Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Sooooo....I bought an Iphone last week. I haven't blogged about it because it makes the girl mad. She thinks it is a silly purchase and a waste of money! I know this makes most of you cringe, but its ok, she is coming around slowly. She even bought a Macbook last Christmas...

Anyways, so everyday it seems that I discover something new about my precious new device. Last week I discovered Webclipme.com and Clipalizer.com. So I decided today that I would make a Your Scrumhalf Connection webclip for use on Iphones and the web.

Check it out:

and here it is on my Iphone:


To put the link on your Iphone, go to: http://clipalizer.com/?a=e826

Looking to find a game in your town...or looking to travel somewhere for a game or tournament? No fear! Check out the ONLINE WOMEN'S RUGBY CALENDAR ran by Your Scrumhalf Connection. It works on YOUR submissions (I do put games/tournaments if you want to email me.), so don't be afraid to post something yourself! The more games & tournaments, the better!

Visit the Google Calendar below to submit your team's schedule or tournament.



Last year there were a lot of contributors and I hope it continues this year. Don't forget to come back and put your scores and other details as well!

Last year the women's final between the US & Canada was played at Petco Park in front of 15,000 spectators. This is a tremendous opportunity for women's rugby, not only here in the states, but internationally as well.

Both the USA Senior Side and USA A squads are set to compete in the International Women's portion of the tournament with Samoa, South Africa, Canada, Canada A and Canadian Collegiate squad ("the Pandas").

USA Senior Squad:

Tyshawn Henry (New York), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Kelly White (Belmont Shore), Kitt Wagner (Beantown), Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore), Alison Price (New York), Teena Maestrangelo (Chicago North Shore), Donna Thomas (Kansas City Jazz), Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries), Ellie Karvoski (New York), Jen Starkey (NOVA), JoAnne Ward (Albany)

Alternates:
Melissa McKibben (Kansas City Jazz), Daniela Mogro (New York), Liz Dilley (Washington)

USA A Squad:

Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone), Sadie Anderson (Fort Collins Youth Rugby), Ida Bernstein (Syracuse University), Laura Bilazarian (New York Rugby Club), Emilie Bydwell (Brown University), Kate Daley (Penn State), Lisa Dombroski (Philadelphia Women), Katie Dowty (Beantown), Jenna Flateman (New York Rugby Club), Lauren Hoeck (NOVA), Emily Malkin (Boston Women's Rugby), Crista Mendoza (Stanford Women's Rugby), Lauren Rosso (Penn State Women), Maria Rye (Twin Cities Amazons), Melissa Smit (Stanford Women's Rugby)
Stephanie Taguacta (Washington, D.C. Furies), Becky Urion (University of Florida), Jessica Watkins (Stanford Women's Rugby) & Alison Worman (Penn State Women)

Canadian Squad:

Jocelyn Barrieau, Natalie Bendavid, Susy Bienstock, Rosie Cobbett, Jess Dovanne, Tara Eckert,
Maria Gallo, Genevieve Gay, Jill Harris, Michele Helmeczi, Jennifer Kish, Mandy Marchak, Barbara Mervin, Meghan Mutrie, Tanja Ness, Ashley Patzer, Cheryl Phillips, Kelly Russell, Laura Stoughton, Julia Suguwara, Brittany Waters & Julianne Zussman

South Africa Squad:

Yolanda Meiring (Blue Bulls), Natasha Hofmeester (Boland), Saloma Booysen, Lorinda Brown, Lamla Momoti, Marie-Lee Erasmus, Nomathamsanqa Faleni, Phumeza Gadu (Eastern Province), Nombulelo Mayongo (Griffons), Aimee Barrett (KwaZulu-Natal), Nadine Barnard, Nomtha Xape (Western Province).

Date	Time	Home	Score	Away	Venue	TV/Attend
Fri 1st Feb 08	14:40	Ireland Women	v	Italy Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 2nd Feb 08	14:30	England Women	v	Wales Women	London Irish Amateur RFC, Middlesex
Sun 3rd Feb 08	12:00	Scotland Women	v	France Women	Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh
Sat 9th Feb 08	14:30	Italy Women	v	England Women	Stadio Tre Fontane, Rome
Sun 10th Feb 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	Scotland Women	Taffs Wells RFC, Cardiff
Sun 10th Feb 08	15:00	France Women	v	Ireland Women	St Gratien, nr Paris
Fri 22nd Feb 08	18:00	Ireland Women	v	Scotland Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 23rd Feb 08	16:00	France Women	v	England Women	Bergerac, nr Agen
Sun 24th Feb 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	Italy Women	Taffs Wells RFC, Cardiff
Fri 7th Mar 08	19:30	Ireland Women	v	Wales Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 8th Mar 08	12:00	Scotland Women	v	England Women	Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh
Sat 8th Mar 08	16:00	France Women	v	Italy Women	Stade Pompidou, Valence, nr Lyon
Sat 15th Mar 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	France Women	Taffs Wells, Cardiff
Sat 15th Mar 08	16:45	England Women	v	Ireland Women	London Irish Amateur RFC, Middlesex
Sun 16th Mar 08	14:30	Italy Women	v	Scotland Women	Stadio Comunale, Mira, nr Venice

The Women's Six Nations Championship is run at the same time as the men's competition; February through March. The competition is also between the six elite European women's national teams. The women's tournament was introduced in the 2001 season, and included the same national teams as the men's competition did, with the exception of Italy, with Spain instead. The participating nations remained unchanged for several seasons until 2007, when Spain was replaced with Italy.

from Wikipedia:

Home International Championship

1996 - England (triple crown & grand slam)
1997 - England (triple crown)
1998 - Flag of Scotland Scotland (triple crown & grand slam)

Five Nations

1999 - England (grand slam)
2000 - England (grand slam)
2001 - England (grand slam)

Six Nations

2002 - France (grand slam)
2003 - England (grand slam)
2004 - France (grand slam)
2005 - France (grand slam)
2006 - England (grand slam)
2007 - England (grand slam)

UPDATE: I am an idiot and was reading about the Women's Six Nations and then jumped over to the Men's Six Nations...sorry for the misinformation and thanks to Total Flanker for pointing out my mistake.

