We at LLR rarely repost other articles, but to end 2024 we must reference two must-reads that put a special year in perspective.
The first article is from the Australian sporting news site The Roar. The Roar is notable in that it covers as much women's sport as men's and offers fantastic rugby analysis, among other things. The Roar notes that older folks (like those most likely to read this blog) need to understand Ilona and USA Women's Rugby if they are to understand how women are changing sport. Kids get it, but if you're not on social media, you may not appreciate what a force for change women's rugby is and will continue to be:
Iona Maher is Changing Rugby Forever
"I have never seen a player make an impact quite like Ilona Maher has in 2024. I think she’s only just getting started."
The second article of the year, What is The Future of Rugby? by Nic Bishop, is more about coaching, culture, and tactics. Bishop is probably the most outstanding writer of the new wave of professional rugby analysts who've turned their perspective from coaching to journalism, opening a window into the game from a tactics and coaching point of view. Along with the Irishman Murray Kinsella, these prominent journos regularly offer analysis of women's rugby. Bishop's two analysis articles on the Women's World Cup final are classics in their own right, featuring dozens of clips of the women's matches.
Bishop notes: "The tournament sent ripples out into the future of the game like doves from the ark. Which way will the rugby world reach under pressure? " So much so, that Bishop is still writing about it in December.
New Zealand's Black Fern (their women's team) World Cup Championship (full match linked here) victory over England was a massive contrast in styles and coaching. There are some fascinating statistics for players and coaches to consider, not to mention the impact on supporters. Of additional interest are the wise observations on refereeing, that parents and coaches may want to take note of. Enjoy.
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