Leicester Tigers share the disappointment of our friends at Lichfield Ladies at not being awarded a place in the new Women's Super Rugby competition.
While congratulating Loughborough Students in being offered a place, Tigers were surprised to learn that Lichfield Ladies have been omitted from the new domestic competition.
The RFU announced this week the creation of a Women’s Super Rugby competition, which will kick-off in September. A total of 10 teams have been offered a place, subject to contract, including Loughborough Students.
All applicants will be required to deliver against a set of minimum operating standards, which are designed to create an infrastructure within the clubs to support an increasingly professional game.
The key focus of these minimum standards include developing a professional coaching resource to support players in training throughout the week. There is also an aim to provide teams with regular and expert sports science support and medical provision for both training and match-days and as well as improve the training and playing environment.
The competition will receive a multi-million pound investment from the RFU over the next three years to help deliver the minimum standards expected and provide high-quality coaching, facilities, training environments and community engagement plans.
However, the competition will not include Lichfield Ladies, who are currently second in the Women’s Premiership and home to five members of England’s Six Nations squad, including Leicestershire-born Emily Scarratt.
They have been big supporters of the Tigers, and hosted a Women’s Premiership fixture at Welford Road in October 2015 when they beat Wasps 66-22.
The Lichfield club as a whole also has a close relationship with Tigers. The minis and juniors are frequent visitors to matchdays at Welford Road and to our Matchday Coaching Clinics, as well as hosting one of the year’s biggest rugby camps.
Scott Clarke, head of community and global relationships at Tigers, said: “While we are pleased to hear that Loughborough are to be included in the new Women’s Super Rugby competition we are surprised and disappointed that it will not include Lichfield Ladies.
“Lichfield Ladies are at the heart of their community and have thriving ladies, girls, and minis and juniors sections.
“They have been competing at the top of their sport for a number of years at the same time as developing players to play at the highest level for their country.
“Tigers will continue to be supportive of Lichfield and of the game in the Lichfield area. We would welcome the RFU reconsidering this decision on omitting Lichfield Ladies.”
More than 1,200 people have put their name to an online petition which aims to get the RFU to rethink their decision. Click here to access the petition.
While congratulating Loughborough Students in being offered a place, Tigers were surprised to learn that Lichfield Ladies have been omitted from the new domestic competition.
The RFU announced this week the creation of a Women’s Super Rugby competition, which will kick-off in September. A total of 10 teams have been offered a place, subject to contract, including Loughborough Students.
All applicants will be required to deliver against a set of minimum operating standards, which are designed to create an infrastructure within the clubs to support an increasingly professional game.
The key focus of these minimum standards include developing a professional coaching resource to support players in training throughout the week. There is also an aim to provide teams with regular and expert sports science support and medical provision for both training and match-days and as well as improve the training and playing environment.
The competition will receive a multi-million pound investment from the RFU over the next three years to help deliver the minimum standards expected and provide high-quality coaching, facilities, training environments and community engagement plans.
However, the competition will not include Lichfield Ladies, who are currently second in the Women’s Premiership and home to five members of England’s Six Nations squad, including Leicestershire-born Emily Scarratt.
They have been big supporters of the Tigers, and hosted a Women’s Premiership fixture at Welford Road in October 2015 when they beat Wasps 66-22.
The Lichfield club as a whole also has a close relationship with Tigers. The minis and juniors are frequent visitors to matchdays at Welford Road and to our Matchday Coaching Clinics, as well as hosting one of the year’s biggest rugby camps.
Scott Clarke, head of community and global relationships at Tigers, said: “While we are pleased to hear that Loughborough are to be included in the new Women’s Super Rugby competition we are surprised and disappointed that it will not include Lichfield Ladies.
“Lichfield Ladies are at the heart of their community and have thriving ladies, girls, and minis and juniors sections.
“They have been competing at the top of their sport for a number of years at the same time as developing players to play at the highest level for their country.
“Tigers will continue to be supportive of Lichfield and of the game in the Lichfield area. We would welcome the RFU reconsidering this decision on omitting Lichfield Ladies.”
More than 1,200 people have put their name to an online petition which aims to get the RFU to rethink their decision. Click here to access the petition.
