Rising Wallaroos star Michaela Leonard says closing the gap between the Super W and international seasons will increase the standard of elite women's rugby in Australia.
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Women's rugby will be thrust into the spotlight in 2021, with the Tokyo Olympic Games and Rugby World Cup scheduled only weeks apart.
The postponement of the Olympic Games has forced a rethink of the calender, with Rugby Australia launching a review into the women's high performance program earlier this month.
Leonard is one the Wallaroos players involved in the review process, alongside teammates Liz Patu and Grace Hamilton. Sevens stars Shannon Parry and Emma Tonegato will also be consulted.
It's likely the Super W season will be pushed back to better align with the international calender next year, with the World Cup to take place in late September.
Australia's best XV's players usually have a four month break between the Super W season and international Test window.
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Leonard believes the competition needs to be either extended or pushed back for an easier transition to Test rugby.
"There's quite a large gap between Super W and international tournaments, which does give a lag period from that higher standard of play," Leonard said.
"I think if we were able to shorten that gap, lead from a competitive Super W and roll straight through to international competitions, it would be beneficial for the girls.
"The skill development would carry over and continue to progress throughout the year.
"Whether that gap is shortened by moving the season later or by extending the Super W season, I think it would be positive for international performances following that."
The Super W competition is only five rounds long, excluding finals, and was cut short this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The program runs for about six months but players are not paid, while their sevens counterparts earn a full-time wage to compete on the international circuit.
The Brumbies and Wallaroos prop says the competition is ready to be extended to a full home-and-away season, thought admits it may not happen next season due to the economic crisis.
"That's something a lot of us have been pushing for since year one," Leonard said.
"These things do take time but we love playing football and the standard Super W allows us to play.
"I think a home-and-away round would be incredible and hopefully something we can still look forward to seeing in the coming years, despite everything that's happened with COVID-19."
The Wallaroos had announced three Tests for 2020, two against the Black Ferns and also a July clash with Canada.
Those matches remain shrouded in uncertainty, although Trans-Tasman Tests could be played later this year as part of an Australia-New Zealand travel bubble.
A Test series against Fiji has also emerged as a promising option for this year, should travel restrictions permit.
Fiji has qualified for the 2021 World Cup and Leonard has some experience playing practice matches against them with the Brumbies.
"Some of the Tests we had planned won't go ahead this year, it's disappointing but hopefully we can organise something in the Pacific region," Leonard said.
"We're hoping to get some action against New Zealand and there's some talk about organising a Test against Fiji which will be great.
"Our Brumbies squad got to play against Fiji in the second season of Super W. It was super exciting and they play some really interesting, fast-paced football.
"It'll be good to have naother shot at them and see how they've grown as a team."
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
