Remembering WRWC’91: The final and the legacy

(Photo: Britt Westesson)

The United States - one of the favourites for the first Women's Rugby World Cup - were triumpant in Cardiff on the afternoon of the 14th April 1991.

The Times reported: “THE United States became the first world champions in women's rugby union after biding their time before pulling England apart by 19-6 in the second half of the World Cup final in Cardiff .

“In the first half, England had kept the Americans penned back in a tight and turgid show of muscle. The “”locks from hell” and the “turbo props'” could do little to counter a disciplined display from the England forwards. Facing the heavier American line-up, the English pack finally proved that organisation can counter brawn, scoring a penalty try from a well-worked five-metre scrum. Converted by Gill Burns, the English drew first blood to go 6-0 up.

“But the United States, tackling with power and skill, were always going to come back. The turning point came after half an hour when a Francis fumble allowed the United States to press forward, winning a penalty. Harju converted, there were points on the board and the Americans were given a new lease of life.

“Within two minutes of the second half Godwin forced the ball over after England had failed to counter the American pressure. Now the States were on a roll and the English could do nothing to stop them.”

The rugby as over, but not the drama. As the teams met for a farewell dinner the organisers still had worries. The Guardian picks up the story: 

"Organisers estimate that disappointing gate receipts and the failure to attract major television coverage and sponsorship added up to losses of about £15,000. The organisers were faced with personal liability.

"'It was a blow after all the hard work we put in to make the tournament a success,"" said Sue Dorrington, one of the organisers."

However at the dinner... "a group of businessmen stepped in to cover the financial losses. The businessmen's pledge makes a perfect end to what has proved a wonderful tournament,

""The offers were made at the post-final banquet by the men who wish to remain anonymous," Dorrington added, admitting that holding the tournament in the same year as the men's World Cup was a mistake. Almost 3,000 spectators watched the final, in which the US beat England 19-6 at Cardiff Arms Park."

Given an extra day, Times rugby correspondent David Hands reviewed the tournament in more depth:

“AS THEIR erstwhile rivals returned home yesterday a posse of weary women paused to reflect on their achievements of the last week in organising the first world tournament for women rugby players. If 12 competing countries does not appear, on the surface, to embrace the entire globe it has been, none the less, a considerable success.

“The event, which reached its climax on Sunday in Cardiff when the United States beat England 19-6 in the final, has been run on a shoestring, with none of the trappings of the modern men's game - no big sponsors, no back-up, limited accommodation, but huge reserves of enthusiasm and considerable organisational skill. It was a tournament run for players by players who were prepared to risk their own money to bring their particular dream to fruition, and in that sense has taken rugby back to its original and purest roots.

“Although the final accounts have yet to be drawn up, the crowd of just under 3,000 for the final ensured that there would be an overall loss of between £10,000 and £15,000, including accommodation costs for the penniless Soviet team. Acts of generosity by individuals and firms and clubs in and around Cardiff could not offset that deficit. After the closing banquet, it was claimed businessmen were prepared to cover any shortfall. [The RFU ensured later that the tournament organisers were not out of pocket.]

“The organising committee deserves such generosity, though there is also a moral responsibility on the men's game to ensure that none of the women is out of pocket: the International Rugby Football Board, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union were all represented at the final and they have been told how hard the women have worked to keep costs down. Indeed a draft set of accounts will be sent to the Sports Council later this week and it is hoped that the necessary financial assistance may be forthcoming.

““I don't think anyone thought we would actually get it off the ground when we went round looking for sponsors,” Deborah Griffin, the organising committee chairwoman, said. “We were never in doubt but we had to convince other people. Now that we have done it the next tournament, in 1994, may be easier.”

“During the summer, countries interested in hosting the next World Cup can put in bids which will be considered during a meeting in Madrid in September.

“Most of the competing countries are affiliated to their men's national union. It is interesting to observe that the Women's Rugby Football Union, the umbrella for the game in the four home countries, is not, which may be the answer to why, when enough women came to believe in a world tournament, they got on and organised one which worked and which indicated the rising standards in such countries as Italy and Spain.”

