Whistling while she works. Rugby ref Sara has her sights set on Rio in 2016

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She’s the only English, female referee on the international rugby sevens circuit – and she’s got an eye firmly on the next Olympics.

As well as ref-ing for the seven-a-side game, Sara Cox, 24, from Broadclyst in East Devon, is also one of two women, English referees on the international 15s circuit.

As well as these coveted roles, she also referees for the National League 3 South West Men’s 15s and is aiming to referee at the 2016 Olympics when the sport of rugby sevens makes its debut. The other thing she wants is to see more women involved in the sport, but she is adamant that it’s attitude, not gender, which is the determining factor.

“It takes a certain type of personality to be a referee,” she says. “You have to be able to take angry coaches screaming at you and keep your level of fitness high. I’ve had it all – the wolf whistles, men asking me, ‘should you really be doing this?’ and heard the whispers ‘it’s always been a gentleman’s sport. It’s only recently that women have put their stamp on it.’

“But this attitude is becoming less and less common. And I let my refereeing do the talking – it does everything I need it to do. I’m a referee, not a female referee. There are no barriers that prevent women from being referees. It’s for you to prove as a person you can do it; gender doesn’t come into it.”

As a teenager the former Clyst Vale Community College student played for Exeter Saracens and Cullompton and had honours at county and regional level, three times trialling for England Under-21s, deciding on her third go, aged just 17, to try her hand at refereeing.

“I was too young to go into coaching so I thought, what can I do next?” she continues. “I was always quite lippy on the pitch, so I thought what better way to continue to be involved than to pick up a whistle and have a go? For whatever reason, I really, really loved it.”

From refereeing on the Sevens Women’s Grand Prix circuit, a Europe-wide competition, Sara was trialled by the Rugby and Football Union and then scouted by the International Rugby Board while refereeing at a game at Twickenham.

Over the last 12 months her role has taken her from Australia, Dubai, France, Spain and Brazil to Atlanta, Amsterdam and Moscow for both Euro and World Cup games predominantly as an International Women’s Rugby Sevens referee.

“I love sevens,” she reveals. “It’s so fast, and it’s 14 minutes to concentrate instead of 80! I’m built for speed and I like the intensity. For me it’s the excitement of those 14 minutes where everyone on the pitch has the same aim and I’m facilitating it. The buzz and the reaction of the players and the crowd, and the atmosphere … you can’t beat it.”

Sara has to be on top of her game, keeping up with the players physically but also mentally – knowing where the ball is, having the law book at the forefront of her mind, working out if one has been broken and, if so, what to do about it, all in a split second.

“A decision can change a game,” she says. “There are times when you don’t get it right, but it’s about getting that margin of error closer. These players are playing for titles and funding and, when the Olympics come, medals for their country – I have to make sure I’m top of my game.

“We make mistakes, and if anyone says they don’t they’re lying because we’re human. I’ve gone out in front of 20,000 spectators at Twickenham, aired on Sky TV and made a wrong call. You can make an howler at this level; it’s the way you deal with it.

“The most important thing is to put your hand up. Players will forgive you, until it becomes a pattern. But it’s a learning point; you learn and the players learn and you have to make sure you don’t do it again.”

Sara also has to keep her eye on players who cheat. “Players will always try to cheat – they want to see what they can get away with – but it’s for me to set that boundary and not let them get away with it.”

With no funding or pay, Sara is in it purely for the love of the sport, and she intends to be at the Rio Games in two years.

“Selection has already started,” she says. “It’s not a given that anyone performing well now will be selected. I’ve got to stay fit, get the game experience and tick the right boxes. I can’t control their decision but I can control how fit I am and the way I perform. It means everything to get there.”

By day, Sara is a marketing executive for Coastal Recycling at Marsh Barton, where the bosses have been hugely supportive. But despite her success on the international circuit, the refereeing Sara continues to do locally with young people still means as much to her.

“When one of the young players storms ahead and scores a try,” she adds, “that for them is their World Cup. To have facilitated that and be a part of their legacy with the game – what more could you want?”

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts

Whistling while she works. Rugby ref Sara has her sights set on Rio in 2016

Plymouth Albion 17 Bristol Rugby 46: Ryan Edwards scores another hat-trick as ...

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RYAN Edwards scored a second hat-trick in as many games as Bristol concluded their pre-season campaign with an eight-try victory over GKIPA Championship rivals Plymouth at Brickfields.

The Welsh winger – who crossed three times against Clifton on Tuesday evening – did his chances of featuring against Worcester in next weekend’s Championship opener no harm at all.

Plymouth grabbed an early lead – but Bristol scored five tries before half-time to lead 27-7 at the interval, before scoring three more in the second half.

Director of rugby Andy Robinson was delighted with how the performance underlined the depth of talent at his disposal – with a number of players taking their opportunity to impress.

Eoghan Grace opened the scoring for Plymouth from close range in the third minute following Ben Foley’s break from deep, before Edwards grabbed the first of his three tries from Charlie Amesbury’s pass and Bristol hit back instantly with a slick move.

