#2019 rugby world cup | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

aus-wnt · 10 months

Text

Caitlin Foord: ‘Men think women’s football is a ‘pussy’ sport’

Despite overtaking the Wallabies to become the third most popular national team in Australia, Matildas star Caitlin Foord says some Australians still see women’s football as a “weaker sport” - but she predicts that’s about to change.

Australians are on the cusp of witnessing one of the country’s most significant sporting tournaments when the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 kicks off this month here and in New Zealand. And the excitement is demonstrably palpable: with more than a million tickets already sold, the event (which takes place from July 20 till August 20) is on track to become the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history.

For Matildas star forward Caitlin Foord, this World Cup will mark her fourth; in 2011, she became the youngest Australian ever to play in the tournament. And to think her record-breaking career may never have happened. “Rugby league was what my family supported and I wanted to play rugby league when I was younger,” Foord tells Stellar. “But my nan told Mum that if she let me play then she would never speak to her again. So that went out the window. But if there were more girls playing at the time, and [if] it was more normal for girls to play, then I don’t even know if I would have gone into football.”

Like many children, Foord’s introduction to soccer began when she was a sporty nine-year-old playing with the boys during lunch at her school in the Illawarra region of NSW. “I was tearing the boys up a little bit, and they asked me to join the local team with one other girl,” Foord recalls. “Mum was hesitant because I was already doing a lot of other sports like Oztag [a non-tackling version of rugby league], and surf lifesaving. But then I got a little bit of help from my sister, who told Mum, ‘She’s really good, she beats all the boys at school.’”

In her first match, she scored six goals, and from there, she never stopped playing. “Before I started, the game wasn’t as professional as it is now, but I probably wasn’t thinking about that,” Foord admits, adding that since she wasn’t much of a student at school, she was all too happy to find herself playing for Sydney FC as a 16-year-old in 2010.

But as her abilities developed, so did the opportunities for women in the sport. Foord moved to the US to join New Jersey side Sky Blue FC in the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season in 2013. She then signed with Vegalta Sendai in Japan in 2017. Now she calls London home, after renewing her contract with powerhouse Arsenal FC, where she’s played since 2020. “My transition in the game came at the same time that the game was growing,” she says. “It kind of just fell into place for me as I went up the ranks.”

Parallel to Foord’s personal career, the women’s game itself has made huge inroads. In 2019, Football Federation Australia signed a four-year-agreement with the player’s union, Professional Footballers Australia, that would see the men and women’s national teams receive equal shares of national team generated revenues. And, thanks to the likes of high-profile teammates such as Foord and captain Sam Kerr – arguably the greatest Australian football player – the Matildas have this year overtaken the Wallabies and are close to overtaking the Kangaroos to become the third most popular national team, according to independent market research firm Futures Sport & Entertainment.

Foord says the bond within the Matildas is a special one. “We’ve all grown up together,” she explains. “We’re a close-knit team. We’re not just teammates, we’re all friends, as well. We all thought that was the normal thing. But being overseas and playing with girls from different nationalities, I’ve heard people say they hate going into the national team. I find that so hard to believe because we love being around each other and I think that’s unique.”

Foord enters the World Cup with not just this camaraderie, but also a considerable home-field advantage and a golden opportunity to raise the profile of women’s soccer in the country. “Football is the world game, yet I’ve had a couple of conversations with people around home and they still don’t really see the women’s game,” Foord tells Stellar. “When we play overseas, it’s on at 3am.”

Which is why this upcoming World Cup is so pivotal. “Australians love sport, so I feel like they just need to see us and that’s enough,” she continues. “That’s all we need. That’s going to be the turning point, especially for the males who have spoken down on the sport before or think of women’s football as a weaker sport or a ‘pussy’ sport. But once they watch us and see how tough the game is and how we all get stuck, that’s all it needs.”

Following the team’s fourth-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Matildas are expected to go deep in the Women’s World Cup. This year’s tournament offers the field a record $165 million in prize money, more than three times the amount from the 2019 Women’s World Cup (though far less, still, than the almost $700 million offered to the men at the 2022 World Cup).

Even so, if the Matildas take out the title, Foord says she will celebrate by purchasing some jewellery.

