Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

Send me your bruised and battered rugby pictures and I will post them!

NOTE: All images shown contain rugby related injuries. No domestic violence was associated with these injuries.

Rugby is a rough sport, but rugby has no more risk than any other sport and safety is a primary concern! Please read the article below: "Is Rugby Safe for Youth" by Dr. Lyle Micheli.

Please also note that we will only be updating this photo album once a month due to its graphic nature.

by Lyle J. Micheli, MD

Commentary by a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine

I support efforts to establish rugby teams in American high schools and colleges, and wish to alleviate any possible concerns about the sport’s relative safety.

I think I offer a unique perspective on the subject given that:

• I have been closely involved in rugby as a player and supporter since the early 1960s when I began playing the sport as a Harvard undergraduate, and
• I am a physician who is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine; I am the author of over 200 scholarly journal articles on sports medicine (including the first-ever published study of rugby injuries in the United States); in my practice I have treated athletes of all ages from sports as varied as figure skating and football; and I am the chairman of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

A popular sport worldwide

Rugby is a dynamic contact sport that is played all over the world by men and women of all different classes, creeds, and races. It fosters friendship and camaraderie between players. To celebrate one recent Christmas, men from the American and New Zealand research stations in Antarctica played a game of rugby against each other on those southernmost frozen wastelands. Most rugby players have played with and against people from other nations.

Rugby is played in over 100 countries and is the most popular team sport in nations such as Japan, Fiji, and Wales. This sport could not be as popular as it is among the peoples of so many different cultures if it were dangerous! In fact, the risk of injury in rugby is relatively low compared to sports Americans embrace – such as football, ice hockey, and lacrosse - a fact borne-out by numerous studies to ascertain the risk of sports injury in different
activities. The reasons for this are quite straightforward to those of us who study sports medicine.

Why rugby is a safe sport – paradoxically

The main reason rugby players have a relatively low risk of injury compared to football players is paradoxical – rugby players don’t wear protective equipment. Thus the rugby player doesn’t have the same disregard for the safety of his or her head, neck, and shoulders when tackling or trying to break through a tackle. The other reason is that unlike football, rugby is a game of possession, not yardage. Consequently rugby players don’t tackle by “driving through the numbers,” as football players are taught to do with their heads when tackling a player. In rugby, players are taught to use their arms to wrap a player’s legs and let the momentum of that player cause him to go to ground. Furthermore, in rugby there is no blocking, and so players who don’t have the ball don’t get hit when they’re not expecting it.

One of the reasons rugby has a reputation for being “dangerous” in the United States is because when the average American sees rugby being played, he or she sees a free-flowing contact sport. Because it doesn’t have the familiar stop-and-start character of football and other TV-shaped sports, to the uninitiated rugby can appear confusing and “scary.”

Furthermore, while the bumps, bruises, and scrapes you see on the elbows, knees, and faces of many rugby players can appear alarming, they are of considerably less concern than the anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, finger fractures and dislocations, and chest contusions characteristic of a sport such as football in which heavy protective equipment is worn.

Injury rates

I performed one of the first studies of rugby injuries in the United States, which showed that compared to football, the incidence of injury in rugby is quite low (10 percent in American club rugby compared to 52 percent in NCAA college football). My study was published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Sports Medicine. Subsequent studies have supported my results.

It would be disingenuous to suggest that rugby players never get injured. However, based on the numerous studies that have been done, the scientific conclusion we must reach is that rugby is not as injurious as certain other contact and collision sports that most of us believe deserve NCAA status, and is a relatively safe sport in the panoply of athletic endeavors available to our young men and women.

Since the early study I did, sports medicine has grown as a specialty and there has emerged a considerable body of literature on the safety of all sports, including rugby. If you review the literature you will find no evidence to suggest that rugby should be denied a legitimate place in high schools and colleges around the world.

For all the reasons outlined above, I have no hesitation based on my personal and professional experience to declare that rugby is worthy of a place in American colleges and high schools.

