Under the Posts – Nov 16-29

Under the Posts – Nov 16-29 is bigger this week as we’ve expanded it to cover two weeks due to the US Thanksgiving Holiday. It was a big two weeks and we’re starting with the draw for the 2021 Rugby World Cup. Then we look at Wales announcing a new XV head coach, Burkina Faso, Iran and Laos achieve World Rugby full member status while Nepal and Panama become new associate members, England steals a win over France 25-23 in overtime, USA Stripes defeated Stars 34-12 but the second match was cancelled due to positive cases & exposures, the Black Ferns barely held off the NZ Barbarians 19-17, Round 6 of Allianz Premier 15s, 14 player features and 15 media.

Featured Women’s Rugby News

The featured women’s rugby news focuses on the 2021 Rugby World Cup Draw. The biggest perhaps “shock” of the day was that the draw was held inside a building with over 400 guests! New Zealand continues to lead the way in the pandemic and that gives us hope that this tournament may actually take place!

The event had plenty of pomp and circumstance including New Zealand rugby greats and the Prime Minister participating. Pool A will see reigning champions New Zealand facing Australia, Wales and the Final Qualification Tournament.

Pool B sees Canada set to face USA for the first time in the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup alongside Europe 1 and Asia 1.

Rugby World Cup 2017 runners-up England are drawn in Pool C alongside bronze medallists France, South Africa and Fiji, who are set to make their Rugby World Cup debut.

Video Summary

Not this week sports fans…we’ll be back in person next edition. 🙂

Weekly Women’s Rugby News

Test News

• Wales has announced a new XVs head coach in Warren Abrahams
• World Rugby has admitted new members Burkina Faso, Iran and Laos while Nepal and Panama become new associate members of international federation
• France came out hard in their return match against England and led going into overtime. Emily Scarratt slotted a last minute penalty to win by three
• China’s Euan Mackintosh is hoping for a top eight finish at the Olympics

Competition News

• Scotland joins most of Europe in cancelling amateur rugby
• USA held a Stars vs Stripes XVs match, the Stripes won 34-12. The second match was cancelled due to positive cases and exposure
• In the second match between the Black Ferns and the NZ Barbarians, the Black Ferns barely held on for a 19-17
• Round 6 of Allianz Premier 15s still has Harlequins and Saracens at the top of the table with some movement in the middle

Other News

• Watch the documentary Oceans Apart: Greed, Betrayal & Pacific Rugby by Tusitala Films…that is all
• The Rugby Breakdown shares how ARPTC in Little Rock, AR is one of the only places playing rugby in the US
• Brenda Heather-Latu has become the first woman chair of Oceania Rugby’s Judicial Committee
• Scrum Queens takes a dive into the biggest ever study of injury in Sevens
• South African Rugby expands their sponsorship with Carling Brewing and it includes the Springbok Sevens and Springbok Women’s Sevens teams

Women’s Rugby Player Features

• South Africa’s Piwokuhle Nyanda talks about finding rugby and being sponsored by MasterCard
• Cardiff’s Verity Butt speaks with The Tab about gender disparities that exist within rugby
• England’s Zainab Alema speaks with The Times about playing rugby and sharing  the sport she loves with ethnic minorities
• New Zealand’s Tyla Nathan-Wong becomes first Black Ferns sevens player to reach 1,000 points despite being overlooked early in career
• England’s Emily Scott talks about rugby and rheumatoid arthritis
• New Zealand’s Les Elder is featured in part 2 of the series From Here to Maternity
• Loughborough’s Rhona Lloyd talks with Newschain about her podcast ‘Women Who Sport’
• France’s Céline Allainmat is part of the World Rugby’s Coaching Internship Program
• England’s Danielle Waterman opens up about broadcasting and  why she must keep proving herself to men
• South Africa’s Mathrin Simmers is part of the ‘Unstoppables’ campaign and she speaks with Springboks.com about what that means
• Zimbabwe’s Abigail Kawonza is also part of the ‘Unstoppables’ campaign and she shared story with the Herald
• Samoa’s Fuimaono Beth Onesemo looks to continue promoting gender equity as a recipient of a World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship
• South Africa’s Rights Mkhari shares her rugby journey and what being part of the ‘Unstoppables’ campaign means
• Namibia’s CJ Kotze is part of Rugby Africa’s ‘Try And Stop Us’ campaign

Women’s Rugby Media/Podcasts/Videos

• Dallas Jackals’ Elaine Vassie is the first female to hold a managerial position in the MLR
• Kenya’s Peris Mukoko shares her inspiring story to become one of the “Unstoppables”
• Canada’s Lesley McKenzie is on Rugby Hive
• Caroline Layt shares her lived rugby experience as a transgender athlete
• Ireland shares archived footage from 1973
• England’s Sarah Hunter joins Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell on a special captain’s pod
• Women’s Rugby Pod has Amy Cokayne and Helena Rowland
• England’s Rachael Burford chats with Brian Moore about how the views on social media surrounding female rugby need to change
• Squidge Rugby takes on England vs France
• Verity Smith is on Mermaids for #TransAwarenessWeek
• USA’s Kristi Kirshe talks with the NE Free Jacks
• England’s Danielle Waterman is on Try Hards podcast
• USA’s Dr. Amelia Luciano is on Greaux Rugby podcast