Bridging the gap
The gap between Championship and Premiership level rugby is widening and we’re at risk of this widening further if we don’t act now. The postponement of the World Cup this year has caused the whole world to have a hard look at women’s rugby and it’s limitations. Although hard to swallow now, this could be a really positive thing for the future of women’s rugby.
We have a lot to do in order for this gap to remain as narrow as possible, for the sake for the growth of women’s rugby world-wide. Given the competition for a seat in a Premiership squad of 40 is so high, it’s very likely that the filter of loan players from Champ level is helping us push standards up. I put this down to an increase in training professionalism, appetite and the increased participation providing healthy competition for a playing shirt.
What needs to be done on an S&C level in order for the gap to remain small?
Firstly, education.
S&C has been a minimum standard in the Prem for 4 seasons now and it’s been part of the woodwork at international level since the late 90s - so why isn’t it a requirement that all Champ level rugby players know how to lift weights or know the basic theories of training for rugby?
One thing I attribute this to is the social nature of rugby; the culture of 'turn up and play' and the lack of education and incentive to train to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
Don't get me wrong, a massive reason why we love this game so much IS the social nature - the pints after training in the clubhouse etc is a vital part of the survival of our sport. But the lack of education is one reason the Champ level is sitting so far behind the Prem and why some of the clubs recently added to the Prem are sitting a way below the top teams.
I propose that all Champ players should be inducted into S&C programmes as a requirement for playing. The induction would include a basic education of lifting techniques, training theories, and a guide on training throughout the season. An additional part of this should also include some education on nutrition related to performance and optimal body composition.
Secondly, drive.
It's fair to say that a lot of champ players DO include S&C in their weekly training schedules. In fact I coach a few of them. However, there’s a good portion of players who prefer to take a more casual approach to playing.
These are the players though who are unfortunately more likely to get injured, hold the team back on the field, and ultimately prevent the team from moving forward. There's definitely a place for social teams but I think the Championship isn't it. Not anymore.
As the game grows I predict we’ll see more and more Champ clubs produce larger 2s and 3s squads - with every player in the 1sts being a contender for Prem loan. This will create an environment where players of varying aspirations can all thrive, 1st team players raising the bar at the top end of the club, with 2s and 3s acting as a bridge to bring new players into the game.
In turn, this will enable clubs to expand their female player base, growing the game from the grassroots level.
If you’re a player who wants to put their hand up for loan or is looking to trial for a Prem squad next season, you MUST push yourself and your team to take a more professional outlook on training and playing.
Coaches can facilitate this by providing the tools for this step-up in training as well as encouraging high standards through fitness testing and performance reviews.
Thirdly, training frequency and training type
Club training on a Tuesday and Thursday night and playing on a Sunday isn’t enough anymore if you want to develop yourselves as players and athletes. Rugby has moved on and the athletes playing it need to keep up.
The physical attributes we need to work on include strength, speed, power, agility, robustness, hypertrophy, repeatability, endurance, as well as rugby specific skills like tackle technique, game tactics, and psychology. If we want players to get better, we need to encourage them to work on all of these attributes, not just the ones they enjoy.
It would be impossible to train all these things in 2 training sessions so we need to consider adding in other training days and structuring a season into blocks - pre-season, in-season, transition - and separating those further still into development goals. Players need to take ownership of their schedules and do their best to prioritise their goals around work.
Here’s a typical weekly schedule for training in-season
Monday: Active Recovery, swim, cycle, walk
Tuesday: Lower Body Strength and Club Training
Wednesday: off
Thursday: Total Body Power and Club Training
Friday: Speed and Upper Body Strength
Saturday: Mobility and Prehab
Sunday: Game Day
So what needs to happen at the top for this gap to close?
It’s stating the obvious but clubs need funding. Clubs predominantly raise funds through annual memberships (subs), as well as various sponsorship opportunities (eg logos on shirts), bar sales, and match day events. These are yet to provide enough support that coaches and athletes are supported enough to embark on the task of becoming more professional. (I say ‘more professional’ because realistically we have a long way to go before the Champ can become fully Professional)
To quote World Rugby, we need to “develop a strong and engaged portfolio of sponsors and other financial partners committed to long-term investment in the women’s game”.
Until funding is provided at domestic level as well as elite, the gap between Champ and Prem will continue to grow. I’m confident though that the surge in popularity of women’s rugby (+28% players on the register in England since 2017) will entice backing from sponsors, just like the men’s Champ who is supported by Green King.
Another factor in bridging the gap between Champ and Prem are the players themselves. As I mentioned, there’s been a 28% rise in women’s players who have registered to play rugby in England since 2017. However, it’s not just about participation, it’s also performance - we have to raise the bar. Players can drive this by challenging current standards and doing the extra work to improve performance. One immediate way of doing this is to improve athletic attributes. Become an athlete and a better rugby player.
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