Byline: CAROLYN HITT
WELSH women's rugby international Gemma Hallett took up the game because of her grandmother.
The Pontypridd-born lock relishes family stories of her 'nan screaming and yelling at the television, too nervous to sit, too anxious to stand still during the halcyon days of the '70s. I grew up determined to make my nan proud of my own rugby exploits,' she says.
When Gemma's nan was shouting at men in sideboards she couldn't have dreamed her granddaughter would be part of a Welsh rugby team playing in the World Cup that kicked off yesterday.
Welsh women did actually play rugby in the 1970s but there was no formal infrastructure until the formation of the Women's Rugby Football Union in 1983. The union looked after women's rugby in all four home nations, which then consisted of just 12 teams.
The Welsh women's team came into official existence on April 5, 1987, when a side led by icon of the female game Liza 'Bird' Burgess took on England at Pontypool Park. Before that, our talented women players were selected for Great Britain - the first representative side featuring several Welsh women faced France at Richmond in 1986.
1991 saw Wales play host to the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup - won by the USA - and Wales have since taken part in four of the five tournaments, with a highest ever finish of fourth in 1994.
Another proud stat from 1994 was their victorious test series victory against the Boks which means the women remain the only touring team from Wales to have won a Test series in South Africa. The Welsh Women's Rugby Union was also formed in that pivotal year.
Although the growth of England's women's rugby enjoyed a quicker - and better funded - acceleration during the 90s and Noughties, the Welsh game has expanded to encompass three National League competitions, National Cup and Plate competitions, Junior Leagues and a representation on the world stage at Senior and U20 levels plus an international Sevens team. Women's rugby is also now represented at U16 and U19 level with international teams run for Development and Student teams.
Like their male counterparts, the national side is no stranger to the Welsh rugby rollercoaster. The season before last saw Wales women beat England for the first time in their history on their way to the Triple Crown. This year's Six Nations, however, brought the Wooden Spoon to their injury-ravaged squad while the World Cup has delivered a draw that takes the Group of Death concept to a whole new level of fatality. As England dally with Kazakhstan, Ireland and the USA, our girls have the tri-nations triple whammy of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in their group.
Yet 85-times capped Non Evans says this is the most united and talented squad she has been involved with in her long career: 'We're in brilliant shape. For the first time ever we've got strength in depth, we've got people fighting for positions in nearly every position on the field.
'It's the first time since I started playing for Wales in 1996 that I can remember us being in such a strong position.' However Wales get on in Surrey in the next fortnight, the face of women's rugby could be changed forever by the 2010 World Cup. A total of 83 countries competed in the qualifying stages of the tournament in which New Zealand is chasing its fourth trophy in a row.
The stereotype of hefty, pint-drinking tomboys with dubious skill levels is set to be blown apart as the dynamism of the women's game is brought to its biggest-ever audience. Women's sport per se struggles for media exposure - it is afforded just 5% of national newspaper coverage. But thanks to the IRB's efforts, the 17-day tournament will enjoy an unprecedented broadcast platform.
The World Cup is being screened live by Sky Sports - a record 13 matches are being broadcast including the semifinals and final at The Twickenham Stoop. In addition to the host broadcaster, broadcasters from five continents including North America, Europe, Australasia, Asia and Africa have also committed themselves to show live matches in their territory.
Will Greenwood - who is part of Sky's punditry team for the tournament - believes the level of coverage is a massive breakthrough for the women's game. 'I think what all sports want is eyeballs and recognition and for Sky to broadcast virtually every single game that is taking place is huge for the sport,' says the former England centre.
'It has become a fantastic sport to watch. The ball is alive for so long, it is a real alternative for girls who like sports and like all action to get involved.'
Let's hope the Welsh media, and indeed the Welsh rugby public, share this enthusiasm and get behind our girls. Professional in attitude but amateur in status, they juggle diverse careers with their commitment to the jersey.
Criminology graduate Laura Prosser balances her scrum half duties with being a prison officer. Her half-back partner Naomi Thomas may set the team alight at number 10 but her day job is as a fire fighter at Cardiff Airport.
Llwynypia-born flanker Catrina Nicholas is a PE teacher who played the violin in Young Musician of the Year while second row Rachel Taylor is a veterinary nurse.
This World Cup will give them the spotlight they deserve. At the captains' photocall, in the shadows of London Bridge, Wales skipper Mellissa Berry couldn't believe the press attention. Berry - also known as 'Fruity' - quipped: 'Madonna doesn't even get this sort of treatment!' Not before time. In Gemma Hallet's grandmother's era, Welsh women who loved rugby could only watch the game, now they can play it on a global stage.
And hopefully a future generation of girls will be saying one day: 'I was inspired to take up rugby after watching old film of my nan playing in the World Cup.'
CAPTION(S):
Gemma Hallett in action against Australia in theWomen's RugbyWorld Cup at Surrey Sports Park yesterday
