The Women’s Premier League (WPL) enters its eighth season, and the 2016 iteration will feature many elite players angling for selection to the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool. What’s interesting about the WPL Red Conference is that three of four head coaches have changed, and some differently styled teams could emerge.
New York will be both familiar and altered. Former head coach Wil Snape has relocated to Seattle, and 2015 WPL defense coach James English has taken over the lead role. The pair share similar views on the game, and New York’s brand of rugby will have shades of both Englishmen.
“We’ve been coached by some of the same people and have a similar outlook on the game and how we like it to be played,” said English, who was reared in the same English club as Snape. “It’s a growth mindset with a focus on an attacking game. Last year was a great opportunity because I hadn’t been an assistant coach in a while. I was able to just focus on one aspect of the game and didn’t have to do anything on the organizational side of the team. It’s made me a better coach.”
Defense isn’t necessarily English’s specialty, just what the role called for.
“As a player, I was a flanker and center, so I’m really interested in both aspects of the game,” English said. “What I like about defense is the systematic approach to the game. Like they say, ‘Defense is a science, while attack is an art.’ It’s nice to have a little bit of both in coaching.”
English’s coaching lineage begins in England, wends through Dublin and Blackrock College, and then surfaces in the U.S. as Rugby Pennsylvania’s executive director. During the spring, English reconnected with some of that history, serving a six-week coaching stint at Yale University, where Greg McWilliams, former St. Michael’s College (Dublin) coach and rival, is head coach.
On the women’s side, English has coached at the National All-Star Competitions (NASC), where he first met Snape, assisted the Women’s Collegiate All-Americans against the Maple Leafs this previous July, and also aided the Atavus All-Stars against the British Army.
The head coaching position at New York opened up at the right time for English, and he’s joined by a new coaching staff that includes Ryszard Chadwick, who focuses on skills and the backs; Morne Pretorious, who specializes in the set piece; and Mike Souders, the performance coach, who will focus on strength-and-conditioning.
“A year isn’t a huge amount of time, but I have a good idea what to expect,” English said of his familiarity with the players. “We made huge inroads last year but realistically there is a gap between the Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams. Players know that, coaches too, so we’re focusing on ourselves.”
On the pitch, English will rely on captain Tiffany Faaee, the Eagle prop from New Zealand.
“Having grown up playing in New Zealand … our mindset with the game is very much aligned,” English said. “That really helps to have a good player with an experienced head on her shoulders out there.”
English is particularly excited about the halfback duo of scrumhalf Shelby Lin and flyhalf Mary McMarthy.
“A lot of what we’ll do on attack is built around them,” the coach said. “Mary has a lot of experience and has been with the club for a long time. She’s part of the senior leadership team and is one of those incredibly talented players who has not shown her full potential exactly. I’m excited to see her in the attacking system this year.
“Shelby always impresses me,” English added. “She is permanently consistent and is a very intelligent player.”
New York has also gained a couple of Eagles from outside of New York. Super Series lock Alycia Washington and former World Cup captain and Penn State coach Kate Daley are wearing the orange and blue this fall. Evi Ashenbrucker, the former San Diego Surfer and elite coaching program product, will punch up the pack. Additionally, a pair of capped players from Australia are en route to the Big Apple.
“Wil put this team on a great pathway, and now the club is in a more promising position,” English explained. “When that happens, you attract better players, and I’m excited to continue that growth.”
As for goals, New York is taking it one game at a time. The team is currently focused on its friendly against Penn State, and then will gear up for its season-opener against the D.C. Furies on Sept. 10. English did however indicate that New York wanted to better its second-place finish in the conference from last year, signaling a desire to return to the top tier at nationals.
The eight-team league kicks off Sept. 10-11, and two bye weeks are built into the six-round schedule. The top-two teams from each conference will compete in the championship semifinals, while the bottom-two teams will battle for 5th place. The championship will be held Nov. 11-13 in Atlanta.