You know those plays that don’t go so well? A missed pass or an ill-timed knock-on? They are all here for you to enjoy, plus some of the best plays of the tournament…thanks to the Men’s Rugby World Cup of 2011 & RugbyDump:

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

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The IRB’s press release detailing the “Route to Paris” for the 2014 WRWC was issued yesterday, and appears on YSC. However, as is the way press releases, they require careful reading – and tend to emphasise the positive a bit. So let’s take a close look at what will happen between now and 2014. First…

How will the qualification process work (probably)?

To begin with there will be 12 teams in Paris, and half of them have already qualified (as for 2010). Five of these teams also automatically qualified for the last World Cup – the only change is that for 2010 South Africa were give a free pass to the finals, whereas for 2014 Australia pre-qualify:

Automatic qualifiers (and likely seeding):
1. New Zealand (holders)
2. England (2010 runners-up)
3. Australia (2010 third place)
4. France (host)
5. USA (2010 5th)
6. Canada (2010 6th)

Other qualifiers:
The IRB release is a bit vague on this in places, but it would seem that
7. Asian 15s champions 2013 will qualify.
This will probably be Kazakhstan again as no-one in Asia is a realistic threat to them – though China have the potential to run them close if they decide to back 15-a-side rugby

8. Winner of a 2013 African qualifier.
This will be between South Africa and 2013 Elgon Cup winner (ie. Kenya or Uganda). This is a great step forward for East African rugby, which was excluded from the 2010 World Cup. However, if Kenya or Uganda are to seriously challenge South Africa they must be given the chance to play teams from outside their region before the big game, otherwise it risks being a walkover.

9 & 10. Best two Six Nations teams (other than France or England).
In practice this will almost certainly be Ireland and Wales. Qualification will be based on 2012 and 2013 Six Nations combined and, while Italy and Scotland may have the occasional success, it is unlikely they will maintain this over two years. 

11 &  12. Euro/Oceania qualification winners
The remaining two Six Nations teams will play-off against other European nations and one team from Oceania. Exactly how THAT will work is not covered – but a best guess is that it will be the same, or very similar, format to the 2010 European qualifier. That consisted of two pools, with the pool winners qualifying. What we do know is that the Six Nations teams will almost certainly be seeded 1 and 2, Spain will be seeded 3, while other seedings will be based on the results of the European Cup Pool B tournament to be played in Sweden later this year. The eighth team will come from the Pacific – almost certainly Samoa as no other island has played 15s rugby for some years.

If the format does repeat 2010 the big battle over the next year or so will be to avoid Spain’s pool as, based on recent form, The Lions should be comfortably the strongest team of the eight. Whoever finishes 5th in the Six Nations (and reaches the European Cup B final) should avoid Spain, whoever finishes 6th (or misses the final) will almost certainly meet them. The eight teams involved will probably be…

• Six Nations team (probably Italy)
• Six Nations team (probably Scotland)
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Russia
• Sweden
• Finland
• Pacific team (probably Samoa) 

A major step forward for women’s rugby?

To have the qualification process laid out in this level of detail so far ahead is a real breakthrough – four years ago it was a bit fractured and (in some regions) almost seemingly last minute. IRB are taking the game seriously and everyone now knows exactly where they stand.

But, in terms of participation, is it the big step being claimed? Not really, to be honest. The process is almost identical to that for 2010, and (unless more teams enter from Asia than did for 2010) the number of teams taking part looks like rising by exactly one – Africa has two more entrants (Uganda and Kenya), while Europe has one less (no Germany or Belgium, but Finland compete for the first time). Otherwise its the same.

