Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

I don't know how to start this post. If you have been reading my blog for the last month you know everything has been about Sweet 16s. I have seriously slacked on my college coverage of local teams in the area. Sorry guys.

We trained, trained, strategized, ate, slept, dreamed, visualized, felt, and wanted that weekend in SC. As I walked away on Sunday afternoon with various bruises and mentally exhausted it still hadn't hit me. The season is over. No Florida, no nationals rugby.

I know it may have been to much to want or desire, but we wanted it. A young Valkyrie team with rookies, new players, new positions, new ideas and we thought we had it all. And I am here to tell you that we DO have it all. We are a great team that works hard on and off the field.

We just couldn't get it together in South Carolina. Maybe it was the storm that blew through Friday night that took our hopes with it. Saturday we played the Furies and we played our hearts out. We were a little slow to wake up but then got it rolling. I remember at halftime thinking this is a good game! But then realizing that we hadn't scored a single point. We spent the whole game in their end and just couldn't capitalize.

We lost 27-10.

As I stood in the circle holding my mates...I saw tears in all our eyes. Our souls fell out our bodies and fell onto that pitch. Walking away from that field was one of the hardest things I have ever done. All that work and we couldn't make it happen.

Saturday night was almost surreal, I wanted to badly to be alone and be able to digest thoughts, feelings...I tried to walk around outside but it was all interstate and no green grass to lie in. So I grabbed my notebook and snuck around trying to find somewhere. I finally found a spot and let it all spill out onto that paper. My hopes, dreams, thoughts, loves, aspirations...all came spilling out.

I thought I was ready for Sunday and I thought we were ready as a team. We played well but couldn't make it happen again. We lost 5-7. I missed the kick by inches and we lost the game. When the whistle blew I fell to the ground and all I remember is Meg and Traci holding me up. I sobbed and let all my emotions be shown. All of our hard work...all the time, money, etc...the sacrifices as a team, individuals...it was to much.

As I was walking to the car that afternoon...I knew I was supposed to be where I was. What if we had gone to Nationals? Would I be ready as a player? Would we be ready as a team? We had only played THREE upper-level matches this season. Were we really ready?

I guess we will have to wait for next year. Thanks for the ride Valks. Lets go camping!!

I will try and blog about my experience at Round of 16 in Columbia in the next few days. Until then, check out the results...and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Also USA Rugby had some nice writeups on their site. Check it out here.

• Team website: http://www.abqrugby.com
• Tournament Program: http://abqrugby.tripod.com/2006ProgramHD-sm.pdf
• Photos from our tournament Photographer: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=2284297

Two Day Tournament:

1. There was a Incomers Social/Captains Meeting at Hooters on the Friday Night before the tournament..
2. On Saturday/Sunday All Pool games. There were many vendors: Rugby Imports, Hooters/Food Vendors, T-shirt vendor, Message Therapists, and Bag Pipers at the Pitches.
3. There is a party/social with live band at the State Fair ground (Jockey Club) on Saturday night and a Players Prime Rib dinner for
4. Sunday - Championship Rugby
5. FUN HAD BY ALL

Tournament was Sponsored by Stienlager (all other sponsors are in the program)

Steinlager Aardvarks Rugby Sponsor" src="http://mail.google.com/mail/?attid=0.1&disp=emb&view=att&th=10e82fb726238561" border="0">

Team across the nation are preparing for tough matches this weekend, in my daily readings of blogs I stumbled across a rugger from Philly who is facing Berkley this weekend. Berkley has dominated women's rugby for 10 years...and her blog speaks about it.

• "On Friday night I wonder what my own dreams will hold? Our own Goliath (Berkeley) will be waiting at the pitch on Saturday morning. Heavily armoured and with the weapons that one accumulates over ten years of rugby dominance, no one would blame for sleeping a lot like my Yellow Labrador does: curled in a ball, occasionally whimpering or shaking because of some seemingly real, life and death situation, only to be awakened by a teammate who can't sleep because my incessant whimpering has become too loud."
  More here.

