1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:02,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to good Game with Sarah Spain, where we can't 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: decide if we're less likely to defeat Alona mar at 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: a rugby skills challenge or a pass adoblay dance off 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: coin flip. We'd get rolled at both. It's Thursday, January ninth, 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: and today we continue our New Year, New League's series 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: of shows, serving up everything you need to know about 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: the new professional women's leagues, kicking off, tipping off, first pitching, 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: and first serving their way into our hearts. In twenty 9 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: twenty five, Today's League WER Women's Elite Rugby. President of WER, 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: doctor Jessica Hammond Graf and WR player Betty Wynn joined 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: the show to give us the steak stars, stories and 12 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: stats we need to be ready for kickoff. It's all 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: coming up right after this All right seisas Welcome back 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: to New Year, New Leagues Today Women's Elite Rugby Now. 15 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: Quick note. After recording this, WER president doctor Jessica Hammond 16 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Graff clarified to us that players will not initially receive 17 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: a base sound, but that any expenses related to training 18 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: and games will be covered by the league. So while 19 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: players won't pay to play in WR, which was the 20 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: case in most recent women's rugby models. It's not yet 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: a paid league. Okay, here's that conversation. Joining us now 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: to tell us everything we need to know about the league. 23 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: She's the president of WER Women's Elite Rugby, a former 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: US rugby sevens player, former professor and retired NCAA Division 25 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: One Deputy athletic director. She co founded a brewing company. 26 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: It's doctor, Jessica Hammond Graff. What's up, Jessica? 27 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 2: How's it going, Sarah? Thanks for having me today. 28 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: Are we still brewing things? 29 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: We are? We are alive and well. 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 3: If you find yourself in the eastern shore of Maryland 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 3: to come check out Tennike Brewing. 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: Tennike Brewing. All right, joining her. She's a player for 33 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: the Chicago team in the WER, current assistant coach, former 34 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: head coach of the Loyal Chicago rugby team, former professional 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: DJ turned side hustle DJ, former personal trainer, and still 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: a sales engineer at software developer Relativity. She played rugby 37 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: at the University Villinois Chicago and the Women's Premier League, 38 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: and was the twenty twenty three Women's Rugby Coaches and 39 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: Referees Association fifteen under thirty Awardi. She's met Joe Jonas 40 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: and flow Rider. It's Betty. When what's up, Betty? 41 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 4: How's it going, Sarah, I'm super glad to be here. 42 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is a resume. I've definitely never read anything 43 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: like before. Personal Trainer, DJ's software developer, rugby playing coach 44 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: standard Standard. 45 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 4: Thank you for saying that. I feel like it's hard 46 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 4: to be unique nowadays, so thank you very much for 47 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 4: that validation. 48 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: Oh you're nailing it, that's for sure. What was it 49 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: more fun meet Joe Jonas or flow Rider? 50 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 4: I think Joe Jonas because I had the biggest crush 51 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 4: on all of the Jonahs brothers growing up, and so 52 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 4: that was a very like my your twelve year old 53 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,679 Speaker 4: was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. 54 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: I partied with flow Rider on an island in the Bahamas, 55 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: which was a good time. Amazing stories that I won't 56 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 1: share now and maybe an other time. I want to 57 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: hear about your rugby background, Jessica, tell us about it. 58 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I started playing rugby at the Universe of 59 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,119 Speaker 3: Connecticut in the fall of my sophomore year. I won't 60 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 3: put a date on it, but the fall of my 61 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 3: sophomore year, and we won a national championship that following spring, 62 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 3: and so as a rookie to be a part of 63 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,679 Speaker 3: a winning program, I was like, this is amazing. 64 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: I need to keep doing this. 65 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 3: So continue to play for about fifteen years through a 66 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 3: bunch of different teams throughout the country, down in New 67 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: Orleans for a little bit, and then got picked up 68 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 3: with a couple of select sides, and you know, next 69 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 3: thing you know, I found myself attending national sevens camps 70 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 3: and buying for a spot on that team. And that 71 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 3: came to fruition in the early two thousands with an 72 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 3: eighteen day tour down to Fiji in New Zealand. 73 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: So it was. 74 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 3: It was an absolute amazing experience and I'm excited to 75 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 3: have that as part of my background. 76 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: So cool. I have to say, just complete stereotyping. If 77 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: someone said here's doctor Jessica, she's a professor, I'd be like, yep, 78 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: and then they'd be like, also fifteen years of rugby. 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: I'd be like, don't buy it. It's just like I 80 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: love to see just like my expectations and stereotypes completely 81 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: falling aside. That's fantastic, Betty. What's your rugby background? 