Dr. Lyle Micheli is director of the Division of Sports Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine and currently serves as chairman of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Dr. Micheli is chairman of USA Rugby’s Medical & Risk Management Committee.

from Singapore Women's Rugby Blog

Singapore selected a largely development team, guided by 3 senior players, to participate in the ARFU Asian Women’s Championships 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand. The Singapore women’s rugby team claimed the title of Bowl Champions in a tight final against Iran.

Singapore was grouped with Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, China and Guam in the playoffs. Singapore started out by putting on the pressure in the first game against Uzbekistan. However two missed tackles and a turnover by Singapore saw Uzbekistan taking the game with a 19-0 win.

In the 2nd game, Hong Kong scored the first try from the kick off by running wide. Singapore came back strongly to put in two tries to lead the game at half time by 10-5, however Hong Kong replied with two quick tries after half time. Singapore replied instantly with another unconverted try to close the gap by 15 – 17. In the last minute of the game, but Hong Kong came back to put in one more unconverted try to seal the game with a 22-15 point win.

Singapore fielded mostly development players to gain experience against the China-the eventual Champions- and recent Rugby World Cup Bowl Champions. Singapore did themselves proud by scoring a team try against China from a free kick at the half way line but China ran out convincing winners by 52-7. In the last game of the day, Guam stepped up a notch, in miserable wet weather, and with three tries all converted, they won 21-0 against Singapore.

Day 2 saw Singapore grouped with India and Laos. Singapore took on India in the first game with an exemplary performance. Again the experienced players from Singapore were left on the bench to allow the ‘rookies’ to take the field. The team did well, blazing to a 50-0 victory. Singapore maintained their win against a more experience Laos with 5 unconverted tries.

In the Bowl Final, Singapore was up against a bigger and speedy Iran. Singapore started the game in a determined fashion and Priscilla Humphries scored the opening try in the 5th minute. Just before the half time, Annabelle Woo scored the 2nd try by attacking the blind side from a penalty. The second half saw Iran trying their best to get back into the game and they eventually scored a converted try. Singapore defended very well for the last 2 minutes of the game to emerge Bowl Champions.

Final Tournament Standings:

1. China - Cup Champions
2. Thailand - Cup Runners-up
3. Kazakhstan - 3rd
4. Uzbekistan - 4th
5. Arabian Gulf - Plate Champions
6. Guam Plate - Runners-up
7. Hong Kong - 7th
8. Chinese Taipei - 8th
9. Singapore - Bowl Champions
10. Iran - Bowl Runners Up

Related Posts:
IRB: China Crowned Asian Women's Champions
Guam Plate Runners-Up
Gulf take the plate

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Truth
There is truth in this game. As in no other place I know, there is truth to be witnessed in this sport. Sport has always attracted our attention for its entertainment but also because of its truth. We are drawn to the truth of a competition which declares a clear winner. No grey areas, please, just truth and winners. The participants are showing us what they are made of by showing us how willing they are to give it all. It is impossible to fake giving it all. It is impossible to fake the look one gets in the eyes and jaws when the moment (now) is worth the rest of their breaths. You can see it in the underdogs eyes just before they win. The Cinderella teams are
irresistible because we crave the truth that possibilities come from the heart... and not the budget. We all wish in the pit of our soul that the underdog can do it. We want the truth to be the Olympic Hockey Miracle. Therein is the truth that we see in this game of Rugby. It is a sport where if all things are equal in fitness, skill, and fortune...the decider will be determination.

Determination is the truth of willingness. Determination is the truth of belief. Determination is confidence transformed into example and leadership. Determination is the pure truth of focusing on perfection completely without blinking. We ride the swing of momentum by a confidence rope tied to the tall branches by a determination knot. Slip knots are killers!

The knuckles on the slippery rope of confidence beg hard questions. Can you be perfect longer than the opposite number? Can you focus your every fiber, movement, and thought to the task? Will you waver or loosen your grip? Can you stay a split second ahead of everyone else? If so, then you lead the action that everyone else responds to. It is your game to play. As the one in the Zone, setting the pace one blink before your surroundings, the rest of us follow you wherever you go. It is always flawless when you chase what will happen instead of what has happened.