“As an athlete, I’m used to wearing tracksuits and comfy clothes and the odd dress for an awards night,” she says. “But the older I’ve got, the more I’m into fashion.

“I didn’t grow up with money or anything like that, so when I see something, I don’t buy it straight away. If I’m constantly thinking about it afterwards, then I know I really want it – and I’ve always wanted a Cartier ring. If we went on to win the tournament, I’d buy the one I absolutely love, which has diamonds in it.”

But no matter what happens, Foord plans to keep on kicking on. “All the benefits that come with the game now, me and the girls were part of [building] that,” she says. “We’re obviously grateful for what we have now, but we know it still deserves more – and we need to keep pushing.”

#caitlin foord #matildas #auswnt

28 notes · View notes

legowolas · 7 months

Text

LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR FAVOURITE NINE AND KEN TEN COMBO ‼️ 🇿🇦 🏆🏆 💚💛

[ID 1: A "This Barbie is..." poster, featuring Faf de Klerk, a South African rugby player with shoulder-length blond hair. He is wearing nothing but a speedo with the South African flag on it, and his 2023 Rugby World Cup winner's medal. He is holding the Webb Ellis Trophy, and smiling at the camera. The sparkly background behind him is green, and the text above his head reads "This Barbie is a 2x Rugby World Cup champion". End ID].

[ID 2: Another "This Barbie is..." poster, this one featuring Handré Pollard, another South African rugby player. He is wearing a white T-shirt with text on it that reads "WORLD CHAMPIONS", and has four stars below the text, which are labelled "1995", 2007", "2019", and "2023". He has a large cut on his cheek, which has stitches. He is also wearing his 2023 Rugby World Cup winner's medal and holding the Webb Ellis Trophy, and he kisses the trophy as he looks into the camera. The sparkly background behind him is also green, and the text above his head reads "This Ken is the #1 points scorer in Rugby World Cup finals". End ID].

#this isn't faf's barbiest hair moment but I wanted a picture of him with the trophy 😩#and handré is also a 2x rwc champion but the character limit wouldn't let me fit that AND the stat of him being the top scorer in finals 😔#anyway get ready for rugby world cup victory spam because I was too tired to celebrate yesterday 😭#rugby #springboks #rugby world cup #rugby world cup 2023 #rwc 2023 #faf de klerk #handré pollard #mine

10 notes · View notes

racingliners · 2 months

Note

Top 5 international football kits? Also the same but for rugby?

This is an excellent question but I fear that with it being late I will forget some, but I shall try my best.

Football Kits.

Germany MNT Euro 2024 (Away) - Iconic, the moment, you will never take her away from me

England WNT Euro 2022 (Home) - also iconic for so many reasons but I adore the iridescent detailing on the crests and diamond facet print

Nigeria WNT 2019 World Cup (Home) - one of the football kits of all time

France WNT 2019 World Cup (Away) - I am not immune to rose gold and polka dots

England MNT & Scotland MNT 150th Anniversary kits - one for the Anglo-Scottish girlies (gn)!!

Rugby Kits

South Africa 2023 World Cup (Alternate) - I do enjoy some geometric pint in fun colours

Scotland 2024 Six Nations (Home) - basically any variant of the Scotland shirt, the navy blue and tartan pairing is elite

Fiji 2023 World Cup (Alternate) - one of the rugby kits of all time

Italy 2020 Six Nations (Home) - again any variant, it's an iconic strip

Moldova 2023 World Cup (Alternate) - I love the flower detailing

ask me my 'top 5' anything

(pics under a read more for space)

Footie Kits

Rugby Kits

#asks #kyogos #lex tag #Sadly I suffer from recency bias when it comes to rugby kits I may need to come back to this tomorrow #and I know I am half English but I am yet to see an England rugby kit that I enjoy

4 notes · View notes

redwineconversation · 7 months

Text

Selma Bacha Le Progres Interview (October 17, 2023)

Blah blah standard disclaimers apply; god I HATE invasive behavior so much it genuinely makes my skin crawl; @OL Comms Dept a PSL I beg of you; y'all know the speech by now. I don't want to commit to translating Le Progres articles on a regular basis but as is everything in life, that is subject to change.

