An article in today’s Times focusing on the women’s Six Nations has the heading “Break-ups to pregnancies: how to navigate intra-squad relationships” and the sub-heading “Connections have blossomed amid a championing of inclusivity – but how do players ensure their personal lives do not affect performances on the pitch?”
Here are a couple of paragraphs:
Claudia and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald laughed about the phoney war at the start of the Women’s Six Nations: the battle of the scene-setting playlists. On the way to the ground, they kept interrupting each other’s music on the respective team buses, via their joint Spotify account. This was not some unseen act of mind games, more an accident brought on by the fact that the Moloney-MacDonalds are married, and one was opposing the other in England’s 33-12 victory over Ireland last weekend.
The Moloney-MacDonald derby came hot on the heels of Rosie Galligan and Marlie Packer announcing they are expecting a baby together. They are team-mates for Saracens and England. “It’s one of those unique things that people don’t understand,” Galligan told RugbyPass before last year’s World Cup. “We probably go harder at each other than anyone else on the team if we’re put opposite. There’s no backing down in the fight. I think our peers respect that.”
I wonder how long it will be before comparable issues arise in the men’s game?
