Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

I am a strong believer in hydration. As I prepare for the Valkyries challenge match against Belmont Shore this weekend...this point of importance has become forefront in my mind.

I played at the University of Oklahoma for five years, a hot, dry...and HOT climate you might say. Especially during the summer months, the AC was always blowing! I have always loved drinking water (yes straight from the tap!) and never had a problem hydrating before games.

So when I moved to Austin, TX last July I thought I was good to go! HA, my first game I started overheating and remember seeing three of my flyhalf. I just threw to the middle one...haha. So I had to revamp my strategy a bit for the even hotter and dry Austin heat. I just realized that some of my readers are probably cursing me right now as they still have snow, sleet and general crappy cold weather! Sorry! Austin has been in the 80's for weeks now...already packed all the winter gear up!

Anyways, so I was thinking of my hydration strategy...and wondered if other players have their strategies or just try to remember to drink water. I know some of you are probably thinking...strategy? Is she nuts? Maybe I am, but now I don't overheat when its over a hundred degrees outside!

Basically if I know I have a game on Saturday or a tournament, I start drinking more and more water starting Wednesday. I would say on a normal week, and a normal day I drink 6-8bottles (I re-use my Vitamin Water bottles...they are 20 fl oz) easily. Yesterday I kept a tally and I drank 8 of these bottles at work and at least 3 while at home last night. Today I have drank 8 bottles already and plan to drink more before practice and before bed.

My strategy for Friday is to drink as much water as I can...my pee should be clear and copious (thanks Mark!). Fridays I usually move to a nalgene bottle too, as I get tired of filling up the smaller bottles. Friday night I usually start drinking a bit of Gatorade because by Friday I am so tired of water I have to change it up to keep the hydration going.

Saturday varies if the match is in the morning or the afternoon. But basically I keep drinking until I am almost sick of drinking...and I haven't had a problem yet!

Does anyone else obsess about hydration like I do? Do you have a strategy? Or do you just drink tons of water the night before your match? Do you drink water, sports drinks or anything else?

Please check this out...AMAZING!

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=?view=XXX_09NNN/

Here is a small sampling...

Ben Franklin, 2007
8.5 feet wide by 10.5 feet tall in three horizontal panels

Depicts 125,000 one-hundred dollar bills ($12.5 million), the amount our government spends every hour on the war in Iraq.

WRU Women DI Schedule

24 March St. Louis Sabres 24-14 Boulder Babes
31 March Austin Valkyries 5-18 Black Ice Austin

1 April Austin Valkyries 20-0 Boulder Babes
14 April Glendale Olde Girls 39-0 Boulder Babes
21 April St. Louis Sabres Kansas City Jazz

5 May Black Ice Glendale Olde Girls
5 May Kansas City Jazz Austin Valkyries
12 May Black Ice St. Louis Sabres

22 Sept Black Ice Kansas City Jazz
22 Sept Glendale Olde Girls Austin Valkyries
22 Sept Boulder Babes Kansas City Jazz

6 Oct Kansas City Jazz Glendale Olde Girls
6 Oct St. Louis Sabres Austin Valkyries

13 Oct Black Ice Boulder Babes
13 Oct Glendale Olde Girls St. Louis Sabres

The standings are updated by .PDF usually the Tuesday after the matches take place. Check out the link here.

Wow, its been beautiful the last couple of days! Spent the weekend working/promoting Fight Nite for my gym. The event was a sucess in that we sold over 500 tickets and had 10 LIVE fights for everyone to watch. The event was held at the Nutty Brown Cafe and was AWESOME! As soon as I get some pics I will post them.

Then yesterday was an even better day. Woke up to sunshine (even though the TV said it was 55 degrees outside) and a beautiful day! I would say it rounded out at about 80 degrees...and not a cloud in the sky. Spent most of the day outside, visited the dog park at Auditorium Shores, had snow cones and then took a nap on the futon. Was a glorious, glorious day!

RUGBY RUGBY RUGBY - THIS JUST IN...