82 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 4: I started playing rugby in twenty fourteen after my friend 83 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 4: from high school convinced me. I actually played on a boys' 84 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 4: high school football team. I was the only girl, and 85 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 4: so my best friend from that team started playing rugby 86 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 4: right away when we went to college, and he basically 87 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 4: tried to convince me to come out and play for 88 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 4: the women's team for a year, and eventually he was like, 89 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 4: just come to a game and you're gonna think it's awesome. 90 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 4: And then he was right. You know, I was literally 91 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 4: at practice that next Tuesday afterwards. But I've been playing 92 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 4: rugby since then. I essentially switched over to playing senior 93 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 4: club rugby right away, started playing for Chicago North Shore 94 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 4: and then eventually the Chicago Lions, and have played both 95 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 4: fifteen's and sevens, primarily for the Lions the last few years. 96 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: Here Betty, what has the pro rugby landscape looked like 97 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: over the last decade plus for women? 98 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 4: Not pretty like non existent. I think it's been really 99 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 4: high level, you know, amateur rugby. I think the club level. 100 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 4: Some of the best rugby players have come out of 101 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 4: the club level in the States. But you know, for 102 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 4: the men's side, it's gone kind of up and down 103 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 4: there have been leagues that popped up. The MLR seems 104 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 4: pretty stable right now, which is great, you know, awesome 105 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 4: opportunity there. But I think that you know, with the 106 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 4: WR coming in, it really is the first model for 107 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 4: professional women's rugby in the States. 108 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's been a league called the Women's Premier League 109 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,679 Speaker 1: established in two thousand and nine, but the players aren't paid, 110 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: so it's not professional. But a lot of energy spent 111 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: on the growth of rugby, a lot of time spent 112 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: allowing players who are very successful and very talented to 113 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: find a place to play. And I really enjoyed. We 114 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: talked about it on the show here that the Women's 115 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: Elite Rugby League kind of got people excited for their 116 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: first launch with the top four teams from the Women's 117 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: Premier League, so sort of honoring those people in that 118 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: league that was paid to play instead of being paid 119 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: en route to creating this new thing, Doctor desca, When 120 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: did the idea for WER come into existence? 121 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 3: So that credit goes out to the players and the 122 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:13,239 Speaker 3: leadership from the WPL. So after the twenty twenty two season, 123 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 3: everybody came together and was like, we have an opportunity 124 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 3: to create change. We have an opportunity to move the 125 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 3: league in another direction, and so they spent a lot 126 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 3: of time, you know, as committees and women, we dive in, 127 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 3: we get stuffed done. And they came together and put 128 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 3: a couple of stipulations in place for the league itself 129 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 3: for the twenty twenty three year. But at the same 130 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 3: time they seeded the first ever external board. So myself 131 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 3: and a group of five other women were named to 132 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 3: the board and they said, okay, help us professionalize the WPL. 133 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: And we were like, sure, sweet, all right, we got this, 134 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 3: you know, and we you know, dived right in, did 135 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 3: a lot of research on what was the best model, 136 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 3: which how should we structure the league, what is that 137 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 3: relationship going to be like with the WPL and new 138 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 3: professional league. And then it was in April of just 139 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 3: this year, it seems like eons ago and just yesterday, 140 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 3: all at the same time, but almost a year to 141 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 3: the day of our first board meeting, we announced the 142 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 3: announced wer and the players have been a part of it. 143 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 3: We've had that player committee from the very beginning, so 144 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 3: they have constantly had input in the direction and how 145 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 3: we're building and how we're growing the league. And it's 146 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 3: been intentional to keep them a part of everything, because 147 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 3: rugby is so supportive and it's so part of the 148 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 3: communities of which Betty and I have grown to love 149 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 3: throughout all our years of playing. 150 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's so much enthusiasm for women's rugby. After the 151 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: US women's national team took bronze in the Paras Olympics 152 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: this summer, Jessica, I have to ask how their success 153 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: and the publicity that they've been earning affected your plans, 154 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: your goals, your timeline, if at all. 155 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, So we were intentional when we started announcing the 156 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 3: markets because it was right around the time of the Olympics. 