Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

-Found this on USA Rugby.org today, I like it! It is on the main page down on the bottom left. Sorry I can't link directly to it...the glory of frames!

Since taking the position of CEO/President of Rugby Operations in January this year, Nigel Melville has been traveling extensively and enjoying the company of rugby people across the USA.

On many occasions he has met former Eagles, and they all ask him if he’s bumped into ‘this guy or that guy’ on his travels. Sometimes he has, sometimes not - but nevertheless, the interest in fellow players, especially at the elite level, is increasingly apparent.

Whilst USA Rugby holds all the data on who was capped and when, it does not hold contact details, and this is something Nigel would like to fix. Not only does he want to be able to help Eagles re-connect, he would like to share with them the latest developments and opportunities that exist for male and female Eagles, both past and present.

In order to achieve this, USA Rugby is asking all past and present Eagles to fill in the form located at the bottom of this page.

As part of this process, USA Rugby is also offering all Eagles the opportunity to join USA Rugby at our Rugby World Cup send off match against Munster in Chicago on August 26. Eagles who sign up will be offered one ticket (free of charge) for this game, All you have to do is complete the form below by Aug. 3 and USA Rugby will do the rest!

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

So, I stumbled upon this article this morning and thought it was particularly interesting. Can science, material of your kit and "tackling points" really make a difference?

My first jersey at the University of Oklahoma was that heavy cotton material and was several sizes too big. When I moved to Austin they had just purchased the new pro-fit jerseys that wick away sweat and are really light. The only difference I have noticed is that they are lighter and don't feel like a parachute when running!

Will these new improvements really make a difference? I guess we will see in September! Check out the article below...

Wales New World Cup Strip

Wales say that their new streamlined kit will give them an extra edge at the Rugby World Cup.
The jersey includes technology designed to neutralise potential “tackling points”, reduce the risk of muscle injury and support the body in contact.

The front five have a looser-fitting design to assist binding, with a more generous fit f0r replica fans’ kit.

”We wanted to make a considerable step forward in the game’s science,” said Welsh Rugby Union boss Roger Lewis.

”Every inch will count at the World Cup and we feel we are stealing that inch.”

England were the first side to push for skin-tight shirts with no collar ahead of the 2003 World Cup.

Sir Clive Woodward had the idea after his analysis of a Calcutta Cup match showed Jason Robinson might have scored a hat-trick had the Scotland defenders not been able to grab on to his jersey.

All top-level international shirts are now streamlined for that reason.

“One key request from us was that the shirt would be more difficult to grab hold of in a tackle,” said Wales coach Gareth Jenkins.

-Also here is a video montage I found on youtube to get you pumped up for the Rugby World Cup 2007.

Yes, I read Harry Potter and I LOVE IT. I have read all the books at least three times. It is not safe though, the radio, the internet, the television...the secrets are out there! Please people just give me three more days until I get my book!

Leaks. Lawsuits. Profiteering. What a way to treat such a fine young man like Harry Potter.
NEW YORK (AP)

As the release date of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" nears, leaks are appearing.

Despite pleas for silence from author J.K. Rowling and some leading Potter fan sites, publishing's secret of all secrets -- whether the wizard lives or dies -- is in danger of becoming plain gossip as publication approaches for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

"As launch night looms, let's all, please, ignore the misinformation popping up on the web and in the press on the plot of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,"' Rowling wrote in a message posted Wednesday on her Web site, http://www.jkrowling.com/.

"I'd like to ask everyone who calls themselves a Potter fan to help preserve the secrecy of the plot for all those who are looking forward to reading the book at the same time on publication day. In a very short time you will know EVERYTHING!" Photo Gallery: Fans show off their Harry resemblances »

Alleged images of Rowling's seventh and final Potter book have already been circulating online days before the official July 21 release. More than 100 actual books may already have been received by customers. As of Wednesday morning, the $34.99 release was being offered on eBay, for immediate purchase, for $250.

More of the article here.

Rugby kisses from gay Paree
By Cyd Zeigler jr.
Outsports.com

The Tourism Board of Paris has come up with an ad campaign to attract Londoners to the cross-channel city of romance. One of the ads (right) in the campaign features rugby players in a scrum kissing and groping one another. Says their Web site:

"The second ad uses offbeat wit and the Rugby World Cup to show the world that Paris is also the capital of humour. The Paris region will be hosting several World Cup matches, including the final at the Stade de France."