7's Tournaments are shaping up all over the nation...there is a push to have more women's tournaments, so check out your local tournaments and email me! I will post them with pictures, flyers or whatever info you give me. Here are a few I have heard about:

• Dallas 7's (date is not set yet...June 2nd or June 9th)
  
  
• Corpus Christi 7's (I already blogged about this, but will do it again...)
  7s By The Sea
  Newport Pass (Corpus Christi), TX
  Sat. July 28, 2007
  Men's and Women's Beach Rugby on the Texas Gulf Coast.
  Barefoot, on the sand, free beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  For More Information
  www.corpuschristirugby.org
  Randall Stuart, Tournament Director/Club Secretary
  361-443-9683
  restuart@hotmail.com
  
  www.myspace.com/ccrfc
  www.myspace.com/randystuart
  
  
• 40th annual Sneath Cup 7s in Denver - Saturday July 7, 2007.
  We would like to have your club play in the Sneath Cup 7s. As you may know we are hosting one of the three Mens WRFU 7s Super Regional Qualifiers, Mens Social & Womens Club Brackets, Youth Division. Saturday July 7, 2007.
  
  So far Aspen, Dallas Fort Worth Elite, Kansas City Blues, Olympic Club (San Fran), Queen City, Santa Fe, The South RFU and the Barbos 2 competitive sides have expressed interest in attending.
  
  Last year we had Dallas Elite, Kansas City United, O Club, Sante Fe, Shreveport and ourselves as well as some local clubs in the tourney. The Qualifier bracket is a small (8 to 12 teams) but competitive event, 5 weeks before the National Club 7s.
  
  Two years ago we had a Women's bracket. We were not able to attract a Women's group last year but would like to again.
  
  Pitch size – 2 dedicated rugby fields with full dimensions and Goal posts
  
  Howard Kent (303) 620-9913 C nhil@earthlink.net
  Manager/Asst. Coach Denver Barbarians RFC 7s
  
  For travel contact Travel Corp, Jim Bob Glabman 303 595-0007 or 800
  222-9229
  
  
• Cape Cod 7's (LOVE THIS TOURNAMENT!!!) - July 28, 2007
  
  This year's theme is: Super heroes and villains! Start putting your costumes together and brainstorming your skit ideas!
  
  
  Congratulations to the Northeast Senior 7's and the Olde Girls for winning the competitive and social divisions in last year's tournament!
  
  In order to help improve our tournament for next year, please click here to take our survey. Thank you in advance for your input.
  
  Any questions or comments about the Cape Cod 7s Tournament, please contact Jenn Jones.
  
  
• 10th Annual Bloodfest 7s Westerns Super Regional Qualifier - 23 June 2007
  Zilker Park, Austin, TX
  
  GOT BLOOD?
  GIVE IT!
  Tournament promotes the Central Texas Blood & Tissue Center
  
  Entry Costs: (Pay now to play later)
  Super Qualifier Division $225 ($300 after 6/15/2007)
  Open and Social Division $175 ($225 after 6/15/2007)
  Women's Division $150 ($200 after 6/15/2007)
  
  More information: Huns Rugby Website
  
  
• Columbia Olde Grey has dedicated ourselves to building the “Premier” Women’s 7’s Tournament of the South East. Time and time again we have seen women’s team get the shaft at both 15’s and 7’s tournaments. In the South East you are usually lucky to see 4 or 5 women’s teams show up.
  
  We are trying to get a minimum of 16 women’s teams to commit to coming to Columbia, SC for our Lucky 7’s Tournament. If your team is going to travel to one tournament this summer, please make it this one.
  
  There will be multiple trophies for each division and we are dropping several thousand dollars on the Casino Party (See Below.)
  
  Lucky 7’s Rugby Tournament
  What: July 14th and 15th, Columbia Olde Grey Rugby will be hosting the “Lucky 7’s Rugby Tournament.” The Tournament will consist of 4 divisions.
  1. Men’s Divisions 2. Women’s Division 3. U-19 Boys Division 4. U-19 Women’s Division
  
  I promise you this will be the best 7’s tournament of the summer. The number of teams is limited, so contact us early if you want to guarantee a slot.
  Contact Info: oldgreyrugby@yahoo.com
  
  Where: Owen’s Fields, Columbia, SC
  When: July 14th and July 15th
  Cost: Men’s and Women’s Divisions
  $150 if paid before
  July 1st $250 if paid after July 1st
  Boy and Girls Under 19 Divisions
  $100 if paid before July 1st.
  $150 if paid before July 1st.