I saw this article on rugbyfanz.com and couldn't pass it up. I have never seen the movie Borat, but have had the unfortunate experience of seeing someone in the costume in person. It is not the most flattering outfit anyone has ever worn. This is hilarious that they are banning it at Wellington Sevens.

New Zealand police have banned fans from wearing Borat's skimpy one-piece bathing suit to the Wellington Sevens this year, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Police turned a blind eye to the dozens of fans who wore the "mankini" to the tournament last year, but say this year they will turn away anyone who turns up in the swimsuit made famous by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

"It's a family event and there will be children there," a police spokesman said on Monday in an appeal to fans to show "a sense of decency."

The Wellington round of the IRB Sevens, which starts on Friday, customarily attracts thousands of fans who wear all kinds of fancy dress.

Some great gems have been coming across my inbox this week, check them out!

• Norwich Women's & Men's Rugby Goes Varsity
  NORTHFIELD – The number of varsity sports at Norwich increased from 18 to 20 Tuesday with the university's announcement of the promotion of the men's and women's rugby teams to varsity status.
  
  "The elevation of the men's and women's rugby programs to varsity status places these two programs in line with the other athletic programs at the university," Norwich Athletic Director Tony Mariano said. "This move will hopefully enable us to attract a larger pool of student-athletes who are interested in playing collegiate rugby, and provide a more equitable opportunity for all of our student-athletes."
  
  The Norwich men's rugby team began competition in 1970 at club status. The team now competes in the Division I of the New England Rugby Football Union, which includes collegiate rugby powers Dartmouth and West Point-Army. A perennial participant in the New England playoffs, the Cadets struggled in 2007. Head coach Bob Weggler is excited about the prospects of his young team and the recruits who have committed for the fall 2008 season.
  
  "I am most grateful to the university for our new status," Weggler said. "In 2001, the administration took two bold steps to secure the future of Norwich rugby: they hired a full-time coach and moved rugby under the umbrella of the athletic department. This announcement further legitimizes the sport in the eyes of the university community and higher education in general. I have already begun to seen the benefit as far as recruiting student-athletes. After 22 years of collegiate coaching, this is a dream come true for me."
  
  The women's team competes in NERFU's Division II. It recently wrapped up a successful 2007 fall campaign with an unblemished 15-0 record. The Cadets won the Northeast Regional playoffs this fall for the second straight year, and will compete in the USA Rugby National championships this spring in Albuquerque, N.M. They are currently ranked No. 1 nationally for Division II by erugbynews.com.
  
  "Earning varsity status adds new responsibility," women's coach Austin Hall said. "As a university at the forefront of a national movement, we will continue to exemplify great character on and off the field. We are honored to be selected for such distinction."
  
  
• Women's RFU Director Steps Down (International)
  
  The Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) has today announced the resignation of its Director of Rugby Carol Isherwood OBE.
  
  After ten years of service at the RFUW Isherwood has decided to take some time out from rugby and enjoy some personal time travelling before pursuing new career interests.
  
  Isherwood first joined the RFUW in 1997 as Performance Director and has since then been heavily involved in working to develop an effective partnership with the RFU and making the women’s game sustainable for players, clubs and at the elite level of the game.
  
  RFUW Managing Director Rosie Williams said: “Carol has made an enormous contribution to the women’s game. She has been a stalwart for the game for many years, working for over ten years as an employee of the RFUW and before that 15 years of voluntary service. Her influence will be sorely missed though we hope Carol will stay involved in women’s rugby in some voluntary capacity.”
  
  Isherwood added: “I am really sad to be leaving but I have had several fantastic years at the RFUW and now it is time to move on. I know I am leaving the game on good hands as the RFUW continues to be successful, expand and move forward, working together with the RFU and the IRB.”
  The RFUW Board will be reviewing the current staffing structures before any further announcements.
  
  
• Second NCAA Convention Exhibition Successful for Emerging Sports Initiative
  
  BOULDER, Colo. – One of the many goals for USA Rugby's Emerging Sports Initiative is gaining support from key advocates within the NCAA. In USA Rugby's second year of exhibition at the NCAA Convention held in Nashville, Tenn. on January 11-13, the organization proved successful in this area of advocacy.
  
  Overall, Emerging Sports Program Manager Becky Carlson is optimistic about the initiative's visibility at the annual event.
  
  "The integration of Women's NCAA Rugby and expansion of participation is a delicate process where the initiative can make great strides by repetition of attendance at these events," Carlson said. "It's really about gaining recognition from athletic directors who have some background, continuing our progress and then utilizing our contacts and NCAA advocates to get the word out to new sources of interest."
  
  In addition to Carlson and the Director of Membership Relations Kristin Richeimer showcasing for NCAA Women's Rugby, CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville was on-site to watch the initiative in action.
  
  The three-day event offered invaluable face time with many athletic directors who are currently in the process of studying emerging sports to identify options for adding new programs.
  
  The fact that USA Rugby is taking such positive steps to engage athletic directors and promoting women’s rugby certainly raised the profile of the sport in the eyes of many. Discussions at the convention ranged from the history of the game on college campuses to facilities, equipment, scholarships and the modern game.
  
  Movement and discussion among athletic directors, presidents and key officials within the NCAA has created the buzz about a variety of ways in which rugby could provide the answer for institutions at all divisional levels looking to create more athletic opportunities.
  
  "Our pitch has been consistent, as rugby maintains high roster numbers for less cost," Carlson said. "While our message of affordability and compliance is vital to our campaign, our primary pitch that rugby provides an opportunity for female athletes to participate in the 'ultimate running game’ has proved to be a positive combination for the initiative."
  
  The NCAA Convention is one of the five major intercollegiate and interscholastic events that USA Rugby will attend in 2008, a list that also includes the NACDA, NACWAA, NFHSA, and Title IX conferences. While the NCAA Convention is a prime meeting ground for discussion on legislation, member and organization appointments, it is a key forum that USA Rugby uses to spread the word about women's rugby as an emerging sport.
  
