Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

via digg.com and Metro.co.uk

Student Punished for Wearing Full Pirate Garb

A student has been suspended from school in America for coming to class dressed as a pirate.

But the disciplinary action has provoked controversy – because the student says that the ban violates his rights, as the pirate costume is part of his religion.

Bryan Killian says that he follows the Pastafarian religion, and that as a crucial part of his faith, he must wear 'full pirate regalia' as prescribed in the holy texts of Pastafarianism.

The school, however, say that his pirate garb was disruptive.

Pastafarians follow the Flying Spaghetti Monster (pictured), and believe that the world was created by the touch of his noodly appendage. Furthermore, they acknowledge pirates as being 'absolute divine beings', and stress that the worldwide decline in the number of pirates has directly led to global warming.

Pastafarianism gained wide attention when its key prophet, Bobby Henderson, wrote to the Kansas School Board during the height of the controversy over 'Intelligent Design' being taught in science classes. His letter, also published on his website, demanded equal time be given to the teachings of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as was given to ID and evolutionary theory.

Since then, the Flying Spaghetti Monster has gained countless followers worldwide, although there are those who remain spagnostic.

The school, in North Buncombe, North Carolina, remains adamant that their decision to suspend Killian for a day has nothing to do with his religion, and quite a lot to do with his repeated refusal to heed warnings against wearing pirate outfits.

Western Collegiates will be held this weekend in Greeley, CO this weekend to determine which team from the West will continue on to Sweet 16's.

The tournament website is here.

Seedings:
1. Airforce
2. New Mexico
3. Colorado
4. Texas A&M
5. Wyoming
6. Wayne State
7. Colorado State
8. Truman State

Good luck this weekend ladies!

Big Weekend for Rugby! Looking at the Online Rugby Calendar there were tons of games this weekend:

Foolsfest Tournament
Austin Valkyries vs. Black Ice *Black Ice won 19-5
Austin Valkyries vs. Boulder Babes * Austin Valkyries won 20-0
Belmont vs. Scottsdale
Brandywine vs. NY Village Lions
Chicago vs. St Louis
DC Furies vs. Raleigh *Furies defeated Raleigh
DC Furies B vs. Norfolk *Norfolk defeated the Bside
Detroit vs. MSU
E. Kentucky vs. WKU
Georgia Tech vs. COFC
Glendale vs. Atomic Sisters & Scottsdale
MARFU Developmental Round Robin
Morris vs. Harrisburg
NOVA vs. Keystone
NOVA B vs. Chesapeake
NOVA C vs. Chasapeake B
PSU vs. Maryland *Maryland defeated Philly
Providence vs. Chicago Northshore
Riverside Rattlers vs. Las Vegas
Santa Monica vs. Tucson
Suffolk Bullmoose vs. Fordam, Stony Brook & Fairfield

Some of the news in my inbox is below:

• U.S. National Women’s Sevens Team Wins Plate in Hong Kong
  
  HONG KONG – The U.S. National Women’s Sevens Team went 4-1 during its two days of competition at the 10th Cable & Wireless Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens Tournament, winning the plate final against China, 22-5.
  "Overall, our team showed more poise, discipline and focus then ever before,” U.S. Sevens Head Coach Julie McCoy. “It is our goal to continue developing our game of sevens in the ‘American Style’.”
  The U.S. Women outscored their opponents 94-29 after everything was said and done, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Australian Women, who ended up playing New Zealand for the Cup Championship later that evening. (rest of the article via USA Rugby.org)
  
  
• USA Women’s U-19 Team Lose Heart breaker to Wales U-19’s
  
  RUMNEY, Wales -- A last second penalty kick by Wales resulted in the National Women’s Under-19 Team losing their second game of their U.K. tour by only one point, 15-14. (rest of the article via USA Rugby.org)
  
  
• USA Women's U-19 Team Lose for the 3rd Time Against Canada
  
  The USA U19 women's team dropped the third game in their three-game tour of the UK, 32-5 to Canada. (article via Goff *subscription required)
  
  
• USA U-19 Team Blog (FREE articles, pictures and a cute video of their rookie skit...)
  

• Austin Valkyries Open West Season 1-1, end on high note...
  