Feel free to submit your 7's tournament, just shoot me an email or leave it in the comments.

In other Rugby news...

• Division I Women's College Playoffs Pools A&D
  
  
  University of Florida is hosting (their website offered nothing for information...)
  
  USA Rugby has some info posted here.
  
  
• Division I Women's College Playoffs Pools B & C
  
  Penn State University if hosting (their website has some info, but points you here.)
  
  
• Iowa State's Women's Rugby Club headed to nationals for first time
  
  AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State Women's Rugby club is teeming with confidence as it prepares to travel to Sanford, Fla., to take part in the USA Rugby Women's Collegiate National Championships April 21-22.
  
  "We have beaten some amazing teams," said Julie Freese, president of the club. "We have so much talent on this year's team, there is no doubt in my mind that if we work hard and give everything we have on the pitch that we will be national champions."
  Click here for the rest of the article.
  
  
• AGGIE DONATION - Texas A&M is headed to Sweet 16s on April 21st and 22nd. They NEED your help!!! Please contact Traci Schmidtke if you are willing to donate. This is the first time a Texas team has attended and its very exciting! Below is a letter that was sent out asking for donations:
  

  Parents and Alumni,
  
  Some of you have already received this, but I wanted to make sure it got to everyone who might want to help out. Our upcoming trip to Florida for the USA Rugby National Sweet Sixteen tournament is going to cost the team approximately $8,000. Should we qualify for the Final Four, the cost will be even higher.
  
  The players have worked extremely hard over the past few years to get to this point, their first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. They need all the financial help they can get in order to continue down the road to a National Championship.
  
  I know you have all helped many times in the past, but we're asking for your assistance again. The following is a link to paypal that will allow you to donate to the women's travel fund. You can pay with a credit card or debit card. If you prefer, you can mail a check, made payable to TAMU WRFC, to Amy Burkhalter at 2404 Jaguar Ct. , Bryan, TX 77807. Please let her know if you would like a receipt.

7s By The Sea
Newport Pass (Corpus Christi), TX
Sat. July 28, 2007
Men's and Women's Beach Rugby on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Barefoot, on the sand, free beer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For More Information
www.corpuschristirugby.org
Randall Stuart, Tournament Director/Club Secretary
361-443-9683
restuart@hotmail.com

www.myspace.com/ccrfc
www.myspace.com/randystuart

Please go rent the movie Bobby...the movie is inspiring, heroic and amazing. The world does need a social cleansing and it can start with politics. We don't have to work against the system. War is not the answer.

I know this post is all over the place, but I just feel like there still is hope, honor and integrity in this world. We just need the right person in charge to help lead us there...not force us to believe as they do.

The special features on the video are awesome as well, this film was directed and written by Emilio Estevez who has dedicated half of his life to Bobby and making this film.

Here are a few videos I found on You tube...some of the videos have had the embedding removed, not sure why.

Whew, feeling a little less pressure today as all I have to do is payroll and then we are playing poker at the House of WAM tonight. Hells yeah! So just a few myspace messages, blogs and a few emails this morning...

• U-19 Women's Rugby Blog
  Awesome video! Check it out...
  
  
  
  

• Columbia Olde Grey has dedicated ourselves to building the “Premier” Women’s 7’s Tournament of the South East. Time and time again we have seen women’s team get the shaft at both 15’s and 7’s tournaments. In the South East you are usually lucky to see 4 or 5 women’s teams show up.
  
  We are trying to get a minimum of 16 women’s teams to commit to coming to Columbia, SC for our Lucky 7’s Tournament. If your team is going to travel to one tournament this summer, please make it this one.
  
  There will be multiple trophies for each division and we are dropping several thousand dollars on the Casino Party (See Below.)
  