Scrum-half Craig Hampson, a summer recruit from Leeds, gave his side the lead when he picked up from a close-range scrum, threw a dummy, and stepped through a gap to score, with Adrian Jarvis converting.

Edwards was on the mark again as Bristol built a 17-7 lead within 18 minutes, finishing off Hampson’s chip through, before the point-a-minute scoring rate continued when hooker Max Crumpton dotted down out wide after Amesbury’s break and Glen Townson’s offload. Ross Rennie – Bristol’s captain for the day – made it 27-7 in the 25^th minute following a penalty and a line-out drive.

Bristol started the second half well, forcing a penalty try following a scrum, before Plymouth hit back when Pete Homan intercepted Luke Eves’ pass and set up Rayner to score. Lock Tom Jubb then took another chunk out of the Albion deficit when he capped a spell of home pressure to score from close range, making it 34-17.

Edwards completed his hat-trick with a smart finish, taking Auguy Slowik’s pass and beating Homan on the outside, while Amesbury concluded the scoring in the dying minutes when he crashed over in the corner following another smart Bristol move.

Plymouth Albion: B Foley (J Henry 41); L Warner, T Howley-Berridge, B Woods (B Foley 73), P Homan; L Rayner (J Shanahan 58), J Williams (J Davies 55); A Tiedemann (T Heard 55), T Stagg (S Matavesi 31 (T Cowan-Dickie 64)), T Fidler (J Gibbons 41), N Patrick (R Langley 41), T Jubb, I Grieve (capt), E Grace (S Simmonds 55), A Bone (A Cannock 71).

Scorers: Tries – Grace, Rayner, Jubb. Con – Rayner.

Bristol: A Slowik; R Edwards, J Tovey (M Cooke 41), L Eves (C Sheedy 71), C Amesbury; A Jarvis (L Slowik 58), C Hampson (L Baldwin 41); J O’Connell (E Genge 41), M Crumpton (R Johnston 55), J Hall (G Cortes 41), J Joyce, G Townson, M Mama (J Ovens 41), R Rennie (capt; O Robinson 41), B Skirving.

Scorers: Tries – Edwards (3), Hampson, Crumpton, Rennie, penalty, Amesbury . Cons – Jarvis (2), Cooke.

Referee: S Harding. Att: 842.

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts

Plymouth Albion 17 Bristol Rugby 46: Ryan Edwards scores another hat-trick as ...

Rugby-All Blacks back to the dark places as championship resumes

SYDNEY Aug 31 (Reuters) – It must be galling for the other three teams in the Rugby Championship when New Zealand roll out of a 51-20 humbling of the world’s third best team with a shrug of the shoulders and a “yeah, it was good, but it could be better”.

That, of course, is the drive for perfection that has made the All Blacks utterly dominant in world rugby – a dominance that looks unlikely to be challenged when the southern hemisphere championship resumes after a bye week next Saturday.

The world champions, who host Argentina in Napier, have maintained radio silence this week having said all they wanted with their six-try humbling of the Wallabies at Eden Park last Saturday.

Challenged by their coaches to silence talk of a decline after a 12-12 draw in Sydney in their championship opener, the world champions responded with a ruthless demonstration of power rugby built on an awesome display by their tight five.

“They wanted us to really dominate them, we had to go to a few dark places but I think we did that,” hooker Dane Coles told reporters after the match in Auckland.

“We drew a line in the sand and we’ll just have to keep on improving. I don’t want another kick up the backside, it’s just a matter of personal pride.”

If nothing else, the All Blacks will need another big performance from their pack against the Pumas, who bossed the Springboks at scrum time in their 33-31 loss to South Africa in Salta last weekend.

Flyhalf Dan Carter looks unlikely to play any role in New Zealand’s first four matches of the tournament as he recovers from a leg break, leaving Aaron Cruden further opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent starting role.

Otherwise All Blacks Steve Hansen can boast a consistency of selection that South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer and Australia’s Ewen McKenzie can only observe with envy.

McKenzie will be down to his fourth choice hooker when the Wallabies take on South Africa in Perth next weekend, not the ideal situation for a front row that was taken apart by the All Blacks at Eden Park.

His stocks of wingers is also thinning out after Pat McCabe was driven into retirement by a third neck fracture in two years.

The two victories over Argentina put South Africa top of the standings but Meyer, like McKenzie, must deal with enforced manpower changes before he even considers tinkering with a side that has disappointed in their first two outings.

He was forced to call loose forward Warren Whitely into his squad to replace the injured Willem Alberts after Juan Smith declined to stay with the team for the Australasia tour as he had not been happy with his performance against the Pumas.

The defeat to South Africa last week put Argentina bottom of the standings and they might be forgiven for looking more to the match against Australia on Sept. 13 rather than Napier for their maiden victory in the championship.

They cannot even realistically look to any sense of complacency from the defending champion All Blacks, who are unbeaten in 14 tests over three years since the Rugby Championship replaced the Tri-Nations.

“We just have to keep our feet on the ground, we know we can put a performance on the field like we did tonight so the challenge is to do it again against Argentina,” All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick said after an outstanding performance against Australia. (Editing by Patrick Johnston)

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts

Rugby-All Blacks back to the dark places as championship resumes

Rugby star to help tackle school bullying

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EX-WALES rugby captain Gareth Thomas is leading a new campaign to help beat playground bullies.

