Roundup of the Week

Well it has been quite an eventful week all around!
This week included the run up to our opening match to defend our Paul Flood Cup title. Starting off a new competition with a clean slate various things were instigated by the management including motivational posters in the dressing room along with a "This Is Our Team" initiative among the squad members. With some recent tough losses, the start of the cup campaign was seen as a chance to not only wipe the slate clean, but to take what had been learnt throughout the league so far and to put it to use. It also signified a bringing together of the team in the aim to further boost team morale. Picked up on twitter then, through the St. Mary's Women's Rugby twitter account @stmaryswomen was confirmation that the best teams employ similar strategies. Courtesy of Cian Healy (@ProperChurch worth a follow #ff) and straight from Ireland Camp down in UL, we discovered this:

Perhaps we should get our very own Rala a.k.a. Tony to begin a similar publication? All thoughts to stmaryswomensrugby@gmail.com

Another noteworthy mention...
This week our very own Dora The Explorer Maria "Ryaner" Ryan made it back home safely after 6 months travelling the world! To say a proper welcome home and look what you've been missing (apart from ourselves of course!) this is specially for her:

Will give you a couple of minutes to recover from that.
Yes that is body paint and wipe that drool off your chin.

And well we don't want to discriminate against Monaghan people and leave poor Tommy out (basically any excuse to throw this in!):

And finally, leaving the best til last... Gill "The loud one" "Dougie" Nolan has been named in the 25 player Ireland Women's Squad for the upcoming Six Nations Campaign.

Dougie's Leinster Mugshot

Yes that's right she is famous. Form an orderly queue now. A big congrats to Gill from all in St. Mary's, she well deserves it and best of luck to her! To see a proper write up on it, see this Thursday's Club Newsletter which can be found here http://stmaryscollegerfc.com/NewsItem_Preview.aspx?ID=207

Don't forget!
Our match this Sunday in the Paul Flood Cup is against Trinity in Santry with a kick off time of 1pm. All support greatly appreciated!

Monster Skills Monday

Right some one-on-one stuff today. This is from a newsletter called Dan Cotrell's Better Rugby Coaching. It's free and worth signing up to so have a look at the website http://www.betterrugbycoaching.com and don't forget to have a go at the one-on-one skills at training!

The above clip is courtesy of Better Rugby Coaching and can be found here:
http://www.betterrugbycoaching.com/rugbyforum/Topic2258-4-1.aspx

Monster Skills Monday plus some more good press for Women's Rugby!

Who's got skills???!
Another handling one for you all, good to warm up with before training- will get the brain switched on and the blood pumping! This video contains two different handling exercises, the second one being one of Rossy's favourites, so give them a go this week!

The Machine!
Maggie 'The Machine' Alphonsi has been making numerous headlines since her phenominal performance at the World Cup in August and September. Here's the most recent article about her: David Flatman: Man's game? Girl power is here to stay
If you've been living under a rock for the last few months, here's a few bits to fill you in on what you've been missing...
Alphonsi was without a doubt the outstanding player of the World Cup and many will agree that she was robbed of the title by a talented player that was on the winning side in the final, as Carla Hohepa was named the IRB Women's Personality of the Year 2010. Alphonsi did scoop the award in 2006, a World Cup year, and indeed she was on the losing side again in 2010 to finish runner up to four time champions New Zealand but surely this clip should show that winning the award previously and not being on the best team in the competition should not stop the award from going to the best player?

Soon after the World Cup, Alphonsi was named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year (Alphonsi scoops top sports star accolade) before then becoming the first female player in the 50-year history of the Rugby Union Writers' Club to be honoured with the prestigious Pat Marshall Memorial Award as personality of the year for 2010 (Maggie Alphonsi award is powerful statement for women's sport, Maggie Alphonsi winning the Pat Marshall Award at the Rugby Writers’ Dinner is a victory for rugby as a whole). In between all of this she managed to fit in some appearances on Sky Sports as a guest and commentator (Alphonsi set to become the face of the women's game ). Oh, as well as continuing to play some rugby (Alphonsi hatrick in Premiership see Saracens v Darlington Mowden Park Sharks match report).

Back to the green green grass of home; Upcoming match; Adios to Whitey

Pitch training was back this week. Yes the green stuff did come as somewhat of a surprise. Also mud doesn't make as good a snowball as snow does. On seconds thoughts that's probably just as well! Everybody got stuck in though and looked glad to be back doing what they do best- playing some rugby and getting a bit muddy!

Our first match of 2011 is against Highfield at home this Sunday. Kick off is 1pm. If you're interested in playing women's rugby come down to see what it's all about and have a chat with some of the girls in the bar after. We've a great range of players from young to old, newbies to experienced and crazy to pretty sane! If you'd like to get in touch for some more info email us at stmaryswomensrugby@gmail.com

Well as Whitey prepares to not so much hang up her boots as pack them in her suitcase for her trip to Oz we must say a teary eyed goodbye. She has been an unforgettable member of the team since she joined and everyone will miss our very own "Single Lady". There really are no words... except, da hack of ya! Watch out Australia and keep in touch Whitey!

We've a small piece up on the Leinster Website, here's the link http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/domestic/6521.php so make sure you have a look at that and see you all on Sunday!

Monster Skills Monday

Moving on from the fast feet we had last week we're going to throw in some side stepping! This is perfect to celebrate getting back on the pitch after far too many weeks snowed off!

This is a basic skill that every rugby player should have and when used by the top internationals can look sensational and be devastating. All it takes is practice to improve your step and you could have one as good as the best you'll see on television!
Here are a couple of videos (good to see women coaching and demonstrating in these!) and hope to see you all having a go at training this week!

Monster Skills Monday?!

Hey all, hope everyone had a great Christmas and are looking forward to a good new year! Now I know we're a day late getting this up but better late than never and after all that turkey and Christmas pud we thought a couple of you might be hitting the gym so we'd give you something to keep you busy there!
This week the skills video is focussing on fast feet which helps your SAQ (Speed Agility Quickness). No matter what position you are this is relevant so give it a go!

Now don't worry if you don't have a ladder- you can always work on fast feet even if you don't have one. You can either visualise one and try to get your steps into 'rungs' or alternatively you can draw one onto concrete/tarmac with chalk. Every little bit helps so get climbing!

Monster Skills Monday!

First of all Happy Monday to everyone! One of our new features is "Monster Skills Monday!"- every Monday a new video on skills will be posted that you can try out during your own time and/or before or after training during the week. The aim of this is to improve our skills and to have a bit of fun! Some of the skills might seem a little basic but even if you take one tiny little thing out of it it can make a world of difference. Hopefully come the end of the season we'll be able to do something like this:

So our first video is a little bit of handling. Get the family off the sofa and out into the garden to work off the christmas dinner or grab a few friends together at any stage over the holidays to have a go at this.

If the bad weather means running is not an option even doing some static passing and catching (eyes closed if you're feeling brave!) will all help! Or another good option is 2-ball if you can get two or more other people. This will help you work on your reactions, your peripheral vision and concentration as well as your handling.

Have fun!