There is still plenty of room for improvement. While the inclusion of the East Africans is great to see, and the door is not full shut on the rest of the Pacific aside from Samoa, the IRB have again failed to provide Caribbean and South American nations with any path to the finals. Giving the likes of Trinidad the carrot of a game against the USA or Canada would be a real boost to 15s rugby in the region – but not for another four years at least. And when the dust settles, at least 10 of the 12 in Paris will be almost certainly the same as in 2010 – Spain should replace Sweden, and Italy might fill Scotland’s place (the upcoming Six Nations game between these teams will now be full of tension!). Other than that…

The reason is that fifteens rugby is not advancing anything like as much as sevens. The number of national teams entering tournaments is not growing (indeed in Europe it is shrinking). Many nations aspire to play 15s rugby, but it remains much more expensive to organise. The Sevens revolution may change this for 2018, but for 2014 its steady as she goes.

John Birch

Editor of the UK Blog http://letchworthgirls.blogspot.com/. Happy to have joined YSC.

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from IRB.com:

Israel Dagg makes a break in the RWC Final against France

With fewer set pieces, a substantial reduction in kicks from hand and many more passes, Rugby World Cup 2011 saw a renewed emphasis on running Rugby.

This is highlighted in the IRB Game Analysis Unit s comprehensive statistical report which details all the trends from Rugby s showcase event and takes a closer look at how New Zealand lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time.

The report provides a detailed analysis of all 48 matches and the contrasting styles of the 20 participating teams and details how Rugby World Cup has evolved since 1995 and why Rugby World Cup 2011 was the most competitive tournament to date.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT >>

Rugby World Cup 2011 highlights

• Scrums, lineouts and kicks were reduced from Rugby World Cup 2007, while passes significantly increased, highlighting an emphasis on running Rugby
• In almost 80 per cent of matches, the team scoring the most tries won the match in only one match did the team scoring the fewest tries win because of penalty goals
• Winning margins in the opening Pool matches between Tier 1 and Tier 2 halved, reflecting the improved performances of Tier 2 teams since France 2007 with Tier 1 teams no longer pulling away from Tier 2 opposition in the final 20 minutes of a match as frequently as in the past
• The smaller winning margins extended across the whole tournament with Tier 1 v Tier 1 matches producing far small winning margins than ever before
• Despite such competitive matches, yellow cards were half those issued at Rugby World Cup 2007
• Rugby World Cup 2011 also confirmed that any scrum problems are concentrated on matches between Tier 1 teams with collapses and penalties in matches played between Tier 2 teams being substantially fewer

In the most detailed Rugby World Cup statistical analysis ever, the report provides a detailed analysis of the performances of the teams in all aspects of play, including scoring, winning margins, impact of penalty goals on match results, rate of try conceding, source of tries, try locations, timing of tries and penalty goals, ball in play and possession, passing, rucks and mauls, kick-offs and restarts, lineouts, free kicks, penalties conceded, penalty options taken and cards.

The report also features a fascinating analysis of how the tournament has evolved since Rugby World Cup 1995 to become a Game of fewer set pieces and greater ball in play time. From a time when there were as many set pieces as breakdowns, there are now four times as many breakdowns as scrums and lineouts combined.

The comparison with 1995 shows:

• Ball in play has increased by 33 per cent
• Passes have gone from 179 per match to 263 – an increase of almost 50 per cent
• Rucks/mauls have more than doubled, going up by almost 100 from 69 per match to 162 per match
• Kicks have gone down from 75 to 41 per match
• Scrums have gone down from 27 to 17 with lineouts down from 37 to 24

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

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from rwcwomens.com:

• Expanded process reflects growth of the Game
• Qualification builds on record-breaking success of 2010
• Women’s Rugby World Cup to continue to drive development of the Women’s Game

Irish fans will be in good voice when they host Wales in the Women's 6 Nations opener

The road to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 in France will begin with this year’s RBS Women’s 6 Nations, kicking off an expanded qualification process that will involve more teams than ever before, Rugby World Cup Limited has announced.

Following the resounding success of the acclaimed 2010 tournament in England, teams from Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania will participate in the qualification process for WRWC 2014.

The announcement is a major development for the tournament which has grown from an invitational event to one with an ever-growing qualification process and record broadcast and attendance figures.