• DII Women's Rugby - thanks to Chris Franz for blogging about this!

• Small in stature, large in heart.
  

From Aubrey Edge - High Desert Tournament Director

I was going to send out a thank you to all the teams.. in the tournament tonight but will compose an email by the end of the week... but something are more important and I wanted to give you some news....

Bill Burch from Lineout video has been traveling from coast to coats taping rugby tournaments from a long time... and that is his prime income.... He is a nice man.. and hard worker... He drove all the way from Virginia to tape team games at the High Desert Rugby classic.

Over the 15 years that I have played rugby I have learned about the sprint of Rugby and that ALL rugby players have a bond of brother/sisterhood... you can go anywhere and rugby players or teams will take care of most players... especially when ruggers are in need...

Bill Burch's van on Saturday night was broken in to and all his windowssmashed in. After they broken in to his van they stole a lot of items out of the van including all the Saturday footage from the High Desert.They got my two good cameras, Tripod, Labtop , rugby bag, 50 DVD movies, fire wire, jumper cables and also his cell phone and some other stuff...... The stuff was hidden in the back out of site and was the only care broken in to... so if anyone knows anything please let me know...

Here is the ruggers sticking together part...

If all the teams or individuals send him some money that would be good - any amount would help him out.. he still has a lot he will have to pay for even if he had insurance with deductibles plus not making any moneyfor his business this weekend... ANY amount would help I'm not asking to pay for a camera just send him some money to help the man out.....

The Aardvarks and High Desert Committee is going to send him some equipment, rugby bag and some other stuff plus money... The Arkansas Iron Maidens are also going to do the same.

If you choose to send a check put what club you play for at the bottom so he know what team is supporting him in a time of need..

Send to: (Home Address)
Bill Burch
Lineout Video,inc
12605 Ben Fry Dr.
Chester,VA 23831

Contact info. If needed: bbrugby@aol.com or call Bill at 804-283-2517

Thanks Guys and Girls... and I will send the tournament update later in the week.

Aubrey Edge
Aardvarks/High Desert Rugby Classic

TOTAL RUGBY RADIO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB - from USArugby.org

BOULDER, Colo. -- The IRB has now made the Total Rugby Radio program available as a web stream, making it possible for USA RUGBY clubs, colleges and unions across the U.S. to link directly to the show from www.usarugby.org.

“In a continuing effort to promote rugby in America, USA Rugby is excited to offer this radio program as another benefit to its members and fans across the U.S.,” USA Rugby’s Vice President of Business Development, David Voth said.

Total Rugby is a free, once-a-week 26-minute radio program dedicated purely to rugby in all its forms around the world, from the Tri Nations and Six Nations to the North America 4 and Churchill Cup. Being the sister program of the IRB's TV program of the same name, it also features regular interviews with the biggest names in the game. Total Rugby Radio refreshes its show every Thursday at 1 p.m. EST, giving viewers the most up-to-date international rugby news, matches, interviews, features and competitions.

To start listening to this week’s program, please go to www.usarugby.org and click on the Total Rugby Radio button on the bottom of the home page.

I succumbed to fashion. I was cruising Facebook and checking out who had joined my new group Mohawks and Mullets (you know you love it..) and saw one of the ads on the left...

Notre Dame Castro Cap...

The original ad was for an Oklahoma cap and it was nice and red...but since I live in TX now I couldn't justify buying that one. But I bought a Notre Dame cap!! I hope it fits and I bet it will be HOTTTT!!!

Have an awesome weekend lovelies...