157 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 3: Were like, let's wait until after the metal round matches, 158 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 3: and we couldn't have teed it up any better, right, 159 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: So it was like an amazing, you know, bronze medal game. 160 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 3: Even the gold medal game was great, but for Americans, 161 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 3: it was really that bronze medal match. 162 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 2: And then the next day we. 163 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 3: Were like, hey, if you love rugby, you know we're 164 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 3: coming to a market near you. And so that timing, 165 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 3: you know, really helped. I wouldn't tay accelerate because we 166 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 3: were already on our path, but just that notoriety of 167 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 3: like oh, rugby, and in the US people are still 168 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 3: learning the difference between the Olympic sevens version and then 169 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: the fifteens version that we are building. But right now 170 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 3: rugby is rugby and we are just taking all of 171 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 3: that attention. And so between that, between LA twenty eight 172 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 3: having more eyes on rugby and then the both World 173 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 3: Cups and thirty thirty one and the Women's World Cup 174 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 3: in thirty three, there's going to be a. 175 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: Lot of attention on rugby in the US in the 176 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: coming years. 177 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. I was reading about that and I was like, 178 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: twenty thirty three, Oh my god, that's forever. And I 179 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 1: was like, oh, oh my god, it's not that far off. 180 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: It's crazy. Alone o Mar a superstar, bigger than rugby 181 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: in so many ways. Betty, can you tell us what 182 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: it felt like watching her, in particular, explode this summer 183 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: in terms of popularity, knowing how that might affect the 184 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: league and how it might drive even more attention to rugby. 185 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's so hard to talk about rugby and not 186 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 4: talk about Alona Mar. I mean, she is the it girl. 187 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:35,079 Speaker 4: She is all over and it's so exciting to see 188 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 4: her risis stardom. She's so deserving of it. I mean, 189 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 4: aside from being an awesome athlete, just a tremendous rugby player. 190 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 4: She's funny, she's charismatic. It's hard to you know, watch 191 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 4: her and not love her. And it's huge. We get 192 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 4: to ride that kind of momentum that she brings, that 193 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 4: star power that she brings to rugby and kind of 194 00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 4: ride that into this new emerging league and I think 195 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 4: that's such a privilege to get that, to have her 196 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 4: kind of bring that attention to rugby. So it's a 197 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 4: really great timing for everything. And yeah, I mean she's 198 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 4: playing fifteens rugby right now, and you know, has been 199 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 4: very vocal about her hopes to play for the World 200 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 4: Cup team, the USA World Cup team, and so hopefully, 201 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 4: you know, she brings all that love to fifteens rugby 202 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 4: as well. 203 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're going to get into the difference between fifteens 204 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: and seven So everyone listening that's confused, don't worry. We're 205 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: going to get to that. Let's get ready for this 206 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: inaugural season of the wer with a little wr one 207 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: oh one. Yeah, So let's start with the teams. Jessica, 208 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: how many are there and who are they? Yeah? 209 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: So there are six teams and they'll in six markets 210 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 3: across the country, again being tied to the WPL. So 211 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 3: we have a team out in the Bay Area in California, Denver, Colorado, Chicago, 212 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 3: where you can watch Betty showcase all of her skills, 213 00:10:54,120 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 3: twin cities Minneapolis, Boston, and New York. So you'll to 214 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 3: stay tuned for the names of the teams because they 215 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 3: will be coming out shortly. 216 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: Awesome. I'm excited. I love looking at logos and colors 217 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: and merge to like getting all the different teams vibes 218 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: and what they're kind of going to be. Betty, let's 219 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: talk about gms and coaches. Who are the folks that 220 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,679 Speaker 1: are going to be leading these teams? What's their background? 221 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, that might the GM question might be better suited 222 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 4: for doctor Jessica. But as far as the coaches go, 223 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 4: the coaches announcement, there's quite a few coaches that have 224 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 4: been affiliated with the WPL teams and so they've carried over, 225 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 4: which is awesome. I know Hanna Soba really well out 226 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 4: in Berkeley. I think that she's great and very exciting 227 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 4: for her lead. Sylvia Broughton has been brought back to 228 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 4: the mix back in Minneapolis, and then in Chicago we 229 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 4: have Brian Colebridge, who I really only texted and maybe 230 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 4: had like a virtual call with, but he brings a 231 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 4: ton of energy to the league. He has awesome ideas 232 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 4: about like diversity and what he wants the team to 233 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 4: look like, how he wants the team to play, and 234 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 4: so all in all, the coach choices could not be better. 235 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 4: I'm thrilled to be working with the group of coaches 236 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 4: that's we're going to be working with the league. 