England 2010 captured the imagination of fans in the UK and across the world owing to the high level of competition and the newly-designed qualification process will feature the leading existing regional women’s tournaments from around the globe to ensure that the world’s best teams are represented at the showcase event.

There are six automatic qualifiers for WRWC 2014: Reigning world champions New Zealand, 2010 runners up England, 2010 bronze medallists Australia, 2014 hosts France and USA and Canada by virtue of their top six placing at WRWC 2010.

The RBS Women’s 6 Nations will kick start the global qualification process when Ireland take on Wales on February 3. The process will bridge both the 2012 and 2013 championships with the two highest placed teams on aggregate (outside of automatic qualifiers England and France) securing places at France 2014. The two other teams from the Women’s 6 Nations, plus the highest ranked teams in Europe will be joined by a team from Oceania in a Women’s Rugby World Cup qualification tournament in 2013.

Reflecting the significant growth of Women’s Rugby in Africa, the continent will host a qualification tournament for the first time with the burgeoning Elgon Cup in 2013 used to determine the play-off opponent for South Africa, who have played in the past two Women’s Rugby World Cups.

“These are exciting times for Women’s Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup is the premier event in the Women’s Game, providing the platform for growing the sport across the world and building on the record broadcast and attendances we saw in London two years ago,” said Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

“As we look to France 2014, the qualification process will ensure the very best teams from across the world will meet in Paris, and we have created an opportunity for more teams than ever before to achieve their Rugby World Cup dream.”

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF WRWC 2010 HERE >>

The expanded qualification process underscores the commitment of the IRB to grow global participation and achieve greater competitiveness as set out in the recently launched IRB Women’s Rugby Plan.

IRB Women’s Development Manager Susan Carty said: “With over 200,000 registered women currently playing the Game in over 100 countries around the world, the qualification process reflects the significant and sustained growth we have experienced in recent years in the Women’s Game.”

“We now have an improved tournament structure around the world which reflects the appetite for high level elite competition amongst traditional and emerging nations and we have incorporated these existing competitions, wherever possible, into the qualification process in line with the IRB Women’s Rugby Plan.

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

Website - More Posts

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from Scrumqueens:

The year following the Women’s Rugby World Cup is normally fairly quiet as teams regroup and rebuild, and this year has been no different.

Just 54 test matches were played in 2011, making it the quietest year for women’s test rugby since 2005.

However, fears that the lure of Olympic rugby would mean that countries would start to move away from the long form of the game towards Sevens have so far proven groundless. 32 nations played test rugby during the year, and the game continued to grow and expand into new territories. Three nations making their test match debuts – Switzerland, Laos and the Philippines – and several others, including China, Thailand and Uzbekistan, returned to fifteen-aside rugby after a break of several years.

By far and away the busiest team was England, to the extent that they were involved nearly a quarter of all the tests played in the year – 13 in all, winning 11, drawing one, and losing only to France when a young and largely experimental team spent rain-swept week in Provence as part of England’s preparations for the visit of world champions New Zealand. It was a schedule that rivalled professional men’s national teams and is all the more impressive when the six “unofficial” and “A” team internationals, plus a further seven U20 tests, are added to the equation.

Over the year England played every other team in the world’s top ten (with the exception of Australia) – while the U20 team played (and beat) every other U20 team in the world. They again dominated the Six Nations, winning their 11th Grand Slam and sixth successive title, running in 68 points against Italy and record-breaking 89 against Scotland, before crossing the Atlantic for the third Nations Cup.

Though here England were also unbeaten, the competition proved to be a much more testing affair than the Six Nations. In the pool games only an injury time try saved them from defeat to the USA, after which hosts Canada also pushed England far closer than any European opposition had managed. And while England went on to win the final fairly comfortably, Canada still managed to score 19 points – more points than any full-strength England team had conceded since the 2006 World Cup Final.

