Under the Posts – May 18-24 starts with our featured video of the week, we’re going back to 2018 when USA Rugby hosted the U20s Tri-Nations Cup with England and Canada. This match comes on Day 2 of the tournament and we see the North American rivals face oof.
Next in Featured News, it’s a juxtaposition of women’s rugby news. World Rugby has gone on record multiple times indicating that women’s rugby is still one of their top priorities. However, we’re not necessarily seeing that emphasis coming from the next level down, individual countries and Unions. Alice Soper in particular has been using her voice to highlight that in New Zealand.
In all the other women’s rugby news, we look at an article that Catherine Spencer did on the entrance of two new teams to the top England women’s competition. These teams have well known men’s sides but their women’s side are either brand new or unproven. What does that mean for the league and the two teams that were pushed aside for their entrance?
That’s not all as we also look at Australia and Fiji working towards potential tests in 2020, The Rugby Journal has released their shortlists for ‘Rugby Photographer of the Year’ and Rachel Malcolm hopes to finish Scotland’s 2020 Six Nations campaign and continue preparing for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
We’ve added a new section around player features as clubs look to continue growing their player recognition and brand. This week we’re looking at Colombia’s Isabel Romero, USA’s Charli Jacoby, Harlequin’s Zoe Saynor, New Zealand’s Farah Palmer and Ireland’s Su Carty.
Last but not least we also have plenty of media, videos, podcasts and two #RugbyJobs.
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.
Our featured women’s rugby video this week is from 2018. USA Rugby hosted the U20s Tri-Nations with USA, Canada and England. This match features the two North American teams in a classic matchup.
World Rugby says women's game among 'top three priorities' https://t.co/V42ZxmIDCE pic.twitter.com/mzkBvMmSzN
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 18, 2020
The unshakable voice of Alice Soper https://t.co/2kRzMTMq7g pic.twitter.com/GksKBhWIKl
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 19, 2020
Women’s Sport: Sir Bill Beaumont says he has already got ideas on how to develop women's rugby https://t.co/vlQAwJ33gu pic.twitter.com/jpFwxJczGU
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 23, 2020
This week we’re featuring a contrast of women’s rugby during the COVID-19 pandemic. First we start with World Rugby confirming that women’s rugby is still one of the “top three priorities” for the governing body. Then we see recent re-elected Bill Beaumont echoing that the women’s game is a priority including vowing to reach newfound territories, overhaul the current calendar and create equal opportunities for all parties.
Contrast this with New Zealand’s Alice Soper who fervently called New Zealand for their lack of communication around the women’s game. NZR released media confirming Super Rugby Aotearoa and Mitre 10 Cup would be returning in 2020. The press release did give mention of the Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns test options in the last sentence of the article.
Soper was experiencing déjà vu as 10 years ago NZR threatened to cut the women’s provincial competition in a Women’s Rugby World Cup year. The Black Ferns won their fourth consecutive World Cup title that year and the competition wasn’t cut.
Women’s rugby is exploding across the world and if it isn’t truly a priority and it’s just lip service like we’ve seen before…it will crumble and hurt female athletes for generations.
5 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS: YSC Rugby Shirts and Stickers! | YSCRugby | Women's Rugby News https://t.co/bfJlLXD7Vi pic.twitter.com/1V1NMhHyES
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 19, 2020
We did a 5-day giveaway last week and it was a smashing success! We’ll be sending out shirts and stickers later this week to all the participants.
Cruel for Richmond but the game has moved on | Catherine Spencer https://t.co/2bJ7t6rtwA pic.twitter.com/iWATuw9SAo
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 22, 2020
Catherine Spencer gives us a frank review of the new teams allowed into England’s top domestic women’s competition. Exeter and Sale join the fray while Richmond and Waterloo are out. Players are already beginning to move around including Katey Daley-McLean over to Sale as a player-coach. Other star players have new clubs closer to home that will be tempting…
The competition in England is being shaken up and the next few years are going to be very interesting.
Australia wants Test with Fijiana, NZ https://t.co/ylbSe3wPEI pic.twitter.com/cQeWwxiZe3
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 22, 2020
Australia is holding talks with Fiji about possible tests in 2020. These would be warmup matches for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup and would possibly take place in October and November.