We watch because it is truth like none other that we know. It is beautiful truth to see a performance given spontaneously and perfectly. The beauty is the shine from the spirit of the player. We see it for what it is, without the help of special glasses or replays. Truth has a Quality that you recognize when you see it. Some players have it, some wish they did, some pretend they do. Our eyes tell the truth. It’s the truth we came to see.

Our weekdays steal the strength of our optimism. We crave a torrent of determination and truth. These are what we long to see after a boring week of living the wage grinder. In deed, and effort, there is truth in this game. When players fuse together and refuse to give in; that cannot be faked. It is truth. It is difficult to lie, deceive, manipulate, or fake it on the field. You can’t get credit for someone else’s work. The cheats are whistled, the lazy are found out, and the hard workers are watched and appreciated. It is the way we wish it were so on the job.

Truth is demanded by the expectations of the game. We expect a certain level of truth from the participants. It is disrespectful and deceitful to posture, prance, jive talk and walk, or taunt. We all agree that it is unsportsmanlike and worth a penalty because it is a lie told in public. It ought to be a red card. Ones boasts must be followed with the action as advertised. Without fail they will be found out as what they are.... for all to see. There is just no place to hide. If you are too soft to tackle you better be a points scorer and kicker. The game demands these truths.

Truth is the reflection of the performance. Video forces the truth to be swallowed. Its one of the main needs of the game and yet it is seen as a convenience. It is the truth of the day for all to see.
Forcing players to watch themselves perform poorly, and lazily after they have talked the big game is humiliating. A student of this game will change one or the other.... less talk, or more and better action. Either way, the game wins, the team gets better, and the player has a genuine reason to be confident. There is just no place to hide.

We see from the sideline more than the player can imagine. The player thinks maybe no one noticed, but in truth we saw it all. We will wonder if it was due to weak mind or body, but we noticed. This is the truth we came to see.

The great players I have known never tried to hide. They came to this game hard and willing. That is the way they played and lived. They were easy to love for their truth.

Truth is still what I look for.

Native
I am watching the New Zealand culture embrace their Maori in sport. I see proud fathers watching. There are sisters and brothers in the stands cheering. Grandmother made the match to watch her strong, handsome “brown boy”. I see the white pakeha cheering the dark Maori.

Away from the fields there will be political positioning and racial leverage, but game day is quite different. The sport is more important than the politics. The sport is more important than the color. There is room for both here.

I see a nation embracing a minority as its hero on the field of play with four million fans. They are called the “All Black’s”, and the color reference is not, and was not, an accident. In these All Blacks there resides the pride of mainstream culture, national sport, and the hero’s of every kid boy and girl. The captain of their national team is Maori.

I wish the Native American tribes could have embraced this game so long ago. It is evident the great contribution that Rugby has made to the Maori people of New Zealand. Each of the Native American nations could use much of what has been grown here. It starts with the traditional Haka, a war cry in the native language. It is a source of immense National pride and identity. What is the war cry, chant, or dance from the Americas that we should begin our games with? Would those nations lend their heritage?

The Maori preserves its heritage by being popular from Rugby and Tourism. In the States, neither rugby nor tourism is on the side of our proud Native Americans. After waiting for two hundred years is it too late to embrace the game at the tribal level?

I used to rave about getting the support of the Cherokee or Osage or others and establish National teams so we could go to the World Cups and International events like the Hong Kong sevens. Back then I was too irresponsible to gain anyone’s financial trust, but I still wonder
if it could be a small solution to the big problems.

From my perspective the value of this game is far more important than just as a sport. It is very clearly socially and culturally important. The Maori of NZ would be much worse off with out this
game.

Maori and whites share the same reasons for needing rugby. It is our common ground. Through this game they can still be proud, and athletic, and revered, and tribal.

We all need a tribe.

The Problem
It only takes one guy to ruin a drill, lose a game, or weaken a Club. Just one.

Why do you suppose that we have difficulty getting and keeping good quality people into this great game? If you can’t find a good coach; it’s probably because they have been run off. If you can’t find a good referee; it’s probably because they have been run off.

