Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Check out this HUGE hit by Paul Emerick...level 3 tackle or spear tackle? Emerick has been officially cited for the incident and now faces a ban for Wednesday's game against Tonga...

San Diego at Coast 68 - 0
Berkeley v. Sacramento no results
Mudhens at ORSU no results
Wisconsin at Chicago 0 - 45 (* score was reported wrong earlier this morning)

Austin Valkyries vs. Texas A&M: Scrimmage 40 minutes of A side and 40 minutes of B sides
Glendale vs. New York 15 - 36
Ruggapooloza Tournament (@ Carbondale, IL) no results
Pumpkinfest Tournament (@ Philidelphia, PA):
Beantown 1st Place
Philidelphia 2nd Place
Beantown 3rd Place
Atlanta 4th Place
Jackalope Tournament (@ Laramie, WY) no results
Indianapolis vs Dayton (@ Dayton, OH) no results
Frederick vs Harrisburg (@ Carlisle, PA) no results
Des Moines vs Will County (@ IL) no results
Minneapolis Menagerie vs Palmer (@ Minneapolis) Minneapolis wins by forfeit

(** Don't see your game listed? Add it to the Online Women's Rugby Calendar)


France vs Argentina (Sep 7 @ 2pm) 12 - 17

New Zealand vs Italy (Sep 8 @ 7am) 76 - 14
Australia vs Japan (Sep 8 @ 9am) 91 - 3
England vs USA (Sep 8 @ 12pm) 28 - 10

Wales vs Canada (Sep 9 @ 7am) 42 - 17
South Africa vs Samoa (Sep 9 @ 9am) 59 - 7
Scotland vs Portugal (Sep 9 @11am) 56 - 10
Ireland vs Nambia (Sep 9 @1pm) 32 - 17

Games on FRIDAY:
France vs Argentina 3pm (ET)

Games on SATURDAY:
New Zealand vs Italy 7:45am (ET)
Australia vs Japan 9:45am (ET)
England vs USA 12pm (ET)

Games on Sunday:
Wales vs Canada 8am (ET)
South Africa vs Samoa 10am (ET)
Scotland vs Portugal 12pm (ET)
Ireland vs Namibia 2pm (ET)

**All these showings are on Setanta Sports

WOOHOO!! I'm so excited!

Bids are hereby formally requested from those interested in hosting the Women's National DII Championship tournament (www.wdiirugby.org).

* The dates are November 10-11, 2007.
* ALL interested parties within USA Rugby South geographic territory are encouraged to bid.
* Two fields are the minimum requirement. There will be 8-10 teams attending. Participating teams each pay $100 to the host team to assist in costs.
* We will be using the attached USA Rugby South bid form. Use the USARS event guidelines and checklist published in the South Handbook at www.usarugbysouth.com to assist with items to include in the bid. Keep in mind that USARS is not the awarding organization and therefore some of the verbiage (budgets, reimbursements, etc) are not applicable.
* The deadline to submit bids is September 22, 2007. Send completed bids to Nancy Campbell at ndenni01@flastatealumni.org. If you need a mailing address, just let me know.
* The announcement of the host will be made by the tournament committee prior to the October 6-7 USARS Women's DI/DII Championships.

Let me know if there are any questions or concerns.

Nancy Campbell
USARS Women's DII Coordinator
ndenni01@flastatealumni.org

Last night the Valkyries practiced in sprinkling rain, downpour and large puddles of mud. Our coach made sure to take advantage of the softer ground and we did tackling practice. I will admit that the ground was remarkably softer last night, but the mud smelled horrible!

Practice was good as we worked on ball handling, tackling, and then we had a ton of split time. We have a few new faces in the pack so Meg was working all the combinations and they hit the sled again and again. Then the forwards worked on line outs and I headed over to the backs. They were doing back line plays and working through a couple different lineups. The challenge this weekend is we have a few people out of town or can't go to our league match...so our lineup will be a little different this weekend and in Colorado.

We have our first game/scrimmage this weekend against Texas A&M. If you recall they made it through to Collegiate Sweet 16s last year, so we are excited that we can help them train and they can help us train. We have several alumni A&M girls on our team, so this game is always a fun one. We give them a hard time and they give us the same. Also when I was in college at the University of Oklahoma we had a pretty big rivalry, so its fun to rub that in as well.

