Your Scrumhalf Connection

Keystone Rugby Club is looking for a new head coach. A quick recap: Keystone is in the Women’s Premier League and placed 5th this past Fall in the WPL Championships. Our competitive 15′s season is in the Fall and requires quite a bit of travel. We would like a coach that can work with our Captains and assistant coaches to create a cohesive vision of where the team will be at the end of the season by structuring practice plans and individual game goals to guide the team’s journey to achieve their highest potential at the WPL Championships. Our practices are in King of Prussia, outside of Philadelphia, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-9:30.

Please submit any inquiries and coaching resumes to Olivia Nigh, KRC Chairperson, (president@keystonerugby.org).

Thanks to Sally B. for sending this video on…its a great highlight reel of Phaidra Knight, a member of the New York Rugby Club and a USA National Team Player.

Sorry guys, Phaidra just emailed me asking that the video be removed. Evidently she is going to be highlighted on MTV and another major TV Network so they would like to keep this video under wraps until then!

In the meantime, check out the IRB’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Promo video!

Want to join the USA in London for the 2010 Rugby World Cup? Make sure to check out the YSC and Stat Tours travel packages.

To view more YSC videos hover over the heading ‘Videos’ on the navigation bar up top and choose Rugby Video Monday.

Please continue sending in your videos and I will keep posting them! Send them to wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com.

NYRC WOMEN ANNOUNCE COACHING SEARCH

The New York Rugby Club (NYRC) Women’s team, the 2009 Women’s Premier League Champion (ranked #1 in the US), is actively seeking knowledgeable individuals who will be committed to building an effective and championship-caliber program beginning Spring 2010. Candidates are sought for the Head and Assistant Coach positions.

Responsibilities include:
· Developing and instructing drills for all levels of athletes
· Preparing and running team practices
· Developing overall and subunit team strategies
· Offering constructive feedback to players
· Squad selections
· Attending scheduled games and practices

The NYRC is comprised of a mix of elite, developmental, and beginner athletes. A number represent the US Women’s Senior and Developmental sides, as well as territorial select-sides in both XV’s and VII’s. Additionally, the club consistently draws individuals new to rugby. All are motivated and committed to the club and each other.

Our mission statement is as follows:
“The NYRC women’s team, formerly Gotham Women, is a competitive Division I rugby team that strives to provide a constructive learning environment for athletes of all levels through games and practices and aims to maintain national prominence. As one team in the larger New York Rugby Club, we embody the following values both on and off the field: tradition, participation, community, enjoyment, and respect for ourselves, each other, and our opponents. We hope all players who wear the Orange and Blue, past and present, embrace and represent these principles.”

Prior coaching and/or playing experience is required. Prior coaching of women is not necessary but preferred.

Practices take place in Manhattan during the Spring and Fall. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience. Most of your compensation will be for your travel and reimbursement for expenses associated with the team. If you do not currently reside within the US we will make every effort to assist you with work and housing arrangements.

For more background on NYRC please visit our website: www.newyorkrugby.com. Please direct all inquiries to nyrcwomencoach@gmail.com and be sure to include your coaching CV/resume.

The Brown women ruggers hosted Beantown RFC, a Super league women’s club team and one of the top 3 teams in the nation. The match was a real test of our ability to play at speed under a great deal of physical pressure – and the pressure was relentless from the opening kick off until the final whistle. Brown responded beautifully, playing very physical rugby and winning a fair share of ball. Brown had a number of nice breaks and was able to chase down a number of Beantown breaks. Beantown did break one in the 17th minute to get on the scoreboard first. Brown responded well clearing the rucks and protecting the ball and the backs did a nice job maintaining possession. Thirty-eight minutes in, Brown captain and center Alicia Hartley ‘10 finished off a beautiful team effort to score in the corner and put Brown on the board. Brown had two other opportunities to score, bringing the ball close to the goal line but were denied by tough Beantown defense.