  "Attending the NCAA Convention in Nashville was a great experience for me personally," Melville said. “It was an opportunity for me to understand the size and scope of NCAA operations, their importance in the development of the student-athletes in the USA and the opportunity for USA Women’s Rugby."
  
  The Emerging Sports Initiative's next exhibition will be at the Title IX Conference in Boston, Mass., on April 27-29. For more information on USA Rugby's Emerging Sports Initiative and Girls' Varsity High School rugby, please contact Becky Carlson at 303.539.0300 ext. 102 or bcarlson@usarugby.org.
  
  
• Todd Clever Autographed USA Jersey is on the Auction Block (on ebay)
  
  Want to feel even more connected to the US team when they take the pitch at PETCO Park for the USA 7s? Be the high bidder for this autographed Todd Clever Eagles jersey and you will be. Arguably the best 7s and 15s player in the country, Todd is donating a jersey he wore at the recent tournament in George, South Africa to the USRFF.
  
  If you recall, that tournament also happened to be one of the best showings ever by a United States team in an IRB Sevens World Series event as they pulled off victories over sevens powerhouse, Samoa, France and Canada. Their weekend performance in George gave them 6 points in the standings, good enough for ninth place, and ahead of the likes of Australia, Wales, Canada, France and Tonga.
  
  "I am honored to be asked to donate one of my USA Rugby jerseys to the Rugby Foundation," said the just turned 25-year-old sevens prop. "It's a great feeling knowing that the funds raised from my jersey are going to a great cause and helping to grow the sport in America."
  
  Photos, a more detailed description of the jersey and more information about Todd and his US team can be found on eBay, item #180209806852. The bidding will conclude at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, February 2, 2008.
  
  
• There's Still Time to Scrumble!
  
  There's still time to get your USA Sevens weekend started right by teeing it up in the 1st Annual USRFF 4-Player Scrumble Golf Tournament. The Scrumble will take place at the Salt Creek Golf Club on Friday, February 8, 2008 and will begin with a shotgun start at noon. Don't miss out! Register now in what will certainly be a full international field.
  
  Registration fee is just $200 per player and includes:
  
  Greens Fees
  Transportation to and from downtown San Diego
  Dinner at the course (Golfers will be back downtown by 8:00 pm)
  Beverages on the course
  Hole in One Contests on all Par 3s
  Gift bag that includes a $75 gift card from TaylorMade, shirt & hat
  A chance for your entire foursome to win sets of TaylorMade clubs
  Cart with GPS
  Customized scoring
  Range balls
  Tournament results posted in the San Diego Union Tribune
  
  Hole sponsorships are also available for $200.
  
  The USRFF would like to thank the IRB, USA Sevens Steinlager and Coca Cola for their support of the 1st Annual USRFF 4-Player Scrumble. All proceeds raised from the event will further the programs offered by the US Rugby Foundation.
  
  
• 
  
  
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The radio show I listen to every morning on the drive to work and stream across the internet while at work was hilarious this morning! I listen to Bobby Bones on 96.7 Kiss FM in Austin, TX. The last couple of days they have been talking about Bobby and a girl he thinks is hot at the gym. He has talked about wanting to talk to her but worried that he would be "one of those guys" at the gym. The co-hosts (Lunchbox and Amy) on the show bolstered him up last week and got him to approach her at the gym this week.

Well I guess it didn't go so well because she had a boy friend and pretty much thought Bobby was a creep-o. So Lunchbox and Amy were singing him a quick song they made up to the lyrics of Delilah about how he got shot down. Then this morning some listeners of the show had sent in some lyrics to that song as well. They were freaking hilarious! I am hoping they put the audio files or at least the lyrics on the website. If they do I will post them here!

While we are on the topic of the gyms and the funny things that happen inside them...check out this:

from That's Fit Blog
Step in any gym in any city in any state in this entire country and you're sure to find the same people. Of course not the exact same people, but the same types of people. Though their accents may differ when they yell their rep count out loud and their music selection may vary as it blares through their over sized headphones, these same people seem to magically appear in every gym throughout the nation. Some of them work out hard, some don't work out at all, and some do exercises so bizarre that it's clearly not safe to be within a fifty-foot radius of them. Who are the people in your neighborhood gym? Pretty much the same as those in everyone else's.

1. The Gamma Radiation Victim – While they aren't green (yet), these guys are so large that they look like they could either live forever or die any second. Their clothes fit them like paint and their veins practically form road maps on their arms and legs. Fortunately for them, if they ever get lost on the way to their steroid dealer's house, they can use their bodies like a AAA Trip-Tic. These are also the same guys that you should never ask to spot you, because if you are struggling to bang out your last rep with what you believe to be a respectable amount of weight, they will simply lift it off you with one hand ... and then beat up your dad with the other.

2. Thomas Edison – Stay the hell away from this guy or girl, or else you're bound to get hurt. There's truly nothing scarier in the gym than the people who feel the need to invent their own exercises. As you and everyone else go about your daily grind, these people are rolling around on a physio-ball while balancing a soft-spoken Peruvian child on their head. A common explanation for the purpose of their whacked-out maneuvers is that this new exercise is great for working their 'core.' The truth? It doesn't work their core at all. In fact, it doesn't work anything...except to bring utter chaos into a weight room. Get these people on a treadmill and that's when things really get dangerous.

3. Sparkle Motion – Remember the girls in college who used to get dressed to the hilt for an 8:00am class? Well, ten years later these same ladies are still going for cosmetic gold, primping and teasing their early morning glamour for a pre-work trip to the gym. The hair, the nails, the matching pink running shoes/zip-up sweatshirt ensemble, and even the unabashedly applied glitter lipstick...all at 5:30 in the goddamn morning. Most people with even an iota of sanity are still asleep at this hour. These glimmering gals, however, are already into their fourth cup of iced coffee and forty-third minute on the elliptical machine by this time.