  AUSTIN, TX -- The Austin Valkyries women's rugby club opened their 2007 West Division I season with one win and one loss this weekend at Burr Field. The team, while a bit battered, ended on a high note and plans to take that motivation into their challenge match April 21 v. Belmont Shore.
  Saturday's match versus the Denver Black Ice proved too tough a challenge for the Valks who, despite scoring first, fell 19-5 to the visiting Ice. Simple errors held the Valkyries back from adding more points although the action was balanced for much of the game. Effort and desire were not lacking from the home team, rather the timing & continuity usually associated with an Austin attack was just not quite clicking. Rucks were won and scrums were spun, but the scoreboard was not our friend at the final whistle.
  Sunday dawned a new day and the Valks were bent on revenge. Despite the aches & pains of playing the day before, and without the services of all-everything Meg Pace (knee), the Valkyries pulled together and put on a display of teamwork, snot-nosed tackling, and a 1-15 attack to decisively shut out the Boulder Babes 20-0. Traci Schmitdke kept up her scoring spree from Nash Bash with two tries on the day, first off a gorgeous line out combo with Rachel Kraft and then by adding the insurance try off a back line break by Rosalind Chou.
  The nail in the coffin, however, was a devastating 75-meter breakaway run by our rookie wing Latoya Walker. Luckily coach Heidi Whitman could keep up with Latoya along the sideline to instruct her where, when & how to touch the ball down for the score. Scrumhalf Wendy Young converted a 22-meter penalty kick in the second half to complete the scoring.
  Looking ahead, the Valks are off the next 2 weekends (with a possible scrimmage April 14) but then face a revamped Belmont Shore squad on the 21st. Thanks to all the fans & old girls who supported us this weekend, we hope to see you then!
  
  
• BYU downs New Mexico State 24-12 on March 31, 2007.
  
  The BYU women's rugby team defeated New Mexico 24-12 Friday.
  The two teams battled close for most of the game, and in fact the contest was tied up 7-7 at halftime. (via Goff *subscription required)
  
  
• Navy, Penn State Women Win
  
  It will be a Penn State v. Navy final in the Mid-Atlantic women's DI college playoffs as PSU hammered West Chester 51-17 and Navy downed Virginia 17-0.
  "It was actually a very difficult first half for us," said Penn State head coach Pete Steinberg. "We were into the wind and the penalty count was something like 14-2 against us. Sometimes when we don't blow teams away early some of our players have a tendency to lose it a little." (via Goff *subscription required)
  
  
• Northern Iowa Downs Minn. U23s
  
  The University of Northern Iowa women's team started their spring season this past weekend with a victory over the Minnesota U23s in St. Cloud.
  UNI scrimmaged with the Twin Cities Amazons women's team on the trip, which head coach Steve Murra said went very well. then they took on the MRFU U23s and got tries from Chelsey Iverson, Rochelle Walter, Amy Conrad, Kayla Soliday, and Ashley Mulford in the 31-17 victory. (via Goff *subscription required)
  
  
• Check out the Hong Kong Diaries...they have been updated.
  

Hillary invades Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/hillaryclinton2008

Austin Valkyries vs. Black Ice 5-18
Austin Valkyries vs. Boulder Babes 20-0

More later!

U19 updates can be found on the U19 Girls Rugby Blog. As their author pointed out, there is no subscription fee like goffon rugby.

The blog has lots of pictures and is updated often.

Check it out here: U19 Girls Rugby

A few other bloggers have posted that two eagles from Hong Kong are blogging about their experiences. http://www.womeneagles.com has been down until today, so hopefully they got that problem fixed!

Amy Daniels and Yancy Graf are the bloggers, check it out...they are up to 5 entries already!

My favorite part of the blog has been the cd that Jen Starkey made for the other players. Does it make me too much of a dork if I downloaded all the songs and put them on my own mp3 player? Its not secret that I would DIE to be a 7's eagle...

Here's the list of songs...