The Grand Slam winner will visit schools across the country to talk to pupils as part of the “Balls to Bullying” initiative.

The campaign coincides with the start of the new academic year, when many youngsters face the daunting move from primary to secondary school.

Sarn-born Thomas, who came out as gay while still playing professional rugby, said tackling bullying was something close to his heart.

He said: “I think the time when kids move up to big school is a really serious fault line in the system.

“You’re in a new environment. You don’t walk as confident, you don’t talk as confident. You’re vulnerable.

“People might not believe it to look at me — because I’m a big lad — but bullying has a lot to do with my life story, who I am and where I come from.

“I’m taking the Balls to Bullying campaign into schools because I hope my reputation as a sportsman in a tough game is a way of connecting with children who may be vulnerable to bullies.”

He added: “My experience shows that being bullied has nothing to do with being weak.”

A survey by recruitment firm Prospero Teaching this week found that 73 per cent of teachers had had no specific training on bullying among children transferring from primary to secondary school.

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts

Rugby star to help tackle school bullying

Dylan Hartley dreaming of more trophies at Northampton

Saints, who start their season against Gloucester on Friday, beat Saracens in May to win the title after suffering heartbreak 12 months earlier against Leicester

England hooker Hartley says they want to emulate Wasps and Leicester – the only clubs to retain their title.

He said: We lost in the final the year before and semi-finals three years in a row, so we have had so much heart, there was so much relief it was a bit of a monkey off our backs.

“But you have got to look at what it took. A last minute try against Leicester and then a 100th minute try in the final so it doesn’t happen easily.

“Now what we have got to is repeat that and go again. Not too many teams have defended their title so that is a major challenge,” he said.

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8794781/Yarde-to-make-England-debut-Eastmond-starts

Dylan Hartley dreaming of more trophies at Northampton

Five hot rugby union prospects to follow during the new season

1. Tom Stephenson (Northampton)

The England Under‑20s centre made an immediate impact for the Saints last season, making nine starts and coming off the bench in four matches, including the Premiership final, after one appearance in 2012-13. Comfortable at either 12 or 13, he has pace and power, and passes adeptly.

2. Henry Slade (Exeter)

England are not short of fly-halves but the 21-year-old, named in the Saxons squad at the start of the year, will increase Stuart Lancaster’s options if he kicks on from the second half of last season, when he was preferred to Gareth Steenson by the Chiefs. A 6ft 2in pivot, he has an unruffled air and plays with freedom.

3. Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues)

At 25, Dacey is older then most players dubbed prospects, but it is less than four years since he was converted from back‑row to hooker. A try-scorer in the mould of Alan Phillips, the Cardiff/Wales hooker in the 1970s and 80s, he has the size, at more than 17st, that Wales’s head coach, Warren Gatland, likes, and is highly mobile.

4. Jordi Murphy (Leinster)

The 23-year-old made his Irish senior debut as a replacement against England this year. He was born in Barcelona and named after the city’s patron saint. He can play anywhere in the back row. Renowned for his ubiquity and workrate, his emergence is timely after Stephen Ferris was forced to retire through injury.

5. Adam Ashe (Glasgow)

The 21-year-old made his debut for Scotland against South Africa in June before he had a professional contract. He was in New Zealand on a rugby scholarship when called up but has since signed for Glasgow. A specialist No8, Ashe has the ball-carrying prowess Scotland have lacked in recent years.

Five hot rugby union prospects to follow during the new season

Sydney Convicts retain gay Rugby World Cup

The Sydney Convicts have retained the Bingham Cup – the gay and inclusive Rugby World Cup – in a 31-0 grand final thrashing of the Brisbane Hustlers in Sydney.

Australian teams dominated the three-day international tournament that ended with the one-sided decider in Rose Bay on Sunday. The Sydney Convicts, Australia’s first gay rugby union club, fielded three teams in the tournament and their A team took out the top prize for the fourth time in the tournament’s history. Convicts A beat Convicts B 58-0 in the semi-finals.

Held for the first time in the southern hemisphere since it began in 2002, the bi-annual competition was contested by 24 teams from 15 countries. NSW Governor Marie Bashir, US Ambassador to Australia John Berry, NSW rugby league State of Origin legend Steve Mortimer and local Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull were all on hand for the seventh Bingham Cup decider.

The match follows a momentous week in Australian rugby, with the Australian Rugby Union announcing an inclusion policy to tackle homophobia.

The competition is named after Mark Bingham, a gay rights advocate who died in the 11 September terrorist attacks. Bingham, a gay American rugby player, led the passenger revolt against hijackers of United Flight 93 that crashed in a Pennsylvania field, killing all 44 on board.

His mother Alice Hoagland is a prominent campaigner for LGBTQ rights and came to Australia for the event.

“It’s such an honour for me to be considered the mother of this great big group,” she said. “I lost my son on 9/11, but I gained a couple thousand sons.”

Sydney Convicts retain gay Rugby World Cup