4. The 'A Bit Too Personal' Trainer – Signing-up for a gym membership in itself can be a rather daunting process for some people. When you factor in a personal training session with someone who feels the need to tell you about all of their life problems, things can quickly go from uneasy to downright weird. "That's it...one more...good...you can do it....good........my mother died from advance stage syphilis." Uh...what? Who needs to hear that? And how is that possibly motivating? I may be wrong, but I don't recall a single scene in Rocky where Mickey told Rocky that the reason why his skin looks so healthy is because he refuses to poop after 8:30 at night.

5. Bob the Builder – Fancy health clubs may be the only place where this guy doesn't show up, but for the rest of us whose annual gym memberships cost less than the price of a new Nissan Maxima, this unfashionably coarse fellow is a staple (Puns, kids. That's what they're called.). Sometimes it's a pair of work boots and jeans, other times it's a pair of overalls, and on some occasions it's a line of clothing seemingly purchased from the Paul Bunyon collection on QVC. How do these people work out in all those layers? The grunge epoch may have ended in the late nineties, but flannel somehow managed to survive thanks to carpenters whose parents clearly never made them put on their 'play clothes' after school.

6. The Unworthy Screamer – Although it is true that the huge guys do sometimes yell while they work out, it is most times the mostly-fat-but-partially-muscled guy who feels the need to grunt and groan at the top of his lungs each time he curls a thirty-five pound dumbbell. Even worse, when it turns out that the dying moose sounds you hear emanating from the far corner turn out to be the Herculean cries of a one hundred and fifty pound man wearing Puma sweats and a Riptide headband, banging out his last two reps of triceps extensions. Feel that burn, you annoying S.O.B.

7. The Teen Titan – Obesity rates for youths and teens are at an all time high, which is why you see less and less fat kids getting picked on today (fat is the new skinny, or at least it would seem). So, to see any teenage kids in the gym is, in and of itself, a good thing. Problems usually arise when a group of four of five teenage boys collectively decide to dive head first into a workout regimen that would make Ronnie Coleman sleep in. Their form is all out of whack and they do their best to shove around as much weight as their barely post-pubescent bodies possibly can. All goes to hell once a 45 pound plate slides off the side of the bar during an attempt at a one rep max bench press and the other side comes crashing down onto their spleen. Even worse is when they use far too much weight on the cable crossovers and end up being violently yanked backwards like Sweetchuck in Police Academy 2.

8. The Doctor of Style – Look, we all think it's very impressive that you work at a hospital. You're clearly a very intelligent and noble person. And, depending on your particular occupation, it's likely that you probably make some serious money, too. But, is it still necessary to wear your powder blue scrubs to the gym? These people work all day long in these draw-string pants and v-neck shirts...don't they want to change out of them? They may be comfortable and they may "breathe," but that's still no excuse for wearing your work clothes in public. Do the world a favor and pick-up a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, will you please?

9. Scarface – Though he's not a cocaine drug kingpin, this guy is still to blame for leaving the weight room looking like the backroom of a bakery. Despite the fact that the signs clearly say that "Weightlifting Chalk is Not Allowed," this dusty fellow claps his hands together with pride before each set, leaving everything and everyone around him covered in a layer of white powder. Only making things worse is the industrial size weightlifting belt this guy straps around the waistband of his ultra-tight spandex shorts, essentially forcing everyone in the gym to 'say hello to his little friend.'

10. The Senator – Treating each visit to the gym like a stop on a campaign trail, these types want to talk to you and everyone else about utter and complete nonsense. They never, ever shut up. Ever. Even while you attempt to finish your last five minutes of an hour run on the treadmill, or even worse, as you labor through your last set of squats, this person will find that to be the most opportune time to ask you how your family is doing, or how your job is going, or if you know a good place to buy deck stain. Your best attempts at ignoring them or hint dropping for them to leave you alone are about as effective as using gasoline to put out a fire. Maybe these people really should run for office.

Don't believe that these people are at your gym? Try looking around the next time you go and you'll see them. All of them. But, if for some reason you have trouble identifying one of them from this list, well, I hate to break it to you, but that person might be you.

Here is some important news from the Texas Rugby Union:

The Texas Rugby Union (TRU) Women's Under-23 team will be having tryouts in Austin, TX on Jan 26th and 27th. The tryouts will be from 9am - 4pm on Saturday and from 9am - 1pm on Sunday. The tryouts will be at the University of Texas Intramural (IM) Fields (see directions below). If the fields are closed due to the weather, please meet at the fields at 9am on Saturday morning and we will relocate to an alternative field. Call me if you get lost or will be late.

The tryouts are open for EVERYONE and are FREE, so please encourage all eligible players to come. Playing on the TRU women's U-23 team is a super fun experience where you get to meet and play against some of the top players in the West. The TRU women's U-23 team won the LAU U-23 tourney last year (beating the other unions) and we hope to do it again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need housing.

Thanks,
Anna Kunkel
TRU Women's U-23 Coach
UT Head Coach

Important Notes:

* University rules PROHIBIT metal studs/cleats at the Intramural (IM) Fields (see "Attire" at link.) Plastic screw-in or rubber molded only.
* Alcohol is NOT permitted on the IM Fields at any time.
* Dogs are NOT allowed on the IM Fields at any time.
* NO glass containers of any kind are allowed.

The UT Rec Sports Staff and the UT Rugby Clubs appreciate your cooperation.

Whitaker Fields (Intramural Fields) - Located on the southeast corner of 51st and Guadalupe Streets.


Since we all know that this past week's rain caused last minute changes in some matches, I wanted to ensure we are all clear on the protocols for coordinating with match officials.

To ensure STRR resources are used in an effective manner throughout our area of responsibility, this email is being sent to clarify previously identified procedures.

Please remember that it is the Club's responsibility to coordinate with the referee no less than 3 days prior to a match to confirm location (i.e. Wednesday night for a Saturday match). For these confirmations, email is acceptable.

If there are changes less than 24 hours prior to a match (i.e. cancellations, change of venue), the Club is responsible for CALLING the referee. If you are not able to reach the referee, please ring Chris Callan, who is responsible for emergency allocations (i.e. changes on the day). In the event of a last minute cancellation, you must speak with a live person that is capable of reaching the referee.

