Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

November 28, 2006 – USA womens 7s coach Julie McCoy is holding an open Footwork Camp in Philadelphia January 12-14.

The camp will be open to plays and coaches, and those attending can register at http://www.footworkcamp.com.

The MARFU U-23 program is providing a scholarship to one outstanding player from last weekend's U23 LAU tournament, and the Philadelphia Women's Rugby Club is accepting applications from EPRU collegiate player for a scholarship.

McCoy will be joined by Ellie Karvoski, and Sean Ross in presenting her drills for speed, acceleration, change of direction at pace, and integrating rugby skills therein.

The camp is designed for players, male or female, of all experience levels to enhance athleticism, introduce advanced training techniques, and improve confidence and skills needed to win one-on-one situations. The camp will be held in the city of Philadelphia and will begin promptly at 6pm on Friday, January 12, ending at around 2pm on Sunday, January 14th. All participants are required to be present for the entire camp.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.footworkcamp.com

Guest blogger #2 is....drum roll please!! Rosalind Chou. She plays inside center for the Austin Valkyries and is one of our spiritual leaders on the team. She is our rock. Thanks, Ros!

(The picture is the Satiated Beavers in Corpus Christi...Ros is pointing and yeling.)

The Forgotten Rugby Dynasty-

With the vastness of the world wide web, today's modern rugger can have access to club websites, player blogs, national and international rugby news, you name it at the click of a mouse. The danger of such a pervasive medium is that this Internet thing can become the sole source of information for those who use it. Wikipedia is replacing the good old encyclopedia, and the scary thing is that anyone can submit information into that site. Our own history (although often written with bias and/or inaccurate information) can be lost or rewritten with ease..

With this lack of historical information on the web, the younger generation of ruggers may have no idea about an incredible women's rugby dynasty, and I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT BERKELEY! The usarugby.org site only goes back 10 years with its archives of the women's club national championship. If we go back in time, just before that you will find that the Florida State Women's rugby club, from 1979 to 1994, never finished below fourth place in the US Women's Rugby National Club Competition. The team won the national championship four times ('79, '80, '84, '85), and placed 2nd six times! We are talking about 15 years of sheer dominance! Many of the alumni have been selected as US Eagles and its earlier version - the US Representative Side, including: Kathy Flores, Candi Orsini, Patty Jervey, Claire Godwin, Robin Pace, Clare Sup, BB Alley, Jackie Watts, and Vicki Bowlin, Val Sullivan and Colleen Fahey. You may recognize a few of those names, notably the first two listed...that's right, the USA National Squad coaches hail from Florida State! That's where it all began! If you really think about it, would USA women's rugby even be what it is today if it weren't for Florida State Women's rugby? All the alum that have gone on to play and/or coach elsewhere have had there part in further enriching the sport in this country. It's like a phone tree, right? Would Berkeley have won 9 straight national titles if it weren't for Kathy and Candi?

Ok, so I am oozing with school/club pride, but I had to let the rugby world know about a forgotten generation of amazing rugby players. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be playing this awesome sport. If you are interested in finding out more about this club, rich in tradition go to their website at http://www.fsuwomensrugby.com/ I think a really unique and cool feature about the website is the alumni archives that Colleen Fahey keeps up-to-date regularly. She has listed alumni from the original 1975 squad to present day. There are old photos and former players send in present day updates with pictures and blurbs. Collen also makes sure that there is a list of e-mail addresses so all the old players can keep in touch or get reacquainted with
folks from back in the day.

The address for the alumni site is http://www.fsuwomensrugby.com/alumni.html it's got some really great old photos from the 1970s and early 80s, check out the some of those mullets and feathered bangs! They kicked ass on the pitch and looked great while doing it.

Last night, I was walking through our toy-infested living room. Between the baby on my hip and my extra poundage, I could not see the floor. I ended up tripping over a tummy-time gym while carrying Nicole. I did try to regain footing, but ended up flying through the air. We were headed directly for the Fisher-Price picnic table, Nicole first. Fortunately, I had been trained on how to fall while holding onto a ball. My kitten-like reflexes took over. I rotated my body while grabbing Nicole tight to my chest (a shout-out to Phil Corbett: "In the pocku!"). I fell on my left side instead of on the baby. She was in no danger of being knocked-on nor squished beneath a tighthead prop. So, thank you to the OU Roses. If I had landed on Nicole, she would have been seriously hurt. Instead, I was able to retain possession of the baby. Unfortunately, there was no one there to ruck over us so we could get the baby to the backs so they could score a try. It would have been a beauty.

This was posted by Melinda “Kitten” Long Foreman, long-time OU Rose and the most amazing scrumhalf in the history of woman-kind. We miss you, Melinda!

So I have asked a few of my current mates, old mates and friends to do guest spots on my blog and here is the first. She's #10 on the Valkyries and passed the mohawk onto me in great fashion. Thanks Bags!

(I'm on the left in the photo and Bags is on the right...taken right after we became the #1 seed in the West.)