I was bored today at work and avoiding homework...(hence all the posts today!) and found the 10 Commandments of Rugby. There are several versions here as they are all funny!

http://www.rugbyfootball.com/ten_command.html

I. Thou shalt have no other sport before rugby.
II. Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image of a soccer player, a player of badminton or likewise a player of ping pong. Thou art a rugby player and a man therewith. Speaketh not in tones of political correctness, but, rather, let thy voice be forthright. Let thy communication be "With you!" or "Ball, ball!" and speaketh not the lukewarm utterances of the players of other sports.
III. Thou shalt not take the name of thy coach in vain. Thou shalt obey him, and put his playing plan forth onto the pitch.
IV. Remember the rugby day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou drink, and do all thy drunkenness: But the rugby day is for thy club, and thou shalt not cause thy club to be mocked by thy drunkenness and stupor.
V. Honour thy practice sessions that thy days may be long upon the land which thy rugby club giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt not hack or stomp. Behold, hacking is an abomination unto me, and maketh thy opponent's head like unto spoiled fruit. This is not meet in mine eyes.
VII. Thou shalt not commit rugby whoredom, for, behold, whoring is an abomination unto me. Thou shalt retain thy love for one rugby club only, and not be given unto rugby whoredom like unto those of Babylon.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal. If a pitcher of beer belongeth to thy neighbor, thou shalt not touch it.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy referee. When he asketh thee if thou hast sinned, thy answer shall be, "Yes, sir" and if no, "No, sir." Thou shalt not speak until him until he speaketh unto thee, and intemperate statements shall thou not make unto him.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy scrumhalf's ball, but shall rather wait for him to passeth unto thee or another before playing it thyself. If thou art not the scrumhalf, thou shalt not act like unto him, for this is confusion.

http://wesclark.com/rrr/10_commandments.html

1. Thou shalt not hesitate at the breakdown, but be mighty to get your rightful ball; for though it is written that the meek shall inherit the earth, this is truly was a poor translation. The meek shall be trampled into the dirt is more to the point.
2. Thou shalt not speak profanely of the Whistler, nor question the purity of his birth, even though he be blind to transgressions by devils on the other team at the ruck and the maul, and whistles them not.
3. Thou shalt not smite an opponent with a clenched fist, yeah, even in retaliation; for it is written that the Whistler and the Flag Waver shall assuredly miss the cowardly first punch, only to see the avenging second. Believeth that what goeth around shall surely cometh, and verily, evil men will be found at the bottom of rucks.
4. Thou should not kiss thy teammate on the mouth when he scores; for such is an abomination unto God, especially kisses in tongues, unless you play football with the round white ball and thus it is expected.
5. Thou shalt not take the Word of the Coach in vain, for blessed is the Word of the Coach. Instead, wonder at his mighty wisdom and sticketh to His Game Plan, lest the Coach acquaint you with his disciples coaching in the lower grades.
6. Thou shalt not chip nor kick for touch if thou be a prop or wear any jersey number below that of 7; for this is an abomination unto the Coach, and surely you will be His at training, perhaps everlasting.
7. Thou shalt not run across the field with ball in hand, but runneth straight ahead upfield; for it is written that the touchline is the best defender.
8. Thou shalt not kick the ball to thine enemies unless it bounceth; for the Spirit of the bounce of the Ball may cause confusion unto them, and if thy heart be pure, make it bounceth back unto you.
9. Thou shalt not pass the ball to a teammate about to be smashed by the mighty enemy, unless he owes you money, or has rodgered someone dear to your heart, in which case all is forgiven.

10. Thou shalt not vomit on thy teammates after the game, for this is unmanly, and they could do it unto you.

http://www.hvrugby.com/a010.html

1. Thou shalt not knock-on
2. Thou shall wear rebels colors at drink-up.
3. Thou shall not shower before the drink-up ritual commencement.
4. Thou shall speak to the opposite sex only when in possession of an alcoholic beverage.
5. Thou shall not smoke cigarettes.
6. Thou shall not forget any rugby equipment.
7. Thou shall not converse with referee in hostile matter.
8. Thou shall not be cosigned to the bin of sin by referee.
9. Thou shall not engage in kissing while inside an alcohol serving establishment.
10. Thou shall not have sexual relations with a rebel rugger.