In which the prodigal child returns from the cold, remembers Lyon's win/loss record against Barcelona, disses Lyon's men's team, and confesses love and admiration for WoSo's favorite Bad Catholic.

It was basically a fan Q&A and anyone with a Le Progres subscription will be able to find their names; however I took out the fans' names because I just don't feel comfortable outing private information like that. (See, it's that easy to be a decent human being and respect someone's privacy!!! Who would have thought!!!!)

SELMA BACHA LE PROGRES INTERVIEW

Selma Bacha: "My biggest strength is my instinct"

For one hour, the Olympique Lyonnais and French International left back talked with Le Progres readers with all the spontaneity and frankness we have come to expect from her. Without shying away from a single question. Her tenacious character, the difference in attendance for men's football compared to women's football, the support from her family, how she regards mental strength, her role models, her relationship with Wendie Renard... A Bacha with no filter!

[Fan]: Do you play any other sport apart from rugby?

I do a lot of boxing during preseason and when we're in preseason. It allows me to blow off steam. I also enjoy swimming, and because I'm such a competitor, I always have to swim against someone who swims professionally so I can improve and to improve my mental strength. I also go hiking even if I like it a little less. Ever since I was young, I really loved sports in general. In middle school, I did cross country. I wanted to do my middle school proud so I gave everything, and I finished third in the French Championship.

[Fan]: Did you play with the boys in the academy?

I started playing with the boys when I was five. I was recruited really quickly by Lyon when I was eight. But my parents got divorced at that time and I lived with my father and my brother, so I have certain male characteristics. But maybe that's what gave me my desire to win, the determination, how to be aggressive and not let anything go.

[Fan]: What would you say is the difference between men's football and women's football? The difference in attendance?

We do the same job, but female players don't bring in as much money as the men do. But we're seeing some progress, we see it with the French National Team where we often play in front of sold-out crowds. It's up to us to win over supporters, to make them proud and gain interest in us. I have a lot of confidence in that even if it's a little frustration to play the final of the Coupe de France or the Trophee des Championnes in front of a small crowd. That being said, then a game is at 9pm on a Sunday, I understand that's it is complicated for families.

[Fan]: Were you disappointed not to play the derby [against ASSE] at the Groupama Stadium?

I think I can speak for the team but we would prefer to play in front of a smaller crowd with a great atmosphere, which may have been lost if we played at the Groupama Stadium.

[Fan]: What is your best memory in the Champions League?

My first final in Kiev [Lyon beat Wolfsburg 4-1]. I wasn't even expecting to be on the team sheet and I went to the pregame meeting and I found myself starting at the age of 17. The atmosphere was incredible. Overseas, people are really interested in those types of events. Here in France, we're sleepwalking our way through it, even if after the [2019] World Cup a lot of people started to get more into women's football.

[Fan]: Other countries have overtaken women's football in France. What do you think about that?

It's not to put down our league because things were put in place and we were heard, so respect for that, but when there is a clash like Chelsea-Manchester City in England, it's hard to compete against. Discussions were had, I'm a bit young but Wendie Renard is taking part in them and things are starting to change. In July, professionalism was put in place, so it's moving forward. Slowly but surely.

[Fan]: What has been the most difficult thing in your career?

I integrated the professional group very quickly. I saw everything through rose tinted glasses at first. And when I was on the bench, I was asking the right questions of myself. I was talking with the physical fitness coach, the psychologist, the nutritionist, and I told myself I need to work twice as hard to achieve what I really wanted. I'm someone who is always very smiley and when I'm hurting, no one will know. I can internalize a lot but it will explode, I implode by myself and obviously, that's not good mentally. I have my parents, my team and my best friend, Alyssa Paljevic (former goalkeeper at Lyon), who is a shoulder to lean on. She doesn't judge me and she tells me if I'm wrong or not.

[Fan]: Are you properly supported in terms of mental health?

It depends on each individual. I often tell the youth to make sure to have a good support system. When I arrived at 16 [to the pro group], I wasn't paying a lot of attention to nutrition, to sleep, to recovery, the invisible part of training. I quickly understood you needed support and structure to achieve my objections, which are really high. When I go the [team] psychologist, it's because it helps me a lot mentally.

