Another big week in women’s rugby as look at Cape Town 7s, week 9 of Tyrrells Premier, Germany drops from the Rugby Europe Championships, Wales adds another woman to their Board and Netherlands 15s looks to rebuild.
We also look at rugby awards for New Zealand and Australia as well as WADA sanctions against Russia that could affect their 7s teams.
Can’t wait a week? Join us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram as we will be posting daily. We have a bit more dialogue on Twitter if you’d like to join in.
Tyrrells Premier 15s live stream schedule confirmed https://t.co/9pT2O7E07O pic.twitter.com/yk9dn3HBje
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 11, 2019
Harlequins have the mindset for raising the profile of the women's game, says Rachael Burford https://t.co/Y5EkKns2b7 pic.twitter.com/zTf563pdj1
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 10, 2019
This week we’re featuring the Tyrrells Premier 15s league. They’ve just announced the live stream schedule for their remaining matches and round nine was the biggest week yet.
Let’s start from the top, Saracens remain the only unbeaten team after a dramatic comeback over the Harlequins. Not only was it dramatic but history making as they overcame a 0-24 to win 33-27. This is the biggest comeback in Tyrrells Premier 15s history.
Loughborough also moved up in the rankings as they defeated Gloucester-Hartpurty 36-17. Wasps remain in fifth place beating Richmond 36-5. Bristol also remains stagnant in the rankings even having beat Darlington 17-10.
Semi-finals of Tyrrells will be May 9-10 and finals will be May 31.
Germany well beaten in Euro warmup https://t.co/e2YQ7Xtnbh pic.twitter.com/j9UW2hZG8U
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 9, 2019
Looks like its official - Germany appear to have withdrawn from the @rugby_europe Championship. Their fixtures have been dropped from the RE website. pic.twitter.com/NtTNkOmbFY
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) December 15, 2019
Not a ton of information out there on this but Germany played a warmup match earlier in December, losing 56-0 to France Militaire XV. A few weeks later Scrum Queens noticed that they had been removed from the Rugby Europe Championships website. There are rumors of financial issues but nothing else really…
Liza Burgess: Ex-Wales captain to join WRU board as first elected woman director https://t.co/bz66oQ2xk3 pic.twitter.com/DmUvSWrzXD
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 13, 2019
Liza Burgess of Wales has been elected to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) Board. She is the first woman member elected, as Aileen Richards was co-opted in 2015 to the board. This makes two females on a board of 17.
England are on the cusp of becoming trailblazers, says Hunter https://t.co/oSKoE2bNOf pic.twitter.com/9U2GtH7UNA
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 15, 2019
Sarah Hunter talks with Yahoo Sports about their recent success and looking forward to 2020 and also the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Dutch women rebuilding under former test prop https://t.co/HHUfHRHskz pic.twitter.com/MtXkBaoFfx
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 15, 2019
Sylke Haverkorn is a former test prop for Netherlands and she has been tasked with rebuilding 15s for her country. She comes with a strong pedigree as she’s coached Rugbyende Utrechtste Studenten, the club she won five consecutive premier division titles with as a player (2012-16), she’s coached men’s rugby at Rugbyclub Nieuwegein, and is also head coach of the Turkey women’s 7s.
Their first event was a two match series against Hong Kong. Hong Kong swept the series winning 14-12 in their first match and 18-0 in the second. Now they look forward to the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship where they will face Russia on March 7.
Pools and schedule announced for Cape Town https://t.co/MYNn2xLJyJ pic.twitter.com/vIJ7N7w8IH
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 10, 2019
The @WomenBoks run out for first in front of their home crowd at the #CapeTown7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 13, 2019
Follow LIVE: https://t.co/SxPbtEAyiB pic.twitter.com/BT4k3C3H9P
Captains all set for a big weekend at the #CapeTown7s
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 10, 2019
Tune in for unmissable #Rugby7s action on 13-15 December in the next round of the #HSBC7s series. pic.twitter.com/uRPADZlDtn
Your Cup quarter-finalists in the women's #HSBC7s in Cape Town@FranceRugby v @russiarugby @Aussie7s v @fijirugby @RugbyCanada v @USARugby
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) December 14, 2019
@BlackFerns v @EnglandRugby
Games kick off at 09:50hrs (GMT+2) on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/zErV4BgF9C
USA Women’s Sevens Cape Town 2019 Roster & Preview https://t.co/LrgH5orq3x pic.twitter.com/CtX6FICHun
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 12, 2019
Springbok Women’s team ready for Cape Town Sevens | IOL https://t.co/20jTKthfVM pic.twitter.com/FYvXsoKHtz
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 11, 2019
New Zealand has taken back-to-back titles in Dubai and Cape Town. With the win over Australia 17-7 in Cape Town, they also become the inaugural HSBC Cape Town Sevens champions.
Canada took third place over a feisty French side, winning 22-17. This has shaken up the standings a bit as New Zealand is on top with 56 points, Australia is in second at 50 points and USA moves down to third with 48 points. Canada is in fourth with 44 and France rounds out the top five spots with 40 points.