This is a community of volunteers. Since we are not getting paid, there is no leverage to keep us doing the work. Treating a volunteer poorly is a recipe for losing your volunteer. Treating your volunteer well is a recipe for keeping the volunteer. It is not a complicated equation, yet we have big dumb animals (BDA’s) who do not get it. For the same reasons; we don’t get new people who want to be a coach, be a ref, or be an officer. It’s a hard job and there are just a few guys who make it miserable on everyone. So at the end of the day we are forced to take whatever we can get. Is there a way to fix the problem? Yes, and we all know its long overdue.

The Cancer
The cancer in a group destroys the group by distraction, greed, mediocrity, and a loss of progress and momentum. I have sadly watched teams weaken and disband for this one reason. The cancer spreads by attracting new cancer, and then who can blame a good athlete for not
joining the club when it is full of poison? How do we get rid of the cancerous people in our group? Maybe, we should instead ask, how do we salvage these weak links that hold us back? Call it a last chance for the bed wetter. In travelling to New Zealand I had hoped to learn something to answer this question that has slipped my best efforts to tackle them.

How is it done in New Zealand?
The people who are involved with this game have respect and show it. It is a “Culture of Respect”. Respect for the ‘Old Boys’ who are always active in the Club. Respect for the coaches. Respect for the officials. Respect for the game; the past, the present, and the future.
The past is legend (Tell those old stories).
The present is heroes and role models (making new, hopefully greater stories).
The future is the next great hero and legend (watching the little ones grow skilled).
It’s all connected.

Respect, Freedom and Support...in that order
In businesses, relationships, and rugby clubs, when people work well together you will find respect, freedom, and support... in that order. This lesson was expensive to learn for me. Without respect there can be no Freedom. Without Freedom there can be no Support. Without support your playing alone. Show me a man who does not show respect...and I will show you a man who does not deserve my support. Look around...they are easy to spot.

The Example
We went to Fielding for a Women’s NPC semifinal match between Auckland and the local team, Manawatu. After the match I went into the clubhouse (one of three clubhouses on site) and immediately spotted the Coat of Arms for the Fielding Rugby Club- established 1874. This
is a 131 year old club. The dedication to the building was August 11, 1962. It was a modern building with kitchen, bar, bandstand, etc. in approximately 10,000 square feet of floor space. Locker rooms and showers were underneath the stadium, which seats about one thousand.
Remember this is a tiny town out in a farming community (Population~ 10,000). There were men in their 70’s who walked in with the aid of a cane. Others had to be wheelchaired in. THIS IS THEIR CLUB. They will not miss a match while they are alive. These are the stones of a
strong foundation; these old timers. This guy is 70 years old and he played for this club. His father played for this club. His grandfather played with this club. His whole family is here;
daughters, sons, and grandkids. Who would disrespect this faithful fan and his family by behaving like a jackass on the field or on the sidelines? The respect is expected by tradition.
Not that “anyone” would consider disrespecting such a sacred group by being a loud vexating jackass, showing up late, not showing effort, disrespecting the coaches, the club, or game, but if they did... they would be met with a rapid reminder from a great many people to: do
better now... or else.

The behavior of the individual is controlled by the culture, not the COACH. If a player is bad for the group, they (the Group) get rid of “it”. We protect what is important to us, especially if we have help.

So what have I seen that explains all those questions I had before I came over?

Build something to be proud of
In the U.S., we cannot see enough of the past to see our place in the future. We cannot see our tradition yet, and thus we don’t do enough to defend it. The clubs are new; only a few decades old. In those few decades we have made progress on and off the field. In the process of being inclusive to ‘develop’ our sport we have accepted mediocrity among our ranks. We have allowed the cancerous people to stay in our sport. We should have run them out, but we did not. Maybe we needed them? We do not need them now.

If they knew that their days were numbered what would they do? Would they leave... or change? Would the bad apples change their behavior if they could see the damage they do to the short and long term success of the team?

Would they still disrespect the game, its players, coaches, and officials? Would they continue to destroy the game by the disrespect they spread? Would they continue to run off the referees? Would they still run off the rookies with abuse and disrespect?