England’s A team also had success, winning an incredibly exciting FIRA European Championship, superbly organised in Corunna by Spain, who reached the final and lead England until 12 minutes from time before going down by only 5-3. Spain’s 15-a-side team can often be over-shadowed by the success of their Sevens squad, by it is worth noting that England were the only team to beat Spain in a year where the “The Lions” defeated a full-strength Scotland in January, and then beat a near full-strength French XV in a thrilling and emotional FIRA afternoon in front of a packed crowd at the University of Coruña.

That Spanish defeat was the lowest point of the year for France as they rebuilt after an ultimately disappointing World Cup. After England they were the busiest nation in world rugby, with seven tests and four A internationals, plus one U20 international. At times they could be sublimely brilliant – most especially in their opening Six Nations game against Scotland – and overall they reaffirmed their place as Europe’s number two rugby nation. However they showed some fragility against Ireland and badly missed the boot of Aurélie Bailon throughout most of the year. However, a highly successful Autumn series, with wins over England and Italy, has clearly boosted the confidence of the French team and could be the springboard for a much closer Six Nations in 2012.

Scotland and Italy were the only other “major” European nations to play test rugby outside of the Six Nations. The two teams overall had similar records and again occupied the bottom third of the Six Nations table, but Italy continued to grow and develop as a team and had one of their best years ever, with growing enthusiasm on and off the field – a test match in Italy is now an experience that every team will be looking forward to as Italian host communities took hospitality to new heights in 2011.

Unfortunately the only thing that seems to grow for Scotland is gap between them and the rest of the Six Nations. It may be a rebuilding time, but this was still their worst season ever, with defeats by record margins to Spain, France, Wales, England and Italy. They did finish the year with a win – against a young Dutch team largely lacking their Sevens professionals – but unless dramatic improvements are made Scotland could struggle to qualify for the World Cup in 2014.

However, in their favour the SRU are doing all they can with limited resources. They have formed an A team and a U20 side, and do organise extra games. The same cannot be said for Ireland and Wales who continue to put in excellent Six Nations performances despite the lack of development opportunities. That the Irish in particular could again finish third in the Six Nations despite barely seeing each other outside of the championship is truly remarkable – one if left to wonder what they could achieve if they were given a fraction of the support that their opponents receive.

Or even the levels of support that South Africa are starting to be given. Outside of Europe and North America no Union gives more support to its women’s team than the SARU. And it does not come cheap – as no-one seems to wish to visit them, the South Africans have to travel overseas for all of their international rugby – but their efforts finally bore fruit in August when the world 10th ranked side memorably beat a USA side (5th in the world) that had come within four points of England only a week before. If the SARU continues with this level of support, a far higher position in 2014 can be assured.

Elsewhere in the world test rugby continued in isolated islands of activity. The Caribbean championship was again won by Trinidad, who now have one of the best playing records in the history of the women’s game (11 wins in 13 tests) – mainly because they never have an opportunity to play anyone outside the Caribbean.

Kenya and Uganda also continue to play in a world of their own, though this year it was a world riven with controversy when both sides claimed to have won the annual Elgon Cup tournament after Uganda first cancelled and then (at the last minute) reinstated the second leg of the competition, but not after the Kenyans had been presented with the prize after the first leg because of that cancellation. The result was confusion compounded by an ugly and ill-tempered war of words with no real resolution. Hopefully, despite this, the tournament (funding permitted) should go ahead in 2012 – and most probably with a new sponsor.

Similarly isolated, Asian rugby had a fairly quiet year. There was no senior continental championship and regional super-power Kazakhstan could manage only one test, a relatively easy win over neighbours Uzbekistan, while Japan beat Hong Kong, who in turn defeated Singapore. However, the year did end with the re-emergence of a sleeping giant as a Chinese 15-a-side team who took the field for the first time for four years, winning a continental “Division II” title with some ease. Given a fair wind and continued support China could yet threaten Kazakhstan’s place in the 2014 World Cup.

Nonetheless the climax of the test match year came right at the end, with the reappearance of New Zealand for the first time since the World Cup. Their loss in the series against England shows that the power in world rugby could be shifting – it may no longer be possible for the Black Ferns to rely almost entirely on the strength and competitiveness of their domestic game to remain at the top of world rugby.