[Fan]: What qualities do you need to become professional?

Being good at football obviously. Beyond that, only hard work pays off. I give a lot of credit to the people working behind the scenes who put things in place for us. The invisible part of training is also really important. Beyond that, it comes down to having a lot of fun and confidence, you have to follow your instinct. Now it's my turn to ask if you want to be a professional football player? You'd like that? Right there, you can't say "I'd like to". You have to say "I want to" to send the right information to your brain and have confidence in yourself.

[Fan]: Have you stayed in contact with FC Gerland, the team you started with?

I'm the godmother of my former club which is still very dear to me. Last season, I was able to gift them jerseys thanks to my sponsor. Whenever I can go and give them advice, I do it without hesitation.

{Fan]: Do you play Fifa?

From what I'm told, apparently in the game, I'm expensive and a "cheat code"... Personally I don't really play, I prefer to relax.

[Fan]: Do you train in the morning and afternoon like the men's team?

Who told you the men's team train in the morning and afternoon? (laughter) We often have training in the morning, but sometimes we have double or even triple sessions when we come back from vacation. But yeah, we're like the men, we do the same job.

[Fan]: Do you interact with the men's team?

Yes, and besides that, once a year, during the gala for OL Foundation [Lyon charity], we're seated a table with investors and there's obviously a player from the men's team next to us. You might think they have big egos but when you get to know them, they're real softies. We see them in the cafeteria as well.

[Fan]: Was the transition post-Aulas easier for the women's team?

I don't know what's going on on their [men's team] end but from our end, Michele Kang came to see us, we had talks. We're not an easy team to handle but we're not complicated. (laughter)

[Fan]: Which players are your role model?

I'm a footballer but I don't watch a lot of football. The players who inspire, it's Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, because they're hard workers.

[Fan]: Have you recovered from your ankle injury in Australia?

My ankle doesn't bother me anymore otherwise I wouldn't be on the field, especially because I have a long season ahead and therefore we won't want to take any risks. But it's true the sprain was no joke. I had 10 days to recover. It didn't hurt at all during the World Cup even if it was swollen. I'm not a cheat: if I'm not 100 percent it's not worth putting me on the field. So yeah, my ankle is a little unstable since, it'll roll sometimes, I'll be in pain for 30 seconds up to a minute, but that's normal. Let's just say I played my joker. At Lyon there is all the necessary medical staff, I'm in good hands.

[Fan]: Does it help you to play in your hometown?

There are advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is I was born here, all my family is here and I'm really close to my family so I have a lot of support, that really helps me. But sometimes, you just want to be alone and that's not always an option.

[Fan]: What is your relationship like with Wendie [Renard]?

Wendie, she took me immediately under her wing as soon as I integrated the pro group. She knows the love and admiration I have for her. She's in my heart, she's a big sister for me who I can always count on. Our friendship goes beyond football. When things were going badly and I thought about quitting football, she really helped me. I owe an enormous amount to her.

[Fan]: Do you think you will change clubs in the upcoming years?

That's a good question! (laughter) I'm under contract with Lyon until 2025. I have incredibly strong feelings for this club, I grew up with them. For the moment, I'm good here, I live it day by day and for the moment, I'm not imagining myself elsewhere.

[Fan]: You wouldn't want to go to Barcelona?

Why would I choose Barcelona? (laughter) I'm not afraid to test myself in a new league. Each year, in my room, I take a blank piece of paper and write down my objectives. Last season [2021-2022], I wasn't expecting to be be the youngest player in the Champions League, have the most assists, be nominated to the Ballon d'Or... I couldn't believe it. But when you play for the team and you put the team first, the individual stats will follow by themselves.

[Fan]: Do you practice a lot shooting from afar?

Let's just say it's instinct. I have a very strong left foot. The assistant coach for the French National Team teases me a lot about that: he tells me I have a more powerful shot than certain male players but I need to put them on target (laughter), so I know what I have to improve on. I'd say that above all else, my strength, it's my instinct. I always follow it: if I have to take a shot, I'll shoot, if I have to get my teammate to score, I'll do it. I don't think just about me. I'd rather have an assist than score, even if scoring, it's a really special feeling.

