TOUCHLINE The Official Newspaper of The RFU January 2018 Issue 208 ENGLAND’S MEN, WOMEN & U20S DEFENDING SIX NATIONS TITLES NATHAN MIDDLETON On 4 February England’s men kick off the The Red Roses are aiming for back-to-back Maro Itoje (lineout steals) as well as Mike Brown impressive record in the tournament where they defence of their Six Nations campaign with Italy Grand Slam titles for the first time since 2012, (metres gained). have lifted the trophy on six of the last 10 occasions, the opponents on the opening weekend and while if the U20s back up their Grand Slam Emily Scarratt was the tournament’s top scorer with three Grand Slams during that time. both the Red Roses and U20s are also looking to victory from last season, it will be the first time last year as she scored 51 of the Red Roses’ The 2017 Six Nations Championship was the retain their titles. they have managed to do this in their history. 217 points, while full back Danielle Waterman first time the tournament used the bonus-point The tournament runs through February On their way to winning the 2017 title, will look to continue her try scoring feats in system and this will again be used this year. This and March, with England’s men looking to England’s men scored the most tries (16), and the Six Nations where she has scored 25 in means it is four points for a win and a team can create history by winning three successive Six also had a number of players leading individual 26 appearances. secure an extra bonus-point if they score four Nations titles. statistics, such as Joe Launchbury (top tackler), The U20s will hope to keep up their recent Continued on page 2 SUE DAY BECOMES RFU CHIEF WAYNE BARNES BREAKS FINANCIAL OFFICER & BOARD MEMBER REFEREE RECORD NATHAN MIDDLETON JOANNA MANNING-COOPER When Wayne Barnes stepped out into the middle for Worcester Warriors against London Irish last month Sue Day, former England international rugby (December) he overtook Chris White as the man who has captain at 15s and sevens, and England’s record taken charge of the most Premiership games ever. try scorer has been appointed as the new The 38 year old passed White’s record to reach 191 matches Chief Financial Officer of the RFU, and to the refereed in the English top flight, a record which he has held RFU Board. since 2010. Sue Day is currently a Deal Advisory Partner at Barnes said: “I’ve always admired Chris. He was in the same KPMG. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant local society as me and when you’re growing up and want a (ACA) and has worked in finance roles at KPMG career you think ‘it would be nice to referee a Premiership for the past 20 years. Sue was appointed Partner game’, but you never think you’ll emulate someone you’ve at KPMG in 2015, and has worked as lead admired and respected such a huge amount. It is very nice for Partner on a number of high profile mergers and me to have that record but I’m just striving to get a bit better acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions. each week.” In her role at the RFU she will be responsible for Injury put an end to Barnes’ playing career which began at the financial planning, management and reporting, age of six and he took charge of his first game at the age of 15. legal and governance and technology, reporting “I played at my local rugby club, Bream RFC, but I got injured to CEO Steve Brown, with voting membership of and a friend of my dad’s was a referee and a school teacher was the RFU Board. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 TOUCHLINE – JANUARY 2018 1 ENGLAND’S MEN, WOMEN & U20S DEFENDING SIX NATIONS TITLES Continued from page 1 tries or more, and if a team loses by fewer than seven points they secure a losing bonus point. A draw is worth two points and if a side secures a Grand Slam by winning all five of their games, they earn an NatWest 6 Nations extra three points. Italy – #ITAvENG An England squad for the NatWest 6 Nations tournament will be announced on Thursday 18 England U20 – Friday 2 February, KO 7pm (6pm GMT), Stadio Enzo Bearzot (Gorizia) January before the squad departs for a week’s training camp in Portugal three days later. England – Sunday 4 February, KO 2pm (1pm GMT), Stadio Olympico (Rome) England Women and England U20s have announced their EPS squads (see pages 4 and 6). England Women – Sunday 4 February, KO 6:30pm (5:30pm GMT), Stadio Mirabello (Reggio Emilia) Says England head coach Eddie Jones: “We will need to improve if we are to hunt down our opponents and beat them. This tournament will be exciting and challenging, as we know we will play Wales – #ENGvWAL against some very strong teams.” England U20 – Friday 9 February, KO 7:45pm, Kingston Park (Newcastle) Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton adds: “While it was an incredible achievement to take England Women – Saturday 10 February, KO 12:15pm, Twickenham Stoop (London) home a Grand Slam Championship last year, going into 2018 that counts for nothing, this is a new England – Saturday 10 February, KO 4:45pm, Twickenham Stadium (London) squad, a new challenge and we are determined to go out and win the competition once again.” And says England U20 head coach Steve Bates: “We have some exciting players and a track record Scotland – #SCOvENG of producing full internationals so this is a great opportunity for fans to come out and see the future England Women – Friday 23 February, KO 7:30pm, Scotstoun (Glasgow) stars of England rugby.” England U20 – Friday 23 February, KO 7:30pm, Myreside (Edinburgh) You can watch how Eddie Jones’ side get on in the tournament on terrestrial television with BBC England – Saturday 24 February, KO 4:45pm, BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh) and ITV both broadcasting the games – ITV will broadcast England home games, with the three away games on the BBC. BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will also be covering France – #FRAvENG all of the matches, while you can follow the online text commentary with IBM TryTracker on England U20 – Friday 9 March KO 9pm (8pm GMT), Stade de la Mediterranee (Beziers) EnglandRugby.com for every match. England – Saturday 10 March, KO 3:45pm (2:45pm GMT), Stade de France (Paris) The Red Roses games will all be available on Sky Sports Mix, you can also watch the majority of England Women – Saturday 10 March, KO 7pm (6pm GMT), Stade des Alpes (Grenoble) games on Sky Sports Action while the two England U20 home matches will be on Sky Sports Action. All of the breaking stories, analysis and features throughout the tournament will be on Ireland – #ENGvIRE EnglandRugby.com, while you can also follow the story on England Rugby Facebook page, on Twitter England Women – Friday 16 March, KO 5:30pm, Ricoh Arena (Coventry) or with Instagram. England U20 – Friday 16 March, KO 8pm, Ricoh Arena (Coventry) As well as following the specific game hashtags on social media, you can keep up to date with England – Saturday 17 March, KO 2:45pm, Twickenham Stadium (London) conversations on #CarryThemHome, #RedRoses, #WearTheRose and #NatWest6Nations throughout the tournament. BARNES BREAKS REFEREE RECORD Continued from page 1 SUE DAY BECOMES RFU a referee and they said ‘Why don’t you come and “Then the captain of Kilburn presented a help out and do some refereeing?’ So I did that at bouquet of flowers, the president of London school and then my dad’s friend said if you can French said a few words, we started the game CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER do it at school, why don’t you come and do the and 80 minutes later, with a lot of management local third team?” and a lot of talking, I blew up without giving After spells refereeing age-grade internationals one penalty. & BOARD MEMBER and two years on the sevens circuit, Barnes “I was chuffed afterwards and I was greeted by Continued from page 1 became a professional referee in 2005 and a year the president with a glass of Chablis and a beret Sue Day is President of Wasps FC, and was capped for England 59 times, including winning three later took charge his first Test match. Since then and we went into the clubhouse and shared some Grand Slams in the Women’s Six Nations tournament. She has also captained the England Women’s he has been the man in the middle for seven stories. Everything about rugby was special Sevens team, and coached the England 7s Developmental team. Sue played for Wasps for 14 years, Aviva Premiership finals, a European Champions that day and you realise why you’re involved in and captained the team to the League and Cup Double in 2004/5. Cup final, 77 Test matches and a touch judge at this sport.” RFU CEO Steve Brown commented, “This is a very exciting appointment for the RFU. Sue brings the 2015 World Cup final. Barnes combines his refereeing role with top-quality financial experience and knowledge, combined with a thorough understanding of “The highlight for me in my career was not being an experienced criminal barrister. “You professional rugby at international and club level, and a very deep love of the game. Sue is a highly an international but a game quite locally when juggle and I’ve got a very understanding wife experienced and accomplished leader, with an excellent reputation in both finance and rugby, and I London French played Kilburn Cosmos and it in Polly.