Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Sooooo....I bought an Iphone last week. I haven't blogged about it because it makes the girl mad. She thinks it is a silly purchase and a waste of money! I know this makes most of you cringe, but its ok, she is coming around slowly. She even bought a Macbook last Christmas...

Anyways, so everyday it seems that I discover something new about my precious new device. Last week I discovered Webclipme.com and Clipalizer.com. So I decided today that I would make a Your Scrumhalf Connection webclip for use on Iphones and the web.

Check it out:

and here it is on my Iphone:


To put the link on your Iphone, go to: http://clipalizer.com/?a=e826

Looking to find a game in your town...or looking to travel somewhere for a game or tournament? No fear! Check out the ONLINE WOMEN'S RUGBY CALENDAR ran by Your Scrumhalf Connection. It works on YOUR submissions (I do put games/tournaments if you want to email me.), so don't be afraid to post something yourself! The more games & tournaments, the better!

Visit the Google Calendar below to submit your team's schedule or tournament.



Last year there were a lot of contributors and I hope it continues this year. Don't forget to come back and put your scores and other details as well!

Last year the women's final between the US & Canada was played at Petco Park in front of 15,000 spectators. This is a tremendous opportunity for women's rugby, not only here in the states, but internationally as well.

Both the USA Senior Side and USA A squads are set to compete in the International Women's portion of the tournament with Samoa, South Africa, Canada, Canada A and Canadian Collegiate squad ("the Pandas").

USA Senior Squad:

Tyshawn Henry (New York), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Kelly White (Belmont Shore), Kitt Wagner (Beantown), Pam Kosanke (Chicago North Shore), Alison Price (New York), Teena Maestrangelo (Chicago North Shore), Donna Thomas (Kansas City Jazz), Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries), Ellie Karvoski (New York), Jen Starkey (NOVA), JoAnne Ward (Albany)

Alternates:
Melissa McKibben (Kansas City Jazz), Daniela Mogro (New York), Liz Dilley (Washington)

USA A Squad:

Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone), Sadie Anderson (Fort Collins Youth Rugby), Ida Bernstein (Syracuse University), Laura Bilazarian (New York Rugby Club), Emilie Bydwell (Brown University), Kate Daley (Penn State), Lisa Dombroski (Philadelphia Women), Katie Dowty (Beantown), Jenna Flateman (New York Rugby Club), Lauren Hoeck (NOVA), Emily Malkin (Boston Women's Rugby), Crista Mendoza (Stanford Women's Rugby), Lauren Rosso (Penn State Women), Maria Rye (Twin Cities Amazons), Melissa Smit (Stanford Women's Rugby)
Stephanie Taguacta (Washington, D.C. Furies), Becky Urion (University of Florida), Jessica Watkins (Stanford Women's Rugby) & Alison Worman (Penn State Women)

Canadian Squad:

Jocelyn Barrieau, Natalie Bendavid, Susy Bienstock, Rosie Cobbett, Jess Dovanne, Tara Eckert,
Maria Gallo, Genevieve Gay, Jill Harris, Michele Helmeczi, Jennifer Kish, Mandy Marchak, Barbara Mervin, Meghan Mutrie, Tanja Ness, Ashley Patzer, Cheryl Phillips, Kelly Russell, Laura Stoughton, Julia Suguwara, Brittany Waters & Julianne Zussman

South Africa Squad:

Yolanda Meiring (Blue Bulls), Natasha Hofmeester (Boland), Saloma Booysen, Lorinda Brown, Lamla Momoti, Marie-Lee Erasmus, Nomathamsanqa Faleni, Phumeza Gadu (Eastern Province), Nombulelo Mayongo (Griffons), Aimee Barrett (KwaZulu-Natal), Nadine Barnard, Nomtha Xape (Western Province).

