Your Scrumhalf Connection

The West U23 Local Area Union Tournament was this past weekend and it showcased the best of the best in the West Rugby Union. With only three unions participating this year, Texas Rugby Union (TRU), Eastern Rocky Rugby Football Union (ERRFU) and the Heart of America (HOA), the format was a bit different than in years past. Since this is mainly a selection venue, on Saturday all three teams played once and then on Sunday the West coaches split the teams up into motley sides. The West coaches in attendance were Angie Cranmore, Head Coach, Traci Schmitke, Fowards Coach and Wendy Young, Backs Coach.

The first match of the day on Saturday featured the hosts Texas against ERRFU. This match was very intense and incredibly close the whole 80 minutes. The ERRFU pack was incredibly mobile and Texas struggled with tackling and rucking in the beginning of the match. ERRFU was able to take advantage of this early in the match and put five points on the board. Katie Thompson, Rachel Ryan and Becca Knappe from ERRFU were unstoppable off the edge of the fringe, gaining meters on every run. During the second half the Texas backs, Kandis Ruiz, Autumn Murrill, KC Curl and Alex Davenport began to get clean ball and they showed their speed and evasive running to put 5 points on the board. Texas was able to hold ERRFU back from opening the gates and the score ended ERRFU 15 Texas 5. View the video below, or go here.

Texas Rugby Union vs Eastern Rocky Rugby Football Union – West U23 LAU Tournament from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

The second match of the day pitted the Heart of America vs the Eastern Rocky Rugby Football Union. ERRFU brought the most players of all the teams, so we got to see some fresh faces in this match. ERRFU scored very quickly at the beginning of the match off of a driving maul. But HOA had some great forward support and they were able to steal ERRFU ball and capitalize on it themselves. Towards the end of the first half, HOA’s inside center, Cari Squires, cherry picked a pass and 80 meters later put HOA on the board. HOA was able to put another score on the board in the second half, but ERRFU continued to score as well with three tries in the corner from Emma Parenteau to bring the final score to ERRFU 22 HOA 10. View the video below, or go here.

Heart of America vs Eastern Rocky Rugby Football Union – West U23 LAU Tournament from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

The last game on Saturday was voted as the match of the day by all. HOA took on Texas for a nail biter of a match. HOA got off to a quick start with two tries from Cari Squires and at half time the score was HOA 26 Texas 0. Texas finally responded at the start of the second half with big hits, runs and scores. The Texas backs were able to get fast ball often and were passing well and this resulted in several tries in a row. Not to be undone, the Texas forwards played smart in the red zone and were able to dot a few tries down as well. The final score of this match was Texas 51 HOA 26. Unfortunately the battery ran out in the camera and this game was not filmed.

Overall the weekend was a success and the level of rugby was the highest seen in the West in quite some time. With 81 girls attending, the West coaches will have a chore choosing players to bring to the Invitational only tryouts in late April or early May. After that the West coaches will need to pick the best 28 players to attend the 2010 National All Star Championships in June.

Thanks to Ashley Voss and USA Rugby I have been given copies of the USA U20 vs Canada U20 and USA vs Canada matches from the January Atlantic Cup. I am still working on uploading the USA vs Canada, but I will let you know once it is uploaded. Great tournament for the USA and I am glad we have it available to watch again. Unfortunately the USA U20 vs Canada U20 video is a bit blurry until about 5 minutes in, but just let the video load and then skip forward.

USA U20 Women’s National Team vs Canada U20 Women’s National Team from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

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.

In an effort to further develop the U-19 rugby landscape in the New England area, coaches from around the region will converge at MIT on March 14th for a one day only camp. The goal of this camp is to bring the current generation of boy and girl U-19 players together, to help further their skills on the field and build lasting relationships off of it, all while having fun.

The camp will focus on fundamental aspects of the game, such as passing, catching, defensive organization, kicking, rucking, and set piece work. Each coach will bring their own style, to allow players to experience different ideas, expectations, and skills. This will be good for all levels of players. Newer players will benefit from the focus on the basics of the game and more experienced players will benefit from working with higher level (if not future) coaches. In general, this is about building a rugby learning  atmosphere for players and coaches.

Quick facts about the camp:

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: male and female high school rugby players.
DATE: Sunday, March 14th
COST: $55 for individual players
$100 for two players
$245 for five players
OUTLINE: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Morning Session: Fundamentals
Afternoon Session: Positional and Units

*Registration includes t-shirt for camp participant*

Deadline for registration is March 8th

For Registration please e-mail MITskillscamp@gmail.com with the following:
-NAME
-SCHOOL/CLUB
-ADDRESS
-AGE
-POSITION

All are invited to this event to watch and learn. For registration or questions, please e-mail MITskillscamp@gmail.com. For up to the minute information join the Facebook group “U-19 Skills Camp Hosted by MIT”.

Hope to see you all there!!

Brandon Sparks
Camp Director

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.

from Women’s Six Nations:

Sarah Gill struck two second-half penalties to earn Scotland a 6-6 draw against Italy – but their wait for a first away victory in the women’s Championship goes on.

Six points from the boot of Italian fly-half Valentina Schiavon had put Italy on course for their maiden win of this year’s competition but Scotland improved after the break to snatch a draw.

But the result came at a price with Watsonians hooker Sarah-Louise Walker along with wingers Lynsey Douglas and Victoria Blakeworth all departing the field with injuries.

Both teams had chances to go for the win late on, but neither side could grasp the opportunities that came their way to leave Scotland boss Gary Parker a frustrated figure.

Schiavon gave her side the lead with a penalty on 11 minutes before doubling the advantage with another kick just four minutes before halftime to put Italy 6-0 ahead.

Walker and Douglas had already departed the fray at this point and Parker’s decision to replace scrum-half Louise Dalgliesh with Gill during the interval paid dividends.

A 52nd minute penalty brought the Scots back into the game before Murrayfield Wanderers star Gill levelled the scores to set up a tense finale.

In a war of attrition, both teams had kickable penalties to win the match but in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

For a full schedule of all the 2010 Six Nations action, go here. For travel packages to England for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, go here.