That series will be repeated next year and will undoubtedly be the highlight of the 2012. Next year will also see the first qualification games for the 2014 World Cup in Europe, and will certainly be the last opportunity for most of the rest of the world to complete their experimentation and rebuilding. As usual what else the year will bring remains something of a mystery, though history shows that it should be even busier than this year. A major highlight will definitely be the quadrennial European Championship in May, but will we also see an Asian “Division I” tournament, or perhaps the reappearance of Australia? If 2011 was a memorable year, 2012 has the potential to be even better.

See here for a full review of the 7s game this year.

Test playing nations in 2011:

England (13 tests); France (7); Scotland (7); Italy (6); Ireland (5); Wales (5); Canada (4); South Africa (4); United States (4); China (3); Spain (3); Trinidad and Tobago (3); Jamaica (3); Thailand (3); Cayman Islands (3); Netherlands (3); Philippines (3); Sweden (3); New Zealand (3); Caribbean Select XV (3); Finland (3); Laos (3); Russia (2); Hong Kong (2); Kenya (2); Uganda (2); Japan (1); Kazakhstan (1); Switzerland (1); Thailand (1); Belgium (1); Singapore (1); Uzbekistan (1)

Tournament winners:

Six Nations: England
FIRA European Championship: England A
NACRA Caribbean Championship: Trinidad & Tobago
Nations Cup: England
Asian Championship (Div II): China

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

Website - More Posts

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from Rugby Wrapup:

A perennial Team USA Eagle, Phaidra Knight is one of the most recognized names in women’s rugby. Today, she chats with Eagle Kristen “Ham”or “Brother” Zdancewicz.

Kristen Zdancewicz

PK: Brother, I am happy you agreed to this interview. I feel like I have known you for most of your rugby career, so this is a special interview for me. How long you have played rugby? What was your first rugby team?
Kristen: I’ve played rugby about 12 years now going on 13 so that makes me old but not as old as you. My first team was UW-Whitewater and then I joined the Wisconsin Women’s RFC. That’s where I first met you.

PK: If my memory serves me correctly, weren’t you playing basketball when you started your rugby career? Tell us a little about that experience for you. Don’t hold back.
Kristen: I was a Baller at UW-Whitewater all of my collegiate career. My experience there was a great one I learned a lot of on the court and off the lessons. It helped me become the rugby player I am today.
PK: I am guessing you knew this question would follow—which is your favorite, rugby or basketball?
Kristen: I have passion for both sports. When it comes down it I would rather make a bone crushing tackle then a game winning jump shot.

Rugby World Cup 2006

PK: When did you debut with the USA 15s team? How many caps do you currently have?
Kristen: Ah you don’t remember my first official tour with you. It was a double whammy I tore a bit of my calf and well you broke you beautiful oribital against Scotland in 2005! I think I’m above 10 caps now I would like to add some more but I don’t know if I will be able to catch you or Dianne as far caps go. How many are you on now? Will you be doing another cup?

PK: You know my memory was the first thing to go so your guess is as good as mine on the caps. To your second question, hmmm. Not sure. Back to you now. How has rugby most influenced you and changed your life?
Kristen: The bonds that our created at the club level to the national level. I knew if I had an issue off the field I could trust you or one of my teammates to be there to give sound guidance and I would be able to give that back. I can proudly say I have friends all over the country and a couch to crash if I’m ever in town! You make so many connections through this sport personal, business etc.

PK: Seems like we both have taken some time from international rugby since World Cup 2010. Do you aspirations to play at that level again? If so, when will you resume?
Kristen: I have aspirations to play again at the level again. However it has taken a back seat to me getting my career started in strength and conditioning. Which I’m the current assistant strength coach at the University of Wisconsin of Milwaukee. If I get an invite for the next camp I will be there with bells on to see what the young pups have. Not too mention when are you going to pick up again? You’re my inspiration to continue playing.

