Recruitment! Recruitment! Recruitment!

It has been said numerous times throughout this blog. A lot of women's teams, including Rice University, struggle with recruiting new players. This means teams have to become creative during the recruitment process. I decided to start early and make a video for recruitment for the 2011-2012 season. I can't wait to see new faces. Enjoy! 

Podcast Interview with Rice University Women's Club Rugby Player

As you can see, this week's post is a little different. I had the opportunity to interview one of Rice University's rugby players on the women's team. Check out our podcast now!

For more information about the Rice University Women's Club Rugby team, visit: Rice Women's Rugby .

Scrum.

It's easily the most intimidating part of the game. The rugby scrum can be a frightening experience for novice players. For veterans and fans alike, the scrum is the driving force of the game. Players display the most strength and skill in this part of a match.

As a player who enjoys the physicality of the game, the rugby scrum is my favorite part of a match. As a prop, which is explained in the link, I am in the front ranks of the action. When I first started playing rugby, the thought of being in a scrum was absolutely terrifying! Over time, my coaches and fellow players coached me through how to safely and properly engage in a scrum.

There are 4 simple rules to follow in the scrum.
1. Crouch.
2. Touch.
3. Pause.
4. Engage.
The rules help establish the rhythm of the scrum and help ensure that each team approaches the scrum safely and properly.

A scrum occurs after a penalty or offense. The teams battle for possession of the ball. Although it only last for a few seconds, it is essential for a good team to be able to use the scrum to its advantage.

Here's a good look at how at scrum works in a match:

In Limbo

For many rugby players, including myself, the spring rugby season is coming to a close.  For me the off-season is a place of limbo, especially as a new player. I anxiously await the new season and all that will come along with it. There are a few important things that every rugby player should do during the off-season.
1. Stay in touch with your team.
It is essential for rugby players to keep in contact with their teammates to maintain team camaraderie and unity. Once the season starts back up, players do not have to put unnecessary time and effort in redeveloping chemistry with the rest of the team. That time can be better spent learning new drills and plays.
2. Build a rapport with potential players and recruit! 
Unfortunately, for most teams, players eventually decide to leave the team and move on to bigger and better things. Veterans have the sometimes difficult task of recruiting new players. During the off-season, time normally spent practicing can be used meeting new people, forming friendships, and recruiting players for your club.
3. Watch Rugby.
One of the best ways a rugby player can improve his or her game is by watching matches. It is often helpful to study other players' techniques and strategies. Also, from a spectator's point of view the strategy of the game can become clearer to a player. This is the absolute best way for a new player to learn the game.
4. Get plugged-in with the broader rugby community. 
I think every rugby player should extend themselves outside of just their respective teams. Meeting other rugby players from around the world provides opportunities to discuss the game with someone who shares the same passion as you do, express frustrations or problems you face as a rugby player, and allows for the exchange of ideas especially in regards of recruitment and game play. RuckU is a great online community for all rugby players to check out.
5. Workout!
Just like any other sport, the off-season is not a time to slack off and not maintain a regular workout routine. Physical fitness is a necessary component of rugby. Staying in shape will only help make the transition into regular season play easier on both the player and his or her team.

com·mu·ni·ty

As defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a community is a "unified body of individuals". So far I've been a part of various communities, but the rugby community I'm in now is one that I value very much. That community consist not only of the members of the Rice University Women's rugby team, but also extends to our counterparts in the greater Houston area as well as the girls in our Union.

Two weeks ago, Rice had its second cup match of the semester against Texas Christian University (TCU). Not surprising was the fact that neither side had a full team to compete in a regular match. Instead the teams rotated players out and switched rosters so that a game of seven-on-seven could happen. This was one of the most amazing experiences I had ever had. Even though we were rooting for opposite sides, it was amazing to play with the TCU girls and accomplish a common goal, which is to become a better, smarter rugby player. So to all the members of my rugby community, I say thanks. Thanks for the knowledge, laughter, and truly amazing memories.

What We Learned in Vegas

Last weekend (February 12th-13th) the USA Sevens Rugby Tournament was held in Las Vegas. The unprecedented event had a few big takeaways.

Winner: Rugby Media Coverage
This year the tournament and festival was very different from previous years. That is because the American public was able to watch Sevens tournament from the comfort of their own homes via Universal Sports and NBC. This special opportunity allowed for the exposure of rugby in America on a new level.

Winner: The Tournament and Festival 
This time around, it was evident that the tournament and festival would be different. Sevens is unique in fact that in addition to the tournament, it also hosts a festival in which fans check out thousands of vendors, enjoy good food and music, and get to live in rugby players' lives for a couple of days. Fans flocked to the tournament and festival in high numbers last weekend. On the final day, attendance was recorded at 25,000 people.

Winner: The Fans
Fans who were at the Sevens tournament last weekend did not leave disappointed. All tournament finals were lively and action packed. In many matches players forced to deal with injuries provided either painful or inspiring story lines in their respective final cup matches. One highlight of the tournament was the home team claiming victory. Although there are many improvements to be made before the next tournament, the USA team defeated the Japan team to snatch the Shield trophy in front of a home crowd.

Winner: Rugby Teams Around The World  
Those who watched the tournament saw good quality rugby this weekend. The players played exceptionally well and left fans wanting to more. For those who claimed victory, the win was sweet. Those who lost could not leave defeated for too many good things happened for all to be lost at Sevens tournament.

The Big Picture
If you were not able to watch the tournament, you surely missed a special event. After the tournament concluded, there were no losers. What we learned from Las Vegas is that the projection of rugby and its place in American society is looking better and brighter. Here are some of the highlights from the tournament.

2011 USA SEVENS RUGBY TOURNAMENT

The USA Sevens Rugby tournament is this weekend in Las Vegas.  The event is the largest of its kind in North America. It showcases 2 days jam-packed with rugby matches and includes an international fan festival. If you want to know what rugby is all about, be sure to tune in this weekend. On select days certain rugby matches will be aired on NBC. Search your local listings for this special opportunity.