1. Kick Some Ass, Stroke 9
2. Show Me What You Got, Jay Z
3. TKO, Le Tigre
4. Du Hast, Rammstein
5. Here, HelloGoodbye
6. Scotty Dusn't Know, Lustra
7. Maneater, Nelly Furtado
8. Let's Go Crazy, Prince
9. Oh Sherrie, Steve Perry
10. Fortress around Your Heart, Sting
11. Her it Goes Again, OK GO
12. Sweetness, Jimmy Eat World
13. Pool Party, The Aquabats
14. Cupid's Chokehold, Gym Class Heros
15. Dance Floor, Arctic Monkeys
16. Yeah!, Usher
17. The Sweet Escape, Gwen Stefani
18. Face Down, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
19. Fat Lip, Sum 41
20. You're a Champion, 2 Skinnee Js

Day 1 - US Schedule

The US is in Pool C with Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
March 29, 10:10am - US vs Thailand
March 29, 11:30am - US vs Papua New Guinea

If they win either match, the US will go on to play another match that afternoon.

I still can't find that little piece of paper that I scrawled all the scores down on...so I have been searching for some results and I finally pieced together who won.

Check it out...if you have any other scores I'd love to know...

College Social Division
USF defeated Miami of Ohio (*met these girls in the hallway at the tournament hotel...young team and lots of fun!)

College Competitive
Indiana U over two-time defending champ UConn

Womens Club
Nova repeated as Champs defeating Chicago North Shore

This was the 26th Annual Nash Bash, and featured 78 teams playing on seven pitches over two days.

Feeling a little under the weather today, planning a post about that a little later on...but here are some things crowding my inbox this morning.

• Alamo City Myspace Page - I will be adding you to http://playrugby.shorturl.com later on today! Thanks for find me! (Love the image they are using for their background...muddy rugby!)
  
  
• Save the Bride! - An Oreganian Rugger (her words, not mine!) studying abroad in Denmark is trying to raise enough money to attend Maggotfest this year. Check out her email below:
  
  Hi!
  
  I'm an Oregonian rugger studying in Denmark who is fundraising for a trip to Maggotfest (in Missoula, Montana - see my page for the link to the team!) in a month!! I was wondering if you'd add me as the more exposure I get, the better chance ruggers will donate to my "cause"! I"m legit, check me out!
  
  There are two videos on the page documenting the Bride's struggle to get to Maggotfest! In the most recent video the Bride sings a well recognized rugby song! Sadly her singing skills are painful, but then again, that's why we sing in GROUPS at drink ups!
  
  Cheers and Beers, Nicolle (aka The Bride)
  
  
• Save the Bride! Videos

37 emails when I returned from Nash Bash this morning...mostly about rugby. I love that rugby crowds my inbox pushing the spam and forwards from old friends to the trash.

• First off a quick recap from our coaches about Nash Bash (I will write my version a little later in the week):
  
  For all Valks & Valk-lovers:
  
  The Austin Valkyries went 2-1 this weekend at NashBash, ending with two consecutive dominating victories to build some great momentum going into our first weekend of West Div I matches (see below). Our toughest match of the day came first, of course, at 10am Saturday v. the two-time defending Div II champion Raleigh Venom. We had some moments of brilliance but a few too many miscues and the Venom prevailed 19-0. However, their points came off simple errors, penalties & a freak kick-interception so we kept our heads high.
  
  In game two we faced Glendale (formerly the HOGS) who had picked up about 12 whores -- suffice to say we crushed them. The final score was Austin 18 Glendale 7...I know Ros scored once and Wendy had 2 lovely penalty kicks. Ros also got called names by her opposite -- that's how tough our defense was. :)
  
  On Sunday we faced Memphis, a scrappy but less skilled team. While Memphis earned one try, the Valkyries scored 3 gorgeous ones: a long series of phases ending with, no joke, a 1-14 switch on the wing between Traci & Rocky, a beautiful catch & counterattack by Shalay from about 30 meters out, and another gorgeous passing attack featuring 'Meg the Prop' stepping into 10 and ending with Shay scoring on the wing. This game ended early as the Memphis ladies kept dropping like flies in the heat...final score was Austin 15 Memphis 5.
  
  Lastly, what you're all waiting to hear about, we once again kicked butt at the party with our steers & queers theme! Highlights included: Burns' blue bonnet/walrus tusk headgear, Wendy & her dam bells, Bags' bevo head/hat, Rocky's rollerskates, Tiff's cowprint skirt, Kitty's uhaul, Traci's hot-glued horns, Krafty's seat belt dancing and, of course, our Head Rancher Meg, complete with lasso.
  
  SO, come watch your feisty & festive Valkyries this weekend in our West Div I debut doubleheader:
  
  Sat, March 31 @ Noon v. Denver Black Ice
  Sun, April 1 @ 11am v. Boulder Babes.
  