Teams now have a break but we will see them again in Hamilton, NZ on January 25-26, 2020. It’s another back-to-back weekend with the men where teams will immediately travel to Sydney, Australia on February 1-2.
Russia's women's rugby sevens side could be affected by ban https://t.co/3WTqi9Cp48 pic.twitter.com/D7KbzOaSVO
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 9, 2019
As an update on this, @WorldRugby confirm they will not make a decision on Russia's involvement until they have had confirmation as to whether the decision will be appealed and had further detail. https://t.co/gtY5zYzBWM
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) December 11, 2019
Recently the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that Russia would be banned from global sports event for four years. Russian athletes can compete at World Championships and Olympics games under a neutral banner as they did at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
This may affect Russia 7s severely but World Rugby has confirmed they will not make a decision on Russia’s involvement until they have had confirmation on appeals and further details.
Russia needs to compete in the upcoming Olympic repechage but if they cannot would potentially be replaced by France if unable to compete.
An absolutely brilliant season by Charmaine McMenamin has been capped off with the @BlackFerns Player of the Year Award. Congrats Charmaine!#ASBRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/C91K2Gqxcy
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 12, 2019
History! Congratulations to the very first female winner of the Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year, Sarah Hirini. pic.twitter.com/vOsi2e5mUZ
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 12, 2019
Introducing your adidas New Zealand Team of the Year, the @BlackFerns Sevens. Congratulations! #ASBRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/gfC650TOtr
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 12, 2019
The awards keep coming! This time it is Tyla Nathan-Wong with the @BlackFerns Sevens Player of the Year Award! #ASBRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/qqxfcSpxUx
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 12, 2019
Rugby Australia Awards: All the winners from rugby's night of nights https://t.co/ALkY681V5E pic.twitter.com/7wtbRgNy6u
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 10, 2019
It’s award season and this week we saw New Zealand and Australia hand out the accolades. The lists of awards are quite long so click the links for more details.
A brand new episode is now live.
— Inside women’s rugby (@womensrugby_pod) December 10, 2019
This week we talk to @Scotlandteam and @DMP_Sharks Rachel McLachlan about call ups, amazing shirt presentations and joining the @Premier15s
You can listen on Itunes, Spotify, Youtube and on our website https://t.co/F7RIEeLZpq pic.twitter.com/lmCGoB2gOj
Inside Women’s Rugby talks with Rachel McLachlan about playing for Scotland and the DMP Sharks.
Try Hards Podcast talks with Tyla Nathan Wong at Cape Town 7s.
USA Rugby Board of Directors announce Organizational Restructure Initiative and Task Force https://t.co/YgcvUdnMtX pic.twitter.com/KYRuPSuCgW
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 13, 2019
USA Rugby has been having some bigger troubles of late and their latest effort to put a band-aid on the issues includes an organizational restructure and task force. Essentially USAR will be decentralizing and empowering the regions…in simpler terms they will focus on compliance, insurance and the National Teams. Everything else will trickle down to the GUs, SROs and College Conferences.
Hannah Stolba joins Crealia El Salvador https://t.co/WUMZbLGHKP pic.twitter.com/eXKMfmY79O
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 15, 2019
Hannah Stolba has been on a rugby journey the last few years, most recently playing with the Glendale Merlins, Barbarians FC and Waitaki Wahine in New Zealand. She has now committed to playing for Crealia El Salvador in Central America.
Marlie Packer exclusive interview: 'I don’t know how much shelf life I’ve got left, but I want to get a Rugby World Cup gold medal' https://t.co/IbRzjpbFup pic.twitter.com/FyucvdCOCQ
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 11, 2019
Marlie Packer talks to Telegraph UK about her rugby journey and desire for for a Rugby World Cup gold medal.
Munster Women Call For Former Players https://t.co/LS4eEEYXyV pic.twitter.com/rEOgwaPL6d
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 15, 2019
Munster have put out a call to previous players as they are looking to compile a database. They would like to honor and acknowledge the contribution of former players.
Worcester Warriors | Job Opportunities #RugbyJobs https://t.co/EdavKCO8qz pic.twitter.com/pgLLrRtTxO
— YSC Rugby (@yscrugby) December 13, 2019
FULL TIME | @HarlequinsWomen 27 – 33 @SaracensWomen #Premier15s pic.twitter.com/UIupnYb2wS
— Tyrrells Premier 15s (@Premier15s) December 14, 2019
FULL TIME | @RichmondFC1861 5 – 36 @Waspsladies #Premier15s pic.twitter.com/Enzutz4hJG
— Tyrrells Premier 15s (@Premier15s) December 15, 2019
FULL TIME | @WorcsWarriorsW 64 – 19 @WaterlooLadies#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/vxkqkyoUZy
— Tyrrells Premier 15s (@Premier15s) December 14, 2019
FULL TIME | @Glos_PuryWRFC 17 – 36 @LightningRugby
— Tyrrells Premier 15s (@Premier15s) December 14, 2019
#Premier15s pic.twitter.com/gS284QP7Hw
FULL TIME | @DMP_Sharks 17 – 10 @BristolBearsW #Premier15s pic.twitter.com/QJB7jRaBgd
— Tyrrells Premier 15s (@Premier15s) December 14, 2019