Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Whew. What a crazy weekend. Moving a friend, painting TWO houses, decorating...visiting Homo Depot at least twice a day.

My inbox has been crowded with news:

• The Austin Valkyries are attending Nash Bash 2o07...along with a whole shibang of other teams. Looks like the competition this year is going to be pretty stiff!
  
  Check out the registered teams:
  Atlanta Harlequins
  Austin Valkyries
  *Chicago North Shore
  Cincinnati
  Detroit
  *Indy Hoydens
  *Louisville Riversharks
  Maryland Stingers
  Memphis
  Nashville
  Nova I
  Nova II
  *Olde Girls of Glendale
  Philadelphia
  Raleigh Venom
  Scioto Valley
  
  *Teams that have registered but not paid Tournament fee.
  
  That list is just the Women's Club bracket...the College bracket has TWENTY SEVEN teams. Very exciting indeed, I am pretty excited because the last time I went to Nash Bash it was FREEZING and drizzling rain or sleet. Hopefully this time it will be warmer or at least there will be less precipitation!
  
  
• 200 Girls Attend High School Clinic in PA
  Teams from Virginia, Maryland, DC, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania traveled for this clinic. For the full article check out Goff (*subscription required)
  

• Wild Hare' Raises Money For Women Athletes
  (CBS4) DENVER This Saturday brings a fundraiser by women for women. The 13th Annual Wild Hare Snowshoe Trek raises money for the Sporting Women Community Fund.
  
  Lisa Voorhees with the Sporting Women Community Fund sat down with CBS4 Sunday morning's anchors to talk about the fundraiser and the fund.
  
  The fund helps women athletes of all abilities and all levels pay a variety of costs from entry fees to travel costs to uniforms.
  
  Among the beneficiaries are the the women's basketball team at East High School and another high school's rugby team.
  
  "They've worn the boys uniform for years and years," Voorhees said. "They finally decided they could get their own, and the Sporting Women's Fund helped."
  
  The Wild Hare Snowshoe Trek is the fund's largest fundraiser; Voorhees said they hope to raise $10,000 this year.
  
  For many women the Trek is about more than exercise and raising money. "It's actually turned into a weekend that women come up spend with their pals and hang out on Saturday."
  
  The annual event is held at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby. Race day registration is $35 but you can register online for $30. Men are allowed.
  
  * For more information, visit www.thesportingwoman.com.
  
  
• USA 7's Women's International Tournament
  
  Complete results American Rugby News:
  Match 1: Canada ‘B’ 7, USA ‘B’ 5
  Match 2: USA ‘A’ 29, China 17
  Match 3: USA ‘B’ 19, Canada ‘A’ 5
  Match 4: Canada ‘B’ 17, USA ‘A’ 14
  Match 5: China 20, Canada ‘A’ 0
  Match 6: USA ‘B’ 10, China 0
  Match 7: USA ‘A’ 19, Canada ‘A’ 5
  Match 8: Canada ‘B’ 17, China 0
  Match 9: USA ‘A’ 10, USA ‘B’ 5
  Match 10: Canada ‘A’ 10, Canada ‘B’ 15

  Semifinals:
  (#2) USA ‘A’ 22, (# 3) USA ‘B’ 7
  (#1) Canada ‘B’ 22, (#4) China 7

  Final: Canada ‘B’ 19, USA ‘A’ 7

• Rugby Girl - New Clothing Line for Women Ruggers
  *Not sure I would sport it...but what the hell, I'll pass the link on!
  

• International News: Rugby: MRU keen on women!
  Its secretary Suhaimi Zainuddin said this after the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) informed the MRU that only the men’s and women’s seven-a-side competitions will be contested in Korat.
  However, rugby will be contested in Bangkok as there are no facilities for rugby in Korat.
  
  Laos, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have active women’s rugby teams.
  
  "We have come up with a new strategy as previously we only focused on the men’s 15 and 7-a-side squads. We have to inform OCM by October whether or not we will field a women’s team, but a decision will be made after the men’s selections next week," said Suhaimi.
  

• "Putting together a seven-a-side team is not that difficult, and with 10 months of focused training, we are even capable winning a bronze medal."
  In Malaysia, women play touch footie, a less aggressive form of rugby.
  
  Suhaimi added it was understood that Thailand has decided to scrap the 15-a-side event, as the hosts were behind Singapore and Malaysia in the world rankings for the particular category.
  
  According to the latest rankings released by the International Rugby Board (IRB), Singapore are ranked 51st, Malaysia 66th with Thailand on 73.
  
  Suhaimi also added that since most of the South East Asian nations have picked up rugby, it would be a tough battle in Korat.
  
  *Malaysian Rugby...now that is cool!!
  
  
• RFUW Launches Female Referee Initiative
  *I can't find much info on this, it seems to be an international thing...would be cool to have in the US! I tried to get my Coaching Cert in January but the clinic was canceled due to inclement weather and plan on starting my Referee Certs soon too.
  
  The Rugby Football Union for Women is launching a new national campaign entitled Women into Refereeing II.
  
  The aim of the campaign is not only to help increase the number of female referees working in the game but also to look for the talented female referees of the future who have the potential to take to the national and international stage in both the men’s and women’s game.
  
  
• Last but not least...RUGBY IN GUAM!!!
  *I lived in Guam for a year...and would have DIED to play rugby there. It is such a beautiful island and way cheaper than a trip to Hawaii. Sweetness.
  

YEA!! If you would take the time to look at http://playrugby.shorturl.com you will see that some teams are UPDATING THEIR SCORES!!! I love it! Thank you so much for the participation and appreciation of what we are trying to do here.

Please remember to pass the site on to other teams so we can keep the love going. Keep the good work up!!!

