by Wang Shao Ing
It’s another milestone for women’s rugby in Singapore as the 2011 Guinness Singapore Rugby Women’s XV kicks off this weekend with a five-team league for the first time. The women’s XV league started in 2007 with three teams Blacks RFC, Bucks RFC and Singapore Recreation Club and welcomed the Royal Selangor Club on Board in 2009 with the development of women’s rugby in Malaysia.
Here's a quick low down on the teams for 2011.
Blacks RFC A & B
This year, title holders of the Women’s XV League since its inception, Blacks RFC, have entered two teams into the league which is a testament to the club’s growth. Relative to the others, Blacks have always had strength in depth but just fell short of the numbers for two full-fledged teams. The move to field two teams this year appears to demonstrate its commitment to development in the club and giving game time to all of its players even if it compromises their ability to draw on the talent in a depleted reserves pool or the luxury of fielding all their key players into one team.
Given their stretched resources and recent spate of injuries, will this decision dilute the quality of their preparation and can they continue to dominate the league in the manner they have for the past four years?
Est Since: 1996
Best Result in GSR: Champions 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Bucks RFC
The youngest of all the Singapore women’s clubs, Bucks RFC leapfrogged SRC and RSC from their 4th placing in 2009 into second place last season. By far the most cosmopolitan of the teams, the club’s expatriate links sees an influx of multi-sport atheletes during the fifteens season.
Together with a growing number of local players, the edge-of-the-seat performance in their finals against Blacks last year suggests that the gap is narrowing between the clubs which makes for healthy competition and great viewing pleasure. The question remains whether Bucks will be able to maintain the momentum they have gathered from last year.
Est since: 2007
Best Result in GSR: Runner Up (2010)
Bedok Kings Skyllas
The now defunct Skyllas of Singapore Recreation Club have found a new partner in Bedok Kings. The 3 time-runners up in the women’s XV league have a good mix of experience and youth and have some real burners in their backs. The quality of their set-piece has seldom been in doubt and the key lies in whether their backline can fire.
The Skyllas will be looking to re-establish themselves having lost some ground to Bucks in last year’s league.
Est since: 2011 (formerly SRC est since 2001)
Best Result in GSR: (as SRC Runner Up in 2007, 2008 and 2009)
Royal Selangor Club
This is RSC’s third year in the league and Malaysia’s only women’s rugby team are trail blazers in their own right. Being the only established women’s rugby team, they also make up the bulk of the Malaysia 15s and 7s team which have participated in several international tournaments to date.
The hallmark of the Dingoes’ game has always been their hard-hitting mobile forward pack. Like the Skyllas, the ability of the backline to utilize the possession will be critical to their success this season.
Est Since: 2008
Best Result in GSR: 3rd (2008)
The GSR Women’s XV League will kick-off tomorrow at Republic Polytechnic. Stay updated with the latest results through our Live Tweets!
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