237 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: I love it. If there isn't some sort of language 238 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: around coach Sylvia Broughton from bring it on where it's 239 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: like it's already been brought in, then we're really missing 240 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: like a real key opportunity there, Jessica, So GMS, it 241 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: feels like this is a single entity owner that owns 242 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: the whole league and the team's underneath. So is it 243 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: more of that kind of ownership model where there isn't 244 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: a GM making selections for each team. 245 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 3: So there will be GMS in the local market and 246 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 3: we'll be announcing those names shortly. Since we are remote, 247 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 3: we are not all based in these markets, so we 248 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 3: want to make sure that we have boots on the 249 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 3: ground we have people who are there helping drive the 250 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 3: fan experience, build those corporate partnerships, and so we're excited 251 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 3: to build out those front offices. 252 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: Shortly, cool, who are some of the players we're going 253 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 1: to be watching, Jessica, Where are you grabbing these folks 254 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: from US national team members, international players. 255 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 3: College short answers. Yes, And that's a great part of it, right. 256 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 3: We have this really elite level pool of players. Three 257 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 3: hundred and eighty five athletes raise their hand for the 258 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 3: declaration period and said yeah, I want to play, and 259 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 3: that it was about two times in many of players 260 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 3: that we actually needed. 261 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: So you're going to. 262 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 3: See players that are coming out of strong college programs 263 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 3: like Dartmouth and Harvard. They'll be spattered throughout the league, 264 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 3: although you know a lot of the Harvard players will 265 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: probably be picked up by the Boston team right sticking 266 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 3: to their roots, but definitely have a lot of college 267 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 3: players coming from that space. We do have some players 268 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 3: who've been competing in the PWR, the league over in 269 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 3: England that have said, yeah, I want to come back 270 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 3: to the US, I want to play in front of 271 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 3: my fan base. So you'll see some of those national 272 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 3: team current national team players hopefully playing for US. And 273 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 3: at the same time, there there have been some players 274 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 3: from overseas who are like, how do I get it 275 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 3: on this gig? 276 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: Like this is going to be. 277 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 3: Amazing, right, Like who wouldn't want to come to the 278 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 3: US play rugby for four months and then you go 279 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 3: back home. So those that will help elevate our talent 280 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 3: pool as well, But we are going to be mindful 281 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 3: as to we don't want to totally turn the league international, right, 282 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 3: We have a lot of amazing athletes like Betty who 283 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 3: are local and we want to elevate and continue to 284 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 3: bring them along in this journey as well. So there's 285 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 3: really a broad range of athletes who are who are 286 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 3: going to play, and it's going to be really exciting. 287 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 3: I got to sit down on like the full team 288 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 3: selections a couple of weeks ago, and my goosebumps thinking 289 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 3: about who's going to be in the league and the 290 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 3: combinations that coaches are putting together. 291 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 2: So it's going to be a phenomenal first year. 292 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: Okay, just a couple of clarifications there. So when you 293 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: say declaration pool, those are people who are essentially saying, 294 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: if were to be selected, I would sign with this 295 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: team and play for them. 296 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we were really intentional about how to create 297 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 3: an opportunity for the most players. Right, We're only in 298 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 3: six places. The US is pretty big, and so we 299 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: couldn't come out and say, Okay, you're just going to 300 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 3: go wherever we dictate, right, that's not fair, And we 301 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: knew that we would have a lot fewer athletes raise 302 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 3: their hands. So we gave each athlete the opportunity to 303 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 3: designate in state status. You could do up to two markets, 304 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: and it had to be a reasonable request. Like I'm 305 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 3: from here, but I have a lot of family that 306 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 3: lives in Boston. So even though I'm home based in Denver, 307 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 3: I could be supported if I moved to Boston. Or 308 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 3: I'm a college athlete and I went away to school, 309 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 3: but I'm really from another area. And so I think 310 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 3: that really helped support the athletes, you know, similar to 311 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 3: what the NWSL came out with their recent collective bargaining agreement. Right, 312 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 3: So we were able to do that. That made a 313 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 3: huge difference for our numbers, and we still had quite 314 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 3: a few athletes who are who are in the open 315 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: market who knew that they would be willing to go anywhere. 