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TRF Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Round-up

CENDRAWASIH

 

I took time off from writing my own International experience to introduce the "Cendrawasih" (bird of paradise), the Indonesian Women 7s team, and how the sport is growing amongst women in Indonesia.


Long gone is image of the timid, subservient woman in today’s modern world, but in some places the mental image is still very vivid and it takes a different breed of ladies to show the world what is truly possible for the so-called fairer sex.
Asia for example is not generally known as a rugby continent. Its neighbors in Europe and at the farthest southern hemisphere have traditionally dominated world rugby for many a decade past. But things are changing and they are changing rapidly!
One country where a keen interest has been shown by women in the sport of rugby is Indonesia. Even with over 200 million people inhabiting over 17 thousand islands (or because of it), rugby still takes a distant back-seat to more popular sports such as soccer, volleyball and of course, badminton particularly amongst the ladies of sport

Things are changing though, and the passion for rugby is growing amongst Indonesian women. Jakarta, which is the country’s capital, had its first schools’ girls sevens rugby competition earlier this year with four local schools taking part. This is a big step as prior to this competition; most women’s rugby had only taken place in international schools and within the foreign community.
"Yes!” agrees Dita of SMA Al-Chasanah high school, “Rugby gives me the chance to express myself more… even my aggressive side, that other sports don’t let me do.” “I love rugby because it gives me the chance to use my hands, arms and legs, my mind and heart when I play the game” says Ima, a year-12 student of Labschool Kebayoran.

As part of the recent HSBC Asian Division IV tournament held at Lippo Village, Jakarta, girls from Jakarta and the neighboring city of Bandung were given a chance to participate in coaching clinics conducted by the iRB & ARFU (Asian Rugby Fotball Union). Singaporean international Ismail Kadir who runs the coaching was a great motivator to those taking part in the event.

“They say that rugby is a tough sport and girls should just watch it and not play it” says Jenny, a university student from Bandung, “but my boyfriend plays it and he knows I am a tough girl so he likes me to play it. It actually lets us spend more time together too!”
After the exhibition match (in which the referee was also a young lady), the girls of Indonesian Rugby were very happy indeed. Their dreams of forming a national sevens team (already christened ‘Cendrawasih’ or Bird of Paradise) and of participating in more sevens and fifteens tournaments are getting closer to becoming a reality.

Their passion is abound and their love for the game is clearly visible. Indonesian women’s rugby is truly in good hands!

Cendrawasih is planning to compete at the Kota Kinabalu 7s as well as the Singapore 7s later this year, and if selected I could be coaching the first ever Indonesian National Women's team, as well as the first ever Indonesian International Coach.

Courtesy of "Jago Dulu" Rugby Football Club.

 

Black Day for the Springboks

 

 

The All Blacks sent out a strong message to the rest of the world with a crushing 4-try, 32-12 win over the Springboks at Eden Park.

The opening fixture of the Tri-Nations was expected to be a tight affair, but Graham Hendrys men had other ideas as they put the reigning world champions to the sword and picking up the five pointer.

DISCUSS THE TRI-NATIONS HERE

That's not all the rugby this weekend though as the Currie Cup begins in earnest later as the GWK Griquas take on Natal Sharks to start things off.

CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRIE CUP

Regular rugby is back and TRF is the best place to find it.

 

The Power of Three

 

It's that time of year again, and thank goodness for that.

There's a sense of uncertainty as the kickoff to the first game nears. Where exactly are the worlds top 3 sides in comparison to each other? Bookies are even fretting on calling a clear cut favourite.

Many rugby fans view the Springboks and All Blacks in a league of their compared to the rest of the world, and it's almost becoming a bit of a cliché to not tip the Wallabies as true contenders but to write them off completely.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

CLICK HERE FOR THE TRI-NATIONS FORUM

   

Tri-Nations 2009: Anybodies Game?

After the June Internationals and the Lion's Series we've all got a pretty good look at South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  I've heard people say that the Bokkes are the clear favourites after seeing their hard hitting displays against the British and Irish Elite.  Personally, I think that Australia were equally impressive with their new style, Robbie Deans-supercharged attitude.  For the first time in a while a big question mark looms over the All Blacks.  They are the team with something to prove.  It is the Kiwis that must fight to retain the #1 spot on the IRB rankings chart. 

 

 

This weekend we saw the first match with the Wallabies hoping a flight over to the Land of Kiwis, Sheep, Lord of the Rings, Flight of the Conchords and the Long White Cloud for an epic match.  Personally I really enjoyed this game.  Australia fully showed their attacking prowess in the first half, with the All Blacks demonstrating their resolve and mighty defense and rucking skills in the second.  For obvious reasons I won't post the results on the frontpage, but to read more about this match and the upcoming Tri-Nations excitement make TRF your homepage and check back thrice daily, at least...

 http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=49747

 

An Eye Gouging Experience!

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/shanewilliams/100000208/lions-2009-schalk-burger-deserved-a-red-card-and-a-year-ban-at-least/By this point we've all seen the match, or seen the highlights, or at least heard of "The Eye Gouge.  Eye Gouging is one of the dark blemishes of the sport that if you play you will eventually encounter.  There is always some douchebag that can't control himself and always crosses that invisible line everyone else seems to understand that seperates rugby from barbarism.  This weekend past that douchebag was Schalk Burger.  Oh, he looked so proud as he ran out on the pitch ahead of his team with his specially and carefully embroidered "50th Test" on his kit.  Then 30 seconds into the fray and his pride had turned into thuggery with Luke Fitzgerald wondering if he had an eyeball left or if Schalk had mistaken it for a gumball. 

I think we have all come to expect these sorts of incedents occuring every now and again.  Not that we condone it, it's just that this isn't the first time and I suspect it won't be the last time.  The Rugby Community is always harsh and critical of this sort of incident and the punishments are high, as they should be.  The real, and growing controversy is the slight punishment dished out by the IRB and South Africa's Coach Peter de Villiers cavilier attitude towards it.

"This is sport, this is what it's about. If things were clear-cut then we shouldn't even bother preparing for a game," said de Villiers in regards to the eye gouge.  This almost approval of Burger's villainary against Fitzgerald has aroused deserved condemnation from the Rugby world.  "We are trying to promote the game and yet you hear comments like that. I just find it appalling. I truly find it a disgrace," said Brian O'Driscoll of de Villiers.  

I'm aware that Burger isn't the first a-hole that can't control himself.  He's the same guy we all see whether on the pitch or in the pub.  The point is in society there is no place for this.  In my opinion an 8 week ban is nothing.  Compare it yourself to other rulings from the IRB. 

 

   

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