PK: We’ll see… What injuries have you endured while playing?
Kristen: Hmm… I’ve been fortune enough to have one major one, but other then that, just minor ones. Your typical ACL Reconstruction to 2 hyper-extended left elbows. A concussion or two. Not to mention some muscle cramping during an international match. You know your everyday type of injuries.

PK: Okay, enough of the injury talk. Who are your picks for the 2011 World Cup final and what player has impressed you the most to this point?
Kristen: New Zealand and England are my two picks. I enjoyed watching Richie [McCaw] and Dan [Carter - now out with groin tear]. There is one player that did stand out to me this world cup and that is Paul Emerick I think he is a treat!

PK: Name 3 things that players and the general rugby community could do to help boost the perception and exposure of women’s rugby, both domestically and internationally.
Kristen: I think making it a varsity sport at the collegiate level would help give it since we made seven’s an Olympic sport. Its at the high school level in some areas I think the next step to bring it to the fore front would be to make it a varsity sport. Think about how many collegiate athletes play and Hockey basketball and if they are good enough they can go across seas and continue their career even here in the states to a degree.

PK: Once you hang up the boots, what role do you plan to take on in the sport?
Kristen: Eventually to become a coach. I don’t know if I could become a ref since I get along with them so well.

PK: Ham, my buddy, thanks for your time. I have witnessed, first hand, you blossom into a force on the pitch. It’s been a pleasure talking to you today.
Kristen: Thank you for the opportunity. Can’t wait till we take the pitch together again, hopefully in the sun as Golden Eagles in Bermuda.

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

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from SARU:

A group of 25 women rugby players have been invited by national coach Denver Wannies to an off-season training camp in Port Elizabeth next week as they keep up preparations in advance of the 2012 season.
The camp will run from 12-14 December and Wannies has decided to add eight players to his squad. Seven of them have graduated from the Under-20 ranks – Marithy Pienaar, Dineo Rammulta, Siviwe Basweni, Thandeka Feni, Sisphosethu Tshangana, Masabata Sempe and Jamie Lee Norton – while Nolusindiso Booi is back in the national mix.

Preliminary plans are in hand to invite a team to play two Tests in South Africa next season, according to Mahlubi Puzi, Manager of Women’s Rugby at the South African Rugby Union.

“We need to ensure we keep our squad in shape and build on what has been achieved earlier this year at the Nations Cup, in preparation for next season,” said Puzi.

“We would like to raise the awareness of women’s rugby and the national team here in South Africa, because they always play away from home. So we’ve made plans to play two tests at home in 2012, but our opponents still have to be confirmed. We are also trying to initiate an African Nations Cup, which we would host against Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe.”

Puzi added that 2012 will be very important as the two senior national women’s teams build towards the Sevens Rugby World Cup (2013 in Russia), the Women’s World Cup (2014 in France) and ultimately the 2016 Olympic Gamesin Brazil.

The SA Women’s Squad is:

Mpho Moloto, Marithy Pienaar, Dineo Rammulta (all Blue Bulls); Chrisna van Slicht (Boland); Fundiswa Plaatjie, Nolusindiso Booi, Siviwe Basweni (all Border); Portia Jonga, Namhla Siyolo, Mascinge Kona, Cebisa Kula, Daphne Scheepers, Thandeka Feni, Sisphosethu Tshangana (all Eastern Province); Nedene Botha, Masabata Sempe (both Free State); Pulane Motloung (Golden Lions); Masabata Finger (Griffons); Lusanda Mtiya, Dolly Mavumengwana, Jamie Lee Norton (all KwaZulu-Natal); Ester Mahlangu (Mpumalanga); Laurian Johannes, Denita Wentzel, Natasha Hofmeester (all Western Province).

Team Management: Denver Wannies (National Coach), Tanushree Pillay (Physiotherapist), Denzil van Heerden (Biokineticist).

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

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Re-posted from Rugby Wrapup:

A perennial Team USA Eagle, Phaidra Knight is one of the most recognized names in women’s rugby. Today, she chats with fellow Eagle & New York Rugby Club mate,Vanesha McGee.