Would they still lie to, and steal from their teammates? Would they still miss the trainings and away games for the same reasons? Would they still be too busy?

Would they refuse to start new clubs for youth? Would they refuse to referee or coach with so much need around us? Would they take from the game and give nothing back?

If they still do not change, after being asked nicely, reminded, and re-reminded: Can we feed them to starving pigs? Can we please force them out of the game? Can we clean the dog shit out of our own yard?

One Answer
I used to believe that one good leader could get the job done, but I was wrong. It takes the whole team to correct behavior. It takes the whole community like back in Fielding with the old men and ‘defending your tradition’. As a group, we need to demand more from those in the group, not less. Expectations can only go so low...you know.

To grow the club you will need bigger and better organization, funding, youth programs, tournaments, tours, facilities, coaches, players and employers. You will need all the help you can get, from all the sources you can get it. You cannot afford to let a few “hollow heads” continue to run off the help you need for the future.

If a group of wolves agrees to cull out the weak and sick from their pack, then the weak and sick are on notice to hustle out of sight or be torn to bits.

The Challenge
Where are you going as a team? These are decisions that must be made before, far in advance of, acquiring these dreams of Championships. Championships come to those who cannot be divided. Champions live by strength and unity, as an undivided group who would go thru the Gates
of Hell for each other.

If you knew you would lose the Championship game because of a weak link; what would you do to prevent it? What would you do before its too late?

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These two posts are a bit off the beaten path for Your Scrumhalf Connection but I found them passionate and full of truth. They are worth a read and further discussion.

Update (6/18):
Notes from the author Scott Stelting: The essay was originally written in October 2005. This is significant in the references made to NZ rugby, and to rugby in the US as well.

As an old scrum half, I like what your doing. Leading is all about getting out front and shouting where we are going....

PS. For anyone who would like to contact me, my email address is steltingz@yahoo.com.

This article was just passed through the Tulsa Rugby google group and was written by a Tulsa Old Boy living in NZ currently. With everything OU Rugby has given me over the past 7 years and allowed me to experience I felt I should share it as the first two pages or so directly reflected me back to how I got started playing rugby and the people who are the reason I kept playing despite being a grad student who was never eligible for the college side... But now that I've found a home where I was able to play rugby competitively, not a day goes by I don't remember what put me here, and even taking the field against old mates when OU and Tulsa meet, just makes me that much prouder of where I came from in this great game
-Nick "Chief KickingProp" Blackman

Why is this game so important? I have waited for an explanation for twenty years. Time after time you see people return to this fine old game after a divorce, or a lost job, or after a death. People return to the game after a crisis in their life and when they reevaluate what is really important to them. They return to this game when they get tired of chasing money. We see them again when they get bored and remember that they haven’t ever had as much fun as when they were around this game.

It seems that when we have lost everything that’s important to us, we rush back to the game. It must be for the support. It must be for the belonging and the surroundings of friends. Maybe it is the acceptance and understanding that only other misfits can offer. It remains evident that this game is more than sport.

Sport alone is not strong enough to continue to call us back. When we leave the game for family...it calls to us. When we leave the game for job obligations...it calls to us. What is it that brings us back? The minute our obligations change, or life gets rough, or we just get bored with being grown ups, we go back to this game. It is more than a sport. In some ways it is like an addiction or affliction that is permanent. You never get over it. Rugby is the Hepatitis and Heroin of our lives. It’s permanent.

I am a proud carrier and vector of this drug/disease mood altering, narcotic, anti-depressant, chronic affliction. It was given to me easily. I had no natural immunity to the infection. Actually, I needed the disease. It was the piece I was missing. Much like a vision born through a great fever, the experience of catching the infection changed my life from that point forward. There was no going back. Although many times I have wondered what would have become of me had I not contracted this infection, it is wasted effort to consider it. Ole’ Willie Nelson strums it up with “There’s nothing I can do about it now”. I’m sure that my life has been more colorful and adventurous because of the infection and its “a waste of time and tears” to consider it otherwise.

So what is it that makes this game more than a game? It is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. We are drawn to this thing, this undescribed “Quality”, that we find nowhere else. Is it just a game? It cannot be just a game and have so many benefits to a culture and a society.