Date	Time	Home	Score	Away	Venue	TV/Attend
Fri 1st Feb 08	14:40	Ireland Women	v	Italy Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 2nd Feb 08	14:30	England Women	v	Wales Women	London Irish Amateur RFC, Middlesex
Sun 3rd Feb 08	12:00	Scotland Women	v	France Women	Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh
Sat 9th Feb 08	14:30	Italy Women	v	England Women	Stadio Tre Fontane, Rome
Sun 10th Feb 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	Scotland Women	Taffs Wells RFC, Cardiff
Sun 10th Feb 08	15:00	France Women	v	Ireland Women	St Gratien, nr Paris
Fri 22nd Feb 08	18:00	Ireland Women	v	Scotland Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 23rd Feb 08	16:00	France Women	v	England Women	Bergerac, nr Agen
Sun 24th Feb 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	Italy Women	Taffs Wells RFC, Cardiff
Fri 7th Mar 08	19:30	Ireland Women	v	Wales Women	St Marys RFC, Dublin
Sat 8th Mar 08	12:00	Scotland Women	v	England Women	Meggetland Stadium, Edinburgh
Sat 8th Mar 08	16:00	France Women	v	Italy Women	Stade Pompidou, Valence, nr Lyon
Sat 15th Mar 08	13:00	Wales Women	v	France Women	Taffs Wells, Cardiff
Sat 15th Mar 08	16:45	England Women	v	Ireland Women	London Irish Amateur RFC, Middlesex
Sun 16th Mar 08	14:30	Italy Women	v	Scotland Women	Stadio Comunale, Mira, nr Venice

The Women's Six Nations Championship is run at the same time as the men's competition; February through March. The competition is also between the six elite European women's national teams. The women's tournament was introduced in the 2001 season, and included the same national teams as the men's competition did, with the exception of Italy, with Spain instead. The participating nations remained unchanged for several seasons until 2007, when Spain was replaced with Italy.

from Wikipedia:

Home International Championship

1996 - England (triple crown & grand slam)
1997 - England (triple crown)
1998 - Flag of Scotland Scotland (triple crown & grand slam)

Five Nations

1999 - England (grand slam)
2000 - England (grand slam)
2001 - England (grand slam)

Six Nations

2002 - France (grand slam)
2003 - England (grand slam)
2004 - France (grand slam)
2005 - France (grand slam)
2006 - England (grand slam)
2007 - England (grand slam)

UPDATE: I am an idiot and was reading about the Women's Six Nations and then jumped over to the Men's Six Nations...sorry for the misinformation and thanks to Total Flanker for pointing out my mistake.

I saw this article on rugbyfanz.com and couldn't pass it up. I have never seen the movie Borat, but have had the unfortunate experience of seeing someone in the costume in person. It is not the most flattering outfit anyone has ever worn. This is hilarious that they are banning it at Wellington Sevens.

New Zealand police have banned fans from wearing Borat's skimpy one-piece bathing suit to the Wellington Sevens this year, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Police turned a blind eye to the dozens of fans who wore the "mankini" to the tournament last year, but say this year they will turn away anyone who turns up in the swimsuit made famous by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

"It's a family event and there will be children there," a police spokesman said on Monday in an appeal to fans to show "a sense of decency."

The Wellington round of the IRB Sevens, which starts on Friday, customarily attracts thousands of fans who wear all kinds of fancy dress.

Some great gems have been coming across my inbox this week, check them out!

• Norwich Women's & Men's Rugby Goes Varsity
  NORTHFIELD – The number of varsity sports at Norwich increased from 18 to 20 Tuesday with the university's announcement of the promotion of the men's and women's rugby teams to varsity status.
  
  "The elevation of the men's and women's rugby programs to varsity status places these two programs in line with the other athletic programs at the university," Norwich Athletic Director Tony Mariano said. "This move will hopefully enable us to attract a larger pool of student-athletes who are interested in playing collegiate rugby, and provide a more equitable opportunity for all of our student-athletes."
  
  The Norwich men's rugby team began competition in 1970 at club status. The team now competes in the Division I of the New England Rugby Football Union, which includes collegiate rugby powers Dartmouth and West Point-Army. A perennial participant in the New England playoffs, the Cadets struggled in 2007. Head coach Bob Weggler is excited about the prospects of his young team and the recruits who have committed for the fall 2008 season.
  