Maybe it's lost on me because I'm gay, but I found the ad more erotic and sexy than funny. I guess they're going after the Chuck & Larry crowd, too. But given that the French Dieux du Stade puts out hours of video and pages of photos of naked athletes caressing themselves and one another every year, it's hard to find this shot somehow ironic.

-These ads are very disturbing to me...they are defiling the beautiful sport that I love and in their attempt to provide humorous advertisement, they have created a mockery of gays. This is no way is advancing the sport of rugby and does nothing for Paris tourism I bet.

via Adventures in Rugby blog: If anyone out there needs new socks, cleats, scrum caps, jerseys, etc. please enter our code when you shop on Kooga's website, so that your purchase can support the U-23 tour!

KooGa, the official apparel supplier of USA Rugby, is offering a rugby gear fundraiser to help support the U-23 Women's National Team's tour to New Zealand. To make a purchase in support, go to www.teamkooga.com. During the payment section of the checkout process, enter the following coupon or promotional Code: U23women

Be sure to enter to this code, without it KooGa will not know that the order is a part of the U-23 fundraising efforts. This offer is good for anything on the website.

So I find that if I blog about my workouts that I am more likely to do them...because this way I can keep track and I feel somewhat accountable as I know people read my blog. I am averaging almost a 100 hits a day, thanks for READING!

So yesterday's workout was cut short as my boss rolled into the gym and I had to work on payroll. If you don't know I manage South Austin Gym here in Austin and so I work out there as well. It can be awesome to work out at a gym where you work because you get to work out for free, but then again everyone knows you and wants to talk to you. EVEN IF YOU ARE WEARING EAR PHONES, THEY STILL TRY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEIR ACCOUNT! But that's OK, I just ignore them or tell them that I am working out and I will be glad to discuss their account tomorrow.

Anyways, the part of the workout I got in yesterday has already made me sore. Not the bad sore, but the good sore where you know you ripped a few muscles and they are slowly healing. LOVE IT!

OK so I did incline press, the leg press, hamstrings, quads, triceps, biceps...all these were 3 sets of 10 and a close to maximum weight...meaning I was struggling to put up the 9 and 10 rep on each set.

Then I did pull ups (3 sets of 5...cause that's all I can do!) and then some m. ball work. I did the same m. ball stuff I did on Friday. I also added planks because I am applying to the Fire Academy here in Austin and they now required timed planks. So I did three sets of forearm planks at 30 seconds and side planks at 30 secs.

I was planning on doing some footwork with the ladders and hurdles and the k. ball workout as well, but like I said my boss needed me. ARGH! But, if it means I get paid, then I can interrupt my workout. No problem!

So today I am feeling a bit sore in the pecs, triceps, buttocks and lower back...but not as bad as I thought. I will probably get more sore as the day goes on though...

What type of workouts is everyone doing? Have a favorite style of workout? Just lift weights? Just run? SHARE!!

Skanky tooth pulled from head
By Laine Clark AAP

RUGBY league prop Ben Czislowski ran around for 15 weeks without knowing an opponent's tooth was buried in his forehead.

Ben Czislowski had a clash of heads with Tweed Heads forward Matt Austin during a Queensland Cup game on April 1.

He had the wound stitched up but was wondering why he felt lethargic, had an eye infection and had shooting pains in his head ever since.

Czislowski, a former Broncos and Bulldogs player in the NRL, visited his GP last week and all was revealed. "I can laugh about it now but the doctor told me it could have been serious with teeth carrying germs," Czislowski, 24, said. "I feel so lucky that the worst that I got out of it was that my head looked uglier than it does normally."

It's a bizarre story, so Czislowski has taken measures to ensure he is believed. "I've got the tooth at home, sitting on the bedside table," he said. "If he (Austin) wants it back he can have it. I'm keeping it at the moment as proof that it actually happened. "It's a story I can tell for the rest of my life. It will get a bit more exaggerated over the years, but it's a good laugh."

The tooth's removal has had an immediate effect on Czislowski's on-field form - he was the driving force behind Wynnum's 38-16 Queensland Cup win over Central at Rockhampton on the weekend.

