Taylor Hails Huge Step Forward
source: scrum.com
23/03/2007
England lock Taylor, who plays for Women's Premiership side Thirsk, believes it will encourage more girls to take up the game. Speaking to the Newcastle Journal she said; "It's brilliant for women's rugby and for the region in particular. I come from the generation where we started playing rugby a little bit later, but having something like this for girls aged 14 and 17 to look forward to is a big step forward.
"Sevens is getting much more popular in the women's game and there are now international tournaments for sevens as well as the normal 15-a-side stuff.
“It's perfect for girls in their teens starting out because it's a fast open game with lots of tries and a big emphasis on skills rather than the more brute strength aspect of the game.
"The RFU is pushing women's participation in rugby and having a women's and girls' tournament in the Festival of Rugby is great because it gives them the chance to play on a stage like Kingston Park.
"For many of them it may be their first exposure to rugby and girls watching the competition might be encouraged to come and have a go.
"The profile of the game for women is definitely on the up after England reached the final of the last two Women's World Cups, which led to a surge in popularity which is great for the sport.
"I work as a community rugby coach in the North-East and I've seen first hand the improvements that have been made in the region.
"The London-based clubs are where a lot of the international players are, mainly because of sheer numbers, but Blaydon and Thirsk, who are based at Mowden Park in Darlington, have done great work for the North-East."