Peoples View on Ladies playing ladies Rugby Union (with tackle)?

Question

Do you have a view on ladies/women/girls playing ladies only rugby union with tackle?

Answer 1

There is a mens and womens rugby club at the college I play at.  It is obviously a good idea when the women can get more people to join then the men's team.  Anything to gain the sport added exposure and popularity in the United States is a great thing if you ask me.  It is a game and as long as people are having fun playing it, who cares who the people are that are participating it?

Answer 2

Yes I do. A very strong point of view..................

However, in light of the ill-informed abuse I received last time I responded to a similar question, I think I'll keep my views on the subject to myself ;-)

All I'll say is that rugby clubs haven't been the same since the introduction of women's teams................

EDIT:

Sorry, I can't help myself & have to give my two bob's worth..... but before I start, let me clarify something. My wife played women's rugby when I met her. Admittedly, it was her "second" sport (she was an international waterpolo player and represented her country for 9 years). She played rugby in the off-season as a way to keep fit. She shares my opinion on this matter by the way......

Megan, I hear what you're saying. But please hear me out, (or feel free to report me if what I have to say isn't what you want to hear).

As far as I'm concerned, each to their own, if women want to play rugby, then who am I to stop them? However, what gets me is the "political correctness" that comes with the introduction of women to a rugby club.

Like it or not, women cannot play rugby the same as men. It's an anatomical fact of life. Your statement about one of your friends playing rugby with the men's team is ludicrous! As if that would ever happen, she wouldn't last 2 minutes trying to compete against men. Imagine her hitting the ball up into a group of men - what would they do? Take it easy on her, or treat her the same as another man & smash her with all their might?  It just wouldn't happen, sorry. I think she's telling you a big lie with that one......

I once played for a very successful rugby club in Brisbane, Australia. In fact, it's one of the most successful clubs in Australian rugby which has produced a dozen or more Wallabies over the years. Some of the greatest coaches ever have come from this club & I've had the good fortune to be coached by them.

When women's rugby was introduced, we then had to share our training grounds, our facilities etc, with a group of women "playing for fun". This was a serious, highly competitive rugby club that now has to accommodate a group of women who want to play, as I said before "for fun". All in the name of "equality for the sexes".

Not only do these "funsters" place a drain on a club's resources, they actually DEMAND that they be treated the same as the men, all of whom have been living, breathing & playing rugby since a very young age. Clubhouses now become more of a social club......

If that's not bad enough, you're definitely not going to like what I have to say next......

Women's rugby DOES attract a much higher than normal butch L*****n element - FACT. Combine this with a group of young, impressionable teenage girls wanting to play for fun and you have a recipe for disaster. I've seen this with my own two eyes on numerous occasions.

There is a predatory element within the L*****n community (just the same as with men, I'll admit that, but men don't go to rugby clubs to pick up other men or women). So now the once great rugby club has become a "pick up joint" for the d**e brigade.

For the poster above that says he hopes his daughters play rugby one day - keep a very, very, very close eye on them!! I have two daughters myself & there's no way I'll be letting them play rugby, not a chance, over my dead body!!! . I hope they take after their mother & play waterpolo..............

Megan, after looking at the Charlestown women's rugby website, my attitudes haven't changed one bit. The "nude" calendar has been done to death here in Australia, and I don't see how you've sold out of them when the price had to be reduced from $15 to $10....... doesn't sound like a big seller to me ;-) Hey but at least it sounds like you girls have got your own club seperate from any men's team - good on you!!

So, in closing I'd like to say that I have no problem with women wanting to play rugby, but not at a men's club. Let them form their own clubs, with their own coaching staff & infrastructures, and keep them well away from the "real" rugby.

Answer 3

I've been playing union style rugby for 15 years now.  I love it and don't plan on quitting anytime in the near future.  I started in college when i was 17 years old.  It has been the best decision!  I guess I'm wondering why you're asking?  are there many places where rugby is popular that women are not allowed to play?  And is there something wrong with girls tackling each other?  This IS 2007!!  Rugby has helped me to develop into a strong, confident, laid back, fun woman and has given me the closest friends ever.  But the strong confident woman is maybe the thing that some nations are fearing?!  It is hard to get women to play rugby becasue of the stigma associated with the sport (all of us are supposed butchy lesbians)... but its not true!!  We just want to have fun and play tough!   In fact, my women's rugby team made a semi-nude calendar (with boots and balls in strategic locations) because we are HOT and wanted to show that we are strong, beautiful, athletic women and not the stereotypical ugly butchy women! (and we've been selling out of them). Check it out at www.charlestonwomensrugby.org.

We have all sorts of women that play the sport... from little tiny ones to huge monster-ishly gianourmous ones. There are ultra beautiful girls- and some that don't even look like women...but, we're ALL beautiful and rugby is more than just a sport. It makes you a stronger, more self-confident person- and that's much sexier than outer beauty anyway. Of course women can play rugby.  I even had a friend that played with the men's teams in argentina (with tackle).  There is a tournament someplace called co-ed naked midnight rugby.  (that wouldnt be much fun wihtout women)!  ;-)

Answer 4

It's a great game for everyone.

Answer 5

I've been playing and Refereeing Men's Rugby for over 25 years. I've been Ref'ing Women's (Both University and Adult) games for more than a 15 years now. I did two University games last weekend and will do another one this weekend. The women all seem to have a great time and enjoy themselves immensely.  They seem to enjoy great camaraderie and build strong lasting friendships.  My young daughters play many sports right now, when they get older I hope they have a chance to play Rugby Union.