  Lucky 7’s Rugby Tournament
  What: July 14th and 15th, Columbia Olde Grey Rugby will be hosting the “Lucky 7’s Rugby Tournament.” The Tournament will consist of 4 divisions.
  1. Men’s Divisions 2. Women’s Division 3. U-19 Boys Division 4. U-19 Women’s Division
  
  I promise you this will be the best 7’s tournament of the summer. The number of teams is limited, so contact us early if you want to guarantee a slot.
  Contact Info: oldgreyrugby@yahoo.com
  
  Where: Owen’s Fields, Columbia, SC
  When: July 14th and July 15th
  Cost: Men’s and Women’s Divisions
  $150 if paid before
  July 1st $250 if paid after July 1st
  Boy and Girls Under 19 Divisions
  $100 if paid before July 1st.
  $150 if paid before July 1st.
  
  
• Knoxville Minx T-shirts are here!
  KWRFC team shirts are in!! If you would like to jump on our fashion band-wagon, post the size you want on our forum (look for T-shirts section under Practice & Match Info): http://www.knoxvillewomensrugby.com/forum
  Cost is $15. Red shirt with KNOXVILLE WOMEN'S RUGBY across the front in white. Make cheques out to Smoky Mtn Women's Rugby (don't ask).
  
  
• Save the Bride Update...over 1,000 views!!!
  That many people care about the Bride! And with the new video, the Bride's popularity is sure to soar even more! (videos appear to be down...)
  
  Well it's been a great run so far (haha, run, get it?) and the Bride is SO friggin impressed with the amount of support, both financially and personally she has received! Ruggers from all over the US (and elsewhere!) have wished her luck and some have even offered to meet her personally at the Fest! Let's hope she can make it there!
  
  There are only ten days left, as money that is put into paypal has a 5 day transfer period to the Bride's bank account. Then a ticket must be bought last minute (no really, this is really last minute stuff, we're talking DAY BEFORE THE F'N TRIP)... It will be VERY close, but it won't be close at all if the Bride doesn't get more donations! It will have to be a Maggotfest Miracle to make it!
  
  It's going to be a quick ten days! Keep up the hard work out there my Bride supporters! Send the Bride's cause on to anyone you know that hasn't heard of the Bride! Just copy the press release and send it on! Don't forget about Team Donations.
  
  Come on, you are all fundraisers out there, I know you have it in you to do some side fundraising for the Bride! I have done what I can from this end! The Bride now has only to trust in the rugby spirit! Cheers and Beers to you all! Let the next 10 days be filled with Donations!
  
  
• University of Maine vs. Boston University
  The University of Maine women's rugby team got out their shovels in order to make room for Boston University this past Saturday. After moving the snow out of the way, the Black Bears made quick work of the Terriers, dispatching them 55-10.
  
  The game was never in doubt as the Black Bears dominated the game both physically and mentally for the entire game.
  
  "We came out and executed our game plan," said senior Becky Woods. "This is exactly the type of game we needed for our confidence."
  
  
• Olde Girles of Glendale WRFC...welcome to Myspace!
  I will try and add you my website directory at http://playrugby.shorturl.com today sometime or in the next few days.
  
  
• USA Rugby Looking for Venues to Host Coaching Development Programs
  (via Goff) BOULDER, Colo. -- USA Rugby is currently accepting applications to host its Coach Development Program (CDP) Workshops this summer and fall. USA Rugby encourages any club, organization, TU or LAU to apply.
  
  Applications are due no later than May 15 for summer, and July 15 for fall, and will be reviewed on a variety of criteria including how early the applications are submitted.
  
  
• Speaking of Goff, he released his Top 20 for D1 clubs...and I clicked on the link expecting Men's and Women's rankings...but of course there was only men's. When are we going to get equal coverage?
  

My inbox is taking over...have to get some of it blogged!

• Ruggers.com is the exclusive on-line store for the US Eagles. Check out some of their new products! I would totally buy the fitted cap, but they only carry large and x-large versions right now...I am cursed with a small head!
  
