The Barbarians will launch a women's team that will take the field for the first time this season, according to the London TELEGRAPH. The "famous invitation" club's women's side will make its debut against Munster at Thomond Park on Nov. 10. Giselle Mather, who won the Women's Rugby World Cup with England in '94, will coach the team in the first of "a number of matches" planned for the '17-18 season. Managed by Fiona Stockley, the Barbarians will play against club, provincial and int'l sides with a full schedule to be confirmed "later this year." Barbarians Chair John Spencer said, "Our aim is to welcome more talented players into this iconic club to forge new friendships and play with the style and passion for which the Barbarians are famous." The club will field players from seven different nations in its opening women's game. Those who have already accepted invitations have 440 int'l caps between them. They are Susie Brown (Scotland), Fiona Coghlan (Ireland), Claire Cripps and Megan Goddard (England), Elen Evans, (Wales), Emma Jenson (New Zealand), Christelle Le Duff (France) and Kelly Russell (Canada). Mather said, "The state of the women's game is phenomenal at the moment following events like the World Cup and the launch of the Tyrrell's Premier 15s in England. With the Barbarians coming in on top of that it's taking the game to a different level" (TELEGRAPH, 10/10). In London, Gerard Meagher reported in August, the WRWC in Ireland "broke numerous records in terms of attendances and TV viewing figures" -- a peak of 2.65 million fans watched New Zealand beat England in the final on ITV -- while the Rugby Football Union committed to investing £2.4M ($3.2M) into "revamping its women's domestic league" (GUARDIAN, 10/9).
