Women's Rugby: 2013 Nations Cup Brings More Heartbreak for England

It has not been an easy 2013 for the English women's rugby program.

Once seen as a near unstoppable power in global rugby circles, England's women have suffered a series of disappointing results that will leave many of their supporters asking questions about the state of the national women's game.

Last February, England lost a pair of matches in the 2013 RBS Six Nations, both to France and to the eventual tournament champions from Ireland; it would not be the last title England would surrender this year.

Having made bold statements about attempting to win both the Sevens and Fifteens World Cups, England's management watched their team struggle to a disappointing sixth place finish at the Sevens World Cup in Moscow in June.

A short time later, the full England fifteens team departed for a three-match tour of New Zealand, only to suffer three consecutive defeats at the hands of the New Zealand Black Ferns.

With many nations having to combine their player pools for both Sevens and Fifteens, the management of elite players and their workloads is becoming an even greater challenge for those charged with overseeing the England women's game.

England were forced to do battle against New Zealand without many of their front-line stars, including Jo Watmore, Heather Fisher and Maggie "The Machine" Alphonsi.

When the English team departed New Zealand, nine players and several coaches boarded a separate flight to Denver, Colorado, where, yesterday, they took to the field as part of an England Nations Cup squad that were looking to defend their title from 2011.

While the English Senior women had been touring New Zealand, England's Under 20's suffered a series of unexpected upsets against South Africa, the USA and Canada at the Junior Nations Cup, which was held in the UK.

Canada defeated the Americans in the final of that tournament to take the Junior Nations Cup crown from England, who had won that competition back in 2011.

And so it was that Acting England Head Coach Graham Smith arrived at the 2013 Nations Cup with a mixed team and mixed expectations.

"Due to injuries, unavailability and player management, we have had to pull players from a number of areas for this tournament. We have had players arrive from England and from New Zealand, several of our players—by the time this is all over—will not have been home for a matter of months. We have had to reach into our Sevens and U20 programs as well. What we are hoping for is that this tournament will demonstrate the strength and depth of the English national program."

Coach Smith's charges did indeed make a valiant attempt to accomplish just that.

Facing a Canadian side that was chalked full of Sevens talent, many of whom were in the Canadian side that won the silver medal at the 2013 Sevens World Cup, the English women carried a 25 - 24 lead in the game's dying minutes.

At one point England held possession in the Canada end for upwards of 20 minutes, while they furiously sought out the try that would give them the lead.

It took yet another dynamic break by Canadian Sevens stars Kelly Russell, Elissa Alarie and Magali Harvey to give Canada the win, and deal England's women yet another tough defeat, this time by a score of 29 - 25.

Please go to time-frame 2:57:00 of the video below to catch the decisive moments.

England are the defending Senior Nations Cup Champions, having defeated Canada in the final of the 2011 event.

Coach Smith was impressed with the competition Canada provided, and he knows his team will have to find yet another gear if they are to battle their way back to the Nations Cup final for a chance to repeat as champions.

"We came up against a very strong Canadian team that played as well as we have ever seen them play during my time with England—they had a powerful game with impressive offload support play throughout the game."

This Saturday, England will have a chance to bounce back against a South African side that also lost their opening match in the 2013 Nations Cup, against the USA.

The English would do well to be on their guard. It was only weeks ago that a South African U20 side upset England on their home ground.

Times in women's rugby, it seems, are beginning to change.

Jeff Hull is the Featured Rugby Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Unless otherwise stated, all quoted material was obtained first-hand.

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