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USA Women set for World Cup camp

(From: IRB.COM) Thursday 1 July 2010

"It is never an easy task to trim down a squad we have been working with for almost four years," said admitted Flores...

USA Women's coach Kathy Flores has made the difficult task of cutting down her squad to 26 players for Women's Rugby World Cup 2010, which kicks off in 50 days time in England.

Flores, who tasted World Cup glory herself as a player in 1991, has also named four reserves who will join the squad for a three-week residency camp from 10 July at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

"It is never an easy task to trim down a squad we have been working with for almost four years," said admitted Flores, who guided USA to fifth in the 2006 World Cup in Canada.

"With the 2010 World Cup less than two months away, we are working to prepare for every variable possible and select according to the needs of the team, in regards to the commitment and dedication of each individual and their contribution to the squad."

Women’s Rugby World Cup
2010 Pools Announced

The premier 15-aside tournament in the Women's Game, which will be played from August 20 to September 5, will feature three pools of four teams with defending champions New Zealand, hosts and 2006 runners-up England and 2006 bronze medalists France all ranked top seeds in their pool.

The unprecedented qualification process, which saw 16 teams compete for the six places available outside the automatically qualified teams, was completed when Kazakhstan defeated Japan 43-5 to claim a place in Pool B, while Sweden join Pool C in their first appearance on the Women's Rugby World Cup stage since 1998.

Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Australia, South Africa

Pool B: England, USA, Ireland, Kazakhstan

Pool C: France, Canada, Scotland, Sweden

by Kat Vater

The Minnesota Valkyries head to California November 6th - 8th to contest the first USA Rugby's Women's Premier League (WPL) Championship.  Until the league formation this year, the Valkyries had competed in USA Rugby's Division 1.  In four of the last five years Minnesota reached the final-four of the Division 1 National Championship, including a second place finish in 2004.  The Valkyries are seeded fourth entering the tournament this weekend and will compete for the Cup.  The WPL Championship seeding is based on the results of six regular season games.

by Jenny Menke with Kat Vater
    Following last Sunday’s victory against ORSU, the Minnesota Valkyries again left their opponents scoreless.  With efforts from every teammate, the Valkyries pulled together a team win, leaving little room for the Amazons to attack, punching holes in their defense.  Phase play after kick off led the Valkyries into their green zone and set up a five-meter attacking scrum.  From the base, it was Katy Hertel who looked up and saw the opening, touching down for the Valkyries’ first try at 4:46 into the game.  A successful conversion by Dez Markovich put the Valkyries in the lead, 7-0.  It was Markovich who touched down the next three tries, but it was certain that this was no one-man show.  The try at 14 minutes came off of a dish from Jillion Potter who was able to control the ball off of another five-meter scrum and set up her teammate.  The two following tries came through the hands of the backs.  Halfway through the first half, Christy Ringgenberg and Sarah Reuter were able to assist Markovich for a try just in from touch.  Ten minutes later, the ball passed through the hands of Hannah Stolba, Mel Kanuk, and Ringgenberg and was touched down by Markovich for her third try.  Kicking at a penalty, Markovich split the posts and added three to the Valkyries’ first half score, bringing it to 27-0.  A tough fight on the try line just before half showed the efforts of the Amazon forwards, who worked to push in a five-meter lineout.  They could not find the ground, however, with Kristy Lear fighting to keep the ball up and leaving the Zons without a score.

The Minnesota Valkyries kick off against the Twin Cities Amazons at 11:00 am at the Lexington and Diffley fields.  Wear your maroon and come support the Valks!  (There is no B-side game this week.)

by Jenny Menke with Kat Vater
After their loss to Berkeley two weekends ago, the Minnesota Valkyries came into the ORSU match with clear goals to attack throughout the game, aiming to make a statement early and drive Portland back into their red-zone.  The Valkyries spent time this past week focusing on set pieces, tidying up timing and execution, and focusing on the forward attack that would set the tone of the match.  Working through a cold spell that will go down in Minnesota history as the coldest October start on record, the Valkyries welcomed blue skies and a mid-40’s start to the match on Sunday in North Minneapolis.

U of M Rugby at the New TCF Stadium

Need Tickets? Click on photo for link!

 ...watch out for the turf toe...

Valkyries Dominate Home-Turf Battle Against Zons

Jenny Menke with Kat Vater
September 28, 2009

It was a game not to be missed as the Minnesota Valkyries and Twin Cities Amazons met in Eagan, Minnesota, on September 27.  Spectators who made it out on Sunday were ensured a hard-hitting, fast-paced game, based on a long-standing rivalry between the two local women’s teams.