I am excited because the season is finally here! All summer I trained for ITT's or NASC's for 15's with the West and then the last part of the summer was training for the NA4 or NA2 (haha). It was good to get on the field with my old teammates that know my running style and I know their style as well. Don't get me wrong, I love playing for the West and for the USA, but its comforting to be back at your club. Your mates know your running style, timing and more...

Austin has a few tough games this season, but for the most part we have a pretty short and simple season. We have been talking as a team about playing through November and possibly going to the Ozark Tournament in Arkansas. I loved that tournament when I was in college, TONS OF FUN! Plus the last two times I played in the tournament we lost at the last minute and placed second. It would be nice to go and take the title. :)

Good luck with your games this weekend everyone.

Looks like most teams are having their first games of the season this weekend...pretty crazy that the Fall 2007 season is on us already!

League Games this weekend:
San Diego at Coast
Berkeley v. Sacramento
Mudhens at ORSU
Wisconsin at Chicago
Beantown at Keystone

Friendly Games this weekend:
Austin Valkyries vs. Texas A&M
Glendale vs. New York
Ruggapooloza Tournament (@ Carbondale, IL)
Pumpkinfest Tournament (@ Philidelphia, PA)
Jackalope Tournament (@ Laramie, WY)
All Blues @ Sac
Chicago vs Madison
Indianapolis vs Dayton (@ Dayton, OH)
Frederick vs Harrisburg (@ Carlisle, PA)
Des Moines vs Will County (@ IL)
Minneapolis Menagerie vs Palmer (@ Minneapolis)
Mudhens vs ORSU

(** Don't see your game listed? Add it to the Online Women's Rugby Calendar)

World Cup Games (this week)
France vs Argentina (Sep 7 @ 2pm)

New Zealand vs Italy (Sep 8 @ 7am)
Australia vs Japan (Sep 8 @ 9am)
England vs USA (Sep 8 @ 12pm)

Wales vs Canada (Sep 9 @ 7am)
South Africa vs Samoa (Sep 9 @ 9am)
Scotland vs Portugal (Sep 9 @11am)
Ireland vs Nambia (Sep 9 @1pm)

Jonny Wilkson to Miss US Game (American Rugby News)

England head coach Brian Ashton today announced the team that will play USA in their Rugby World Cup 2007 opener at Stade Felix-Bollaert, Lens on Saturday September 8. The English will be without their star flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.

Said Ashton, “We’ve picked a XV that we think will do a job against the USA.

“Jonny Wilkinson twisted his ankle in training this morning and is not available for selection. He is going for a scan this afternoon to determine the nature and the extent of the injury and until tomorrow there will be no further medical update.”

USA Eagles Arrive in France (American Rugby News)

The US Rugby World Cup squad jets out for France Saturday evening en route to a first up date with England next week to kick off their Cup campaign.

The 30-man squad has spent the past week at a training camp in Muscatine, Iowa, following their send-off match against Munster in Chicago last weekend. The camp also served as another opportunity for so-called ‘shadow’ coaches to get a close up look at how things are done at the top level.

Having shadow coaches attend Eagle camps is a trend that started in earnest during last year’s NA4 series.

Paris will be the first stop for the American squad as they continue to prepare for the England game in Lens on September 8th. The Eagle lineup is expected to be announced on Thursday, there will be a captains run on Friday, and then it’ll be gloves off as the United States tackles the reigning world champions in an evening game at Felix Bollaert.

England has blown out a little bit amongst odds makers behind a less than impressive run through their RWC warm-up games and the defending champs are at odds of 25/1 to retain their crown. The US, meanwhile, is about the same as it was last month at 5000/1, although one bookmaker has them at 999/1.

All Star 7s Women's Results (Women Eagles.com)

8.27.07 - The National All-Star (NASC) 7's Championships finished up yesterday with defending champs, NRU women, taking the title after going 5-0 for the weekend. They overcame last year's runners-up Midwest in the final, 7-5. NRU's Alison Price was named tournament MVP.

The US Women's National 7s Team coach, Julie McCoy was on hand to observe the top talent in the US as she prepares for selections to the US 7s National Camp in January and ultimately the squad that will play in the first ever 7s World Cup in 2008.


Pictures from the most recent 7's Foot Work Camp in Arkansas

Pictures were taken by Michelle Posey a sports photographer in Arkansas.