  "I am most grateful to the university for our new status," Weggler said. "In 2001, the administration took two bold steps to secure the future of Norwich rugby: they hired a full-time coach and moved rugby under the umbrella of the athletic department. This announcement further legitimizes the sport in the eyes of the university community and higher education in general. I have already begun to seen the benefit as far as recruiting student-athletes. After 22 years of collegiate coaching, this is a dream come true for me."
  
  The women's team competes in NERFU's Division II. It recently wrapped up a successful 2007 fall campaign with an unblemished 15-0 record. The Cadets won the Northeast Regional playoffs this fall for the second straight year, and will compete in the USA Rugby National championships this spring in Albuquerque, N.M. They are currently ranked No. 1 nationally for Division II by erugbynews.com.
  
  "Earning varsity status adds new responsibility," women's coach Austin Hall said. "As a university at the forefront of a national movement, we will continue to exemplify great character on and off the field. We are honored to be selected for such distinction."
  
  
• Women's RFU Director Steps Down (International)
  
  The Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) has today announced the resignation of its Director of Rugby Carol Isherwood OBE.
  
  After ten years of service at the RFUW Isherwood has decided to take some time out from rugby and enjoy some personal time travelling before pursuing new career interests.
  
  Isherwood first joined the RFUW in 1997 as Performance Director and has since then been heavily involved in working to develop an effective partnership with the RFU and making the women’s game sustainable for players, clubs and at the elite level of the game.
  
  RFUW Managing Director Rosie Williams said: “Carol has made an enormous contribution to the women’s game. She has been a stalwart for the game for many years, working for over ten years as an employee of the RFUW and before that 15 years of voluntary service. Her influence will be sorely missed though we hope Carol will stay involved in women’s rugby in some voluntary capacity.”
  
  Isherwood added: “I am really sad to be leaving but I have had several fantastic years at the RFUW and now it is time to move on. I know I am leaving the game on good hands as the RFUW continues to be successful, expand and move forward, working together with the RFU and the IRB.”
  The RFUW Board will be reviewing the current staffing structures before any further announcements.
  
  
• Second NCAA Convention Exhibition Successful for Emerging Sports Initiative
  
  BOULDER, Colo. – One of the many goals for USA Rugby's Emerging Sports Initiative is gaining support from key advocates within the NCAA. In USA Rugby's second year of exhibition at the NCAA Convention held in Nashville, Tenn. on January 11-13, the organization proved successful in this area of advocacy.
  
  Overall, Emerging Sports Program Manager Becky Carlson is optimistic about the initiative's visibility at the annual event.
  
  "The integration of Women's NCAA Rugby and expansion of participation is a delicate process where the initiative can make great strides by repetition of attendance at these events," Carlson said. "It's really about gaining recognition from athletic directors who have some background, continuing our progress and then utilizing our contacts and NCAA advocates to get the word out to new sources of interest."
  
  In addition to Carlson and the Director of Membership Relations Kristin Richeimer showcasing for NCAA Women's Rugby, CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville was on-site to watch the initiative in action.
  
  The three-day event offered invaluable face time with many athletic directors who are currently in the process of studying emerging sports to identify options for adding new programs.
  
  The fact that USA Rugby is taking such positive steps to engage athletic directors and promoting women’s rugby certainly raised the profile of the sport in the eyes of many. Discussions at the convention ranged from the history of the game on college campuses to facilities, equipment, scholarships and the modern game.
  
  Movement and discussion among athletic directors, presidents and key officials within the NCAA has created the buzz about a variety of ways in which rugby could provide the answer for institutions at all divisional levels looking to create more athletic opportunities.
  
  "Our pitch has been consistent, as rugby maintains high roster numbers for less cost," Carlson said. "While our message of affordability and compliance is vital to our campaign, our primary pitch that rugby provides an opportunity for female athletes to participate in the 'ultimate running game’ has proved to be a positive combination for the initiative."
  
  The NCAA Convention is one of the five major intercollegiate and interscholastic events that USA Rugby will attend in 2008, a list that also includes the NACDA, NACWAA, NFHSA, and Title IX conferences. While the NCAA Convention is a prime meeting ground for discussion on legislation, member and organization appointments, it is a key forum that USA Rugby uses to spread the word about women's rugby as an emerging sport.
  