316 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 3: They just wanted a chance to play now. Yeah, So 317 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 3: it was great to be able to provide that opportunity 318 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 3: for the players. 319 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: And you mentioned that some Harvard folks might go to Boston. 320 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: Is that like a homegrown player rule where it's easier 321 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: for teams to grab players that are local or how 322 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: will it be decided if someone put two different markets 323 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: where they end up. 324 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 3: So the coaches have been great, having conversations amongst themselves like, yeah, 325 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 3: if so and so selected, I'll just use Boston as 326 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 3: their primary. But the Boston coach was like, I already 327 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 3: have enough talent in that role, so I'm not going 328 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 3: to pick them. But hey, Chicago, you know that was 329 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 3: their second choice, so feel free to select them. So 330 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 3: the coaches have been great and they understand that we 331 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 3: need parody in the league this year. We can't have 332 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 3: blowouts because we want to create a really exciting entertainment product. 333 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 3: So we can't have even though it's less stressful, and Betty, 334 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 3: I'm sure you can attest to it. It's less stressful 335 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 3: having big gap for coaching, but we want to be 336 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 3: able to create that exciting Admyery. 337 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: It feels like that happens a lot in women's leagues 338 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: early on is that there is this sense of a 339 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: rising tide lifts all boats, so they have to be 340 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: collaborative as opposed to competitive in order to get things 341 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: off the ground and make it successful. And then eventually 342 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 1: it gets big enough that there can be a little 343 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: bit more of that cutthroat sports approach to everything. We 344 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: got to take a quick break here. When we come back, 345 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: we'll talk to Betty and Jessica about pay, the league, states, 346 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: where the games will be played, and that whole fifteens 347 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: versus sevens thing I promised well addressed. It's coming up 348 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: after this we're back with Betty and Jessica. Jessica, how 349 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: is pay decided for players? Is it uniform tiered? Is 350 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: there some sort of minimum? 351 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 4: Yeah? 352 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 3: So what where are the compensation package is still being finalized. So, 353 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 3: but what we're trying to do again is create that 354 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 3: parody across everybody. If you look at the WPL athletes, 355 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 3: they've paid out of pocket for so long and most 356 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 3: of us, you know, even my funding when I was playing, 357 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 3: it was fully out of pocket. So we want to 358 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 3: be able to just spread what we have across everybody 359 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 3: in at a minimum is what we've talked about with 360 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 3: the athletes thus far as we're going to cover their 361 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 3: travel and their expenses, and then you know, we'll look 362 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 3: to continue to grow from there as funding allows. 363 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: Betty, where are the games can I be played? 364 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 4: I believe that they will have you know, everyone will 365 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 4: have home games in their markets that we're all have 366 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 4: teams in. But I don't think that we've nailed down 367 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 4: the exact like home base for each team just yet. 368 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: What is a rugby arena? 369 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 4: Like? 370 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: What's the closest fit is that a football stadium? 371 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 4: Usually a soccer field. It's actually closer in size. Rugby 372 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 4: fields are a little bit wider, a little bit longer 373 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 4: than a normal football field is. So I think soccer 374 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 4: is probably the closest. 375 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: And Doctor Jessica, is there are certain general capacity that 376 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: you're looking for for this inaugural season. 377 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're looking about three thousand and five thousand seat stadiums. 378 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 3: We believe that is our sweet spot. Anything bigger you're 379 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 3: going to get lost in there. We want to be 380 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 3: able to create an exciting in game experience for the fans. 381 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 3: And also, you know that broadcast you want to see 382 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 3: packed stands, you want to see people having fun in 383 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 3: an exciting environment, and we believe that starting a little 384 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:26,479 Speaker 3: bit smaller can create that intimate feel for sure. 385 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: When does the league start and end, Jessica. 386 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 3: So the league preseason is going to start in February 387 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 3: with the first games. I know it'll be cold up 388 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 3: there in Chicago for Betty, but we're a house of 389 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 3: We're finalizing some indoor practice space for our northern friends. 390 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 3: But the season, the games will start at the end 391 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: of March and they'll go to the end of June. 392 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 3: And we were intentional about having a it'll be about 393 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 3: a thirty three game season this year through everybody. But 394 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 3: with the World Cup happy in England in the fall, 395 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 3: we wanted to provide an opportunity for our athletes to 396 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 3: make that roster to have a little bit of downtime 397 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 3: before they have to report for camp World Cup camp. 398 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 2: So we're a little shortened this year. 399 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 4: So Okay, we're resourceful out here in Chicago, so we'll 400 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,400 Speaker 4: dig sell off the field if we have to. If 401 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 4: that means that we can play, don't worry. 