[Fan]: Which team has the best style of play in your eyes?

Olympique Lyonnais (laughter). Otherwise I'd say Barcelona, because I am a player who likes ball possession and at the top level, the Spanish players are the best. I like to watch Barcelona.

[Fan]: Who was the best team you played against?

That's a good question. I'd say Chelsea and Barcelona.

[Fan]: And the best player according to you?

There are a lot. At the moment, I'd say Eugenie Le Sommer. Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona) as well, she's really good.

[Fan]: Do you chip in training?

Ball control, nutmeg, shooting, yes. But not really chips.

[Fan]: What is it like being an undisputed starter with the French National Team?

It's an honor! My team knows how much I struggled and all the tears I shed. Compared to other players, I integrated it a little later but I never gave up. There were nights when I was crying at home and I was thinking: "what am I missing?" And one day, when Lyon was at Issy-les-Moulineaux, I learnt that I would be called up because Sakina Karchaoui was injured. At first I couldn't believe it and I was even afraid the coach was pranking me. I screamed really loudly in the bus, everyone was really happy for me. Being at Clairefontaine, seeing the castle, it was a childhood dream. I'll never forget my first game against Kazakhstan, especially because I was a starter. And then I scored in my second game against Wales! I couldn't dream it any better. Now, my status has changed, but I'm not going to get a big head over it. I stay smiley, likable and I never forget where I came from. I want to keep my feet on the ground because it can all change so quickly.

{Fan]: How did you handle coming back from the World Cup?

That night, obviously I didn't sleep. But despite my missed penalty, I told myself that I gave everything and shouldn't have any regrets. Especially because I came into the tournament with an injury and had 10 days to recover from a big sprain. Afterwards? There was a long flight with a lot of sadness and frustration. I landed mid-morning in Lyon, I went to see my family and that afternoon, I went to Montpellier and then the next day to Marrakech. I turned my phone off and no one knew where I was. I needed a lot of time before I could talk about the World Cup.

[Fan]: What was missing for this World Cup?

Efficiency of course. We weren't able to impose our style of play and we were subjected to Australia's. Maybe we lacked a bit of bite as well. Ellie Carpenter, my Australian teammate, when she has one touch of the ball, she moves up 10 meters. When you foul a Brazilian player, they form a group around the referee to put pressure on her. When we had a team meeting about it, Kenza Dali actually called me out by name and said we needed to be more like me, aggressive. Of course you need to respect the referee and not waste energy for no reason when she has already made her decision, but in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, I think we can go talk to the ref. And not just in football. Look at rugby!

#all good love stories start in the rain #selma bacha #the prodigal child who came in from the cold

6 notes · View notes

afrotumble · 8 months

Text

Siya Kolisi, the first black South African national rugby team (the Springboks) captain - a world cup winning captain in 2019.

#black pioneers #rugby #south africa #siya kolisi #captain

6 notes · View notes

defensefilms · 7 months

Text

South African Rugby Champions Go Back-To-Back

youtube

I'll admit off the bat, that I am the most casual rugby fan in the world, and by many fans standards, I am the worst type of fan because I am a Springboks supporter.

Don't let that take away from what this South African team just accomplished though, and to help you understand the context under which this team is representing the country, is a task that can't be accomplished in one blog post.

South Africa is a country with an economy that is dying and the gap in wealth inequality is getting bigger and bigger, with an infastructure that is falling apart, and a government unable to manage the administrative, financial headaches of governance.

Basically, these Springboks are the only good thing happening in South Africa.

Packed in to the pre-meal, and way before any of these current players was ever a Springbok, is the history of South Africa itself and what the Springboks represented for the ruling Apartheid government pre-1994, and the liberation of Black South Africans since.

This is not a piece to sway people in to believing in the Springboks as a story of racial intergration and tranformation.

Rather something to help you understand the kind of hurdles every player on the team deals with, and the amount of personal discipline it takes to always put the team and winning first.

youtube

In the years to come, books will be written about how these guys had to pull together even in the most trying of times, and Siya Kholisi as the captain of a team that has accomplished the greatest feat in the sport's history.

