We’ve come a long way, ladies

Photo Credit: Carol Slawson
Photo Credit: Carol Slawson

I have been fortunate living in Hong Kong, where the first international women’s sevens tournament occurred in 1997. For years I have enjoyed one of the best women’s sevens competitions in the world as teams from all over the world competed from (literally) dawn til dusk.  It wasn’t exactly ideal for the players but that was all the time available since the tournament was sandwiched between the Hong Kong Tens, which featured famous international players such as Jonah Lomu and George Gregan, and the Hong Kong Sevens men’s tournament.  While the other two tournaments attracted major corporate sponsors, the women’s event was a grass roots through and through.  Stadium seating, a PA system, multiple changing rooms and F&B facilities made the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens a distinguished event, as long as you weren’t comparing it to the men’s Hong Kong Sevens.  That three day tournament was of another class with an entire five star hotel dedicated only to the competing rugby players along with around a dozen practice rugby pitches in Hong Kong.  But still, I was happy that women at least had a few venues to compete against other international teams.

Today, while watching the live feed of the Women’s Sevens World Series in Amsterdam, I had a moment to reflect on the most recent improvements in showcasing women’s rugby to the world.  This year is the first time that I have personally seen a women’s tournament that included “modern” technology, you know, zooming…and replays.  It may not seem like much, but it is a vast improvement over the stationary camera feed, seemingly mounted on a mountain in the distance, that used to be all that we could get.  I also reflected on the players and how they have benefited from a women’s professional era.  The matches are faster and more physical when competed by fully supported, healthy athletes.

20130322 HK Womens Sevens (59)
Photo Credit: Carol Slawson

We older players can still recall (and probably do recall frequently every time we get together to trade war stories) the days when we were lucky if a seven’s tournament remembered to invite women’s teams.  We remember times when we played on pitches devoid of grass because we had to play after the men were finished trampling around for a weekend.  Watching the Amsterdam competitions I recall where we were and where we are now and I can’t help but feel proud of all of us who have supported women’s rugby.  I look at the incredible fitness of our newest generation of competitors and I feel like they are the embodiment of our contributions to the sport.  With each dollar we contribute and each unit of time we dedicate to coaching and facilitating rugby among our girls and women, we are building a larger foundation that will push our next generation further and higher.  It’s been quite an adventure so far and we have gone a long way.

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