Test rugby’s debut on the Vltava

Czech women's rugby has a long history. Back in 1984 a women's team was formed inŘíčanský, attracting sufficient players to form two teams who played each other regularly. Unfortunately, with no other teams in Eastern Europe to play against, and travel not easy to the west, the teams folded after three years of exhibition games.

Just over ten years ago women's rugby began again and in 2004 and 2005 a team representing the Czech Republic played two test matches against Austria, but since then the efforts of the national team have been concentrated on sevens.Now, eight years later,the Czechs are returning to the fifteen a side game with whatwill be the first full test match officially supported by theCzech Rugby Union.

Martin Charvát, the Czech team manager, told us more about the revival of fifteens in central Europe:

"In the season 2012/2013 there was - for first time - a regular XVs league in the Czech Republic, including four teams. The logical step was to start to build the national XV team as well. This time the Czech Rugby Union agreed with this idea and supported the newly established coaching team (Richard Krützner, main coach; Vlastimil Bažant, assistant coach; Zdeněk Albrecht, assistant coach; Iveta Pokorná, physioterapist; Matin Charvát, manager).

"The Czech players have had some successes in sevens rugby, which is well developed, but fifteens is different kind of a game. Even the members of the Czech sevens Team had to change their habits and way of playing. The players selected from all the clubs from the Czech Republic had three one-day camps learning the game during this spring. The first one and the last one were for all the players, but the second one was held when sevens team was on duty so  was just for forwards.

"The situation is opposite to the sevens rugby. The Swiss lost to the more experienced Czech Team at European sevens Championship, but in fifteens the much more experienced team is the Swiss one. But Czech girls are very keen to step fully on the international soil and they will fight."

The Swiss themselves are preparing hard - and are confident. Cynthia Munsterman, from the Swiss team, told us about their preparations:

"We had a good training last weekend, with lots of new girls invited to the training. Great to have so many people to train with and also a good sign for the future, with possible more competition for positions. There will be some new faces in the squad heading for Prague as well.

"The team is really looking forward to the game, we are eager to bounce back after the loss against Belgium at home.

"But it's hard to know what to expect from the Czech team. They had a great tournament at the sevens championship a few weeks ago and i'm sure we'll see some players again. But if they perform at the same level in 15s, we don't know. I guess only the game can tell..."

Its a huge step into the unknown for both teams - but one they are looking forward to. The Swiss may be more experienced, but that is based on a national test history of only three games

What is encouraging is that it is intended that this will become a regular feature of their seasons in the future.They have agreed that they will meet annually, and even have a sponsor. The Konektor Challenge Cup has been be donated by local company in Prague, designed byOlgoj Chorchoj,and the winner will keep it for the year.

With Switzerland now also playing Belgium in a annual series, and the Czech Team also planning at least two internationals a year, after lying dormant for nearly a decade, the future is looking good for international fifteens rugby is central Europe.

This weekend's match will be played at Tatra Smíchov stadium in Prague, home of the new Czech men's champions, on Saturday 29th of June, kick off 3 pm (CET).

The Czech National Team is:

1. Zuzana Skokanová (home club RC Vyškov)2. Martina Šáfrová (RK Petrovice)3. Květa Kottková (RC Slavia)4. Nicole Polivka (Toronto Saracens)5. Jana Lozoviuková (RC Sparta)6. Hanka Erika Radochová (RK Petrovice)7. Kateřina Bubáková (RK Petrovice)8. Věra Samková (RC Sparta)9. Kamila Rousová, captain (RC Dragon Brno)10. Martina Hlaváčová (RC Sparta)11. Pája Čuprová (RC Vyškov)12. Bára Bendová (RK Petrovice)13. Klára Hladilová (RC Sparta)14. Ester Charvátová (RC Sparta)15. Šárka Šimánková (RC Sparta)16. Petra Morávková (RK Petrovice)17. Dominika Havelková (RC Přelouč)18. Veronika Trnková (RC Vyškov)19. Lucie Svobodová (RK Petrovice)20. Alexandra Marie Zítková (RC Dragon Brno)21. Adriana Krütznerová (RK Petrovice)22. Kristýna Volfová (RK Petrovice)