To help you understand what this team has accomplished, South Africa came in to the 2023 Rugby World Cup as defending champions after winning the 2019 World Cup, only lost 1 game the entire tournament, and won our last 3 games all by 1 point margins.

This is not a Rugby team. This is sporting greatness and excellence. They'll go down as legends of the sport. All of them, every member of both the 2019 and 2023 squads.

Every one of these players had big moments in big games and situations where we absolutely needed it.

Handre Pollard's cool headedness was evident throughout the tournament, with his kick to win the semi-final against England being his most immense.

Eben Etzebeth setting the tone with physicality, always promptly followed by Mbongeni Mbonambi, Franco Mostert and Duane Vermeulen, Ox Nche, Deon Fourie and Kwagga Smith, and this group changed the game in that semi-final.

Pieter-Steph Du Toit's man of the match performance in the final was arguably the best any Springbok has ever played in a final. Cheslin Kolbe's charge down and block against France. Manie Libbok's sublime no-look kick against Scotland.

Everyone had big moments or big performances at key times.

youtube

I have grown attached to this team in a way I have never been attached to a Rugby team.

South Africa's 1995 World Cup victory represented the intention to change with the inclusion of the legendary Chester Williams. In 2007 it was a story of how that change had bred a new generation of winners represented by Byran Habana. The 2019 World Cup in Japan represented a transformation complete with the champions being captained by a Black player for the first time.

This however is not a chapter of the story that needs a transformation narrative.

As a group these players have transcended that. They represent the pinnacle of the sport. The highest level of achievement possible, and our heach coach Rassie Erasmus, the man who masteminded both our victories, all the while challenging the sports's conventions, pushing boundraries, and always keeping the Boks one step ahead.

Growing up Bryan Habana was the most recognisable player in the sport, and I even have a photograph I took of him on my Instagram, but this group, and this captain, with those forwards and those wings, yeah they've now surpassed any South African team, and that's no easy thing to do.

Even more difficult than that is restoring some feeling of national pride at a time when it's becoming harder to create reasons for that.

Thank you to the Boks, they will never be forgotten.

3 notes · View notes

bongaboi · 7 months

Text

South Africa: 2023 Rugby World Cup Champions

South Africa became the first nation to win four Rugby World Cup titles after holding off New Zealand in a dramatic final at Stade de France on Saturday.

Four Handre Pollard penalties to two from Richie Mo’unga gave the Springboks a 12-6 lead after a first half in which All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell was sin-binned for an incident in which Mbongeni Mbonambi was forced off injured. Then New Zealand captain Sam Cane became the first player to be sent off in a RWC final for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel.

Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse both went close for South Africa before Kolisi was yellow-carded as the All Blacks fought back. Aaron Smith was denied a try for an earlier knock-on before Beauden Barrett touched down to bring them to within a point.

There was late drama as Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and Jordie Barrett missed a long-range penalty that might have won it for New Zealand as the Springboks maintained their perfect record in finals, adding to their crowns in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

"I guess as a team we like drama," Mastercard Player of the Match, Pieter-Steph du Toit, who made 28 tackles, said. "The last three games have been quite tough. We played each one as a final and each one was [won] by one point.

"It shows the resilience of the team."

youtube

#2023 #rugby world cup #south Africa #springboks #Youtube

5 notes · View notes

pepimeinrad · 8 months

Text

youtube

new recent anthem-highlight for me: this video from the bronze final of the 2019 rugby world cup in japan, specifically the small boy (timestamp 1:12) singing along in welsh <3 (from some other videos I extrapolate that most/all the kids learned the anthems of the teams they're with - the ones in other videos of Aotearoa and South Africa certainly did)

#ollie's log #fun with anthems #still... not a fan of the anthems at the current world cup #rugby #Youtube #if you want to have children singing do it this way!!

1 note · View note

bocciaraf · 1 year

Text

A sporting account… on Tumblr?

Bit of an experiment, this. Hopefully not a mistake.

Hello. I’m Rafael. I play boccia, which is a Paralympic sport (e.g., a sport which is in the Paralympics, like goalball, wheelchair rugby, etc). It’s a cousin of pétanque, lawn bowls, curling, and all those other sports whose ancient ancestor is someone going “I bet I can get my rock closer to that pebble over there than you can get yours”. Boccia is played indoors, in a space almost exactly the same size as a badminton court, as individuals, in pairs, or teams of 3. In the UK the overwhelming emphasis is on individual play, although pairs and teams competition is growing in global significance.