(womeneagles.com) 8.16.07 - The first US Footwork Camp leading into the 2008 International 7s season was held in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 11-12. The temperature reached 105 degrees, yet all the campers (and staff) persevered! Saturday morning began with fitness testing, then several hours with the US Women's 7s Strength and Conditioning Coach Sean Ross. Saturday afternoon the campers and staff concentrated on offensive skills. Sunday morning, Lisa Rowe, former national 15s and 7s scrumhalf, with the help of Sue Parker, current Navy Women's Head Coach, held a scrumhalf and technical passing module which was the "hit" of the camp. Sunday afternoon was spent on the defensive pattern and skill set.

Head Coach Julie McCoy said, "I was generally pleased with the speed of this camp, though the endurance was somewhat hindered by the overwhelming heat. The greater than 100 degree tempertures proved a good test of both mental toughness and focus. Overall, I can tell that the players are taking a run at the 2009 World Cup team very seriously which will make International selection to San Diego, Hong Kong and Amsterdam very difficult".

Here are the players who were invited to this elite camp:

1. Tasha Mannino (South)
2. Annie Antar (South)
3. Lindsay Stephenson (South)
4. Melissa McKibben (West)
5. Heidi Whitman (West)
6. Teena Maestrangelo (Midwest)
7. Pam Kosanke (Midwest)
8. Jen Sinkler (Midwest)
9. Tania Carlson (Midwest)
10. Daniela Mogro (Northeast)
11. Liz Dilley (Mid Atlantic)
12. Lo Stender (Southern Calif.)

US Footwork Camp Coaching Staff:

1. Julie McCoy
2. Chris Ryan
3. Mark Santiago
4. Sue Parker (U23 Assistant Coach)
5. Nancy Fitz (MARFU Territorial Union Coach)
6. Lisa Rowe (Guest Coach for scrumhalf skills module)
7. Manager: Sadeana Green
8. Physio: Dr Rose Livingston

This US Footwork Camp is the first of 3 important camps this fall building to the National Camp in January.

Coach Julie McCoy says, "players should be on alert that there is 1.5 years to the World Cup for 7s, which means that after this cycle of camps, the US 7s Pool should be nearly complete. What does this mean? It means that the level of work for all of us (Coaches, staff and players) has increased significantly."

Coaching Tip of the Day from U19 Women's Rugby Blog

Check out the hundreds of photos my dad and Traci took at the Austin Valkyries Rookie/Collegiate Clinic

My dad just got a digital SLR camera and all we could hear the whole clinic was the whir of the shutter. It was awesome! Thanks for taking pics Dad and Traci!

Also thanks to Meg Pace, Meredith Bagley, Heidi Whitman and Traci Schmidtke for coaching and helping at the clinic.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2159774&l=2fbad&id=9611795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2159779&l=fbf0c&id=9611795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2159782&l=c1c45&id=9611795

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2159783&l=b3759&id=9611795

The clinic was a ton of fun! We had 15 girls at the clinic from Baylor University, University of Texas, Denton, and the Austin Valkyries. The day started at 10am with a short warm up, passing skills and games and then we moved into defense before lunch.

After lunch we worked on rucking/mauling and then tackling. To wrap up the day around 3pm we did waterfall, and other situational drills. The day ended with the camp participants playing "flinch." The game where you try to fake out your teammates and if they flinch, they are out. So Team 1 won and Team 2 had to hike up their shorts and do star jumps...good fun!

The clinic was a success and next season we hope there will be more and more participants. Thanks to everyone who attended and for your hard work. Next week the Austin Valkyries play Texas A&M at Burr Field at 1pm. Come out and enjoy a great game while showing us your support!

The women's DI league standings (via Goff) are as follows:

SoCal

8-Sep San Diego at Coast
15-Sep Belmont Shore at Coast
San Diego at Scottsdale
29-Sep Belmont Shore at San Diego
Scottsdale at Coast
6-Oct Scottsdale at Belmont Shore
Coast at San Diego

Teams W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
Belmont Shore 3 0 0 135 12 3 0 123 15
Scottsdale 1 2 0 56 36 1 1 20 6
San Diego 1 1 0 14 65 0 0 -51 4
Coast 0 2 0 0 92 0 0 -92 0

NorCal

1-Sep Berkeley v Fog 98-5
8-Sep Berkeley v. Sacramento
15-Sep Berkeley v. Fog
22-Sep Berkeley at Sacramento
30-Sep Fog v. Sacramento
7-Oct Fog v Sacramento

Teams W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
Berkeley 1 0 0 98 5 1 0 98 5
Sacramento Amazons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
San Francisco Fog 0 0 0 5 98 0 0 -98 0