402 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, We've got this thing called dibbs, Jessica. So if 403 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: they need to park by their practice or where they play. 404 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 1: They'll just throw a lawn chair, an old box fan, 405 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: whatever we can find that goes in the spot that 406 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: you that you shoveled out, and if someone tries to 407 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: move in and park there, God bless your break or 408 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: whatever else can be accessed with scissors. And I'm not 409 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 1: advocating for that to be a thing anyone should do. 410 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: I'm just saying that's how it is here in Chicago 411 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: when shit gets real. So at the end of those 412 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: thirty three regular season games, playoff championship format, Jessica. 413 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're gonna have the Legacy Cup. 414 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 3: It'll be two semi final games and then the National Championship. 415 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 3: The semi finals will be at the highest the highest seeds, 416 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 3: and then we'll have either a neutral site or one 417 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 3: of the venues as the final championship game. 418 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: Cool. Okay, let's talk about rules, Betty. Let's assume our 419 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,959 Speaker 1: listeners are brand new and want to get into rugby. 420 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: Give us a little bit about the difference between fifteens 421 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: and sevens, where we might have seen them, and why 422 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: you chose to do fifteens for this league. 423 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 4: Yes, for any new listeners coming to rugby, welcome. It's 424 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 4: the best party that you'll ever get invited to, So 425 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 4: thanks so much for you know, wanting to learn and 426 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 4: listen or listen and learn. But sevens and fifteens refers 427 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 4: to the number of people in the field. So fifteen 428 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 4: a side rugby has fifteen people on each team, which 429 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 4: means thirty people on the field at one time. Crazy 430 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 4: sevens is the version that you find in the Olympics. 431 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 4: So a lot for your people, which means that typically 432 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 4: you have to cover a lot more space. It's also shorter, 433 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,360 Speaker 4: so seven a side seven minute halves with a two 434 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 4: minute half time, so the game goes by way quicker. 435 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 4: It's much more fast paced, athletically, super demanding. It's like 436 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 4: halfway a track meet for a lot of it. And 437 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 4: then so the with fifteens, with a lot more people, 438 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 4: it tends to be a little bit more strategic, a 439 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 4: little bit more tactical, and it's eighty minutes long, so 440 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 4: it's a little bit more endurance bace as well, so 441 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 4: you really want to think about how you're going to 442 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 4: play over those two forty minute halfs. So those are 443 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 4: the basic differences between fifteens and sevens. 444 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: It does feel like the type of athlete would be 445 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: very different between needing to cover more ground but in 446 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: a shorter time versus having more people out on the field. 447 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: But it is a little bit more of a marathon 448 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: as opposed to a sprint. When we're watching the games, 449 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: what are some ways to be an educated viewer? What 450 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 1: are the things to look for to know if a 451 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: team is playing well or a player is standing out well. 452 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 4: Scoring in rugby is just, you know, almost like a 453 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 4: touchdown getting to the end zone, and we have to 454 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 4: physically touch down the ball, so literally putting the ball, 455 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 4: touching it to the ground to score. You gotta touch grass, 456 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 4: Yes exactly, I gotta touch grass. If you see a 457 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 4: lot of that, a team is doing pretty well, okay. 458 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 4: And you know, rugby has a lot of things that 459 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 4: sports fans love. There's big hits and so you'll see 460 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 4: a lot of those as well. And if a team 461 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 4: is making a lot of big hits, then that's an 462 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 4: indicator that they're they're dominating the game. And there's like 463 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 4: high fly in fun. You know, there's parts of it 464 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 4: where you're literally throwing people into the air to get 465 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 4: the ball back. I mean, I don't think any other 466 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 4: sport has that. And so there's a lot of fun 467 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 4: aspects of rugby. Getting possession of the ball back is 468 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 4: a really big part. So in that sense, it's a 469 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 4: lot like soccer or basketball where you like want to 470 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 4: retain the possession of the ball and you get to 471 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 4: literally fight people for possession of that ball. So yeah, 472 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 4: those are like the different elements of rugby and different 473 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 4: things that you can watch out for when you're When 474 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 4: you're watching for the first. 475 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: Time, I invented a new word that I think rugby 476 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: should use. It's like scrum and a huddle is a scrudgle. 