🏉📷Rugby Photographer of the Year: Spirit
— Rugby Journal (@JournalRugby) May 19, 2020
Sponsored by @wrugbymuseum
Shortlist
Karen Yeomans, John Ashton, Alex Scott, Paul Want, Philip Haynes, Daniele Colucciello, Roger Keller, Giorgio Palmas, Danté Kim, Nicky Emmerson.https://t.co/5Bml1K7lyx#rpoty
pic.twitter.com/klHdO7ipcf
The Rugby Journal has released the shortlists for their ‘Rugby Photographer of the Year’. They had over 500 entries that were categorized as portrait, action, landscape, spirit, young and portfolio.
Category winners and the overall winner of the £1,000 1st Prize will be announced via Rugby Journal social media channels on June 23.
COVID 19 – Return to Play Awareness for Coaches & Players - https://t.co/HYrnPjYLVE pic.twitter.com/8gRM0RvXUm
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 20, 2020
World Rugby has released COVID-19 courses for coaches, players and administrators. Get educated!
Women's Six Nations: Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm hopes to finish campaign https://t.co/GY9CsZ1CGH pic.twitter.com/N3mmvVCfl4
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 21, 2020
Scotland’s Rachel Malcolm is still hoping to complete the 2020 Six Nations Tournament. This may be tough as Scotland also has scheduled matches ahead of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Rugby in Colombia: Murder in Medellin & the bet that changed a life https://t.co/bQEQbR8O6C pic.twitter.com/miwn22BK6H
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 21, 2020
Women’s Eagle Charli Jacoby gets an extreme sense of pride as a third-grade teacher https://t.co/PSlr9vU49E pic.twitter.com/Y4vQkbnFKN
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 20, 2020
Zoe Saynor: Love for women’s game is there, I see no reason that will change https://t.co/kZg8D5kEQQ pic.twitter.com/z9n1yDoQgI
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 19, 2020
Palmer leads by example in New Zealand | https://t.co/YNLlRHuqBb https://t.co/D8ETWx9ojl pic.twitter.com/h4DZ1bvXy1
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 22, 2020
'It Doesn't Feel Real At Times' - Su Carty Returns To The Frontline - Irish Rugby https://t.co/cCuCTDtVAs pic.twitter.com/fOV0C8VyJ0
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 23, 2020
🚨Record day..... 🚨we take you to Malaysia to speak to @WorldRugby #tryandstopus ambassador Ana Aziz about her journey and the growth of women’s rugby! And women’s boss @EnglandRugby Nicky Ponsford about TP and the further of the women’s game. #WRP pic.twitter.com/OuUOph0OUr
— Women’s Rugby Pod (@podwomensrugby) May 19, 2020
New pod this week is so insightful hearing from @WorldRugby #tryandstopus ambassador @MalaysiaRugby international Ana Aziz. A very good reminder why we love this game! @KSadleir 🔗 https://t.co/LNHMPhzJBM pic.twitter.com/N1OJyN1HKW
— Women’s Rugby Pod (@podwomensrugby) May 20, 2020
Listen in to the 'Spin on Sport' podcast as @buildcorpgroup #Wallaroos Captain Grace Hamilton shares her insights into her personal growth both on & off the field, the importance of community & participation from her early years at grassroots.
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) May 19, 2020
LISTEN: https://t.co/Zx90BHBO0m pic.twitter.com/l3RnKkZnEv
'Sometimes you don't have time to think'
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) May 19, 2020
Kathryn Johnson chats with @BBCWorld on firefighting and training for the #USWNTXVs. pic.twitter.com/jekGRY5Ts9
In the first edition of the World Rugby in Spanish Podcast. Biochemistry María Eugenia Cruces, who in turn is captain of the Uruguay women's team, tells how she works to combat the coronavirus. https://t.co/nQQ5lpggiy pic.twitter.com/nrYO4Fyd0q
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 19, 2020
Asia Rugby Match Official Development Officer #RugbyJobs https://t.co/lhjm4ElOFt pic.twitter.com/UBgZk6JYBJ
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 18, 2020
Teacher of PE/Director of Rugby, Edinburgh City Centre #rugbyJobs https://t.co/QAWSbusKA7 pic.twitter.com/K8rsfazjx4
— YSCRugby - Women's Rugby 🏉🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✊ (@yscrugby) May 24, 2020