Football vs. Rugby

OK, so we all know Thanksgiving weekend is really about watching obscene amounts of football -- not about visiting Gramma Grace or hearing Uncle Carlos talk about his bunions. And since rugby season has been over for 6 weeks for me -- also an obscene fact -- I have been watching football all weekend thinking about why, exactly, specifically, rugby is a better sport.

My evidence comes from an unlikely source: football games themselves.

First: I would argue that Texas A&M beat Texas on Friday because they play rugby-football more than football. Namely, they run the option. Stephen McGee would make an awesome flyhalf: quick, shifty, undersized but scrappy, and absolutely awesome at reading defenses. Despite UT's superior athletes on the defensive side, this skinny little white kid shredded them for far more yardage than UT normally allows and led A&M to the upset victory. In rugby-speak, he was running perfect 2 v 1's all afternoon: draw the D then dish; draw the D, show the dish then keep it; head fake; ball fake; eye fake -- by the end of the 3rd quarter the UT linebackers and cornerbacks were dizzy from trying to watch McGee and his teammate juke and jive up the field.

Second: football plays, especially running plays, are too scripted and this can lead to disaster. Yes, I realize that blockers still have to work their assignments, can draw & fake out defenders, and runners have some degree of improvisation in hitting holes, but: i just watched the Patriots set up a beautiful reverse off a pitch then blow it by giving the ball to the double-reverse guy who promptly got smothered by like 37 Bear defenders in a 6 square yards. The pitch drew everyone left, so the reverse was golden up the right sideline: the reverse guy should have dummied the second receiver, held the defense and run onto glory. It's basic dummy switches, and any umbrella player knows this: hold the forwards in the middle of the field with a switch
or dummy, then run wide with your speed in open space.

Duh.

Clearly i need to quit grad school and pursue a coaching career in the NFL. Don't even get me started on their tackling form....perhaps for next time.

Yours in rugby,
Bags

My hand on Saturday while I was waiting for x-rays to develop. Swollen and no knuckle!!











My hand on Tuesday after taking off the splint...sadly bruised.














The front of my hand...i swear my hand isn't usually this fat!!














The actual xray...notice the gap, thats where it is broken!

Surgery is happening Tuesday at 7am. Getting at least three screws put in and worst-case scenario is a plate with lots and lots of screws. Wish me luck!!

so sad, i fractured my left hand this weekend playing rugby. blogging will be delayed for awhile...

photos coming soon...maybe my x-rays too!

leigh made me that awesome tongue depressor splint...

And yet another rugby video...Hardest Tackles in Rugby League.



I just thought this was hilarious!!

FROM ESPN.com
NEW YORK -- Emmitt Smith danced off with the mirror ball.

The three-time Super Bowl champion, who proved to be as nimble on his feet in the ballroom as on the football field, was named the winner of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Wednesday night. With the victory came the glittering trophy.

Emmitt Smith
Greg LeBoeuf/WireImage.com
After dancing his way to 166 rushing touchdowns in the NFL, Emmitt Smith was well prepared for "Dancing with the Stars."

The NFL's all-time leading rusher beat out actor Mario Lopez.

The hunky, dimpled Lopez was generally regarded as the series most dynamic celebrity dancer, but the public's vote, the deciding factor after the contestants had tied in the judges' tally at Tuesday's final dance-off, brought Smith the victory.

"It is awesome! It is awesome!" declared Smith, after hugging his professional dance partner Cheryl Burke. "We came a long way, we really have."

Burke won last season, too, on the arm of singer Drew Lachey.

Smith had kind words for Lopez, who was gracious in his defeat. He called the former "Saved by the Bell" star a "true gentleman" and said he and partner Karina Smirnoff "raised the bar" during the competition.

The rest of the article can be found here.

And another funny article and video:

A fight broke out at the Super Wal-Mart broke out in Palmdale in California when store employees decide to move the line from inside to outside.

According to a television station, a group of PS3 line-waiters got angry when they were told they could no longer wait inside a Wal-Mart for the PS3 and would have to go outside instead. The group ran through the store knocking everyone and everything in their path over.

Sheriff's deputies were called and the store temporarily shut down to restore order.

PS3 Shuts Down Wal-Mart [Yahoo Video]

So the USA 7's guy on Facebook and I have become little buddies and he sent me this awesome link this morning.

Can't beat girls in dresses!! And the music is quite hilarious....



And here is the USA 7's Facebook profile again...he is working really hard to make rugby a force in the world. Help him out!

It's amazing how a quick 15 minute walk can change the atmosphere. Jake had been restless all night and after getting some relaxation time of my own I decided he needed a walk. So we started out and its pretty chilly out tonight, but it was absolutely beautiful! The sky was nice and clear and the cold was just right. It's funny to think that it is snowing most places and I wore short sleeves to work today!