477 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: I just think gets a really fun word. I think 478 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: that scruggle should be a thing. 479 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 2: Totally incorporate it. 480 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, just think about if there's somewhere we can throw scruttle. 481 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: It's just fun to say. So we've got overachievers for sure, 482 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 1: lesting who really want to make sure they know what 483 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 1: they're watching before this starts. So do you have any 484 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 1: good resources, Betty, whether that's a website, a YouTube, a 485 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: person a place that people can go where they'll be 486 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: able to really like get the one on one to 487 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: figure out how to watch and enjoy rugby. 488 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,639 Speaker 4: Definitely, Well, I think that anyone even if you don't 489 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 4: prepare yourself for it. Anyone can enjoy rugby. It's the 490 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 4: It's i think the one of the most fan friendly 491 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 4: sports because really you're coming out and you're watching a 492 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 4: bunch of people like kind of beat up on each 493 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 4: other for eighty minutes and then afterwards they're all cheering 494 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 4: and you know they're all The camaraderie behind it is 495 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 4: so amazing and it's what really drew me to rugby 496 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 4: in the first place. But if people want to watch 497 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 4: some rugby before they go and come out to a 498 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 4: WR game, there's tons of resources on YouTube. You can 499 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 4: watch the World Cup games and so you can see 500 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 4: like the New Zealand and England final from a couple 501 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,199 Speaker 4: of years ago, which like sparked, you know, crazy energy 502 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 4: across the women's rugby world. I think that's a really 503 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 4: great game to watch, and that's all accessible on YouTube. 504 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 4: But there's tons, tons of rugby to watch there. 505 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: Cool Jessica, Where can folks get tickets to go to 506 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: the games? 507 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, So once we announce our venues, we'll have our 508 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 3: season tickets available. 509 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 2: Q one is going to be. 510 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 3: Insane for w b R as we get everything and 511 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 3: sign on the dotted line, but we'll have tickets through 512 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 3: our platform, through Women's Elite Rugby dot Us. We'll be 513 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 3: selling tickets there and then we'll also have tickets in 514 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 3: the local markets for people who want to walk. 515 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,360 Speaker 1: Up cool and can folks watch on TV or streaming. 516 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, we are having conversations right now actually with Willopy 517 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 3: Goldberg's crew and hoping to get on her new platform. 518 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 3: The Legacy Cup last year was streamed on Rugby Pass TV, 519 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 3: and so it's really important to us to get the 520 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 3: game out there to as many people as possible. We know, 521 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,119 Speaker 3: as phases of women's sports, you got to hunt for 522 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 3: all your your sport content and the more that we 523 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 3: can keep it in front of a paywall, at least initially, 524 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 3: the better. And so we're looking at a lot of 525 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 3: different platforms and YouTube TV definitely is on the rise 526 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,399 Speaker 3: as one of those platforms as well. So we have 527 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 3: we have a broad look as to where we might 528 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 3: where we might stream the games next year. 529 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 1: You've got a lot on your plate. You mentioned Q 530 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,360 Speaker 1: one is going to be pretty crazy. You know, you've 531 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: got to set up a league in terms of the 532 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:38,479 Speaker 1: obvious getting players signed to teams in uniform on the 533 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: field and playing, but also behind the scenes with the 534 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 1: TV deals and everything else. And then in terms of 535 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: stuff like support staff, emerging leagues oftentimes are a little 536 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: behind on things like doctors, physical therapists HR. How are 537 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 1: you approaching that side of things? 538 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, so early on we knew that we wanted to 539 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 3: be the model and how we provided healthcare for our athletes. 540 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 3: You know, with that pay to play model, right, they're 541 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 3: they're paying out of pocket. It takes forever to get 542 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 3: an MRI, uh to follow up. And so we're building 543 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 3: elite care for our athletes and we'll have partnerships with 544 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 3: medical providers in each market who we can say, yep, 545 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 3: you got dinged up, let's go get you next ray 546 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 3: and they're flipping it quickly, right because we want player 547 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 3: availability for the coaches. Coaches want to have the most 548 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:26,120 Speaker 3: number of athletes they can select from on game day 549 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 3: and if you're still waiting on it for an MRI 550 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 3: and you're not cleared, then then we can't do that. 551 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 3: So we've talked heavily about the medical care providing elite 552 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:39,719 Speaker 3: level providers. UH, you know, athletic trainers at not just games, 553 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 3: but at every practice, having. 554 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,440 Speaker 2: Residents on the sidelines. 