THE news that the UK-based barbarians are finally to establish a women’s team is long overdue, and the only conclusion about the delay must be that there are still insufficient ‘names’ in women’s rugby to draw the sort of crowds that the men’s team always attracts.

The women’s World Cup certainly made a lot of players rather more famous but unfortunately that did not include any players from Scotland because we were not involved.

The Rucker does hope, however that this will not stop the Barbarians’ selectors from choosing Scottish players for the first game against Munster in Ireland next month.

They will not actually be the first female Baa-baas to take the field as that honour went to the Canada Barbarians some years ago, but it does show that the women’s game is progressing here.

The next step, of course, for the women’s game in these islands is the formation of a British and Irish Lionesses squad, perhaps to tour Down Under and take on the world champions New Zealand.

Again, it would be a shame if such a touring team was to be formed without any Scots in it, because we do have seriously talented players in an improving team – Jade Konkel, Lisa Thomson, Sarah Law and Chloe Rollie spring readily to mind.

If the Lionesses do ever tour, it would prove that women are being treated more equally in our great sport, and that is surely a good thing.

MEANWHILE Scotland’s representatives in the European Men’s Champions Cup have it all to do again on Saturday. Facing English champions Exeter Chiefs on their home territory was probably not the draw that head coach Dave Rennie and his squad wanted, but as things have turned out, the timing could be very good for the Warriors.

They are coming off the back of a tremendous start to the season which included a mighty victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last week. The Rucker was dubious about Glasgow’s ability to travel all that way and cope with the altitude, but thankfully the Warriors found the way to win a very exciting game.

Now can they do the same against Exeter?

The Chiefs have lost two of their last six matches, both away to Leicester and Gloucester, and they did not exactly hammer Newcastle at home last week with the in-form Falcons keeping the score to 34-24. Yet they did not win the championship of England by accident, and as current Aviva Premiership leaders they will be very formidable foes for Glasgow who are still without Stuart Hogg.

Exeter have not been beaten at home for 11 matches so a victory by the Warriors would be a remarkable achievement.

It may well be that the results of the last time they met in the then Heineken Cup will be repeated with both winning at home. Never discount Glasgow these days however, and if any one can topple Exeter it is Glasgow, especially if they have fully recovered from the trip to South Africa.