Jade Konkel’s Tough Farewell: End of an Era in Scottish Rugby
A six-minute conversation was enough to end Jade Konkel’s 13-year career with the Scotland national team. Of the 32 players called up for the World Cup, only 15 had contracts before the tournament began. Konkel, unfortunately, was not one of them.
In her meeting with representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union, Konkel was informed that the decision not to renew her contract was based on her performance. “That was interesting, as I was the player of the season at Harlequins,” she commented with a melancholic smile. The depth of the team and individual circumstances were other arguments presented.
It all came down to six minutes. Six minutes for 74 international matches.
That’s the part that doesn’t sit well with me.
Jade Konkel
Konkel, a firefighter by profession, was the first professional women’s rugby player hired by Scotland in 2016. Her final chapter closed amid defeat to England in the World Cup. Konkel, aware of her situation, announced her retirement from international rugby after the tournament, taking the reins of her farewell and avoiding being one more of those whose career is cut short without even being called up.Scotland’s participation in the Women’s Rugby World Cup came to an end with a defeat. For some players, it meant the end of their international careers.In her last match, Konkel gave an exemplary performance, prioritizing the common good over the personal. Tears welled up after being substituted, but those moments of individual reflection were fleeting, soon suppressed in favor of legacy and the greater cause. In her final interviews as a Scottish player, she sent a message to the authorities.
It’s been a difficult couple of months, with all of us receiving bombshell news right before a World Cup, which isn’t the best preparation. There have been many conversations, background noise, and the fact that we reached the quarter-finals is, I’m not going to lie, without the help of the SRU.
Jade Konkel
Contractual disputes in Scotland were an unpleasant backdrop to their World Cup campaign. Although captain Rachel Malcolm tried to put the issue aside to focus on the game, it was a constant burden for the players, who had to do job interviews during the tournament, dealing with the uncertainty of what life would hold for them after the World Cup.
The origin of all this goes back to before the Six Nations. A source revealed that the intention was to resolve everything before the championship, but it was postponed. The players wanted the entire squad to have a contract, but only 15 achieved it. Legends like Konkel were left in a professional limbo, and the technical staff was also affected. A source described the situation as a “total disaster”.Jade Konkel (left) retires from international rugby after being in a contractual limbo.The long-term hope is that the national team players will play in Scottish clubs, but the exact format is not yet defined. “There are players who live in England who are told they must move if they want a contract, but they have part-time jobs and mortgages… I don’t think this has been taken into account,” commented a source.
Bryan Easson, coach of the women’s team since 2020, announced his departure after the World Cup. Despite his efforts, tears betrayed his feelings. During his tenure, he led the team to its best historical position, fifth place. Easson stated that he would continue fighting to ensure that the players got what they needed.
In June, it was reported that only 15 of the 38 players in the training camp had received contract offers, and the players were suffering from mental and emotional health problems. In mid-July, Malcolm stated that the preparation had not been ideal and that the internal processes had done almost the opposite of what was expected.
Winger Rhona Lloyd, who does have a contract, lamented that more than half of the squad did not, which generated a lot of pressure. Malcolm tried to put aside contract talks to focus on the tournament.Scotland reached the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.In the field, Scotland had a crucial match against Wales, winning 38-8. Then they beat Fiji 29-15 and fought against Canada before losing 40-19. Against England, they suffered a 40-8 defeat.
Easson mentioned the importance of investing in the quarries. The team and staff see this moment as crucial for the future of the sport. Malcolm emphasized the need for the federation to listen to the players, warning about the risk of losing talent. The players asked for support and respect from the SRU.
For Jade Konkel, her final message was of change:
Respect us. Know that this is a program to which we dedicate our lives.
