Women’s rugby is only heading in one direction according to Quins Co-Head Coach Gary Street.

Such is the support from clubs and sponsors, the coach who guided the national side to World Cup glory in 2014 says the womens’ game is quickly catching that of the mens.

“I don’t think it’ll go backwards now,” Street said of the women’s game.

“I never thought in my time at club level there’d be as much support for the women’s game.

“Things are changing in sport sponsorship, and companies are seeing that women’s sport is now a huge investment opportunity.

“With that, it’ll be better off the field and therefore better on it.”

Wimbledon Times:

Off-field the difference

Street was at the helm alongside Karen Findlay at Aylesford Bulls Ladies before Quins took the club over in 2017, and believes the women’s game under the Harlequins banner has improved drastically from the Club’s support.

“Off-field support is what’s changed the most in the last 12 months, it was non-existent in the past.

“All the professionalism off the field.

“At Quins we’ve got full-time strength and conditioning coaches, analysts, physios, medics, coaches, press officers, so the similarities with England camps are huge, which is exciting for the women’s game.

“We can’t argue that with the resources and the professional environment at Quins that it hasn’t helped us.

“We are hoping down the line that support for all the sides in the table will follow suit and if we can get support across the board then we’ll be seeing more professional female players.”

The 52-year-old whose side boast seven players who’ve been called for international honours in the six nations, believes the impact on the women’s game can already be seen through the coaching in development squads at Quins and at schools.

“As someone who has been around the game a long time, I feel bad for saying that I was shocked when I went to watch an U13’s school-girls game, the standard was amazing and far better than I was expecting.

“It goes to show if there’s proper coaching for girls in schools, it will make a massive difference.”

The Game Changer (kick-off: 14:00) is included in the 2018/19 Harlequins Membership but must be claimed beforehand. For non-members, tickets cost £10 for Adults and £5 for Juniors and can be purchased by calling the ticket office on 020 8410 6000 or by visiting tickets.quins.co.uk