"A lot of the boys have been giving it to me, saying I was using it (embedded tooth) as an excuse for my poor form but my eye looks a thousand times better already and I feel a lot better," he said.

Czislowski is not the only rugby league player to have been left with an unlikely souvenir by an opponent.

In 2004, Australian hooker Shane Millard also had a foe's fang removed from his head while playing for Widnes in the English competition.

Two years earlier, Australian Jamie Ainscough's arm became so badly infected while playing for Wigan in England there were fears it would be amputated before the source was discovered. Yep, a rival's tooth.

USA Softball Wins Back-to-Back World Cup Titles
USA Softball News

Oklahoma City--- For the second consecutive year the USA Softball Women’s National Team captured the World Cup championship. Team USA was bolstered the entire tournament by a strong offense and dominant pitching. USA scored 40 runs and only surrendered two the whole tournament.

The trend continued Monday night.

Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) took the first pitch of her first at bat and ripped it over the center field fence to give the team a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It marked her third home run of the World Cup which tied the World Cup record set by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) the previous year.

“I’ve been aggressive at the plate and hitting good pitches the entire tournament,” Flowers said. “I like knowing that I can help my pitchers out.”

Flowers’ run was bolstered by the bat of Crystl Bustos (Canyon County, Calif.) in the fifth inning. With Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) and Mendoza standing at first and second, Bustos blasted a two RBI double to left field.

Bustos battled through her at bat going through eight pitches before digging out the ninth ball and ripping it to the left field wall for a double.

“I was just looking for a pitch I could hit hard,” Bustos said. “The pitcher and I could have gone all night if I had to.”

Bustos ended the tournament batting .538 with eighth RBI and two HR.

Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) made her second start at the World Cup after throwing against China in pool play. She came out strong with 10 strikeouts through four innings including seven straight strikeouts between the second and fourth innings.

“I was sticking to my game plan until they made the adjustments, which they never did,” Osterman said. “Our defense was where they needed to be and made plays when they needed to be made.”

Osterman set a new World Cup record of 13 strikeouts in one game, passing her own record set last year of 11.

Japan started to make a rally in the top of the seventh inning when Aki Uenishi drew a walk. But the rally was short-lived when Uenishi violated the “look back rule” by not committing to a base when the ball was in the pitcher’s circle.

“The runner was jumping off the base,” Osterman said. “As soon as I got the ball in the circle I turned and looked at her.”

Team USA ended the tournament undefeated, winning all six of their games. Japan finished 4-2, losing both of their games to Team USA.

The Red, White and Blue will be making its last stop of the summer when they head to Rio De Janeiro Brazil for the 2007 Pan American Games. The team is looking to capture its sixth consecutive gold medal at the Pan Am Games.

I have started doing CrossFit! I am so excited about it...here's the wikipedia definition of crossfit: CrossFit is an open-source generalized fitness program based on constantly varied, functional movements performed at high intensity.

I had found CrossFit on the web before but was pretty intimidated because there are HUNDREDS of workouts and lots of new exercises. So I put it on the shelf for a few years and then decided last week that I wanted to do it. I was going to teach myself, so I jumped on Jen's blog: Jen's Gym, Old School Fitness and then started looking at random youtube videos. I decided to make a workout geared towards rugby and especially the scrumhalf pass.

Here's what Traci and I did on Friday (m. ball = medicine ball and k. ball is kettle ball):
M. Ball floor to shoulder (each side) x25
M. Ball stomach to shoulder (each side) x25
K. Ball swing between legs to shoulder press (each side) x25
K. Ball drag (about 10m) x10
M. Ball drag (from pushup position just pass ball between hands) x25
Incline pushups x30
M. ball throw to partner x25
M. ball situp toss x25

I think we did more, but I AM TOO EXCITED TO REMEMBER.

I just got an invite to attend the NA4 against Canada on August 24-30....and NOT AS AN ALTERNATE! I surely thought I would be chosen as an alternate...wow this is great news.

I will post the whole list after everyone confirms and they release the list.

AHHHH I'm going to wear the red white and blue!!!

Finally after battling with Yahoo! for two weeks the new and improved Austin Valkyries website is up and running!

I have just put a few tweaks on it, but check back over the week for new pages and more!