Looking back now Griffin, also recalls the financial difficulties. 

"We took on a sponsor agent to try and raise money but we tried to do everything without spending any money!  We looked at a number of cities to host and Cardiff offered a lot of help including paying for Welcome Ceremony and closing dinner.  All teams paid for themselves and in those days clubs didn't charge the way they do now!  We ended up with a £36,000 loss which was basically the £30,000 fee from the sponsor agent (they only found value in kind sponsorship) and £6,000 for accommodation/food that the Russians didn't pay.   Dudley Wood, the Secretary of the RFU settled it for us.

Prior to the tournament, only half of the participants came under the umbrella of their national rugby unions. Although this had a positive effect in that it allowed the then independent New Zealand women’s team to ignore NZRU opposition to the event, the lack of recognition did not help expand the game.

As a result one of the most positive outcomes of the tournament was that, within a few months, the Italian, Dutch and New Zealand unions all now welcomed women’s rugby. By the end of 1992, of those teams taking part, only rugby in Wales, England and Japan was still organised by separate women’s unions (which, in the case of Wales and England, would remain the same UK-wide union for another three years).

The IRB, however, remained a male-only club, refusing to recognise the 1991 tournament (a position they maintained until 2010) or the planned follow-up. That stance nearly torpedoed the second World Cup in 1994, ensuring not only that New Zealand, Sweden and Germany had to refuse invitations but also leading to the original hosts, the Netherlands, pulling out at the eleventh hour. Fortunately Scotland stepped in at a last minute to run another successful event, and in 1996 the IRB finally accepted responsibility for the women’s game.

If the immediate political legacy of the first World Cup was limited, its effect on those who had taken part was another matter. The United States returned in glory to a White House reception and a level of recognition and support that would see them to two more World Cup Finals. And the game – even where it remained separate from the main unions – became more professional in its organisation, especially for the national team, and player numbers slowly began to grow.

The first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991 may not have changed the world, but it laid the foundations for the future of the women’s game.

Pool stages

Pool 1

• 6th May: New Zealand   24–8   Canada (Glamorgan Wanderers)
• 8th May: Wales   9–9   Canada (Glamorgan Wanderers)
• 10th May: Wales   6–24   New Zealand (Llanharan)

Pool 2

• 6th May: France  62–0   Japan (Aberavon)
• 8th May: :rance  37–0   Sweden (Glamorgan Wanderers)
• 10th May: Japan  0–20   Sweden (Llanharan)

Pool 3

• 6th May:  Netherlands   0–7   United States (Pontypool)
• 8th May: Netherlands   28–0   Soviet Union (Llanharan)
• 10th May: United States   46–0   Soviet Union (Glamorgan Wanderers)

Pool 4

• 6th May: England   12–0   Spain (Swansea)
• 8th May: England   25–9   Italy (Llanharan)
• 10th May: Italy   7–13   Spain (Glamorgan Wanderers)

Plate quarter-finals (11th May)

• Canada   38–0   Soviet Union (Cyncoed, Cardiff )
• Italy   18–0   Sweden (Cyncoed, Cardiff)
• Wales   3–6   Netherlands (Cyncoed, Cardiff)
• Japan   0–30   Spain (Cyncoed, Cardiff)

Plate semi-finals (12th May)

• 12th May Canada   6–0   Italy (Cyncoed, Cardiff)
• 12th May Netherlands   0–8   Spain (Cyncoed, Cardiff)

Cup semi-finals

• New Zealand   0–7   United States (Cardiff Arms Park)
• England   13–0   France (Cardiff Arms Park)

Plate final (13th May)

Canada   19–4   Spain (Cyncoed, Cardiff)

Third place (14th May) (Unofficial)

France 3 -0 New Zealand (Cardiff)

Final (14th May)

England   6–19   United States (Cardiff Arms Park)