At the High School level I have seen troubled young men given purpose and saved from an avoidable trip to prison. Parents and counselor alike have been overjoyed with the gift that rugby gives teenagers. The British used the game for soldier management. The Kiwi’s use the
game for national pride, tourism, and the benefit of the native Maori’s. At the youth level in New Zealand, boys and girls play together in a touch format for fun. Competition and contact are saved for later when the kids and the Parents have been properly trained in what is most important. No screaming coaches, parents, and fights with referee’s because the first step is formatted for fun and respect. The game helps raise the children.

The game has large social and cultural importance.

The thing that drew me to the game originally was the culture. It was the society of misfits that collectively gathered to become greater. We became greater by finding that there were others like us that did not fit into the rigid set of social options given to us. We had known from early on that there MUST be something out there for us. Then we met our mentors. We were drawn to these magnetic individuals that were the Founders. They too were misfits: Too rebellious to blend into the mainstream. They were their own men and women. To have met them was a privilege. My memory of these icons spans the road-trips and tournaments that we attended. Wherever we traveled I met still more of these fully alive spirits. They were rough, combative, hysterical, loyal, frugal, and absolutely FREE. It was their freedom that really captured the imagination. These Folks drove crap cars full of kit bags, and lived the “evangelism of freedom” through rugby. These gypsies were the ones that finished raising me.

I miss these personality types. They were extroverts, with big hearts, big ideas, and a spontaneous, infectious ability to find the fun. The world was a playground to be experienced and enjoyed. Beaming grins lit the way. Bruises, stories, and high hi-jinx littered the passing. Every old rugger has the same story. They are told with different names in different places. The consistency of the stories tells me that these are not the romantic recollections of the old days. These are actual historical records that point to a different culture. It was simply a different culture then.

History is very clear. Each culture determines what is expected and what is intolerable. This older rugby culture had very different concepts that defined sanity and acceptability from what we see today.

In all of this freeness and domestic anarchy there was a code of conduct. Maybe there is no honor among thieves, but their was honor among those ruggers. New players were instantly welcomed into the club. They were verbally, physically, and from the club as a group...welcomed. There was no doubt whether you were going to be given a chance. Every rookie was given the benefit of the doubt first. Then they were given a fair shot to learn this game through a readily given philosophy lesson by the current players. The emphasis was the philosophy of the game not the strategy. In the bar, at the pitch, in the car, between the halves, we learned the differences of this game. It was an education about the higher virtues of the game that we were to aspire too. We took our lessons first in camaraderie. We took our lessons in support.

Toughness was installed several ways. First, it was a culture of denial. Denial of sleep, food, comforts like clean shorts. If you had a ‘need’, it had to wait. We would get around to sleep, food, and water later. Have a beer, shut your mouth, take the pitch, mate. No, you don’t need a shower. Yes, we put eight people in a hotel room all the time. Its perfectly logical to load Six people in a tiny Toyota, facing a six hour road trip with nothing but a bag of jerseys and a
case of beer. Mental toughness was learned on the road. It maybe uncomfortable on the way over, but it takes real toughness to get back.

Secondly came the physical toughness of Mandatory B game participation, no substitutions, and tournament formats all forcing us to play five or six full length matches over two days and nearly no sleep. Toughness is a philosophy. The behavior was enforced by quickly making fun of anyone who complained about it. I was made fun of a lot for my complaints of soreness, being tired, and wanting to sit out a game. Maybe it was tough love, maybe it was education, but the group would not allow a weak link. The culture was strong. There were simple requirements to be involved in this game. Toughness, both physical and especially mental, was taught, demanded and enforced.
Peer pressure was utilized for the strengthening of the behavior. It was also used for other things, but we’ll keep that quiet since it happened in Vegas. Small island rules: what happens on the road stays on the road. Peer pressure was a two edged sword. Sharp on one side, dull on the other.

