn Russell was exactly what that game needed. Wish Biggar well but pleased that Russell got such a long time on the pitch — created so much space and opportunities.
I’ve seen a few people say ‘but France are semi-pro and so are a lot of the Wales players?’
Some France players have central and club contracts. In comparison, some Wales players who play in Prem 15s get match fees, but it often doesn’t cover their petrol. Worlds apart.
My schedule tomorrow:
08.05: New Zealand v Ireland 🏉
10.55: Australia v England 🏉
14.00: Wimbledon women’s final 🎾
16.05: South Africa v Wales 🏉
17.00: Portugal v Switzerland ⚽️
20.10: Argentina v Scotland 🏉
Argentina were absolutely the better side on the day. Wales struggled with discipline and errors, Argentina capitalised. Simple as that, Blaming the referee for that loss is lazy
🚨 Exclusive Charlie Willett interview
The Ireland rugby league international was badly injured in a Test match.
After the injury, Charlie found out the insurance she was told Ireland provided was capped at €3,500. She is now in £13,500 of debt
Warren Garland says that Alun Wyn Jones is training with Wales and will make a decision tomorrow about joining the Lions with the view of playing a Test match.
If anyone can, it’s AWJ. He’s not human.
I am making my debut on co-commentary today, as the Premier 15s heads to the biggest stage: Harlequins v Wasps at Twickenham Stadium! 😁
70k tickets have been sold and the game is live on BT Sport.
If you want to listen, I will be on from 2pm 🎙
Sending my love and best wishes to
@UWEWRFC
after the team lost their friend and team-mate Maddy Lawrence. Maddy died following an injury during a game.
I know how close uni rugby teams are and how much this loss will be felt.
Women’s rugby teams, please read my next tweet 🔽
My rugby viewing schedule for tomorrow:
08:05 - New Zealand v Fiji (
@RugbyPass
)
11:00 - Australia v France (Sky Sports Action)
15:00 - Wales v Argentina (S4C - Sky channel 134 in Eng)
17:00 - Stormers v Lions (Sky Sports)
Other games are available!
Eddie Jones has warned Marcus Smith about the “flood of distractions” that could come his way as the next potential superstar of English rugby, pointing to the commercial activity undertaken by Emma Raducanu as an example to be avoided |
@johnwesterby
Rugby fans who might not watch the Women's Six Nations/haven't watched it before... what questions do you have about it?
DM me or reply to this tweet. No question is stupid and your name won't be shared, I might just answer the question in a piece (and send you my answer too)
I am thrilled to share some lovely news: Nick and I are engaged 🥰
He asked me to marry him during our Super Bowl party (see earlier, unsuspecting, tweet!), so I guess I have a Super Bowl ring now! 💍
One thing women’s rugby can, and should, get right is having none of this “we’re better than you” mentality towards football.
Great to see Sarina Wiegman watching England today. If we want full stadiums at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, we certainly want women’s football fans there!
I wish I could be in Gloucester tomorrow, but I’m at a family day.
I HATE watching sport with people who talk through it (see exhibit A below 😬😂) so I am seriously considering streaming the game from my parked car outside
The new lions test jersey is £105.
I’m gonna be honest this makes my blood boil how they’ve done this. I know we have pro shirts usually but the design is very clearly visually different.
I’ll say it... fans being ripped off/taken for mugs here. Farcical.
Just heading into work and is that the
@Womens6Nations
final being shown on all TVs in a London Bridge bar with the whole bar going nuts when something happens?
Just know that every time you tweet anything that suggests she shouldn’t have had earphones in, or shouldn’t have walked home at night, a woman in your life decides you’re not a safe person anymore.
Thank you so much
@VodafoneUK
for my Lions stash!
Vodafone saw my Lions nail art and kindly sent me a jersey, a water bottle, a poncho, popcorn, a mini ball, a stress ball, a shower speaker, and a fancy little lip balm!
#VodafoneTreats
#UniteThePride
This is probably an unpopular opinion but I’m not a fan of hearing LCD being applauded for his very-low, head-first shoddy tackle technique. Greenwood called it “brave”, I call it reckless
Listening to BBC radio in the car and they said “and in rugby union, Harlequins play Saracens today.” It’s disappointing that they didn’t mention the England v NZ game, especially as it’s on BBC Two.
To be fair, it was one news bulletin and I didn’t listen on — still not great.