rugby

England and Trailfinders Women back row Abi Burton has been chosen as chair of a landmark leadership group of PWR players.

Burton, who was part of the Red Roses squad that won the Womens’ Rugby World Cup in September, will lead the Women’s Rugby Board set up by elite players union The Rugby Players Association (RPA).

The 25-year-old’s Rugby World Cup triumph came three years after she had to be placed in a coma to treat a serious immune disease attacking her brain.

“I’m really proud to have been elected chair of the first Women’s Rugby Board,” said Burton.

“It’s an important opportunity to ensure players’ voices are heard, and I’m looking forward to working with the board and the RPA to represent players across the women’s game.”

The new separate women’s board will ensure women’s players are better represented and able to respond to “specific challenges and opportunities they face” say the RPA.

Bristol Bears and Wales full-back Jenny Hesketh has been elected as vice-chair with Emily Tuttosi, who started for Canada against England in last year’s World Cup final, chosen as Exeter Chiefs representative.

The Women’s Rugby Board representatives for the 2025–26 season

Bristol Bears: Jenny Hesketh (vice-chair)

Exeter Chiefs: Emily Tuttosi

Gloucester Hartpury: Sam Monaghan

Harlequins: Lagi Tuima

Leicester Tigers: Grace Deane

Loughborough Lightning: Elis Martin

Sale Sharks: Tysh Harper

Saracens: Ella Wyrwas

Trailfinders Women: Abi Burton (chair)

The win over Munster was Ward’s seventh Ulster appearance, an occasion the former Ireland under-20 international marked with his first senior try.

As he seeks to establish himself at the Affidea Stadium, there has at least been one familiar face already in the team.

Ward’s brother Zac, an Irish Olympian in rugby sevens at Paris two summers ago, made his own breakthrough for the side last season.

The older of the siblings has five tries from the wing already during this campaign and again caught the eye against Munster.

“We’ve grown up together playing in the back yard and stuff so to now be out there in front of 16,500 in a sold-out Affidea, it’s pretty surreal,” said the back row of playing alongside the brother six years his senior.

“Watching him throughout the sevens and stuff, whenever I was in school and just coming out of school, he’s definitely been really influential on me. It’s just nice to have a familiar face around the place as well and its class to play with him as well.

“I dropped the ball out there and he was the first one to come over and give me a pat on the bum and say, ‘keep your head’, so it’s been really good.”

The younger of the Ward brothers, who are the sons of former Ulster captain Andy Ward, is not the only inexperienced player to make an impact in recent weeks with locks Joe Hopes and Charlie Irvine also playing meaningful minutes.

With the likes of Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson, Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale around them, Ward believes it has been hugely beneficial to be able to lean on the advice of Test players as they make the step up.

“The biggest thing probably is the speed of the game. Physically, I’ve been playing for Ballynahinch in the AIL [All-Ireland League], so it’s obviously a step up physically when you’re playing South African teams and big interpros.

“It’s definitely just the pace of the game, you’ve got to be so switched on and defensively you’ve always got your head on a swivel.

“Having guys in the club that have so much experience, it’s so good for the young boys coming through that they can give us such a help to make the jump.”

Harlequins: Kildunne; Torley, Pena, Parry, Wilcock; Cromack, Packer; Spurrier, Phillips, Hanlon, McIntosh, Konkel, Wythe, Mikaele-Tu’u, Wafer.

Replacements: Powell, Delgado, Winstanley, Fleming, Svoboda, Burgess, Powell, Aucken.

Bristol Bears: Hesketh; Bonner, Varley, Picton-Powell, David; Demant, Bevan; Pam, Dale, Bern, Cunningham, Ward (capt), Balogun, Buisa, Hopkins.

Replacements: Sprague, Botterman, Clarke, Herring, Short, Ryall, Skuse, Joyce.

Welsh rugby’s governing body has said it proposes to grant three licences for men’s professional clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which is expected to result in a straight survival fight between Swansea-based Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

Buchanan does not agree with the reduction in the number of sides after he pointed to the initial previous change in 2003 from clubs to regions.

“We came from our clubs to our regions and those were big steps,” said Buchanan.

“We had success on the field with Triple Crown, Grand Slams and Six Nations Championships in that era.

“The Scarlets, Cardiff, Ospreys, were all successful stories. So what brings me to this is what’s happened and how have we arrived here?”

The 70-year-old went on:

“What are we going to do to bring ourselves back into being a top tier one country?

“The next step made will be crucial. And I cannot support that next step in taking one of our top regions out.”

Buchanan believes losing Ospreys or Scarlets will be detrimental to the Welsh game.

“Whichever one goes, it’s going to be devastating,” he said.

“The Ospreys stretch from Bridgend, or Cardiff, down to Swansea and the Scarlets are down to the west with a new stadium and everything.

“I don’t see the decision being a step forward. It could be we could lose a lot of support on and off the field.”

The former Wales forward said he had also been against the WRU’s previous plan of two professional sides that was shelved following a public consultation.

“I was horrified with that thought,” he added.

“We are tribal in Wales. We like our local derbies and we like rugby in our areas. Those are important things to me.”

Buchanan also raised the prospect of the professional sides losing some control of the playing side of the organisation to the WRU.

“We have people that have been supportive of Welsh rugby, benefactors that have given their money,” said Buchanan.

“I can’t go into the detail of what is being offered to them, but it isn’t something they’re keen on signing.

“So we’re at loggerheads. It’s crucial we mend those fences and understand it’s a partnership. That’s what is missing at the moment, an agreement with a partnership.

“People have put their hands in their own pockets to put into the professional game and we need to respect that.”