If you do not confirm the match details with the referee by Wednesday, the official you have assigned may be removed from your match to fill other obligations.

If you do not contact a referee by telephone in the event of a cancellation, you will be dropped to a last priority when allocating referees for your home matches. Given the current shortage of referees, if you are low in allocation priority (i.e. a referee is not assigned to any of your home matches until all other commitments are filled), it is unlikely that you will receive a referee for your matches.

Ensuring every match receives a referee requires open communication.

Clubs, please verify that your match information is correct at http://strr.assignby.net.

Referees, please verify that all of your contact details are correct.

TRU Representatives, please ensure that all of your constituents understand their responsibilities as set by the TRU which pertain to coordinating with match officials.

Chris Draper
topher.draper@gmail.com

Welcome to another edition of Rugby Here & There. I have been thinking of changing the name up, or giving it an edition number...something to make it a bit spicier!

• Should Ashton drop Jonny?
  
  With Danny Cipriani in the England squad, the number 10 shirt appears to be more than a one-horse race.
  
  Jonny Wilkinson has been the undisputed bearer over the past few years (except when he was injured, obviously) and few can question his place amongst the best players of all time.
  
  But Wasps fly-half Cipriani has been grabbing the limelight recently, leading some people to conclude that Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris are actually his parents, so deep is their love for him.
  
  Brian Ashton has a big decision to make in the next couple of weeks. Is Jonny really too old at 28? Is Danny ready to step into the breach? What do you think?
  
  **Since Jonny Wilkinson is my favorite rugby player in the world I cannot possibly agree to letting him go. Sure his World Cup performance wasn't the best, but that doesn't mean he should be shunned. I believe he still has a few good years in him, I love a flyhalf that is a mean tackler!
  
  
• Save 10% at Rugby World Shop
  
  Order must be $50 or More. Coupon Code: Jan1A08. Good through 1/26/2008.
  
  
• The Reluncant Triathlete: American Gladiator
  
  This post has very little to do with rugby (she mentions it for a moment), but is hilarious! Check it out!
  
  
• 22nd Annual Mardi Gras Tournament - Galveston RFC
  Jan. 26, 2008, 9am to 4pm.
  
  HS $150
  Mens $200
  Womens $150
  
  Contact:
  David Hicks
  Rowdy42271@sbcglobal.net
  409.771.6989
  
  Otis Parker
  Pappamoose@yahoo.com
  
  
• Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will host the 32nd Ruggerfest on February 23rd and 24th, 2008
  
  Just wanted to send out the information about this years ruggerfest! We have over 40 teams coming down and there are still a couple of spots for the men and wowen club sides. DC furies, Navy, Toronto, Orlando, and Miami have already committed, so there is going to be some great rugby and some money to be won!
  
  There is also a kicking contest and the winner will get $750 and 2nd will win $250.
  
  Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will host the 32nd Ruggerfest on February 23rd and 24th 2008. We invite all interested clubs to come and join us in Fort Lauderdale for this Great rugby weekend. Here are some of the details:
  
  Where: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Tradewinds Park
  When: February 23rd and 24th, 2008
  What: Premier Division; Club/Social Division; Women's Division; Old Boys Over 35; Old Boys Over 45; and Old Boys Over 50 (Masters)
  
  Costs: Premier $450; Club/Social 375; Women's $375; Old Boys (All Divisions) $350
  
  Prizes: Premier Division $1500 Cash Prize for the Winner
  Club/Social Division $500 for the Winner
  Women's Division $500 for the Winner
  
  Other Events:
  1) Murvest Foods Kicking Competition
  2) Fort Lauderdale Rugby Foundation Golf Tournament(Friday February 22nd, 2008)
  
  Contact Information:
  Premier Division – alex@ftlrugby.com
  Club/Social – Borugby1@aol.com
  Women's – littlescoutfinch@gmail.com
  All Old Boys – alex@ftlrugby.com
  
  
• FYI - if you can pass around as a possible way for some of your top players to travel over to New Zealand .....
  
  

  				Up your Game.
  		Play high school Rugby in new zealand

It is dreary and cold in Austin today, highs in the 30s and almost sleeting. Blech. I moved to Austin for the warmth and the sunshine! I guess I can't complain too much because some people haven't seen 60 degrees in a few months. But still I moved here for the blistering heat, I love it!

Went to the doctor on Tuesday for my first check-up since surgery. The doctor was amazed that I was walking so well, had minimal swelling and had more than usual mobility. Since I have been down this road before, I know what to do. Ice, ice, ice, elevate, elevate, elevate and do your exercises. The doctor pretty much said I was a rock star and to keep it up.

At the end of the visit I got my staples removed, I have never had staples before, so I was a little nervous. The nurse pulled out the sterile package with the staple remover in it and I laughed out loud. It was just a fancy staple remover, like the one I have in my desk drawer at work! So she removed the staples (just felt like a weird twisting feeling, sent a shudder down my back!) and I was on my way.

I am released to do low-weight bearing leg press, elliptical, bike, mini-squats (no weight yet) and anything else I can do without pain (except run, jump and play rugby). Woohoo! Now I need to get back into the gym!

Yesterday I had my first physical therapy session. Again, since I have done this before the appt was pretty short as I did my quad sets, leg raises, Jane Fonda's (hip exercises), stretches and bike time. The bike this time around was a lot easier. I remember from my first surgery that I had to really work and sweat to get that first time around the pedals. This time around mobility doesn't seem to be a factor though. After the workout I got iced and compressed down and went on my way to work.

This morning I started to notice that the bruising is really starting to show up on my calf and ankle. Interestingly enough its not the usual yellow and green drainage type of bruising. My leg just looks like it is dirty (I took a shower!) and the bruising is very grey. Maybe it will keep changing colors, but this is good because it means that most of the swelling is ending! The pictures don't really show the grey bruising, but whatever. The second picture kind of shows the grey but it mostly down towards my ankle...but my calf is all grey in real life!

So all in all, I am kicking this ACL recovery/rehab in the a$$! The doctors all agree that I am making really great progress and so I look forward to the next step. The goal is 6 weeks straight line running and jogging! I could be running in a month!