I’m a member of the newly reformed England squad, run by our governing body Boccia England, and I’m classified as a BC3 athlete - that means that instead of throwing or kicking the balls, we roll them down a ramp instead. The ramp is positioned, and balls set up on it for us, by a Ramp Operator - for me, that’s either one of my personal assistants, or increasingly, my partner. The RO isn’t allowed to see what’s going on on the court, they have to keep their back to it at all times during matchplay - they’re only allowed to physically help, not tactically help.

Playing boccia changed my life - I’ve always been a competitive person but until I discovered the sport in 2012, aged 27, had not only no access to participate in sports but no idea that a sport I could meaningfully play even existed. My sporting career is a direct legacy of the 2012 London Paralympics; it was the presentation of the Boccia UK Squad at the opening ceremony which resulted in the penny dropping. I was at my first club session within a few weeks, and attended my first competition a few weeks after that - I won a bronze medal, and was hooked.

My breakout year was the 2018-2019 season; our last complete season before the pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt. That year I zoomed my way through the Heathcoat Cup national finals - our ‘second division’ competition, a precious space for beginner and improving players to learn their trade without getting steamrollered by the pros - which qualified me directly into the BE Cup Finals, which is the de facto England national championship. I won my pool, unbeaten, and ultimately came 4th, which saw me begin the 2019-2020 season ranked 5th in England, behind two international athletes and two England players.

After that came a funny couple of years; half a season and two bronze medals in BE Cup Qualifiers before the pandemic stopped everything, and then a heavily modified “Back to Boccia” season for 2021-2022, at which I won the gold medal at two of the three Back To Boccia Cup events, went and won the qualifying tournament for the German National Boccia Championships in Düsseldorf - broadening my horizons as a dual national - before being selected for my very first Boccia UK Challenger. The Challengers are events run by BUK to provide the UK national squad, and selected others from the home countries, with additional formal competition experience. At the Gloucester Challenger there were 4 Boccia UK-supported athletes; two men from the World Class Programme and two women being supported in their development with coaching and world-class equipment, including Paralympian Scott McCowan, who had come 4th in Tokyo just nine months earlier. I beat all four UK athletes, and ultimately came second to my England colleague Matt Berry. That silver medal is my greatest achievement, to date. Matt and I followed that up with another one-two finish at the special, pandemic-edition competition run within the talent pathway as a substitute for the England national championships, which resulted in my being selected for my very first UK National Championships, where I lost only to the two McCowan brothers, Paralympians both, and ultimately came 6th. Just a fortnight later I was in Berlin, where I won the silver medal in the German National Championships.

I’ve just kicked off the 2022-2023 season with a very solid 5th place at the first BE Cup qualifier competition, and I’m off up to the SMILE Boccia Open tomorrow, to train up a shiny new personal assistant as a ramp operator. Wish us luck!

http://www.rafaelyoung.co.uk

#boccia #disability sport #parasports #athlete #para-boccia #BC3 #Boccia England #Boccia UK #long post

4 notes · View notes

swamyworld · 26 days

Text

Ryan Hall to finish career at Leeds Rhinos after returning to club for 2025 Super League season | Rugby League News

Ryan Hall is set to end his playing career at Leeds Rhinos after signing a deal to return to the club for the 2025 season. The 37-year-old played at Headingley between 2007 and 2018, helping Leeds win six Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and multiple World Club Challenge titles. Hall – England’s all-time leading try-scorer – was transferred to the Sydney Roosters in 2019 but returned…

View On WordPress

0 notes

dailyrugbytoday · 1 month

Text

Barbarians v Fiji Rugby | Twickenham | 22 June 2024

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/barbarians-v-fiji-rugby-twickenham/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/barbarians-v-fiji-rugby-twickenham/

Barbarians v Fiji Rugby | Twickenham | 22 June 2024

On Saturday, June 22, Twickenham Stadium will host the annual Killik Cup encounter between the Barbarians v Fiji.