Vanehsa leaves Ireland behind.

PK: V, I am happy to talk to you today and thanks for taking the time.
V: Well, when you “ask” me to do something for you while flexing your guns…

PK: What ‘chu talking ‘bout Willis? Where did you grow up and what sports did you play as a teenager?
V: I grew up in New Jersey, but traveled to high school in Pennsylvania. I played tennis and lacrosse which I loved! I also ran track, which isn’t usually a surprise to people.

PK: Hmm, I see. Were you any good at them?
V: I don’t think I was very good at tennis, but I loved to play. I was okay at lacrosse, but I played before I decided contacts were a good idea and had quite a bit of trouble seeing the ball. I was pretty decent in track, especially hurdles and triple jump. I made it to the state championships a few times which was pretty cool.

PK: Guess that explains your supernatural ability to jump over opponents while striding. And exactly when did you start playing rugby? Where? What was your original position?
V: I started playing rugby my freshman year at Temple University, in 2002, thanks to a flyer posted next to my dorm elevator. I started out at wing, played center and a little flyhalf, then settled in at fullback.

PK: When did you start playing rugby for the USA, both 7s and 15s?
V: I started playing USA 15s in 2007, shortly after the World Cup. Playing USA 7s started a little later, maybe 2008-my memory’s not the best.

NYRC Eagles McGee, Knight, Vivolo

PK: Getting old are we?
V: (Crickets chirping)

PK: Alrighty then, moving on… Who has been your toughest opponent?
V: Every game and every opponent is always tough in different ways. 7s is usually pretty challenging for me no matter who the other team is.

PK: What has been your best rugby moment?
V: People always ask this question and I never know the answer. Rugby’s just too good to have a best moment. Some of my top moments are winning the club championship with NYRC in 2006, the US/Nat scoring a try against England at the World Cup, beating Canada in the final match in 2010, and being with my besties on tour.

PK: Who are your favorite 5 players of all time?
V: Another hard question. I love pretty much every woman in the back line from the 2006 US World Cup team. I don’t watch enough international rugby to have a favorite there, but Jonah Lomu’s moves still get me fired up.

PK: You are pretty dang fast. Very deceivingly fast because you run so gracefully. Do you think you could win a footrace with Usain Bolt? What about a wrestling match? Tackle off? Rock, paper, scissors?
V: HAAAAA! I’m pretty sure he would crush me in all of those! But you might stand a chance with the wrestling or tackle off-let me know when you do it and I’ll interview you afterwards.

PK: You’re a funny girl. My good friend Fontaine Lloyd was curious about your driving history. Exactly how many car accidents have you had and how many were you at fault? Any of them a result of driving too fast?
V: Hey! I’m a good driver…now that I have a license. Almost all of my accidents happened when I had a permit, I think. I wish I could say none of them were my fault, but I’d be lying. Once I got my license though people just started crashing into me, which may have been because I drive so slowly.

PK: Folks, take it as a warning. Get off the roads. Ok, back to rugby. What’s the dirtiest thing you have ever done to an opponent in a match?
V: I don’t think I’m a dirty player, but once Vix and I had a five second rumble, really an on the ground shoving match. I wonder if she even remembers that.

PK: Do you have your hopes set on play in Rio in 2016?
V: It certainly would be amazing to play at the Olympics. Right now I’m focusing on this year and getting myself ready for what’s to come.

PK: Do you think the USA has a chance to medal? If so, what will it take, from your perspective, for us to do just that?
V: Absolutely! USA is a strong team with very strong, determined athletes. It’s going to take a lot of hard work over the next five years to be on top of the podium in 2016 and I know it can happen.

PK: V, thanks so much for taking the time to share a little of yourself with the world. Maybe we can get a video interview with you soon so that folks can get to know you even better?
V: Perhaps…

Wendy Young

Editor of Your Scrumhalf Connection. Passionate Rugger since 2001.

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