U.S. Women’s Sevens Program to Host National Tryout Camp in Arkansas

BOULDER, Colo. – Women’s National Sevens Team Coach Julie McCoy has announced the pool of players selected to attend the 2008 Senior National Tryout Camp in Little Rock, Ark. on January 18-20.

Team selections for the San Diego Invitational tournament to be held February 7-8, will be made following this assembly. The USA and USA A squads are set to compete in the International Women’s portion of the event with Samoa, South Africa, Canada, Canada A and Canadian Collegiate squad the Pandas.

The player pool for the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens in March and Amsterdam Sevens in May will also be selected after this January camp, while the Women’s Developmental Sevens side will be chosen from a separate camp led by Coach Pete Steinberg during the week prior to the USA Sevens in San Diego.

Women’s Sevens athletes invited to the 2008 Tryout Camp include:

Annie Antar (Atlanta Harlequins), Stacy Bennett (NOVA), Tanya Carlson (New York), Dana Creager (NOVA), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Liz Dilley (Washington), Jenna Flateman (New York), Yancy Graf (Beantown), Tyshawn Henry (New York), Ellie Karvoski (New York), Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore), Phaidra Knight (New York), Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago North Shore), Tasha Mannino (Atlanta Harlequins), Melissa McKibben (Kansas City Jazz), Daniela Mogro (New York), Alison Price (New York), Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries), Ines Rodriguez (Keystone), Jen Starkey (NOVA), Lo Stender (Las Vegas), Lindsey Stephenson (Orlando), Donna Thomas (Kansas City Jazz), Kitt Wagner (Beantown), JoAnne Ward (Albany), Kelly White (Belmont Shore), and Heidi Whitman (Austin Valkyries).

USA Women’s Sevens staff includes: Head Coach Julie McCoy, Assistant Coach Chris Ryan, Assistant Coach Drew Fautley, Developmental Coach Peter Steinberg, staff coaches Nancy Fitz, Sheri Hunt, Laura Hertel and Erina Queen, managers Sadeana Green, Christine Franz, and Suzy Cox, and physio staff Dr. Rose Livingston and Brian Mahoney.

For more information on the Women’s National Sevens Team, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/Womens_Sevens. To learn more about the San Diego Invitational tournament, log on to www.usasevens.com.

Women’s U-20 Program Announces Elite Camp Attendees
Coaching staff seeks five additional players to complete camp roster

BOULDER, Colo. – Coach Bryn Chivers has announced the 45 athletes set to attend the U-20 Women’s National Team Elite Camp to be held February 28 – March 2 at the Cocoa Expo Center in Florida.

A majority of the players were selected for the camp either based on their participation at several regional camps throughout 2007 or through recommendations from their coaches, although 12 athletes were chosen based on their performance at the 2007 U-19 Invitational National All-Star Championship this past November.

Twenty-three of the athletes have experience playing for the USA Women’s Age Grade program at some level, with 14 members of the U-19 squad that competed in international matches against England, Wales and Canada in March 2007 scheduled to attend the assembly.

The players selected to attend the U-20 WNT Elite Camp include:

Sadie Anderson (Fort Collins, Colo.), Candace Barley (Maryville, Tenn.), BrieAnna Barto (Summit, Colo.), Lorelei Boone (Ravenwood, Tenn.), Shannon Boone (Ravenwood, Tenn.), Stacey Bridges (Texas A&M), Megan Buford (Univ. of Georgia), Lauren Danielsen (Summit, Colo.), Kayla Ellingson (BYU), Gina Fanelli (Ohio State Univ.), Mindy Foster (BYU), Jozy Gessner (Summit HS, Colo.), Katherine Glerum (Brown), Hanna Gregor (Keystone Women), Alexandria Hartley (Brown), Lisa Henneman (Seattle Women), Jay-Marie Hill (Stanford), Brittany Houston (UW-Milwaukee), Ima Isang (Oakridge, Tenn.), Mallory Ives (Colorado State), Joanna Kitlinski (Grand Valley State), Brook LeGate (Maryville, Tenn.), Erin LeGate (Maryville, Tenn.), Alisa Ly (Univ. of Minnesota), Adetayo Mafe (Michigan State), Maude Marandet (Indiana Univ.), Blaine Martin (Brown), Tyra McGrady (Indiana Univ.), Kayla Morrisoli (San Jose State), Kelsey Moss (Stanford), Maggie Reidy (Divine Savior, Wisc.), Maddie Robinson (Fort Collins, Colo.), Brittany Rose (Westchester East, Pa.), Nichole Roth (UW-Madison), Rachel Sachs (Syracuse), Seymira Salami (State College, Pa.), Rachel Sommer (Canby, Ore.), Kristen Spencer (Ball State Univ.), Marie Timm (Army), CJ Turnerdrown (Riverton, Utah), Mika Underwood (Budd Bay, Wash.), Jessica Waterfield (Bowling Green), Jessica Watkins (Stanford), Erica Wheeler (Univ. of Illinois) and Brittany Woodard (Hyde School, D.C.).

The U-20 Women’s National Team staff is still looking to add five more players to the camp and will be scouting players at the Stanford Invitational Tournament on Saturday, January 19, and at the U-20 Camp in Fullerton, Calif. on Sunday, January 20. All U-19 and college coaches are encouraged to recommend players to the U-20 WNT Program and should contact Head Coach Bryn Chivers at bryn.chivers@gmail.com for more information.

**Congratulations to Heidi Whitman from the Austin Valkyries, Melissa McKibben from the Kansas City Jazz and Stacey Bridges from the University of Texas A&M!

Yea its time for another edition of Rugby Here & There! Found some really great stuff on the web this last week when I was laid up for surgery. Back at work this week though and loving all the emails about rugby!

• I want a ‘Match of the Day’ for rugby
  from The Rugby Blog
  
  This is a worthy new campaign that merits the support of readers of The Rugby Blog, and I urge you to join.
  
  Like most of us, Ben Cook wants to see a ‘Match of the Day’ type program for rugby, and is actually doing something about it.
  
