Joy for Jade as former Inverness Craig Dunain player makes history
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A RUGBY player from the Highland capital has been announced as Scotland’s first full-time female player.
Internationalist Jade Konkel, 22, who hails from Inverness and was brought up near Munlochy on the Black Isle, has been capped 23 times and is captain of Glasgow side Hillhead/Jordanhill.
The former Inverness Craig Dunain player will now be based at Cumbernauld’s Broadwood Stadium, working full-time in the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy, as part of the governing body’s commitment to developing the competitiveness of the women’s game.
The number eight, who took up the sport with the Northern Vixens, was one of 16 women selected in the second tier of the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy at its 2015 inauguration and is the first woman to be named in the full-time third tier.
“This really is a dream turning into a reality because it allows me more time to recover, rest and analyse my game,” said Konkel, who hopes to also continue with occasional work as a veterans’ care assistant for former employer Erskine. “Overall, I hope this makes me become a better athlete and I’m delighted to be given this chance.”
The BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy is taking the future of women’s rugby in this country seriously, having appointed a full-time coach and following it up with the permanent capture of Konkel.
“This is a new journey for women’s rugby in Scotland and it’s great that there is a pathway for girls and women to follow,” added Konkel. “If you put in the hard work and dedication then there’s a way forward in the sport. This all comes after the appointment of a full-time coach (Shade Munro)correct and the support from the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy that started last year.”
Konkel’s active background shows that rugby is not the only sport in which she excels. She spent two years with National League basketball club Highland Bears, has represented Scotland in athletics for the army cadets (winning two gold medals in 2008-09 for shot putt and discus) and has a black belt in the martial art Goshin-Ryu Kempo.
Rugby is clearly in the Konkel family line as her mother Emma, father Stephen and brothers Paul and Steven all play for the respective women’s and men’s sides at Inverness Craig Dunain, while her sister Samantha is more of a spectator but will still be proud of her stellar rise in the sport.
As well as Konkel aiming to grasp the BT Women’s Premier League title back from main rivals Murrayfield Wanderers at club level, Scotland’s women are preparing for a crunch double header later this year.
“We have two World Cup qualifiers in November, one home and one away. As it stands, it looks as if it could be against Spain, but that’s not set in stone just yet,” said Konkel.
“We will be out to win that with the World Cup finals taking place next year (August 2017) in Ireland. That will be a massive chance to showcase women’s rugby.”
