In terms of public appeal, all sports these days are chasing the female cash as much as the male. And yet to go to Stamford Bridge is to be reminded of how poorly female supporters can be treated even at what is supposedly one of the most go-ahead clubs in the Premiership. In rugby, the profile of support is changing, albeit slowly. A brilliant piece of marketing by Wasps a few weeks ago meant that more than 12,000 fans turned up for what was a fairly meaningless Zurich Premiership match. It was a well-organised strategy, based around reduced admission charges, and aimed at families.
Families mean women.
With the best will in the world, the facilities at Loftus Road are hardly out of the top drawer, but they'll do. It may not be your idea of the modern rugby club, but as playing numbers tumble across Britain, and clubs that used to run a healthy four or five XVs are left struggling to raise two every weekend, these are the sort of factors that will come into play more and more. Players who are available on an irregular basis will be prepared to become more involved with the club if their wife or girlfriend wants to come down as well. And they won't if the thought of having to go to the toilet at some stage during the afternoon fills them with horror. Provide a creche.