  "Attending the NCAA Convention in Nashville was a great experience for me personally," Melville said. “It was an opportunity for me to understand the size and scope of NCAA operations, their importance in the development of the student-athletes in the USA and the opportunity for USA Women’s Rugby."
  
  The Emerging Sports Initiative's next exhibition will be at the Title IX Conference in Boston, Mass., on April 27-29. For more information on USA Rugby's Emerging Sports Initiative and Girls' Varsity High School rugby, please contact Becky Carlson at 303.539.0300 ext. 102 or bcarlson@usarugby.org.
  
  
• Todd Clever Autographed USA Jersey is on the Auction Block (on ebay)
  
  Want to feel even more connected to the US team when they take the pitch at PETCO Park for the USA 7s? Be the high bidder for this autographed Todd Clever Eagles jersey and you will be. Arguably the best 7s and 15s player in the country, Todd is donating a jersey he wore at the recent tournament in George, South Africa to the USRFF.
  
  If you recall, that tournament also happened to be one of the best showings ever by a United States team in an IRB Sevens World Series event as they pulled off victories over sevens powerhouse, Samoa, France and Canada. Their weekend performance in George gave them 6 points in the standings, good enough for ninth place, and ahead of the likes of Australia, Wales, Canada, France and Tonga.
  
  "I am honored to be asked to donate one of my USA Rugby jerseys to the Rugby Foundation," said the just turned 25-year-old sevens prop. "It's a great feeling knowing that the funds raised from my jersey are going to a great cause and helping to grow the sport in America."
  
  Photos, a more detailed description of the jersey and more information about Todd and his US team can be found on eBay, item #180209806852. The bidding will conclude at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, February 2, 2008.
  
  
• There's Still Time to Scrumble!
  
  There's still time to get your USA Sevens weekend started right by teeing it up in the 1st Annual USRFF 4-Player Scrumble Golf Tournament. The Scrumble will take place at the Salt Creek Golf Club on Friday, February 8, 2008 and will begin with a shotgun start at noon. Don't miss out! Register now in what will certainly be a full international field.
  
  Registration fee is just $200 per player and includes:
  
  Greens Fees
  Transportation to and from downtown San Diego
  Dinner at the course (Golfers will be back downtown by 8:00 pm)
  Beverages on the course
  Hole in One Contests on all Par 3s
  Gift bag that includes a $75 gift card from TaylorMade, shirt & hat
  A chance for your entire foursome to win sets of TaylorMade clubs
  Cart with GPS
  Customized scoring
  Range balls
  Tournament results posted in the San Diego Union Tribune
  
  Hole sponsorships are also available for $200.
  
  The USRFF would like to thank the IRB, USA Sevens Steinlager and Coca Cola for their support of the 1st Annual USRFF 4-Player Scrumble. All proceeds raised from the event will further the programs offered by the US Rugby Foundation.
  
  
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The radio show I listen to every morning on the drive to work and stream across the internet while at work was hilarious this morning! I listen to Bobby Bones on 96.7 Kiss FM in Austin, TX. The last couple of days they have been talking about Bobby and a girl he thinks is hot at the gym. He has talked about wanting to talk to her but worried that he would be "one of those guys" at the gym. The co-hosts (Lunchbox and Amy) on the show bolstered him up last week and got him to approach her at the gym this week.

Well I guess it didn't go so well because she had a boy friend and pretty much thought Bobby was a creep-o. So Lunchbox and Amy were singing him a quick song they made up to the lyrics of Delilah about how he got shot down. Then this morning some listeners of the show had sent in some lyrics to that song as well. They were freaking hilarious! I am hoping they put the audio files or at least the lyrics on the website. If they do I will post them here!

While we are on the topic of the gyms and the funny things that happen inside them...check out this:

from That's Fit Blog
Step in any gym in any city in any state in this entire country and you're sure to find the same people. Of course not the exact same people, but the same types of people. Though their accents may differ when they yell their rep count out loud and their music selection may vary as it blares through their over sized headphones, these same people seem to magically appear in every gym throughout the nation. Some of them work out hard, some don't work out at all, and some do exercises so bizarre that it's clearly not safe to be within a fifty-foot radius of them. Who are the people in your neighborhood gym? Pretty much the same as those in everyone else's.

