The Great Britain women's national rugby union team was the national rugby union team of Great Britain, from 1986 to 1990.

History The team was organised by the Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), which governed women's rugby in the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1994. It emerged during a formative period for the women's game, when the sport remained largely amateur and was primarily centred on universities and a small number of clubs.

The Great Britain side was established as a representative team drawing players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, reflecting the absence of fully developed national teams at that time.

Great Britain played its first international match against France on 19 April 1986 at the Richmond Athletic Ground in London, the first women's international rugby union match to be staged in Britain. France won 14–8, scoring three tries to Great Britain's two, both scored by Karen Almond. The match attracted a crowd of around 800 spectators and was regarded as an important milestone in establishing the viability and visibility of the women's international game.

The team continued to compete internationally between 1986 and 1990, before being gradually replaced by separate national sides representing England, Scotland and Wales. England and Wales played their first internationals in 1987, with Scotland and Ireland following in 1993.

Results summary (Full internationals only) + Rugby: Great Britain internationals 1986–1990 Opponent First game Played Won Drawn LostPercentage 1986 4 1 0 325.00% 1988 2 2 0 0100.00% 1987 2 2 0 0100.00% Summary 8 5 0 3 62.50%

Results

Full internationals WonLostDraw

Test Date Opponent Venue Event 119 April 1986 8 14 Richmond 1986 Great Britain v France women's rugby union match 2 2 May 1987 6 28 Chalon-sur-Saône 3 22 November 1987 16 0 Richmond 4 21 May 1988 32 9 Bourg en Bresse1988 Women's Rugby European Cup 5 22 May 1988 26 0 Bourg en Bresse1988 Women's Rugby European Cup 623 May 1988 6 8 Bourg en Bresse1988 Women's Rugby European Cup 7 4 March 1989 13 0 Rosslyn ParkCarlsberg TrophyGreat Britain v France Match Programme 4 March 1989 8 18 March 1990 32 0 Moseley

Players +Great Britain women's international rugby union players (1986–1990) No. Name Position GB CapsCountry of origin Date of first cap Opposition Source(s) 1 Karen Almond 8 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond "Rugby: French women have it." The Sunday Times (London), 20 April 1986.England v Wales programme, 1990. 2 Sam Robson 8 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 3 Carol Isherwood 7 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond Richmond FC, "Club History", page 4. 4 Jayne Watts 7 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 5 Liza Burgess 8 Wales 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 6 Amanda Bennett 2 Wales 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 7 Debbie Francis 8 Scotland / England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 8 Val Moore 2 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond Wasps FC, "Club and International Honours". 9 Pip Atkinson 2 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 10 Suzy Hill ≥1 England 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 11 Jo Talbot ≥1 Wales 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 12 Kathy Lee ≥1 - 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 13 Tessa Durkin ≥1 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 14 Tricia Moore ≥1 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 15 Janet Gedrych ≥1 Wales 19 April 1986 vs. France at Richmond 16 Gill Burns 2 England — — 17 Jane Mangham 1 England — — 18 Emma Mitchell 5 England — — 19 Janis Ross 5 England — — 20 Cheryl Stennett 5 England — — 21 Heather Stirrup 1 England — — 22 Sue Wachholz-Dorrington 1 England — — 23 Claire Williets 6 England — — 24 Carol Thomas ≥1 Wales — — 25 Pat Harris ≥1 England — — 26 Alice Jenkinson ≥1 England — — 27 Janet Pringle 1 England — — 28 Jill Shapland England — — 29 Nikki Ponsford England — — 30 Sally Purdey — — 31 Jane Mitchell England — —

Notes This list is not necessarily complete and is based on currently identified sources. The numbering system above is for convenience only and does not represent an official cap numbering sequence.

See also Stefan Czerpak

References