PNW

25-Aug Mudhens at Seattle 0-26
1-Sep ORSU at Seattle 0-52
8-Sep Mudhens at ORSU
16-Sep Seattle at ORSU
23-Sep Seattle at Mudhens
29-Sep Mudhens at ORSU

Teams W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
ORSU 1 0 0 52 0 1 0 52 5
Seattle 1 1 0 26 52 1 0 -26 5
Mudhens 0 1 0 0 26 0 0 -26 0

West

24-Mar St. Louis at Boulder 24-14
31-Mar Austin at Black Ice 5-18
1-Apr Austin at Boulder 20-0
14-Apr Glendale at Boulder 39-0
21-Apr St. Louis at Kansas City 8-29
5-May Black Ice at Glendale 5-27
Kansas City at Austin 35-8
12-May Black Ice at St. Louis
22-Sep Black Ice at Kansas City
Glendale at Austin
Boulder at Kansas City
6-Oct Kansas City at Glendale
St. Louis at Austin
13-Oct Black Ice at Boulder
Glendale at St. Louis

Team W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
Olde Girls 2 0 0 66 5 2 0 61 10
Kansas City Jazz 2 0 0 64 16 1 0 48 9
St. Louis Sabres 1 1 0 32 43 1 0 -11 5
Black Ice 1 1 0 23 32 0 0 -9 4
Austin Valkyries 1 2 0 33 53 0 0 -20 4
Boulder Babes 0 3 0 14 83 0 0 -69 0

Midwest

8-Sep Wisconsin at Chicago
Minnesota at Twin Cities
15-Sep Twin Cities at Chicago
North Shore at Wisconsin
22-Sep Chicago at Minnesota
North Shore at Twin Cities
29-Sep Minnesota at North Shore
Twin Cities at Wisconsin
6-Oct Chicago at North Shore
Wisconsin at Minnesota

Team W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
Valkyries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Twin Cities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chicago 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
North Shore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

South

Team W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
Atlanta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

MARFU

15-Sep Philadelphia at Maryland
DC at NOVA
9/22 NOVA at Maryland
Raleigh at DC
9/29 DC at Philadelphia
NOVA at Raleigh
10/6 Maryland at DC
Raleigh at Philadelphia
10/13 Philadelphia at NOVA
Maryland at Raleigh

Team W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
NOVA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Raleigh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Maryland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northeast

1-Sep Keystone at New York 0-67
Boston v Beantown 17-37
8-Sep Beantown at Keystone
15-Sep New York at Beantown
Keystone at Boston
22-Sep Boston at New York

Team W L T Pf Pa BPT BPL Pd Pts
New York 1 0 0 67 0 1 0 67 5
Beantown 1 0 0 37 17 1 0 20 5
Boston 0 1 0 17 37 0 0 -20 0
Keystone 0 1 0 0 67 0 0 -67 0

12 hours at the airport. 12 hours of sleep. 2 dr peppers. 20 teammates. 25 years old yesterday.

and I'm home.

Got home last night around 7:30pm (got to the airport in Minnesota at 7:30am) and went straight to practice. I was thinking that I might jump in the drills and do some practice but once I got into Austin I was exhausted. My teammates were excited to see me and I was excited to see them. Once I got there they split and I went and hung out with the forwards...good times! We had some new players in the tight five, so it was interesting to watch their faces as we told them to put their head here and their hands there...very funny!

Of course I said hi to the girl first, but then quickly I went to find my pup! He was on his tie-out, like every practice and he was SO excited to see me! His butt was wiggling and his tail was going ninety miles an hour and he couldn't stand still. I let him off the tie-out for a few minutes and he almost knocked me over he was so excited. This morning waking up to two different kisses was the best thing ever. He hasn't left my side this morning...god I missed him.

So last night after practice the team went out to Bagpipes to have a few drinks and some good food for my birthday. I had shrimp and chips...let the good food binge continue! We watched some football and decorated some goodie bags for this weekend's rookie clinic. While there we met the coach of the UT & USA Quad Rugby team. He was a bad ass guy and was very nice.

More about the girl...she got me two awesome presents for my birthday! (Turned 25 yesterday...quarter of a century!) She got me a 3D photo book of Hollywood Classic Hotties and a 30 minute massage today!!!

Alrighty, so I don't have to work until Tuesday so I get to relax this weekend a little bit. We have the rookie clinic on Saturday and then a birthday party on Sunday...so tonight I am getting some GOOD f'in food and relaxing with the House of WAM.

Have a great weekend all!