Norway: ready for their biggest challenge

Scott Johnson took over as coach of Norway's women's team just over a year ago, having worked as an RFU community coach in Derbyshire. How has be found first year leading the a national team?

Playing rugby in a climate like Norway must be a challenge?

"Yes ?˜- we also have a challenge with the weather!?˜Our season starts in March, and they play through the summer. Little happens in winter because of the snow ?? but also because of the distances".

"And Norway is a huge country, players coming from north to the south have eight hours of travelling which requires a huge commitment. But their enthusiasm is huge as well ?? they want to develop and what we are trying to do is give them the opportunities to develop."

What are the targets for the team?

"For now it??s not about results because we are up against bigger teams with lots of players and history and it??s hard to compete with that. So it??s about how we perform, whether we learn and improve. If we do the basics well and get better, and keep calm under pressure."

"Norway have dropped 15s because there are not enough players. And sevens is the growing thing, its going to be in the Olympics so its what is going to take off."

"We are a good team with real potential so in the Europeans our target is to stay up at the very least. We??ll be playing in from of lots of home supporters and crowds and that is a challenge in itself. Playing in front of a big home crowd - which we hope to have in Bergen - can be a lift, but can also be a big challenge if you've never done it before!"

Norway are seeded 12th and have new captain - an injury to?˜Cathinka Walberg forcing her to hand over to Kari Fykse Lie. They had four new players joining their squad this year, but have used visits to Kinsale and Amsterdam to prepare. Success has been mixed, but improvements between the two tournaments were noticible, especially when they managed to beat the Irish development tea - Green Lightning - at Amsterdam.?˜

They open the tournament on Saturday at 10am against Ukraine - one of the favourites - before playing Switzerland and Romania later in the day.