The last time the two teams met was November 2019, when the Flying Fijians claimed a narrow 33-31 victory over the Baa-Baas in a ten-try thriller at Twickenham.

Overall, the Barbarians and Fiji have played each other on four occasions with honors even at two wins apiece.

Rugby aficionados, take note! It’s time to put June 22, 2024, on your calendars: the Fiji national rugby squad will play the renowned Barbarians. the Killik Cup will be contested. Robbie Deans will be captaining the Barbarians against an all-star Fiji squad, who sent hearts racing during this autumn’s Rugby World Cup when they advanced to the quarterfinals.

Barbarians v Fiji Rugby 2024 at Twickenham Stadium

22 June 2024 14:00 BST (UTC+01) South Africa vs Wales Twickenham Stadium, London, England

22 June 2024 17:15 BST (UTC+01) Barbarians v Fiji Twickenham Stadium, London

Flying Fijians vs Baa-Baas Rugby Match Preview

The fixture will be a blockbuster “Doubleheader” event with the Barbarians also taking on Fiji for the Killik Cup (K.O. 5:15pm).

See the stars of the game in a thrilling day of rugby. Don’t miss out – secure your seats early!

Mercer is excited about the possibility of playing for the Barbarians once more this summer. He anticipates that there will be a lot of sparks between the two teams as they aim to defeat Fiji and delight a sizable Twickenham audience.

“Playing rugby is about creating memories and experiences like that, which is why I’m extremely excited to play again this summer against Fiji.

“I believe there will be two teams competing against each other that are really similar and that desire to play quick, thrilling rugby.

“The Fijians were one of the most entertaining teams to watch at the recent Rugby World Cup, and they’re going to want to come to Twickenham and put on a show once again,” he states. “They’re definitely the most improved team there.”

Read more: All Blacks Rugby live streaming

0 notes

therealcrimediary · 2 months

Text

Danny Care, the scrumhalf for England, announced his retirement from international rugby after a career spanning 15 years and 101 caps. He made this decision following his participation in all five matches of the Six Nations tournament and reaching his 100th cap in a game against Ireland, where he set up the winning drop goal. Care expressed that the past year has been one of his favorites, full of cherished memories with the England team. Starting with England Sevens in 2006, Care made his test debut in 2008 against New Zealand and scored his first test try in Christchurch. Despite not being selected by Eddie Jones in 2019, 2020, and 2021, Care persisted and was recalled for the victorious tour of Australia in 2022 under Steve Borthwick's coaching. Throughout his career, Care won three Six Nations titles with England and participated in the Rugby World Cups in 2015 and 2023, where England reached the semifinals. Despite being sidelined by injury in 2011 and dropped from the squad in 2019, Care remained dedicated to reaching 100 caps for his country. He expressed gratitude towards his coaches for their belief in him and thanked the England supporters for their unwavering backing. Care acknowledged that walking out onto the field at Twickenham in front of the fans was a feeling like no other and held deep significance for him. Having spent more than a decade representing England in international rugby, Danny Care is recognized as the sixth Englishman to achieve a century of caps. His career highlights include helping the England Sevens team win a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2006 and playing a pivotal role in various Six Nations campaigns. Care's ability to impact games off the bench as a replacement player was a testament to his skill and adaptability as a scrumhalf. Despite facing setbacks in the form of not being selected for major tournaments, Care's perseverance and determination led him to reach the milestone of 100 caps and leave a lasting legacy in English rugby. Care's retirement marks the end of an era for English rugby, with his experience and leadership on and off the field being valued by teammates and coaches alike. His contribution to the England team, both in terms of his playing ability and his mentorship to younger players, has been highly appreciated. Care's departure from international rugby leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his impact and influence on the sport will endure. As he reflects on his career and the memories made with the England team, Care leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered by fans and players alike for years to come. In conclusion, Danny Care's retirement from international rugby signifies the end of a distinguished career filled with milestone achievements and memorable moments. As he bids farewell to representing England on the international stage, Care leaves behind a legacy of dedication, perseverance, and leadership. His impact on the England team and the sport of rugby as a whole will be cherished and celebrated by fans and teammates. Danny Care's retirement marks a milestone in English rugby history and serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

0 notes