Rugby World Cup: The intrigue & inspiration behind first women's tournament of 1991
Ask anyone with a bit of knowledge about the first women's rugby union World Cup and the myths and legends will flow readily.One team was supposedly accompanied by KGB agents. Another had to sleep on the floor of a hotel conference room three days before the final. A young baby attended talks with rugby's international governing body as one woman balanced motherhood with organising a major tournament.
A volunteer to organise the event was sought and Deborah Griffin - now a legendary name in women's rugby and back then already a leader in the sport - stepped forward. "We weren't daunted because we didn't really know what the problems were," Griffin recalls of that time.In 2018 Griffin became one of the World Rugby Council's first female members
She was called into the IRB when they got wind of plans for the tournament and took her young daughter Victoria along. Back in 1991, Sunday Times journalist Paul Nelson perhaps put it best when he lamented "the regrettable sniping of men who see the game's development as an intrusion into their territory".
New Zealand - called the 'Gal Blacks' at that time - were at the centre of a debate over whether women should perform the Haka with a wide-legged stance. Some newspapers saw women playing rugby as a novelty. A piece in the Sunday Mirror on 31 March 1991 was headlined 'Scrumptious', with England players posing in evening gowns and the journalist assuring readers the team is "no macho machine" and instead "supremely feminine".This article sought to stress the England team were "supremely feminine"
Instead they drew attention with their reportedly pink scrum caps worn by every player, some standing at 4ft 9in tall, and by bowing to opposition scorers every time a try was conceded.There had been hints of what was to come when the Soviets attended the 1990 rugby festival in New Zealand. Suspicions were immediately confirmed when the side arrived at Heathrow.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rugby League World Cup to give fans a behind the scenes insightRugby League World Cup to give fans a behind the scenes insight RLWC2021 and Goal Click received photos and stories from a range of nations and teams, from Lebanon and Jamaica to England and Cook Islands.
Read more »
Keep up to date with Jamaica's Rugby League World debut with tournament appAS JAMAICA look to make their bow, Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) has announced...
Read more »
Damian Browne: Ex-rugby player first to row from New York to GalwayIrishman Damian Browne spent a gruelling 112 days at sea as he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.
Read more »
Research call over MND risk to elite rugby playersAn expert calls for 'immediate research' after a study suggests players could be at increased risk.
Read more »
Rugby chiefs urged to reduce matches over fears ex-players are developing brain diseasesConsultant neuropathologist Professor Willie Stewart said the findings should be a stimulus for rugby to act quicker than it has been - after 'pretty slow' progress - to reduce the risks of playing the sport.
Read more »