  Both games at Burr Field, steers & queers welcome. -- Your Coaches
  
  
• Scores from the weekend:
  Wyoming defeats CO State Univ for ERRFU 3 seed. A lot of upsets this year in the collegiate brackets!
  As soon as scores from Nash Bash are posted I will post them. I lost my little paper that I wrote most of the scores down on...crap!
  

• Vassar in the Bahamas for Spring Break! I am WAYYYYY jealous! Talk about a spring break tour in heaven....click here for the full article.
  
  
• History Made as Portugal Qualifies for RWC 2007...via Goff (free on website)
  
  "Portugal’s remarkable Rugby World Cup 2007 qualification campaign has ended in joy as the Lobos hung on to complete a 24-23 aggregate victory over Uruguay in Montevideo to book a place at the finals for the first time. "
  
  
• U19 Eagles lose tough match to England 31-7...via Goff (subscription required for this article.)
  
  
• Hong Kong pools set for Eagle 7's:
  
  Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D
  A1 New Zealand B1 Australia . C1 USA . D1 China .
  A2 Hong Kong . B2 Kazakhstan . C2 Thailand . D2 Singapore .
  A3 Canada . B3 Arabian Gulf C3 PNG . D3 Japan .
  
  GAME TIME POOL TEAM VS TEAM
  1 09:30 A New Zealand VS Hong Kong
  2 09:50 B Australia Kazakhstan
  3 10:10 C USA Thailand
  4 10:30 D China Singapore
  5 10:50 A New Zealand Canada
  6 11:10 B Australia Arabian Gulf
  7 11:30 C USA Papua New Guinea
  8 11:50 D China Japan
  9 12:10 A Hong Kong Canada
  10 14:00 B Kazakhstan VS Arabian Gulf
  11 14:20 C Thailand Papua New Guinea
  12 14:40 D Singapore Japan
  
  13 15:00 Plate/Cup 1st Pool B 2nd Pool C
  14 15:20 Plate/Cup 1st Pool C 2nd Pool B
  15 15:40 Plate/Cup 1st Pool A 2nd Pool D
  16 16:00 Plate/Cup 1st Pool D 2nd Pool A
  
  DAY TWO: Friday, 30th March 2007, So Kon Po Recreation Ground, Causeway Bay
  17 9:30 9th - 12th 3rd Pool A 3rd Pool D
  18 9:50 9th - 12th 3rd Pool B 3rd Pool C
  19 10:10 6th /Bowl Loser Game 13 Loser Game 14
  20 10:30 6th /Bowl Loser Game 15 Loser Game 16
  21 10:50 11th / 12th Loser Game 17 Loser Game 18
  22 11:10 9th / 10th Winner Game 17 Winner Game 18
  23 11:30 7th / 8th Loser Game 19 Loser Game 20
  24 11:50 Plate/Cup Winner Game 13 Winner Game 14
  25 12:15 Plate/Cup Winner Game 15 Winner Game 16
  
  26 14:05 Bowl Final Winner Game 19 Winner Game 20
  27 14:30 Plate Final Loser Game 24 Loser Game 25
  28 18:42 Cup Final Winner Game 24* Winner Game 25
  
  
• Girgio Armani created the off-field outfits for the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby Team. Check out this photo!
  
  "...Of the design, FWD says "a soft tailored two-button jacket in a subtle pinstripe in the team's cardinal red and myrtle green on-field jersey colors. It's worn with tan flat-front trousers and white shirts featuring the player's initials in light gray." I'll admit it's weird to think of Armani and the rough world of rugby, but it works beautifully."
  
  
• USA Rugby and Goffon Rugby both redesigned their websites. They are both a TON easier to navigate and give equal coverage to women's and men's rugby. I like the makeovers a lot... :)
  
  
• Interesting article on How the Black Ferns won WRWC 2006. Check it out here.
  Upon further clicking around on the site, I noticed that the aforementioned link doesn't actually point to the article. I have emailed the web master and am waiting to get the correct link. I'll keep you posted.
  
  
• The consequences of under age ruggering...a sad story we can all learn something from. Click here & here. Looks like a few St. Patrick's Day Parties were spoiled by under-age drinking and general hard partying.