WXV - another kick in the teeth for supporters

[GETHIN EXILE]

Yet again International games clash with league fixtures this time for the women. If the RFU were serious about the game they would tell world rugby that it is unacceptable. Why should clubs be stripped of top players during the season with the announcement made after the league fixtures. They must have known it was in the offing and should have planned the women's fixtures around it

[Darc Tiger]

WXV takes place at the same time as the Allianz Cup. Much like the men's World Cup takes place at the same time as the Prem Cup. There are no clashes between internationals and the Premiership.

[GETHIN EXILE]

That may be but we have a lot of new players to integrate and you can never be sure how the combinations will work till you test them in a match situation. What riles me is that the first I hear of this pointless new competition is after the domestic fixtures were announced. Surely the powers that be knew enough to be able to mention it at the time. It's like the lack of opportunities for double headers during the season. It would have been great to have the women's games as curtain raisers for the men's

[Darc Tiger]

Its not pointless. Especially outside of England, New Zealand and France. The world game needed more competitive fixtures against comparable opposition. Some form of this competition has been in the pipeline since pre-covid, and they've been playing effective qualifiers for it all year.

I actually think it works out pretty nicely. The bulk of our squad from preseason will get to play together in the cup, with relatively low stakes, and set our foundation. We then get our internationals back 2-3 weeks before the first Premiership game. Its going to take us time to adjust to the new level regardless.