Why has Switzerland no longer have a women’s rugby team?

At a time when Swiss rugby players are growing, now evolving in the “B” tournament of the VI Nations, the Edelweiss women’s XV is no longer engaged in any European League. The CEO of the Gilles Mariau Federation explains the reasons for us.

England won the VI Nations Female tournament by defeating France (43-42), last weekend during the “final” disputed in Twickenham.

The competition being closed, no chance of seeing Switzerland evolve at such a level. However, the Edelweiss female XV was also not engaged this year in one of the lower leagues in the European Championship. A somewhat surprising fact, at a time when Swiss rugby is increasing. Recall that men took part this winter in the “B” tournament of the VI Nations this winter: a first.

This is not the first time that European competitions have taken place without the presence of the Swiss. Moreover, their last participation dates back to the financial year 2021/2022. At the time, they had finished last in chicken A of the Trophy, the third continental level, beaten by Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic. The girls of Billy Valentine were previously almost all European campaigns.

Consequently, why could Switzerland no longer manage to present a team, even at the lowest level of European rugby? “We do not have in seniors the sufficient workforce to be able to compete sportively in an international competition, which is more without risking endangering our players»explains to watson Gilles Mariau, CEO of Switzerland Rugby, in reference to a sport where important level differences are not allowed and can even sometimes be dangerous.

An element in particular illustrates the difficulties encountered in the field and the risks involved: the advanced age of certain players. Angela Stadelmann and Sabrina Walti pillars are now 40 years old, while the second line Judith Oriwal will soon have 45.

It would therefore seem that Switzerland has undergone an important generational hole, But “we are actively working to rebuild a quality group with a sufficiently extensive number of players ready for this type of competition,” said Gilles Mariau, visibly confident for the future.

Pending the return of the EDELWEISS women’s female XV in official competition, the emphasis is placed on test matches, not against selections, but faced with clubs. “Our technical management works with the female team staff to find friendly matches in the coming months. A meeting was organized against the Heidelberg team (Red: a German club) Last November and a match was scheduled in March 2025 against a university selection in Lyon, which the latter had to be canceled, “said the CEO of the Federation.

Due to the current situation, Switzerland Rugby is also fully focused on rugby at 7: A avoidance game rather than contact, moreover more accessible, since it requires fewer high -level players. Oumou Barry or Les Rochelaises Julie Gaudin and Louise Kuss are those who double. They will be engaged this year in “Seven” Trophy Series, the second continental level, two years after winning Conference I.

The objective this year will still be the maintenance. But what about the ambitions of women’s Swiss rugby beyond 2025? “We aim for the registration of our U18 Rugby team at XV in the Trophy during this Olympiad”details Gilles Mariau. The first step towards a re -registration, “in the longer term”, of the Women’s XV of Edelweiss in the weakest league in the European championship: the newly created conference this season among women.