1. The Gamma Radiation Victim – While they aren't green (yet), these guys are so large that they look like they could either live forever or die any second. Their clothes fit them like paint and their veins practically form road maps on their arms and legs. Fortunately for them, if they ever get lost on the way to their steroid dealer's house, they can use their bodies like a AAA Trip-Tic. These are also the same guys that you should never ask to spot you, because if you are struggling to bang out your last rep with what you believe to be a respectable amount of weight, they will simply lift it off you with one hand ... and then beat up your dad with the other.

2. Thomas Edison – Stay the hell away from this guy or girl, or else you're bound to get hurt. There's truly nothing scarier in the gym than the people who feel the need to invent their own exercises. As you and everyone else go about your daily grind, these people are rolling around on a physio-ball while balancing a soft-spoken Peruvian child on their head. A common explanation for the purpose of their whacked-out maneuvers is that this new exercise is great for working their 'core.' The truth? It doesn't work their core at all. In fact, it doesn't work anything...except to bring utter chaos into a weight room. Get these people on a treadmill and that's when things really get dangerous.

3. Sparkle Motion – Remember the girls in college who used to get dressed to the hilt for an 8:00am class? Well, ten years later these same ladies are still going for cosmetic gold, primping and teasing their early morning glamour for a pre-work trip to the gym. The hair, the nails, the matching pink running shoes/zip-up sweatshirt ensemble, and even the unabashedly applied glitter lipstick...all at 5:30 in the goddamn morning. Most people with even an iota of sanity are still asleep at this hour. These glimmering gals, however, are already into their fourth cup of iced coffee and forty-third minute on the elliptical machine by this time.

4. The 'A Bit Too Personal' Trainer – Signing-up for a gym membership in itself can be a rather daunting process for some people. When you factor in a personal training session with someone who feels the need to tell you about all of their life problems, things can quickly go from uneasy to downright weird. "That's it...one more...good...you can do it....good........my mother died from advance stage syphilis." Uh...what? Who needs to hear that? And how is that possibly motivating? I may be wrong, but I don't recall a single scene in Rocky where Mickey told Rocky that the reason why his skin looks so healthy is because he refuses to poop after 8:30 at night.

5. Bob the Builder – Fancy health clubs may be the only place where this guy doesn't show up, but for the rest of us whose annual gym memberships cost less than the price of a new Nissan Maxima, this unfashionably coarse fellow is a staple (Puns, kids. That's what they're called.). Sometimes it's a pair of work boots and jeans, other times it's a pair of overalls, and on some occasions it's a line of clothing seemingly purchased from the Paul Bunyon collection on QVC. How do these people work out in all those layers? The grunge epoch may have ended in the late nineties, but flannel somehow managed to survive thanks to carpenters whose parents clearly never made them put on their 'play clothes' after school.

6. The Unworthy Screamer – Although it is true that the huge guys do sometimes yell while they work out, it is most times the mostly-fat-but-partially-muscled guy who feels the need to grunt and groan at the top of his lungs each time he curls a thirty-five pound dumbbell. Even worse, when it turns out that the dying moose sounds you hear emanating from the far corner turn out to be the Herculean cries of a one hundred and fifty pound man wearing Puma sweats and a Riptide headband, banging out his last two reps of triceps extensions. Feel that burn, you annoying S.O.B.

7. The Teen Titan – Obesity rates for youths and teens are at an all time high, which is why you see less and less fat kids getting picked on today (fat is the new skinny, or at least it would seem). So, to see any teenage kids in the gym is, in and of itself, a good thing. Problems usually arise when a group of four of five teenage boys collectively decide to dive head first into a workout regimen that would make Ronnie Coleman sleep in. Their form is all out of whack and they do their best to shove around as much weight as their barely post-pubescent bodies possibly can. All goes to hell once a 45 pound plate slides off the side of the bar during an attempt at a one rep max bench press and the other side comes crashing down onto their spleen. Even worse is when they use far too much weight on the cable crossovers and end up being violently yanked backwards like Sweetchuck in Police Academy 2.

