Behind the unbeatable Czechs

As 2019 draws to a close, and after thir second European Trophy titl,e Scrumqueens has take the chance to speak to Czech national coach Hana Schlangerov?? and captain Petra Krikl??nov?? about women's rugby in Czechia and how they have achieved such success in their amazing year.

Hana: My brother used to play rugby since he was kid, and when I was teenager I got interested in playing too - but there was no girl's/women's team. I had to wait until I was at the university. At that time several people (both potential players and coaches) decided to build up a team in Prague and I joined.

Petra: My uncle was a coach of local club??s U10s and they did not have enough kids to play the game so he asked around and I started to play with boys.

Petra: Between players there is lots of girls who already work, study, have families, and so on so it takes up most of our free time, and not just for training but also rising some money for our games, because women??s rugby struggles financially at all levels.

Hana: I was incredibly proud of the team. More for who they have played and the dedication they've shown then for actually winning the Trophy. How much they improved over the past year. Amazed (once again) how much can a player can learn in such a short time when she is really into something.

Petra: It was an amazing feeling. Not just because we could celebrate the win on a home soil with all the families and supporters who came to watch us on Saturday but as well to see that all the hard work on/off the field is paying off

Hana: What we've just done (or at least tried to do) is what the players where asking for: we have offered them opportunities to develop for everyone who is interested, and introduced a bit of system in the game. The rest is the players' effort and will.

Petra: Apart that we have a great coaching staff who constantly believe in us and support us in everything it is a huge dedication and commitment of the players.

Hana: I hope so! :) For some people women's rugby is still not supported. But there are now more people aware of women's rugby than ever before and the participation numbers are growing especially among the players. That speaks for itself.

Petra: I would say not at the moment, but during next couple of years it will be possible if we will keep progressing in the same way we have until today.?˜

Hana: Closing the gap among us and teams like Germany/Belgium is our aim. We are getting closer, but we still have work to be done to reach them.

Hana: Rugby Europe enabled the restoration of Women XVs Trophy, including financial support last year. Lately they have also increased the number of nations who can potentially participate in European U18 girls?? sevens competitions.

World Rugby is working to raise the profile of women's rugby through the Women's Development Plan and consequent campaigns and activities, including direct support for potential leaders.

From our perspective, it is our turn to use what they offer and help ourselves to grow women's rugby in Czechia.