Every team had a player or two that were a pain in the ass. They were unaccountable, disrespectful knuckleheads, that posed as rugby players. I remember that they wore clean jerseys and cologne. We made fun of them. Mostly they were never any good because they were
too self absorbed to learn the game. None of them became students of the game. Too much work for a poser. They were made fun of by the strongest and weakest of the group. They were shamed and mocked. They were tolerated and allowed to stay but at a cost to their public pride. Even the lowest rookie could take a crack at them knowing that the other mates had their back. In the equation of cultural importance, The lowest common denominator was respect, not athletic ability. Disrespect by an individual was mirrored with disrespect from the team. We would rather lose with our mates than win with a bad apple.

As I look back I can clearly see when winning at all costs became more important that preserving our culture. It was when we started playing and tolerating disrespectful athletes. We replaced the advocates of our culture with athletes who were bigger, stronger and faster. We
lost our culture when we began allowing a bad seed in our midst because they could help us win. The irony is that they cost us more games than they ever helped win. They destroyed the culture.

The accidental wisdom of those earlier clubs and cultures was in demanding respect from its participants. Respect was demanded for the game, the laws of the game, the referees, the teammates, the opposition, and the privileges of being a part of this culture. Everything else fell into place when the foundation of respect was protected. When the foundation of respect was left unprotected so we could win more games... the old culture slowly withered. This is the sadness you can see in every old rugger when they talk of what was lost.

We got what we deserved in a way. We begged for people to come play this great game; and they did. Beggars cant be choosers; and we didn’t.

By suggesting that it was a different culture back then; several things become clearer to me. I am able to see why I am disappointed with the current game and how we got here. Firstly, the source of our disappointment with the current rugby is not with the current players but with the current culture. Secondly, the current players did not get the benefits we had. They had coaches, and strategy, and video cameras, but they did not have mentors. They simply did not have the
group of strong personalities to train them. They were taught about the sport but not about the game. I cannot expect them to live the philosophy that they never learned. Their culture is shallower because their education was shallower. Culture can be taught, but not without the old ones.

Culture is important because it is the living philosophy of our society. Culture is a living thing. It changes, adapts, and evolves. Our culture needs to be protected and fed better. Ask the Old Ones.

This is the second part. There are a few left to go. I'm taking the long circuitous way to the point. My hope is to help the current players see what holds them back. I hope to let the old ones know
what happened while they were gone. This is just a flint to spark the thought process. Are you tender?

-Stelting


Part 2 can be found here...

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This week's video is a YSC exclusive from the U23 NASC tournament in Pittsburgh, PA. YSC was on location and reporting live from the NASC tournament and taped the Sunday games and will be posting them on the YSC Vimeo Channel as soon as possible. This video is a finely executed 5-meter scrum try by the West U23s.

Rugby Video Monday: West U23 Scrummy Try against South at U23 NASCs from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

If you are viewing this post through an RSS feeder, go here for the video.

BONUS VIDEO! This week we also have a bonus video from Lisa with Put me in Coach! This video is a highlight reel from the MARFU vs NRU match at U23 NASCs in Pittsburgh:



Other Rugby Video Mondays:
6/8/2009: Philadelphia Gets Dirty...
5/25/2009: Sweden vs Spain Highlights - 2010 Rugby World Cup Qualifier
5/18/2009: Paradox on the Pitch by Deb Wallavand
5/11/2009: Rugby Video Monday: It's time for 7s Rugby!!
5/4/2009: More U23 LAU Videos from March 2009

Please keep sending me your favorite videos to scrumhalfconnection@gmail.com! Make sure to check out the YSC Vimeo Channel or my Youtube channel...and you can subscribe to both if you like, but keep in mind that all new videos will be on Vimeo only as they are recorded in High Definition.

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We have come to another edition of LIVE BLOGGING by YSC. Tomorrow The Girl and I will be on site for the USA Rugby U23 National All-Star Championships. We will be Twittering, Facebooking, blogging and more...so stay tuned!

Oh and don't forget that I will have 10 FREE shirts to give away on Friday and Saturday. They are on a first come first serve basis!! If you miss out on the free ones you can buy one for $10 in person as well.

We were right on the button for the Senior NASCs, and we are hoping to do the same. We will also be taping some games on Friday but will definitely tape all the games on Sunday. (NOTE: Vimeo the source I have been using to host my videos has been having some problems but they are working on them!)