  Take a few minutes to follow the link below and sign the petition which will hopefully result in the BBC providing a ‘regular’ TV slot at a sensible hour, dedicated to showing highlights from the weekend’s rugby union across the UK.
  
  http://www.motdrugby.com
  
  If you too feel strongly about this then visit the website, sign the petition, get a t-shirt and then email every single one of your contacts on Hotmail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and BT Internet and tell them to do exactly the same as you.
  
  There is also a Facebook group with over 17,500 members, so join that too.
  
  
• Referee Development Program Updates from USA Rugby:
  
  Dear USA Rugby Member,
  
  You have received this email because you are a member of USA Rugby and an official USA Rugby referee training course is scheduled in your area! USA Rugby, in conjunction with the Southern California Rugby Referees Society will be hosting a Level 2 Officiating course in San Diego, CA February 23-24, 2008!
  
  COURSE DETAILS
  The course will be held at:
  
  * San Diego State University - 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
  * Classroom TBD
  
  Estimated start time of the course is at 8a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday with the course expected to end around 4p.m. on Sunday.
  
  In order to be eligible to take this course, participants will need to have obtained Level 1 Referee certification, and have officiated at least one season.
  
  Also, interested participants are asked to start journal/diary of all the matches you are participating in. You should include the teams, score, any conditions that may effect the match (ie: weather, poor field), then include an assessment of your abilities, what went well, what needs improvement, what changes can you make.
  
  Course cost is $75 and all interested participants should contact Mark Kottke (mkottke@mail.sdsu.edu) to register for the course.
  
  To find out more about the Level 2 Officiating course, please visit: www.usarugby.org/goto/Training_Courses
  
  Jennifer Gray
  Match Official Administrator
  USA Rugby
  
  
• The ad man's dream: Rugby and Sex
  
  It's the easiest - some would say least creative and laziest - way to draw attention. But using a sexual theme to advertise rugby - or anything, for that matter - is, not surprisingly, very popular. And, undoubtedly, very effective. But, however easy it may be, it still requires that creative spark to make a really good commercial, regardless of the vehicle you choose to communicate it.
  
  Here are some of my favourites:
  
  1. The no hand's approach
  2. The DIY approach
  3. This guy's got a one-tracked mind
  4. Rugby dominatrix
  5. You Tarzan, Me Jane
  
  I found this from one of the Rugbyfanz.com blogger and couldn't resist re-posting it. It is hilarious! Be careful, maybe you shouldn't open these videos at work!
  
  
• Surgery date for blogger friend Chasing Down Life
  
  I just had my ACL surgery and now Chasing Down Life has scheduled hers. It will be interesting to learn about her rehab and such with recovery. Good luck!
  
  
• Shout-out to Let's Talk Business
  
  Congrats for finishing your referee course! Your first game will be nerve-wracking but it only gets better! Here's to learning more about the game!

I think that's it for me today. Have a wonderful Tuesday! I might be blog about my AWESOME visit to the Doctor this morning later today... :)

I thought Goff's Annual Awards was a pretty cool idea, so I thought I would let those of you who don't have a subscription see who won. Of course to read the whole article you will have to log in, but the list is interesting enough! Congrats to all the winners.

ERugbyNews Youth Player of the Year 2007
Candace Barley, plays rugby for club Maryville in Tennessee. She is also a member of U19 squad where she plays #8 and recently played in the U19 UK tour for the US.

ERugbynews Breakout Player of the Year 2007
Blair Groefsema plays for Berkeley the current National Club D1 Champions. She is also a member of the Women's National Team and plays #8. She had just returned from the UK Tour for the Women's National Team.

PLayer of the Year 2007
Player of the Year: Kristin Zdanczewicz. Despite a cruel knee injury in England and her club not going as far as you would have expected, Zdanczewicz is, in the words of Flores, "the gold standard of open side flankers." We agree. This is the player to lead the Eagles back to glory.

Forward of the Year 2007
Jamie Burke. And the women to take on that other leadership role must be Burke, a fearsome front rower with huge talent.

Back of the Year 2007
Vanesha McGee. Very young, but also very explosive, she helped jump-start Philadelphia into a top-flight club, and remains one of America's most electric attackers.

College Player of the Year 2007
Emily Bydwell, Brown. Just an enormous influence on what has become a really strong side.

Young Player of the Year 2007
Laura Parker, Kansas City. Parker is a brilliant leader and, says USA U20 coach Bryn Chivers, she is hugely unselfish. She is an excellent leader on the field and almost an extra coach in the way she can see how the team is going and consult with the coaches. She plays in a way that makes everyone else better.

Since I have been mainly stuck in the house since surgery I really wanted to try and get out of the house this weekend. The weather was gorgeous outside and Jake was dying to get some play time...so the girl and I decided to go to the Austin Blacks tournament here in Austin on Saturday. So we packed the crutches and grabbed the pup and we were on our way!

While the car ride did make me a little sick, it was nice to have the wind blowing in my hair and my two best friends in the world out for an adventure with me. Once we got to the fields we decided to walk around first so we could say hi to everyone and Jake could get some play time. I was surprised at how mobile I was feeling and so we probably stayed for two hours.

The rugby was good as we got to see the Dallas Harlequins, Austin Huns, Shreveport and the Austin Blacks play. Meg (roommate) was reffing and so we watched her ref for a bit too. I know it sounds weird to say "we watched the ref...." but now that I am a ref, it is helpful to study other refs to pick up skills, tactics etc with dealing with players. Meg had to give her first red card today as a player elbowed another in the back...crazy! Now she has to file a report and that player will miss two other games as a result.

Other than that the afternoon was perfect as Jake got to chase his ball, we laid out a sleeping bag and had a little picnic with our capri suns and sunshine. It was beautiful! Of course I was very swollen and tired when we got home, but it was worth it!

Read below for the recap of the tournament from the Blacks list serv:

Dear all,

This past weekend the 40th Annual Austin Rugby Tournament was held at Burr Field with Dallas Harlequins taking home the honors in both divisions.

In the Social Division, Harlequins-2 defeated Huns-2, Alamo City, and Ft. Worth to take home the Championship. Ft. Worth was runners-up with a 2-1 record.

