Under the Posts – Aug 10-16 starts with a moving video from Ugo Monye, Maro Itoje and Ellis Genge around racism. We’re also looking at the joint men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup host selection process, some 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup squads are announced, the RAN rugby online women’s forum continues, 5 player features and 4 videos/podcasts in our media features.
Featured Women’s Rugby News
Ugo Monye, Maro Itoje and Ellis Genge are featured in a BT Sport video about racism. These three men brought tears to our eyes and reaffirmed our stance in standing up for the Black Lives Matters movement.
Weekly Women’s Rugby News
Lots of topics this week but we start with the announcement that World Rugby’s World Cup host selection process will be joint going forward. They are encouraging host unions to bid for both men and women’s events.
We’ve heard that England is already planning on bidding for 2025 and 2020 events.
Ireland has announced the fixtures for their All-Ireland League and Community Series and we look at training squads from France and Ireland.
Women’s Rugby Player Features
- USA’s Alev Kelter speaks with Rugby World about transitioning from hockey to rugby
- Keisha-Ann Down, Vice-Chairman of Jamaica Rugby talks with RAN rugby about her “interesting life:
- Ireland’s Sene Naoupu speaks with the Irish Times about her recent health scare
- Zimbabwe’s Nelson Madida is taking a a stand against gender inequality through his project called HOPE
- St Lucia’s Kameka President received a scholarship from Mount St. Mary’s University
Women’s Rugby Media/Podcasts/Videos
- Ireland’s Sophie Spence speaks with Sportsound Extra Time
- England’s Shaunagh Brown speaks with BBC Radio 5 Live about tackling racial inequality
- Ebony Rainford-Brent, Will Greenwood, Tamsin Greenway & more discuss the impact of COVID-19 on women’s sport on Sky Sports
- Catrin Heledd is joined by WRU Operations Director Julie Paterson, World Rugby board member Angela Ruggiero and Chair of the WRU’s Professional Rugby Board Amanda Blanc on Scrum V
Join Us
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.
This is a must-watch not only for every rugby fan, but for every single person.
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) August 14, 2020
This is why black lives matter.
We must all stand united in the fight against racism. Every. Single. Day.
Thank you to @ugomonye, @maroitoje and @EllisGenge for sharing their important stories. pic.twitter.com/xPNiR2bkUy
Ugo Monye, Maro Itoje and Ellis Genge are featured in a very powerful video about racism.
We agree with BT Sport: “This is why black lives matter. We must all stand united in the fight agains racism. Every. Single. Day.”
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293910395942445056
World Rugby has announced that they will award hosting rights to its next two men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups within the same process. Included in the announcement was a desire for a 10 year strategic hosting roadmap. Essentially
World Rugby knows that it needs unions to host and that it is perceived as a money losing event rather than a generating event. Through building partnerships with host unions, they hope to encourage even more bids.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1294378267391201286
Ireland has released the confirmed dates of the Energia Women’s Community Series (October 2020) and the Energia Women’s All-Ireland League (January 2021).
https://twitter.com/RugbyAmericasN/status/1293971533443014666
Rugby RAN’s Online WOmen’s Forum continued this week with presentations from World Rugby Council Member & RAN EXCO Member Cristina Flores Justice and Jamaica Rugby Vice Chair Keisha-Ann Down on ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Rugby’.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1294740691587932161
Ireland has solidified their 36 player squad ahead of the rescheduled Six Nations matches.
✔️ @AnnickHayraud et son staff ont convoqué le même groupe de 36 joueuses pour le second stage des filles du #XVdeFrance qui aura lieu au CNR de Marcoussis du 17 au 21 août 2020 ! #NeFaisonsXV
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) August 13, 2020
France has called their 36 player squad back into training camp to continue preparing for the rescheduled Six Nations matches.
https://twitter.com/RugbyRussia/status/1293259763753594880
Russia has confirmed that they are ready for their match against Spain in the European Championships.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1294015940435337216
WRCRA is hosting a webinar on August 24 to discuss the proposed World Rugby ban on transgender women and the implications for U.S. women’s rugby at all levels. Presenters include Jenn Levi and Lori Rifkin who are noted civil rights and LGBTQ attorneys.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293653545573593089
Britt Benn has been nominated as Canada’s Women’s Sevens Player of the Year a few times but has finally received the reward. It’s a unique time with the pandemic and Benn is humbled to receive the award but he future is uncertain.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293313011898298368
We provided an update on our investigation into Ivano Mirandi and Crystal Cooke this week. We verified that USA Rugby is investigating the incident and that a final disciplinary report is expected shortly.
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293185702453104640
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1295103150962221057
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293230732807151616
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1295148436719841281
https://twitter.com/yscrugby/status/1293548085214416897
https://twitter.com/BBCSPORTNI/status/1292862270716796928
https://twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1293978502635692032
"Remove the women from your life and tell me exactly how far you get."
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 12, 2020
Should men's sport do more to help women's sport?
Watch CANCELLED: Women's Sport and the Impact of Covid-19 on Main Event or here: https://t.co/lX3AkDYNHQ #WomensSportDebate pic.twitter.com/zrpheoNWDQ
https://twitter.com/BBCScrumV/status/1293774281139200000