Twitter (@scrumhalfblog)
Facebook
Blog (duh you are already there!)

For more details on the U23 NASC Tournament and LIVE SCORES...thanks to YSC Intern Ashley, go here.

As always feel free to call me (405.802.2490), text me, email me etc if you want to chat rugby!

UPDATE (6/21): The scores for this Tournament were posted moments after the games ended. If you would like Tournament scores posted LIVE, email me at scrumhalfconnection@gmail.com for more details.

The Girl and I are helping coach the West U23 team so we will be live blogging and videoing the games as well. I am giving away FIVE shirts on Friday and FIVE on Saturday. Come find me as soon as possible and you can get one for free! If not, you can always purchase one for $10!

Thanks to YSC Intern Ashley for gathering information about this years U23 NASC event! See her post below:

The USA Rugby Women’s U23 Championships will take place this weekend, June 12-14 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The event is being hosted by the Pittsburgh Harlequins at Founders Field. Entry into this event will be free.

The tournament is a part of the USA Rugby National All-Star Championship series (NASC) and serves as an important selection venue for Women’s National Team opportunities.

There will be a total of 8 teams competing this weekend, one from each region in the U.S as well as the U19 team. Those teams are: MARFU, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific, West, So Cal and the South.

The MARFU women took home the title last year and of course, are hoping to have repeat success. They are again looking like strong contenders, however, as the Senior Women NASC’s showed us last weekend, the title certainly is not just given to you based on past performances. It must certainly be earned.

The event kicks off on Friday morning at 10:00am when So Cal and the U-19’s face off. The final match of the day between the Midwest and Pacific will be held at 4:00pm.

The women will be able to take advantage of some much needed rest as competition takes a break on Saturday. Sunday morning the action starts bright and early at 9:00am, with the final match- the Tier 1 champs- kicking off at 1:00pm.

Currently the teams are seeded as follows:
2009 Seedings

1 Mid-Atlantic
2 Midwest
3 Pacific Coast
4 Northeast
5 Southern Cal
6 West
7 South
8 U-19s

We all know rugby is a game of skill and technique and you must possess both of these to be successful. However, on game day, even the best skills can’t win over the team who simply plays like they want it more.

UPDATE (6/21): The scores for this Tournament were posted moments after the games ended. If you would like Tournament scores posted LIVE, email me at scrumhalfconnection@gmail.com for more details.

I am so excited! I just picked up The Girl and I's new YSC Jerseys! Thanks to a donation from RugbyDept.com we were able to get a few jerseys screen printed with my logo.

Check it out...they are not available to order yet, but they will be in the future!



If you want other YSC gear, go here.

Register early for the best 7s tournament in Texas: email TJ Costello women's teams e-mail Rosalind Chou

Press and sponsorship information: email Joel Richardson

Bloodfest 7s is a proud participant in the TOLA 7s Series

The Men's Bracket is FULL and there are only 2 slots left for the WOMEN. The price has now gone up to $175 for women's teams.

Get your $$$ in now (first to pay get to play) go to www.hunsrugby.com and pay online. Click on the Bloodfest image and scroll down for Paypal capability.

Highlights:
- Hong Kong Format
- 4 game guarantee
- Most TOLA points available
- On site Camera Crew (pictures taken and developed on site by a professional photographer) http://client.vpg1.com/
- Tourney is at Burr Field - 1st game at 9:00
- Famous Pub Crawl on 6th Street - following tourney
- $10 Bottomless Beer Cup
- Reasonably Priced Food Concessions

Women's Teams (accepting 2 more teams):
Satiated Beavers - Blue
Satiated Beavers - Orange
Mockingbirds
Free Martins

UPDATE: Hey Wendy! Hope all is well in Pittsburgh. When you get a chance can you change the post on your blog to say that the women's bracket is now closed and teams can get on the waiting list, but we are now full. The final two teams are:

Memphis
Phatties (A&M)

Thanks,
Ros

**For a comprehensive list of Rugby 15s & 7s Tournaments, click here!!