In the Premier Division both Austin Blacks and Dallas Harlequins entered the final match of the day undefeated. Austin kicked-off deep and flanker Matt Price blocked the Quins clearance kick and pounced on the ball just over the Quins goal-line for a try in the 1st minute of play. Blacks fly-half Justin "Juddy" Wootton" converted for a 7-0 lead for Austin. However, the Quins came storming back and spent the rest of the 20 min. half in the Austin end of the field, aided by repeated Austin penalties spotted from referee Mitch Damm. The Quins could seem to do no wrong as, by game end, they were awarded 12 penaltys compared to a single penalty for the Blacks.
Due to a combination of hard running by the Quins and sloppy tackling by Austin, the Quins racked up a 20-7 lead with only 10 minutes left in the game (3 trys, 1 conversion, and 1 penalty). However, Austin finally woke up and new Austin winger, Jeff "Barbarino" Gatlin, weaved through the Quins defense for a try converted by Juddy (20-14). The Quins kicked off deep and Austin maintained possession until Juddy broke free and dotted down in the left corner to bring the score to 19-20 with no time left. Juddy's conversion attempt missed by inches and the Quins preserved the win and the championship. Nevertheless, Justin "Juddy" Wootton was the unanimous choice for Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

All participants agreed that it was an excellent tournament and a perfect start for the 2008 Spring season. Thanks to the following club members for a highly successful tournament -- Mason Herring (Tournament Director), Chris Callan (STRR referees), Steve Wiley (AAHS-concessions), Gary Jones, Robert Brennes and Chris Bugge (t-shirts and beer), Mike Graham and Royce Lemoine (fields) and Matt Fry and Pete Dufrene (parking). Apologies to any others I left off this list.

Next weekend is the official start of the Spring season with home matches against the Austin Huns. The 1st XV match kicks off at 2:00 followed by the seconds at 3:30. There will also be three other matches at Burr Field, with Huns-3 vs. Midland, UT Grads vs. McAllen, and Austin Area High School vs Stony Point High School.

The 40th Anniversary of the club's founding has been set for March 1st when we host the Dallas Harlequins at Burr Field. There will be a number of special events associated with the Anniversary celebration and we invite our Old Boys to help us organize the event. In particular, we need to contact as many of our former players as possible, especially the members of the land owners group.

Alan Sharpley
President, Austin RFC

Feeling better and better everyday and craving rugby more and more. My team started practice Wednesday night and it was hard to sit on the couch at home when I knew my teammates were out there busting their arses. I can't start anything remotely active until day 10, so I will continue to rest my body.

I have been using my CPM machine to move my knee for 6-8 hours everyday and that is about the limit of my physical abilities right now. I have also thrown aside the crutches (the gf hates that!) and have started hobbling around the house. The ice machine is still my best friend though as its rumbling soothes me to sleep...read on for some good rugby tidbits, as the web is my fix right now!

• Blog Counter, Broke 50,000!
  
  Thank you for all my readers out there, we have broken the 50,000 mark! I have worked hard over the last few months to read more blogs and to comment more. In return I have found more readers and have more and more links on my sidebar. I am always looking for new rugby blogs, so email me your blog or leave it in the comments! THANKS!
  

• USA Women's 7s Team Raffle
  from Womeneagles.com
  
  1.7.08 - The USA Women's National Team is holding a fundraiser to help support the program. They will be selling raffle tickets for a trip for two to San Diego 7s, including airfare, hotel, and tickets to tournament or $1000). Each tickets is a $10 donation or you may buy three for $25. To purchase tickets e-mail USA National Team manager Sadeana Green at sgreen24@yahoo.com. The winning ticket will drawn January 20 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the National Team Try-outs. Thanks for support our national 7s team!
  
  
• IRB targets Olympic sevens breakthrough
  By Brendan Gallagher
  
  The International Rugby Board have not yet given up on getting sevens included in the Olympics but in the murky world of International Olympic Committee politics their New Year's resolution in Dublin is to start 'boxing clever' and play the voting game much more effectively and not simply rely on the 'rights' of their case. Read more here.
  
  
• Free college gear expected next month
  from Gainline.us by Kurt Oeler
  
  Applications for USA Rugby's collegiate equipment program closed this week, and some teams could receive their National Guard-branded gear as soon as February 15.
  
  'At this point the National Guard and [USA Rugby] are willing to kit out every team that has applied,' Court Jeske, director of marketing services, said in an email.
  
  'We have a 5-week turnaround time from "orders-in" until the packages are delivered. Almost every team should receive their kit between Feb 15-March 1, if they complete the application properly,' he added.
  
  As part of a multifaceted agreement, the National Guard is underwriting the cost of uniforms and training and match equipment for hundreds of collegiate teams. The November announcement marked the union's highest-profile commercial agreement since the 2005 sale of the USA 7s.
  
  
• Collegiate Quidditch takes off — figuratively, at least
  By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY
  
  MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — The broomsticks they hold between their legs can't help them fly. The Snitch is not a winged golden ball but a young man who sprints across the field at lightning speed. And at times, the game looks like the mongrel offspring of rugby, dodge ball and soccer. But somehow it all works.
  
  The first intercollegiate Quidditch match was held here this month, and though this version of the game is earthbound, it's taking off. Originally played by wizards darting about on broomsticks in the Harry Potter novels, the game is now taking root on college campuses.
  
  "We were all Harry Potter's age when the books started," says Sam Libby, 20, a Middlebury College junior geography major from Richmond, Vt. "And Quidditch is one of the most creative things that came out of the books. We were able to create that here, follow all the rules, except the ability to fly. It just caught on."
  
  Quidditch surfaced at Middlebury two falls ago when a handful of students gathered to play a rudimentary form of the game on Sunday afternoons, making up rules extrapolated from the books.
  
  By this month's Intercollegiate Quidditch World Cup Fall Festival, there were banners, team processions worthy of Olympic opening ceremonies, halftime entertainment and 12 seven-person coed Middlebury teams vying for the chance to play the visiting team from Vassar College. Read more here.