It will undoubtedly be one of the most hung quarter-finals of the weekend. This France-Irlande scheduled for Sunday (2 p.m.) at the Sandy Park of Exeter could however see its outcome sealed from half-time, if we trust the last confrontations between the two countries. Seven successes immediately for the Bleues, including six roustes over twenty points apart. Knowing that the Irish women do not land in great confidence, liquidated 0-40 by New Zealand. A beating, of course, but far from the biggest in the tournament. Before the start of hostilities, the owner of World Rugby, Alan Gilpin, predicted that “Some matches will be less competitive due, in some cases, an obvious disparity in experience, professionalism and investment.”
The group phases, punctuated by serial unfounded, prove it right: in 24 games, the average gap is 33.9 points. The differential even rises up to 47 medium units if we only take into account the first day, where everything is to be done and the selections play with their standard team. Not really surprising scores. This state of affairs has always existed, since the inaugural edition of 1991. But at the time, “The disparities were less important”, Note Serge Collinet, former professional player converted teacher of staps, and author of Conquerors (ed. Passiflore). “There were certainly cultural homes like England, New Zealand, but everyone was an amateur. Professionalization has led to even greater differences. ”
One example among others: in groups, an English team bis has Rossé 92-3 Les Samoanes. Their last confrontation, during the 2014 World Cup, had also resulted in an English beating, but in less proportions: 65-3. In eleven years, the Red Roses have structured. They obtained professional status in 2019 and are paid 100 % by their federation. Their domestic championship, envied around the world, was structured in 2018.
In the same time, nothing has really moved for the Samoans. Their federation pays modest compensation to the players, but they have no professional contracts. As in previous editions, half of the selection must use fundraising to be able to take part in the tournament.
World female ovalia remains a fragmented landscape. “It’s a three -speed rugby,” Estem Serge Collinet. At the head of the wagon-and in this order-the English and the New Zealanders “Hyper professionalized, released for performance, and devoted completely to competition”. No coincidence if the last two editions took place in these two countries. No coincidence either that England-New Zealand was the poster of five of the last six World Cup finals. “These countries have been able to set up professional structures in favor of women, and have been rewarded, somewhere. THE “Néozeds” did it because rugby there is a religion. The English have been pragmatic, and have put financial and human means ”, ABSUNS Serge Collinet.
Others like Canada and France have gradually put money, but later and to a lesser extent. Which would place them in a second category. Then follow cataloged nations from 5th to 12th world place-South Africa, the United States, Italy and Japan-mainly with semi-professional players, forced to have a job in parallel. Finally come selections of fourth zone, such as Brazil, Fiji or Samoa, most often composed of amateurs. Among the Samoans, we thus identify a real estate manager, a teacher, storekeepers, a rider, and the list is not exhaustive.
So many profiles whose practice of sport is light years old of a professional player. Training charges, staff, medical follow -up have nothing to do, giving rise to unbalanced confrontations. And letting fear injuries, as the bodies are not sculpted under the same conditions. For the time being, there have not yet been dramas on the British meadows. The world of rugby still keeps in mind the terrible injury of Max Brito in men during the 1995 edition. This Ivorian, crushed under a regrouping after a plating, continued his quadriplegic life, until his death in 2022.
“It would be lying to say that there is no risks. The larger the gap level, the greater this risk factor ”, admits Sébastien Imbert, Doctor of Staps, attached to the Urepsss laboratory (multidisciplinary research unit sport, health, company), intervening the FFR and author of a thesis entitled “Multidisciplinary approach to identify the characteristics of high performance in female rugby at fifteen and seven”. For Serge Collinet, “It should justify the fact that all female nations are given the means to benefit from a preparation worthy of the name, in order to preserve physical integrity” players.
World Rugby covers the flight and accommodation costs of all teams during the World Cup. But beyond these initiatives, the competition must accelerate the structuring of a strong growth female practice: almost half of the world fans have been interested in the discipline for less than two years, according to a survey carried out by the international body. However for certain small historical territories such as the Samoas or the Fiji, where financial means remain too limited, developing remains a luxury. “Professionalization will put even further this financial imbalance and unfortunately, there may be nations that will suffer from it because they will not be able to evolve like the others”, Estem Sébastien Imbert. World Rugby plans to create an international fund that allows participating teams to benefit from a minimum compensation base. The system would be welcome, even if it is to be accompanied by national projects.
Advances exist all the same. In the wake of the two top nations, part of the lower floor is organized. The tricolor female rugby has embarked on a real but slow structuring. A series of reforms has taken place in recent years to lead, at the edge of the 2024-2025 season, on the constitution of a single hen, bringing together the top ten factions within Elite 1, the domestic championship.
The salaries of the tricolor internationals are now provided by the FFR for a fixed period, one or two years renewable depending on the performance, although still part -time (75 %). “The contract opens a new life to the professional world and training when you want, when you are asked”, Enthuses Charlotte Escudero, third line of the Bleues and the Stade Toulousain. “We train much more, we are much more turned towards performance”, she continues. The contracts coveted by the players are still in the minority, and most of them must juggle their sporting and professional lives to earn a living.
This World Cup could also mark a turning point for certain federations. The Spaniards, for example, initialed six -month contracts to prepare for the tournament, supposed to expire in September. Their federation said they wanted to take advantage of the windfall and transform them into full time, as part of the “Mujeres in Rugby 2024-2027” strategic plan, intended to grow the number of players and deploy academies. “If the stocking teams want to compete, or be a problem for the best teams, they will not have “No choice” to also have to change their status ”, Anticipates Sébastien Imbert. Which makes rugby player-researcher say that in the future, the global level “Will increase again, even if it’s a process that takes time”.
