About Us

Young Schmidtke Consulting

Your Scrumhalf Connection (YSCRugby) was launched in 2006 as West Rugby Blog with the aim of sharing women’s rugby news within the United States. In 2009, we underwent a rebranding exercise and expanded our coverage globally to include major international women’s competitions such as the Rugby World Cup, Olympics, World Rugby Sevens Series, World Rugby Sevens Series Challenge Tournament, Six Nations, and European Championships.

In addition to covering international tournaments, we also provide in-depth coverage of various domestic tournaments from different parts of the world. Our coverage includes but is not limited to USA’s Women’s Premier League (WPL), England’s Allianz Premiership, the French Elite 1, New Zealand’s Dr. Farah Palmer Cup, New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aupiki, Ireland’s Energia All Ireland League (AIL), Ireland’s Interpros, Wales’ Admiral Premiership, Scotland’s Tennent’s Premiership, Nan Fung | SEWIT Hong Kong Premiership, Spain’s Iberdrola League, the Kenya Cup, Australia’s Super W, South Africa’s Premier Division, Italy’s Excellence Championship, the Uganda Cup, and the Africa Cup.

Wendy Young

Wendy Young is the mastermind behind Your Scrumhalf Connection and has been advocating for rugby since 2001.

Her rugby journey started when she played for the University of Oklahoma in 2001 and later played for the Austin Valkyries and various select sides. She was even part of the USA Eagle pool players. While still playing, she ventured into refereeing in 2008 and achieved B Panel status. She was also selected for the WPL Referee Panel in 2019. Wendy currently serves as a referee coach for the WPL and various other USA Rugby domestic leagues.

Apart from playing and refereeing, Wendy has also coached teams such as the University of Texas, Texas A&M, the Austin Valkyries, and various select side teams.

As an administrator, Wendy has worked for USA Rugby and the Texas Rugby Union since 2009. Her contributions to rugby were recognized when she was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Texas Rugby Union Hall of Fame in 2020.

Wendy has been a commentator since 2011 and in 2023, Wendy made history as the first female play-by-play commentator for the Major Rugby League. She also became part of the first all-women broadcast team for that league on March 18, 2023.

E: wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com
M: 512-968-8996

Traci Young

Traci’s lifelong journey as a sports athlete encompasses achievements in basketball, attaining a Black belt in Taekwondo, and discovering rugby at Texas A&M University in 2001. Demonstrating a natural affinity for the sport, she passionately played until her retirement in 2012 with the Austin Valkyries. Throughout her playing career, Traci consistently assumed leadership roles, serving as the President, Treasurer, and Captain for various clubs. In addition to her club involvement, Traci also showcased her talents on various select sides and was capped for the USA Rugby Junior National Team. With YSC, she takes on a more understated role but remains a guiding force, supporting Wendy’s wild ideas. A silent partner, yet always the beacon, Traci channels her love for women’s rugby into worldwide travels, bringing you the latest news in the sport.

About Young Schmidtke Consulting

Young Schmidtke Consulting, established in 2024, is a dynamic Limited Liability Company formed through a partnership between Wendy and Traci Young. Specializing in sports and business consulting, our organization is dedicated to providing expert services across a wide spectrum of sports, with a particular emphasis on rugby. Wendy and Traci bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, combining their passion for sports with strategic business insights. Young Schmidtke Consulting is poised to assist clients in navigating the intricate intersection of athletics and commerce, offering tailored solutions to drive success in the dynamic world of sports and business.

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