Brown showed discipline and composure, executing the game plan well and consistently communicating on defense. The challenge was that any missed tackle was costly as Beantown was able to organize attacks and offload the ball and get behind our defensive line. It was a classic Brown “dig deep” effort as every Brown player showed remarkable courage, catching high balls under pressure, taking big hits while placing the ball well, and chasing down every Beantown break. Brown was rewarded late in the match with a second score as center Blaine Martin ‘11 trailed a play and made a beautiful burst outside on to an offloaded ball, cutting through the Beantown defense to score under the posts. Flyhalf Chelsea Garber ‘12 converted. With minutes to go in the match Blaine repeated the move, cutting inside and dodging tackles only to be denied at the line.

After the match the players were exhausted but elated, the match was an opportunity to asses our progress and to get much needed experience – the players know that if they can physically compete with some of the top women players in the nation they can be a dominant force in the collegiate ranks.

Next week Brown leaves for a tough spring tour. Brown will compete Saturday in the 4 Leaf Tournament at Randall’s Island, New York City- we open against Monmouth a women’s club team at 9:40am and play Beantown (yes, a rematch) at 11:20am.
Tuesday, March 30 Brown takes on the University of Virginia in Charlottesville at 4:00pm. March 31, Brown travels to Fairfax to play NOVA at 6:00pm.

For the most up to date news about the women’s Collegiate game, hover over Competitions on the Navigation bar and then choose the division you would like news on. Or use these links to view the D1 and D2 Collegiate rankings.

by Kirstin Hartos

SAN DIEGO, California (January 25, 2010) – The San Diego Surfers Rugby Club proudly presents the 27th Annual Champagne Classic rugby tournament. The Champagne Classic is the West Coast’s premier women’s rugby tournament, and will be held on March 6 & 7, 2010 at NTC Park. The 2009 National Champion Surfers will host up to 20 women’s teams from all over the United States and Canada, competing in multiple divisions. This year’s tournament marks an exciting change in location to the newly renovated facilities at NTC Park and Liberty Station in Point Loma, adjacent to the tournament hotel and social. Teams already registered for the tournament include:

Club

• Belmont Shore
• Berkeley All Blues
• Boulder Babes
• Canadian Caribou
• Canadian Kodiaks
• Coast Classic
• Dirty Chickens
• NorCal Triple Threat
• San Diego Surfers
• San Luis Obispo Beaches
• Santa Monica
• Stanford
• Tempe

Collegiate

• Claremont
• Rugby Canada U18
• Blackdoodles
• University of California – San Diego
• Utah State University
• Utah Valley University

For more information or to register online, go to www.sdsurfersrugby.com/champagne_classic.html.

Registration fees:
• $450/club and $350/collegiate through February 5th; click here to register online:
http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=1802532

Prizes:
Team prizes are awarded to Champagne Bracket 1st and 2nd place, Chablis 1st place and Collegiate 1st place.
MVP prizes awarded for Club-Tight 5, Club-Middle, Club-Backs and Collegiate overall.

More about the Champagne Classic – The Champagne Classic is the Surfers’ biggest annual event and also serves as the club’s primary fundraiser. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Surfers are always looking for sponsors and donations from local businesses and individuals to help cover our operating expenses (including equipment, uniforms, travel expenses, field rental, etc.). Anyone interested in advertising in the tournament program, making a tax-deductible donation to or sponsoring the Surfers should visit our website at www.sdsurfersrugby.com or e-mail the Surfers at SDSurferRugby@gmail.com.

About the San Diego Surfers – The San Diego Surfers are the only women’s rugby club in San Diego, and originated as “Ombush” (part of OMBAC) in 1975. The club changed its name to the Rio Grande Surfers in 1980. In 1997, the club applied for non-profit status and officially changed its name to the San Diego Surfers. In 2009, the Surfers won the USA Rugby Division I National Championship in 2009, and finished 3rd at the National Invitational 7s Tournament. The Surfers have previously finished 10th (2008) and 12th (2007) at the USA Rugby National Championships. For more information about the San Diego Surfers or the Champagne Classic Tournament, visit www.sdsurfersrugby.com.

Directions to NTC Park (2335-2455 Cushing Road, San Diego, CA 92106) – From I-5 South, or I-8 West, exit Rosecrans St. and continue onto Rosecrans St. Turn left at Roosevelt Rd., then turn right at Cushing Rd. The park will be on the left.