Martyn Thomas finds out how the trailblazing women’s 15s rugby programme in Portugal has been given license to grow using initiatives that started in Wales.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the inaugural meeting between the teams, the Netherlands travelling to Malmö where they beat Sweden 34-0 on 21 October 1984. At that time only three previous official women’s Test matches had been staged, all between the Dutch and France.
Ticket sales have soared for England’s two September women’s internationals following the Lionesses’ triumphant Euro 2022 campaign.
Whilst England's Red Roses remain untouchable at the top of the World Rugby Women's Rankings, with a massive advantage over their nearest rivals Canada and currently standing at the highest rating there has ever been, the prize being called the best men's team in the world is very much up for grabs over the coming weeks.
The Red Roses might have racked up their 17th successive victory but there is much to work on after the latest win against the Black Ferns, while Ayesha Leti-I'iga impressed on her return to Test rugby.
Beattie, the 38-year-old former Scotland Sevens player who had to retire due to injury aged just 21, has been a busy man in the last 12 months as he has been heading up the GB Sevens men’s and women’s programmes from a coaching point of view.
Silverware will be handed out in Tokyo and London this weekend, and RugbyPass TV will be there every step of the way.