And a funny for you on a Monday night...

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. "The rocks are the important things -- your family, your partner, your health, and your children -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. "Take care of the rocks first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

But then...

A rugby-playing student then took the jar which the other students and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar truly full.

Which proves: that no matter how full your life is, there is always room for a beer.

This came across the listserv this morning...no difference between a "rake" & a "stomp" anymore.

Perhaps our teammate Tiffany had something to do with this ruling? She was viciously stomped on the FACE AND HEAD during the Sweet 16 Tournament in South Carolina last year. I won't mention the team we were playing, but you know who you are. I believe you said it was an "accident?"

The TRU also wishes to make it clear to all member clubs that incidents of gratuitous violence, whether it be stamping on an opposing player's head or whether it be punching to the face of a defenseless player, will not be tolerated and the Disciplinary Committee will impose the maximum allowable punishment as outlined by USA Rugby.

Clubs that have multiple offenders in regard to these type of offenses will also be subject to disciplinary action. We expect club administrators and coaches to ensure that all of their players are aware of the consequences of such acts and they should educate the players as to what is robust play versus violent acts.

There were two acts of gratuitous violence on Jan 10th and as a result the TRU Disciplinary Committee after reviewing the referee's report on these red card incidents have decided to suspend the offenders from all rugby until June 16th 2007 .

Best Regards & Thanks
Dave Jenkins
13911 Aspen Cove Court,
Houston, Texas, 77077
Tel # ; 281-870-0456
Fax # : 281-870-0456

What is DSM? It's the first ONLINE rugby magazine! Based out of the UK, its a pretty cool idea with the benefit of all being online and completely FREE! Publications come out monthly with new rugby info!

dsmrugby.com

They even cover women's rugby in this magazine. In fact England's scrumhalf/winger (Nolli Waterman) will be writing a column in DSM every month. Hell yeahs!

The coolest part of the magazine has to be the included videos...including the 6 Best Last-Minute Drop Goals! (pg. 19 of 30). I can't wait to have my first drop goal in a game, I've attempted a few times but have never made it.

This month’s magazine features:

* Six Nations Guide - Adam Hathaway provides everything you need to know about the 2007 Six Nations.
* Nolli Waterman column - Nolli looks back at the World Cup and forward to the Six Nations.
* 6 of the Best Last-Minute Drop-Goals with video links
* Defence around the ruck - technical insight from Ben Kay.
* Mind the Gap - Alex Payne on the gap between the Guinness Premiership and National 1.
* Graham Henry - Interviewed by Adam Hathaway.
* Super 14 - Alex Payne looks ahead to this weekend's start of the Super 14.

Digg.com - I love this site.

Check out some my favs:

Photoshop Morphs of Animals
Amazing Folding Couch
Unlock Your Car W/ A Tennis Ball - Crazy I KNOW!!
Apple vs. Vista
Billboard causing Traffic Jams
More Photoshop Action

IRB 7's Official Site
IRB 7's Myspace

From usasevens.com:
The 2007 Women's International Sevens Tournament:

Featuring the best international women's rugby, the tournament will encompass two days and will conclude on the field at PETCO park.

China
Canada A
Canada B
USA A
USA B

Pool Competition - Friday Feb 9 - Robb field 10 AM - Finals - Sat Feb 10 - PETCO Park

Men's Tournament Pools:


From Goff: Music Lineup for USA 7s Festival

February 5, 2007, San Diego, Calif. – The IRB USA Sevens Event is not just about the world's best rugby competition. It's also a two day fan festival outside the stadium.

Fans can go back and forth from the stadium to the festival all day. The festival will feature something for fans of all ages. Features include a jumbotron screen (so you won't have to miss a minute of the rugby action inside the stadium) beer and wine gardens, food tents, sponsor booths, rides and games for kids, rugby merchandise, and fan contests. Admission to the festival is free to all ticket holders.

Saturday Feb 10
10am Full Revolution
11am Tey
Noon The Perils of Being
1pm Willie Ames
2pm Bradley Leighton
3pm Rip Off Johnny
4pm Urban Assault
5pm Mass Bluff

Sunday Feb 11
10am Crunchberry
11am Crunchberry
Noon Tomorrow's War
1pm Full Revolution
2pm Bayou Brothers
3pm Knoxx w/Young MC
4pm Mass Bluff
5pm Urban Assault

And my pick for top website of the week....drum roll please!

http://rugby.sportal.com

Check it out, highlights of rugby games that just happened. It seems to work best with Internet Explorer...EWW I know, but its ok.

AND WELCOME BACK JONNY WILKINSON...we have missed you.

Nice video about Jonny here.

GO COLTS...LOVE YA GOLD SWAN!

BIG THANK YOU to Heidi Whitman, Meg Pace and Meredith Bagley for the rugby clinic this weekend. The camp was a huge success with 32 girls participating from the University of Oklahoma, Texas State University and some of our very own Austin Valkyries.

The camp last 6 hours with a brief break for sandwiches and rest rooms, and was very successful in teaching the girls the greater concepts of tackling, rucking and ball movement. The camp concluded with a drill that encompassed everything and you could tell that confidence was high and ability was accelerated!

Thanks for coming to our camp ladies! It was a blast and look for more camps in the future!

Check out the new and improved ONLINE WOMEN'S CALENDAR!

The key to making this work is submissions from YOU! Simply click the button on the left and join as a member of the calendar. Then you can submit game times, scores, location...and more!

http://playrugby.shorturl.com/

I have the ultimate admin over this calendar, but all events are posted automatically and the calendar reflects the changes immediately. The calendar on this blog is also linked to that calendar, so its still a reliable source.

Let me know what you think!