  
• AGGIE DONATION - Texas A&M is headed to Sweet 16s on April 21st and 22nd. They NEED your help!!! Please contact Traci Schmidtke if you are willing to donate. This is the first time a Texas team has attended and its very exciting! Below is a letter that was sent out asking for donations:
  
  

  Parents and Alumni,
  
  Some of you have already received this, but I wanted to make sure it got to everyone who might want to help out. Our upcoming trip to Florida for the USA Rugby National Sweet Sixteen tournament is going to cost the team approximately $8,000. Should we qualify for the Final Four, the cost will be even higher.
  
  The players have worked extremely hard over the past few years to get to this point, their first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. They need all the financial help they can get in order to continue down the road to a National Championship.
  
  I know you have all helped many times in the past, but we're asking for your assistance again. The following is a link to paypal that will allow you to donate to the women's travel fund. You can pay with a credit card or debit card. If you prefer, you can mail a check, made payable to TAMU WRFC, to Amy Burkhalter at 2404 Jaguar Ct. , Bryan, TX 77807. Please let her know if you would like a receipt.

• Yale defeats Vassar 24-17
  NEW HAVEN, CT (April 7, 2007) -- Well, they do say that pride comes before a fall and Vassar was elevated to a number 7 position in the national rankings this week. But the Brewers may have been guilty of looking past Yale, a team they had defeated 38-24 in the Fall Northeast playoffs. The Ivy Leaguers had an effective game plan and they pushed and bullied Vassar around earning a good win.
  
  Vassar College Women 17 v Yale University Women 24
  Tries: Danika Oriol-Morway (2), Bridget Meade (1).
  Cons: Alex Milne (1).
  Click here for the rest of the article.
  
  
• University of New Hampshire Rugby
  The boxy, digital, red letters read 5:45 a.m. and the alarm is blaring. Emily Moffett, a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, rolls over and extends her long, slender legs down from her top bunk. Finally, after a short jump she lands on the floor and meets the eyes of her roommate Kristina.
  
  Kristina Marttinen, also a sophomore at UNH, is up and moving. She reaches for the floor and pulls her spandex shorts over her toned body. She brushes her hair and pulls it into a ponytail. There's no time for make up; it'll have to wait until after practice.
  Click here for the rest of the article.
  
  
• University of Alaska Anchorage Begins FIRST Women's Rugby Team
  Popp's passion for rugby did not end when she left Rutgers University. But, unlike New Jersey, Alaska did not have a women's rugby league. Popp spent a season playing for the Spenard Green Dragons, one of the local Anchorage area men's rugby clubs. Through the Green Dragons, Popp found many contacts that have helped her establish a women's team.
  Click here for the rest of the article.
  
  
• Wharton Wilde beasts Play First Game of Season
  Despite a broken down bus, a pitch covered in broken glass, and - oh yeah, the fact that only one person on the team had ever played the game before - Wharton's women's rugby team, affectionately known as the Wildebeests, successfully kicked off their season last Saturday at a tournament with Columbia.
  
  The women convened, half-asleep, at 7:55 Saturday morning, heeding stern warnings from the men of the Wharthogs that the bus would be leaving at 8am sharp.
  Click here for the rest of the article.
  
  
• Plattsburgh State Women's Rugby Attending 3 Spring Tournaments & Several Charity Events
  The Plattsburgh State women's rugby team will be participating in three tournaments in the spring 2007 season.
  
  They are also just coming off a different type of challenge, helping to sponsor the Relay for Life event which was held this past Friday at the PSUC Field House.
  
  The women's rugby team will join forces with the men in hosting the "TnT" Tournament for the 11th year at PSUC.
  
  The tournament is held to remember Plattsburgh State students and rugby players, Billy Erwin, Trevor Green and Tony Santandrea, while also raising money for the Tony Santandrea Memorial Scholarship for Plattsburgh State.
  Click here for the rest of the article.

So that's all I have time for today, I have been slammed at working promoting FIGHT NITE here in Austin. Check out the flier I put together, its going to be an awesome event!!

Check out this site...pretty cool!

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=2791695