Belgium prepare to meet Germany

The growth of women??s international Sevens has been remarkable in recent years. Almost 100 countries competed for a place at the World Cup, the draw for which took place earlier this week.

However it is often feared that this growth will be at the expense of the full game with smaller nations maybe abandoning fifteen-a-side rugby. But a game due to take place next weekend shows that this may not be the case.

Away from the pomp and circumstance of the Six Nations, Belgium will host a German XV in Brussels, the latest fixture in a small but well organised programme of fixtures organised by the Belgian RFU?˜that will culminate in early April with a test match against Switzerland.

Belgium?˜

Despite this, the enthusiasm of the players has ensured that the Belgian RFU have continued to organise an annual programme of games for the 15s team, including matches against club teams in Kent, the French Flanders regional team, the French Military, and internationals?˜with Germany and Switzerland.

And 2012/13 has so far proved to be successful year for the ??Lionesses??, with a 31-15 win against Haylesford/Maidstone in September and a 14-13 win over the French Military last month, with the Belgians hanging on to win in a game that finished in a hailstorm.

Their opponents next weekend ?? a German XV ?? offer further consolation for anyone concerned that the future of fifteens may be in doubt, because the game has been organised and will take place despite the fact that the German RFU removed all support and funding for the official German?˜women??s XV in 2010.

Germany has as proud and almost as long a history as Belgium with over 60 test matches played since 1989, including two World Cup appearances, and wins over teams such as Sweden and the Netherlands. So news about the loss of their national team was greeted with some disappointment.

However, the players did not simply sit back and accept the decision, and last season won the support of the Rugby Association of Baden-W?ªrttemberg to help organise an unofficial team. Baden-W?ªrttemberg - the strongest association in the country - took on the role as they see it as a way to promote the game, as well as give players the opportunity to represent their country internationally. Ultimately the aim of all concerned is to change the decision of the German RFU.

1.Marie Clarys-Robion (Dendermonde), 2.Nele Van Hoovels (Leuven), 3.Lotte Beckers (Dendermonde), 4.Ingrid Knippels (Leuven), 5.Yet Ceulemans (Antwerp), 6.Carmen De Donder (Dendermonde), 7.Esther Beeckman (Dendermonde), 8.Cathy De Geyter (Boitsfort), 9.Ga??lle Portier (Coq Mosan), 10.Charo Reper (Dendermonde), 11.Aude Risselin (Boitsfort), 12.M??lissa Schneider (Coq Mosan), 13.Systke D??Haeseleir (Dendermonde), 14.Nele Pien (Dendermonde), 15.Margaux Lalli (Frameries), 16.Laura Fortemps (Coq Mosan), 17.Silke Vandamme (Dendermonde), 18.Christelle Monty (Boitsfort), 19.Alison Lenaerts (ROC Ottignies), 20.No??mie De Bondt (Soignies), 21.C??cile Blondiau (Soignies), 22.Florence Van Den Broucke (Leuven), 23.Delphine Rossignol (Boitsfort). Coaches:?˜Denis Duchau and?˜Pascal Lawinski