Anyways, the walk was very good, helped to clear the mind. School is really weighing on me lately. I am failing one of my classes (oops) and barely clinging on with the others. I am doing my assignments, but when rugby was in full swing I fell behind a little bit...hence the dilligence of late.

I have a huge huge huge paper due in two weeks and I am trying to be a good student and work on it now...but I also have bills to pay and working sometimes becomes more important! So its kind of nice that rugby is done for awhile. A few of the Valks and I are playing for the University of Texas this weekend (OH CRAP I just remembered I'm going to have to wear BURNT ORANGE...damnit) and YES we will be taking DA BUS on its first rugby road trip. That should be fun.

Just a random peek into my life. Have a great night!

Ohhh yes we went camping!!! It was amazing!!!

Meg, Shalay, Heidi, Shannon, Dudley, Jake and I went up early to start the celebration on Thursday night. We camped at Lake Bastrop South Shore...it was BEAUTIFUL.

The picture to the right is about 6pm, after we had handily setup camp in about 45 minutes. At this point I was drinking wine and beer...and probably had already had WAY to much to drink. (Those that received late night phone calls...was it even 9pm yet?...can attest.) Not to brag, but Shannon and I finished off an 18 pack ourselves, we can be dangerous ruggers!

So we got camp all setup in this amazing amazing spot...and then the park host came around and told us it was a 50amp spot reserved for RV campers. He said it was cool if we stayed the night but we would have to choose another spot the next morning. Bummer because the site was RIGHT on the water and was super chill.

Sleeping that night in my tent with Jake was heaven! It was perfect weather with just a sheet for a covering and the sounds of nature surrounding us. We fell asleep adjacent to the water (my tent was literally 3 feet from the shore) and awoke to the many little duckies fishing for their breakfast. It was so very liberating.

So Friday morning we cooked up yummy eggs, bacon and potatoes and started the journey to choose a camp site. On the way to the administrative office we looked at all the sites and had a couple picked out in our minds, the perfect one we wanted was RESERVED...when it was supposed to be first-come-first-serve basis. Whatever though!

So we picked out 3 campsites (we had over 10 ruggers coming later that night!!!) and setup camp again. Shannon and I found the perfect spot for our tents away from the fire and very secluded. I jokingly called it the "love bungalow" but as everyone knows we are two single gals with no one to share the love with....but I insisted on calling it that anyways!

Setting up camp took awhile because we decided to carry our tents form campsite to campsite instead of breaking them down and packing them up. So we literally picked up all the tents and carried them down the road...we are smart!

Later that evening around 4pm we started getting a little antsy because we knew we had 10 more people coming to camp with us. They finally started showing up around 6pm. So we threw the firewood on and starting making dinner. I was in charge of dinner and had decided to do HOBO Dinners as they are my favorite meal EVER!

HOBO Dinners are so freakin' easy and YUMMY. Basically you get a bunch of tin foil and make your dinner in that. We had beef/chicken, carrots, butternut squash, zucchini, yellow squash, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and onions. You just chop up all the stuff and throw it in the tinfoil pack, wrap it a couple of times and throw on the ready-made coals. They take about 20 minutes a side and are absolutely fabulous if I do say so. I love love love to make them camping.

And then we commenced for more drinking, the Thursday night crew had diligently been drinking water and Gatorade all day so we could be hydrated for another night of drinking. The campfire that night was a little less rowdy as most people had just come from a day of camping and just wanted to chill out. I think we went to bed around midnight. It was a little more chilly Friday night, so Jake and I cuddled all night long. Like having a hot water bottle all night long!

Saturday morning came early as most of the campers were up around 8am...and we had breakfast going so we could get them out of bed faster! This morning we did pancakes, blueberry pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes. Yum Yum! From then everyone did their own separate activities, some read on the shore, some read around the fire, fishing, hiking, walks, sleeping...everyone just kinda chilled out.

Around 1pm we started to all get hungry so I broke out the HOBO dinner leftovers and we made a few packs in the coals. Everyone just kinda chilled out until dark and then we ate again! I love camping cause you are constantly eating!

Oh yeah and Jake showed off his swimming skills all Saturday afternoon. He chased a tennis ball, frisbee, sticks, rocks...anything we could find to throw in the water. Here is my favorite shot of him getting out of the water. And a cute shot of just his head looking for the frisbee. At one point the frisbee was almost submerged and he stuck his head UNDERWATER to find it...what a great dog! I love him so so so much.

So that night we were sitting around the campfire and you could tell we were all hitting a wall from being up so early the morning before. So a few of the girls decided we should drink more and play drinking games. So Traci taught us the vegetable game. Basically you choose a vegetable and then you say someone another person's vegetable and they choose another and so forth. The catch was you had to keep your teeth covered, so your trying to say Shrimp Shrimp with your teeth covered. It was very fun! Then we changed it to the meat game where you had to choose a meat...and it was even more fun!

The whole experience was so much fun and a blast!! I love my mates and we are totally going camping again! Sorry for the abrupt ending...I'm tired of writing....

Peace ya'all.