Under the Posts – Week of Mar 5, 2017

New Zealand sit proudly atop the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series table after three tournaments.
New Zealand sit proudly atop the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series table after three tournaments.

We cut our post a bit short last week so we could cover the third stop of the HSBC Sevens Series in Las Vegas, NV. Other news this week included the ruling of Katy McClean’s red card, the crucial fourth round of the Six Nations and already some issues with the newly announced England Women’s Super Rugby competition.

As a reminder, we are doing weekly posts recapping the top women’s rugby news. Can’t wait a week? Join us on Twitter or on our Facebook page as we will be posting daily.

Just like USAR Rugby CEO Dan Payne we were up early for #USA7s but we were flying in to the event a bit late in the day. But we were on our way!

The third stop of the 2017 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series welcomed back Argentina! They scored first against France and World Rugby Sevens caught this beautiful sight on tape.

The Women’s Collegiate bracket is coming together for the 2017 Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship. It includes the defending champion, Life University, former champion Penn State, finalist Lindenwood University and 13 of the nation’s top women’s college teams.

Join the teams in Talen Energy Stadium in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday. The women’s championship final will be televised live nationally on NBC Sports Network.

New Zealand went undefeated on day 1 at #USA7s and Portia Woodman gives a quick recap.

The USA Eagles have shaken off their less than ideal Dubai start and reached the Vegas Cup QFs. They would go on to beat Ireland 20-12 to face New Zealand in the SFs.

#USA7s Day 1 highlights!

WITH YOU Jillion. Get your own tshirt here.

Katy McClean of England was given a red card during England’s clash with Italy after a dangerous tackle. The judicial team reviewed and the ban was initially set to last for six weeks. They lightened the ruling after Mclean pleaded guilty to the offence at a disciplinary hearing to three weeks. The ruling has ended McClean’s Six Nations and England will be missing a key piece.

Ghislaine Landry of Canada shows off a bit of chip and chase!

Could ballet help rugby players with strength and posture?

The Women’s Rugby World Cup will reach more households in France than ever before after France Télévisions and Eurosport were announced as tournament rights holding broadcasters. French passion for women’s rugby was highlighted at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 when 2.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the semi-final between France and Canada on France Télévisions’ channel, France 4.

New Zealand were able to defeat Australia handily in the #USA7s final, 28-5. They gave us the HAKA!

and HSBC 7s standings after three rounds:

Canada took bronze over the USA, 31-7.

Landry has broken all the records!

Spain took home the Challenge Trophy.

TV commentator Willie Lose gives a rundown on the third round of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Las Vegas.

The Maple Leafs took the #USA7s LVI Tournament title over Tribe 7s, an Australian side 17-7.

USA Rugby has been putting up a few interesting posts looking at the history of the WRWC and the USA Rugby Eagles’ performances through the years.

Wellington, Rotorua and Christchurch will host the Black Ferns in an international series featuring Canada, Australia and England in June as the teams prepare for the WRWC.

“It’s not going to be a fun conversation. But it needs to happen. We need to talk about suicide in rugby because we are human beings before we are rugby players. Every brother we lose is another tragedy that causes shockwaves to go through our community.”

Lichfield want the Rugby Football Union to reconsider their failed bid to be part of the inaugural Women’s Super Rugby competition. The Staffordshire club are second in the Premiership – the top-flight of English rugby as it stands – and have been part of the league for 15 seasons.

Heather Fisher of England opens up about rugby and it’s importance in her life.

On International Women’s Day World Rugby introduced their #BeBoldForChange initiative with a renewed commitment to further the profile, development, sustainability and success of the women’s game. This will all culminate in an eight year plan to grow women’s rugby. Exciting time!

On the same day, USA Rugby announces their warm up matches for the WRWC. The Super Series is out and CANAM is back with just two matches. Will it be enough for the Eagles? Other teams are getting 4-8 matches for prep.

The controversy in Ireland continues to grow and Hannah Tyrrell speaks out but keeps it to the pitch. Tyrrell admits that she wasn’t too phased by the whole situation.

“Look, I’m just happy to be able to play either code. I love playing sevens, I love playing fifteens, and just being able to represent my country in either code is fantastic. I was told the week of the game that I’d be going to Vegas. I’m a contracted sevens player and for me, that was it then. My mind was set on helping my team do the very best we could in Vegas.

“We’re on the World Series and we’re trying to qualify for the Sevens World Cup next year, and stay on the World Series for next year so it was a really important event for us. “The girls understand the position that we’re in, and they realise that we’re contracted sevens players and that we have a job to do with sevens.

“They did fantastically against France while we were away. Me and the other two girls [Naoupu and Miller] are very proud of them, and we’re just looking to get stuck back in this weekend and help in any way that we can in getting the win.”

The Swedish Football Association have dropped the names on the back of their football shirts in favour of messages that “inspire and motivate women to show that everything is possible”. Each player was given the oppurtunity to choose their own message. What an awesome initiative!

Females are making strides everywhere and that includes rugby referees. Sara Cox of England is busy busting ceilings, she was England’s first centrally contracted referee in 2015, and Olympic referee and last month she took charge in the Rugby National League One – England’s third tier – for the first time.

More records were broken in New Zealand last week as the Rugby Almanack named women in its annual players of the year and promising players of the year lists for the first time. In the 81st edition of the annual book, which lists the records and results of first-class rugby in New Zealand, Black Ferns captain Fiao’o Fa’amausili was named in the book’s five players of the year. Counties Manukau prop Aotearoa Mata’u was named one of five promising players of the year.

Ireland held on by the skin of their teeth to defeat Wales 12-7. The win is Ireland’s fourth in a row and they will now face England in a potential Grand Slam decider in Donnybrook.

Meanwhile, England dropped 12 tries on Scotland. Kay Wilson, England’s winger scored seven on her own!

France faced Italy in a defensive struggle but came out on top 28-5. They will face off against Wales in the last round while Scotland will see Italy.

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