8. The Doctor of Style – Look, we all think it's very impressive that you work at a hospital. You're clearly a very intelligent and noble person. And, depending on your particular occupation, it's likely that you probably make some serious money, too. But, is it still necessary to wear your powder blue scrubs to the gym? These people work all day long in these draw-string pants and v-neck shirts...don't they want to change out of them? They may be comfortable and they may "breathe," but that's still no excuse for wearing your work clothes in public. Do the world a favor and pick-up a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, will you please?

9. Scarface – Though he's not a cocaine drug kingpin, this guy is still to blame for leaving the weight room looking like the backroom of a bakery. Despite the fact that the signs clearly say that "Weightlifting Chalk is Not Allowed," this dusty fellow claps his hands together with pride before each set, leaving everything and everyone around him covered in a layer of white powder. Only making things worse is the industrial size weightlifting belt this guy straps around the waistband of his ultra-tight spandex shorts, essentially forcing everyone in the gym to 'say hello to his little friend.'

10. The Senator – Treating each visit to the gym like a stop on a campaign trail, these types want to talk to you and everyone else about utter and complete nonsense. They never, ever shut up. Ever. Even while you attempt to finish your last five minutes of an hour run on the treadmill, or even worse, as you labor through your last set of squats, this person will find that to be the most opportune time to ask you how your family is doing, or how your job is going, or if you know a good place to buy deck stain. Your best attempts at ignoring them or hint dropping for them to leave you alone are about as effective as using gasoline to put out a fire. Maybe these people really should run for office.

Don't believe that these people are at your gym? Try looking around the next time you go and you'll see them. All of them. But, if for some reason you have trouble identifying one of them from this list, well, I hate to break it to you, but that person might be you.

Here is some important news from the Texas Rugby Union:

The Texas Rugby Union (TRU) Women's Under-23 team will be having tryouts in Austin, TX on Jan 26th and 27th. The tryouts will be from 9am - 4pm on Saturday and from 9am - 1pm on Sunday. The tryouts will be at the University of Texas Intramural (IM) Fields (see directions below). If the fields are closed due to the weather, please meet at the fields at 9am on Saturday morning and we will relocate to an alternative field. Call me if you get lost or will be late.

The tryouts are open for EVERYONE and are FREE, so please encourage all eligible players to come. Playing on the TRU women's U-23 team is a super fun experience where you get to meet and play against some of the top players in the West. The TRU women's U-23 team won the LAU U-23 tourney last year (beating the other unions) and we hope to do it again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need housing.

Thanks,
Anna Kunkel
TRU Women's U-23 Coach
UT Head Coach

Important Notes:

* University rules PROHIBIT metal studs/cleats at the Intramural (IM) Fields (see "Attire" at link.) Plastic screw-in or rubber molded only.
* Alcohol is NOT permitted on the IM Fields at any time.
* Dogs are NOT allowed on the IM Fields at any time.
* NO glass containers of any kind are allowed.

The UT Rec Sports Staff and the UT Rugby Clubs appreciate your cooperation.

Whitaker Fields (Intramural Fields) - Located on the southeast corner of 51st and Guadalupe Streets.


Since we all know that this past week's rain caused last minute changes in some matches, I wanted to ensure we are all clear on the protocols for coordinating with match officials.

To ensure STRR resources are used in an effective manner throughout our area of responsibility, this email is being sent to clarify previously identified procedures.

Please remember that it is the Club's responsibility to coordinate with the referee no less than 3 days prior to a match to confirm location (i.e. Wednesday night for a Saturday match). For these confirmations, email is acceptable.

If there are changes less than 24 hours prior to a match (i.e. cancellations, change of venue), the Club is responsible for CALLING the referee. If you are not able to reach the referee, please ring Chris Callan, who is responsible for emergency allocations (i.e. changes on the day). In the event of a last minute cancellation, you must speak with a live person that is capable of reaching the referee.

