WSWS preparations worldwide

France and Fiji - two new core teams in this seasons series.

There is a hum of activity around the eleven WSWS squads the like of which we have not seen in the series’ short history. After two or three years of sparing, this is the main event. With 11 core teams and Olympic qualification at stake teams with an eye on Rio are going the extra mile.

Francelast weekend the newcomers paused their entire elite XVs league so that coach David Courteix could have a weekend with the best 17 players outside the contracted squad. The players called up included well-known names from the national XVs team, such as Laetitia Grand and Coumba Diallo, as well as some of the best young players such as Anne-Cécile Ciofani, who was a star of the recent World University Sevens.

Although the 17 players currently in the core are now being paid by the FFR, unlike some other countries such as England, they remain semi-professional. With no wider professional game for them to move into outside sevens, the FFR have taken a pragmatic decision to make sure that they squad members remain connected with their professions or studies. The FFR’s Jean-Jacques Gourdy explains “Girls are in a contract with the federation and are paid. However we absolutely believe that the players should have multiple activities, which is why this contract is renewed every year. If a player does not have an outside activity and did nothing other than rugby, the contract will be cancelled. We do not want create unemployed people.”

“Besides,” added Courteix, “when we asked the players they said did not want to be 100% professional - they are also concerned about their future careers. So this arrangement suits everyone.”

The FFR have come to arrangements with the various employers and colleges. Firefighter Audrey Amiel, for example, has had her shifts rearranged, as has nurse Rose Thomas, while state cryptologist Chloe Pele is seeking a post as computer scientist. Overall the FFR are devoting over a million Euros to the development of the team.

“We don’t go in for the hype of the English, New Zealanders or Australians,” said Couteix, “but the Federation has been planning this project for some time. Even if the basic culture in France remains XVs in France, they are putting resources into this, with the players coming together for 100 to 110 days a year.”

The 15 contracted players are: Marjorie Mayans and Amelie Mugnier (BSORF), Pauline Biscarat, Lina Guerin, Clemence Gueucier and Caroline Ladagnous (Bobigny), Jennyfer Troncy and Audrey Amiel (Montpellier), Camille Grassineau and Rose Thomas (Bordeaux), Chloe Pelle, Shannon Izar and Jade le Pesq (Lille), Fanny Horta (Perpignan), and Laurianne Lissar (Bayonne). Players will also be available for the national XVs team (as well as their Top 8 clubs).

France will also be organising a one-day invitational tournament in Biarittz again on 15th November. England, Ireland, Netherlands, Tunisia, Spain, Russia, Wales and Germany have all been invited, though it is unlikely that all will attend.

Spainhave called up 23 players (including six from overseas clubs) for a series of “concentrations” and trials leading up to the announcement of a fifteen player squad for the World Series. The 23 will gather in Valladolid from 14-16 November, with the fifteen selected squad players then staying on from 17th-30th a final twelve depart for Dubai. The 23 called up are:

Irene Schiavon, Iera Echebarria and Bárba García (Olímpico Pozuelo), María Casado (Cr Majadahonda), María Ribera (XV Sanse Scrum), Lourdes Alameda and Marina Bravo (Cr Cisneros), Bárba Pla (Getxo Rt), Angela Del Pan, Anna Ramón, Alexandra Castillón and Laura Esbri (Inef Barcelona), Hanna Gascoingne (Sitges Rc), Teresa Bueso (Cau Valencia), Berta García (Usap Perpignan - France), Paula Medin, Ana Vanesa Rial and Elsa Porto (Blagnac Saint-Orens - France), Amaia Erbina (Association Sportive Bayonnaise - Francia), Marta Cabane (Ireland) and Patricia García (Waikato Rugby Union – N Zealand).

Elsewhere...

Russiahave just come to the end of their club season, which consisted a league series of five monthly tournaments for the leading five women’s clubs, as well as one-off cup tournament. Encouragingly for the development of the game in Russia, eight teams took part this year.South Africaare also nearing the end of their club season. Both will be turning their attention to national squad camps and selection shortly.

New Zealand- with several new players - won theOceania Sevens titlelast weekend, beatingAustraliain the final whileFijilooked impressive finishing third.

Brazil(who have been invited to the first four WSWS events) visited theUSAin August for a joint camp at the USA’s Olympic Training Centre in California, before the USA went on a promotional tour of Alaska (which we covered last month)

Chinaare the newAsian Games champions, and will be aiming to regain the overall continental title at the second leg of the Asian Championship in Beijing next weekend before they prepare for the World Series.