Scottish Rugby’s CEO Alex Williamson has refused to apologise for disruption caused to the women’s World Cup squad after contract negotiations took place while they were trying to prepare for the tournament.
The chief executive dismissed criticism of the SRU from some players as he announced a new strategy for the women’s game in Scotland, and would only concede that the situation had been ‘challenging’.
Williamson revealed that the coming season will see an increase in contracted players from 32 to 35.
Twenty-two players from the World Cup squad have received contract renewals, with 17 of those continuing to receive financial support contracts to play in England and France.
Eighteen players will be supported out of Oriam, in Edinburgh, creating a new centralised hub for performance in Scotland.
Scottish Rugby insisted they were ‘investing more in women’s rugby than we have done in our history’ with the £5million commitment but wouldn’t reveal which players have received contracts.
Dejection for Jade Konkel and her Scotland colleagues after they were beaten by England in quarter-finals of World Cup
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm admitted contract negotiations taking place before World Cup had caused disruption
As well as an increase in pay for those on contracts, a new managing director of women’s rugby and new head of women and girls’ performance pathways will be created.
Williamson, however, refused to say sorry for the upheaval caused ahead of the global tournament.
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm was among those who complained of ‘disruption’ to the team’s preparations, while forward Jade Konkel, who wasn’t offered a contract, said the Scots had reached the quarter-finals ‘through no help of the SRU’.
Konkel said ‘bombshells’ being dropped on the players right before the tournament was ‘not the best prep’.
CEO Williamson responded: ‘Clearly the conversations when you’re telling someone something they don’t want or hope to hear is challenging.
‘We had an agreement with the players that we would work through the contract conversations in advance of the start of the World Cup camp.
‘It is a very unusual circumstance and I recognise a challenging one where individual high-performance conversations relating to support that Scottish Rugby was providing to individuals to play their rugby in England or France was happening at a time when those people were also all together.
‘Those who received good or less good news were all in the same environment at the same time.
Emotions run high as the Scots’ World Cup run ends at the quarter-final stage
Francesca McGhie scored a magnificent hat-trick of tries against Wales during tournament
‘But we did work on a timetable that was agreed with the players, and there were players who were very disappointed and there were other players who absolutely received what they wanted.
‘We made all of our decisions with the future of Scottish Rugby for women in mind and the development of the game in Scotland.
‘None of us enter into any of these conversations with a view to be in any way casual about the emotions of any individual.
‘When we need to make decisions for the advancement of the game – for all of the girls and women who are playing rugby in Scotland right now who currently have a high performing environment in Scotland – there are absolutely challenging conversations and disappointed athletes.’
Konkel complained there had been ‘a six-minute conversation’ over her contract ‘after 13 years of service’.
Performance director David Nucifora claimed Konkel’s situation was ‘handled the best way possible’, claiming he didn’t know ‘what the right length of time is to tell someone they’re not receiving a contract, whether it’s seven or 10 minutes’.
Asked about the length of contracts made available to players, Williamson said they would be for one year and refuted suggestions this may not provide stability.
Jade Konkel, pictured above right with England’s Rosie Galligan, said Scots reached quarter finals ‘through no help of the SRU’
The Scots also defeated Fiji, with Francesa McGhie on the scoresheet once again
‘We’re in a process of transition,’ he said. ‘We’ll continue to talk to players about how the transition works, because we want it to be a positive environment where we’re building the skills and talents of our squad. We recognised there are different needs for different players. But, obviously, our longer-term ambition is to run a high-performance environment in Scotland.’
Scottish Rugby will now recruit a new women’s head coach following the departure of Bryan Easson.
Nucifora said there had been ‘a lot of interest’, and revealed they would be looking for someone with experience in the women’s game and ‘the ability, passion and drive to take the game forward’.
