What do rowing and rugby league have in common? More than you’d think

You wouldn’t ordinarily compare the two but Clare Balding believes the Thames tradition offers a pathway that the oval ball game can follow

Cambridge celebrate winning the 2021 Women’s Boat Race (Getty Images)

You wouldn’t readily suggest that rugby league and rowing had a great deal in common.

Yes, they both rely on a degree of brute force and superhuman strength, but one is a rough-and-tumble, blood, sweat and tears, on dry land game while the other is a smooth and pitch-perfect technique sport that of course takes place on the water.

But for Clare Balding, the veteran broadcaster who has covered both for many years, the similarities are actually hugely important to note, especially when women’s participation is concerned.