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**Sparky** · 02-07-2008, 02:04 PM

Women's rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports around.

It's not just for boys and men anymore - and there are more and more women's clubs all over the country.

Whether you just want to play for fun or be right up there challenging for honours, there's a place for everyone.

ENGLAND

The Rugby Football Union for Women is responsible for getting more girls playing and learning about rugby.

They will be able to give you all the information you need about getting started, and put you in touch with your nearest club.

If you want to take your rugby seriously, Player Development Academies across the country hold open trials every summer.

You can find out more by logging onto: RFUW website

WALES

The Welsh Women's Rugby Union has appointed special development officers whose job it is to get more girls playing.

Log onto the Welsh Women's Rugby Union website, which has all the information you need to get started. Welsh Women's Rugby Union

Also, around 50 schools in Wales already offer rugby to girls.

And there are 25 club teams across the country, with many running Under-16 and Under-19 sides.

IRELAND

You can find out everything you need to know by logging onto the Irish Women's Rugby Union website. IWRFU website

As well as contact details for clubs there's information on competitions and events.

SCOTLAND

There are several junior clubs across the country - from Wick in the north to Wigtownshire in the south west.

Beth MacLeod is the Scottish Rugby Union's development officer for women's rugby.

She has all the information you need about getting started in the sport and events going on in your area. Scottish Rugby Union

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:17 PM

OFF the pitch, they are soft spoken, feminine, friendly, sexy and cheery, but on the pitch, they become rough, tough and fast.

Stand in their way and they won't think twice about mowing you down. And they can come at you like a speeding train.

Some are students, some office workers and one is a mother.

These are the girls of the Royal Selangor Club's first female rugby union team, The Dingo.

rest of the article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:18 PM

The No. 5 nationally ranked UC Santa Cruz women's rugby team lost to visiting No. 16 ranked Sacramento State 19-7 on Saturday.

Both teams entered the match undefeated in the Northern California League.

The Slugs had a tough time keeping up with Sacramento due to injuries on the field, causing lineup changes throughout the game.

"Sacramento State is an under-ranked team," Slugs coach Alex McKenzie said. "They're very strong and physical and are experienced."

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**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:19 PM

ROY MASTERS has often noted rugby league's extraordinary capacity to regenerate itself, just when you think the problems that beset it have reached a critical mass, and it surely must sink under the weight. There is some truth in it. Over the past few decades, the game has continued to survive crises extending from outcries over violence on the field, to shocking "Schlossy's Shoe" shenanigans off it, to devastating charges of corruption in the Kevin Humphreys era, to the bitter divisiveness of the Super League war, to the Coffs Harbour scandal, to the shocking series of crimes and misdemeanours we have witnessed in recent times, and all of it continuing month after month, year after year, despite the code's promise to clean itself up. In all that, however, I suspect there has not been a week as damaging as the last one, when Anthony Watmough's disgraceful behaviour at a Manly sponsors function can barely get a look-in to the front and back pages because of the criminal charge for sexual assault laid against his teammate and the man selected to be the face of the new season, Brett Stewart. Yes, of course, in the short term, league will survive this, too. There is even a view that just as "all publicity is good publicity", and that rugby league's domination of the news cycle will help propel people through the gate this weekend. Ultimately, though, I really do wonder how much more can a koala bear. At some point, the code as a whole has to find the will to clean

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**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:20 PM

Steffi Sarge Kaur and Normasyirah Zahari were in the Malaysian women's football team that was thrashed 29-0 by China in 2006, during the AFC Under-19 Women's Championship on home ground.

Disheartened, Steffi, 21, and Normasyirah, 28, turned to rugby instead and joined The Dingo, the women's team at the Royal Selangor Club last year.

Steffi's parents were strongly against it for "the game was too aggressive for a woman".

"I stood my ground," says Steffi, who hails from Taiping, Perak.
What Steffi likes about rugby is that it toughens you up.

"Never mind the bruises and abrasions you suffer during practice or in a match. All these seem so trivial compared to the fun we have on the pitch. I am also looking forward to being a member of the first Malaysian women's rugby team."

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**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:20 PM

Every sport has an offseason where they try to improve their team and prepare for the following season. That is what the spring season is for the Keene State College women's rugby team.

"The spring is a learning time for the new comers. There are only two practices a week and a total of four games," said co-captain Brenna Donoghue.

Donoghue, who has been playing since her freshman year at KSC, said the spring season does not officially count towards their record, whereas the fall season does.

rest of the article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2009, 02:21 PM

' What do you mean, you can't do the gardening ? You're watching what ? Women's rugby ? "

Now, I have to confess, I haven't done a lot of gardening in my time, nor I have watched an undue amount of women's rugby.

Last Saturday, all that changed. I got my hands dirty, for a while at any rate, before I got drawn into the World Cup Sevens from Dubai. Yes, you're right. It doesn't take too much to distract me.

I'd turned on the kitchen TV to try and catch England in the knockout stages. Too late. They'd already perished. No matter. There was plenty to savour, especially the women's rugby.

The final between New Zealand and Australia was as rich, competitive and thrilling a bit of rugby as I've seen this season. The Aussies came through, just, Shelly Matcham squeezing over at the death. The skill level was high, the tackling ferocious and the fitness levels amazing. And if all that sounds patronising, then that's a reflection of my ignorance.

The men's event threw up no end of surprises.

And if the IOC had any doubts about giving serious consideration to rugby's claims for the 2016 Olympiad, they should have all been eased by what was a terrific three days of sport.

Hats off to 'em all.

**truebluefan** · 03-17-2009, 09:00 PM

The women's rugby team began the spring season with a confidence injecting performance against James Madison University.

West Chester ran over JMU 61-7, the team they have overcome the past two years to advance into the National Tournament. The win brought WCU's record to an even 4-4. The showing surely brought a smile to coach Tony DeRemer's face.

The Golden Rams scored a total of nine trys in the game, and Megan Lamm converted on four of them. She also scored two trys of her own, giving her 21 total points on the day, tying the school record for point in one game. Sara Glick scored two trys as well, and Jenna McGrath recorded her first try as a college rugby player.

West Chester jumped out on top early in the contest, scoring in the first two minutes and never looking back. They held a 29 point lead at the half, and nearly shut JMU out. The hosts scored in the final minute of play and converted to keep from being shut out.

Just this past Saturday, the team traveled to Delaware to take on the Delaware Blue Hens. The outcome was not as pleasing, as they fell to the Hens 20-13 in a hard fought battle.

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**truebluefan** · 03-17-2009, 09:01 PM

England, Wales and Ireland lie joint-top in the Women's RBS Six Nations title race with one match day remaining after all three secured wins at the weekend.

Although their Grand Slam hopes have already been dashed, England can still defend their title and currently top the table on points difference. They need to beat Scotland and await the result of all important match between Wales and Ireland on the same day.

**truebluefan** · 03-22-2009, 04:08 PM

The Guam women's national rugby team is heading to Hong Kong next week to challenge some of the best rugby teams in the world.