If you do not confirm the match details with the referee by Wednesday, the official you have assigned may be removed from your match to fill other obligations.

If you do not contact a referee by telephone in the event of a cancellation, you will be dropped to a last priority when allocating referees for your home matches. Given the current shortage of referees, if you are low in allocation priority (i.e. a referee is not assigned to any of your home matches until all other commitments are filled), it is unlikely that you will receive a referee for your matches.

Ensuring every match receives a referee requires open communication.

Clubs, please verify that your match information is correct at http://strr.assignby.net.

Referees, please verify that all of your contact details are correct.

TRU Representatives, please ensure that all of your constituents understand their responsibilities as set by the TRU which pertain to coordinating with match officials.

Chris Draper
topher.draper@gmail.com

Welcome to another edition of Rugby Here & There. I have been thinking of changing the name up, or giving it an edition number...something to make it a bit spicier!

• Should Ashton drop Jonny?
  
  With Danny Cipriani in the England squad, the number 10 shirt appears to be more than a one-horse race.
  
  Jonny Wilkinson has been the undisputed bearer over the past few years (except when he was injured, obviously) and few can question his place amongst the best players of all time.
  
  But Wasps fly-half Cipriani has been grabbing the limelight recently, leading some people to conclude that Stuart Barnes and Dewi Morris are actually his parents, so deep is their love for him.
  
  Brian Ashton has a big decision to make in the next couple of weeks. Is Jonny really too old at 28? Is Danny ready to step into the breach? What do you think?
  
  **Since Jonny Wilkinson is my favorite rugby player in the world I cannot possibly agree to letting him go. Sure his World Cup performance wasn't the best, but that doesn't mean he should be shunned. I believe he still has a few good years in him, I love a flyhalf that is a mean tackler!
  
  
• Save 10% at Rugby World Shop
  
  Order must be $50 or More. Coupon Code: Jan1A08. Good through 1/26/2008.
  
  
• The Reluncant Triathlete: American Gladiator
  
  This post has very little to do with rugby (she mentions it for a moment), but is hilarious! Check it out!
  
  
• 22nd Annual Mardi Gras Tournament - Galveston RFC
  Jan. 26, 2008, 9am to 4pm.
  
  HS $150
  Mens $200
  Womens $150
  
  Contact:
  David Hicks
  Rowdy42271@sbcglobal.net
  409.771.6989
  
  Otis Parker
  Pappamoose@yahoo.com
  
  
• Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will host the 32nd Ruggerfest on February 23rd and 24th, 2008
  
  Just wanted to send out the information about this years ruggerfest! We have over 40 teams coming down and there are still a couple of spots for the men and wowen club sides. DC furies, Navy, Toronto, Orlando, and Miami have already committed, so there is going to be some great rugby and some money to be won!
  
  There is also a kicking contest and the winner will get $750 and 2nd will win $250.
  
  Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will host the 32nd Ruggerfest on February 23rd and 24th 2008. We invite all interested clubs to come and join us in Fort Lauderdale for this Great rugby weekend. Here are some of the details:
  
  Where: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Tradewinds Park
  When: February 23rd and 24th, 2008
  What: Premier Division; Club/Social Division; Women's Division; Old Boys Over 35; Old Boys Over 45; and Old Boys Over 50 (Masters)
  
  Costs: Premier $450; Club/Social 375; Women's $375; Old Boys (All Divisions) $350
  
  Prizes: Premier Division $1500 Cash Prize for the Winner
  Club/Social Division $500 for the Winner
  Women's Division $500 for the Winner
  
  Other Events:
  1) Murvest Foods Kicking Competition
  2) Fort Lauderdale Rugby Foundation Golf Tournament(Friday February 22nd, 2008)
  
  Contact Information:
  Premier Division – alex@ftlrugby.com
  Club/Social – Borugby1@aol.com
  Women's – littlescoutfinch@gmail.com
  All Old Boys – alex@ftlrugby.com
  
  
• FYI - if you can pass around as a possible way for some of your top players to travel over to New Zealand .....
  
  

  				Up your Game.
  		Play high school Rugby in new zealand