555 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 3: You know, all the things that you should you expect 556 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 3: from a professional league. We're doing it and making sure 557 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 3: that it's at the top of the player experience. 558 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,119 Speaker 1: Awesome, Betty. I know based on my experience in ownership 559 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 1: for the NWS well and reporting on all these different leagues, 560 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: it's very important for players to have a voice and 561 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: have a safe way to express problems, issues anything. Are 562 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: there any channels that the league is planning to use 563 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,600 Speaker 1: to ensure that there's a good communication between players in 564 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:13,479 Speaker 1: front office staff. 565 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 4: I think even right now, our coach Brian has put 566 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 4: everyone who has been selected so far into a like 567 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,919 Speaker 4: WhatsApp group, and so we're all communicating. I think that 568 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 4: channel of communication is going to be very open, so 569 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 4: coaches can act sort of like a liaison to the 570 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 4: front office if needed. But I also think that right 571 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 4: now this is all a very collaborative effort. I think 572 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 4: there's been a ton of communic communication out between the 573 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 4: director of rugby and all the players, and I think 574 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 4: that there's trust that the wr administration is really trying 575 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 4: to make this all about the player experience and enhancing 576 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 4: the player experience, and that's how they see how this 577 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 4: league is going to grow. So based on my experience 578 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 4: so far, I really have full faith that there's going 579 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 4: to be a ton of feedback back and forth and 580 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 4: that that's going to help this league continue to grow 581 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 4: for the future. 582 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 3: Cool And if I can add Sarah, like I mentioned 583 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 3: from the beginning, we've had a player's committee and so 584 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 3: they've been involved, They've seen copies of the policies, they 585 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 3: help drive our selection process, what the declaration period was 586 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 3: going to look like. So they've had a hand in everything, 587 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 3: and so we'll continue to have that. It'll evolve a 588 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 3: little bit, but we're going to continue to have a 589 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 3: player advisory committee engaged with me and the staff every 590 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 3: step of the way. 591 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: That's great. Okay, we're wrapping up here, and I have 592 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: a not yet trademarked, but definitely should be trademarked approach 593 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: to teaching people a new sport. If I take someone 594 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: to a game for the first time that they haven't 595 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: been to, or even just how I kind of think 596 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:54,959 Speaker 1: about telling stories of women's sports and athletes on this 597 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: particular show. And it's summed up by the four US's 598 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: Star Stakes, stats and story. So we're going to close 599 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: with a speed round of those for the wer So 600 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: Betty Stars. Who should we watch for? Any names you 601 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: want to throw out there? 602 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 4: Oh, not to be biased, but there's a player named 603 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 4: Emma Farnan that is going to be playing in Chicago. 604 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 4: I have played against her and she is a force 605 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 4: to be reckoned with. So look out for Emma Fearnen. 606 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 1: Emma farnin Okay, doctor Deska Stakes. How important would you 607 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,959 Speaker 1: say one regular season game would be to this team's 608 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: likelihood of making the playoffs or winning it all? How 609 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: serious should fans take every single game versus sort of 610 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:34,880 Speaker 1: bigger picture for the season. 611 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I wouldn't say like the first game is going 612 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 3: to make or break a team. There's there's thirty games 613 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 3: that are going to happen, so they'll be definitely opportunities. 614 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 3: But you know, by week three and four there'll definitely 615 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 3: be some pressure on the line. And at the same time, 616 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 3: when we overlap with the Pack four season, you know, 617 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,959 Speaker 3: our national team players will go overseas and they'll compete 618 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 3: and that'll give a great chance for other. 619 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 2: Athletes to step up into that. 620 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 3: So it'll look really different, won't look really different, but 621 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 3: there'll be. 622 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 2: Some differences midyear when. 623 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 3: The Eagles step away, and then it'll be a lot 624 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 3: of pressure on the back end to be eligible for 625 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 3: the Legacy Cup. 626 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: All right. The Eagles are the US national rugby team. 627 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: There is no international break. Then it'll be the rest 628 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: of the team stepping up in their absence. That's good 629 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:30,280 Speaker 1: to know. Stats, Betty, what's a great stat line in 630 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: a single game for a player? How can we look 631 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: at a box score and say, ooh, that person not 632 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 1: a great game. 633 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 4: I love defense in rugby, so for me, it's usually 634 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 4: tackles made is a really great stat line. I think 635 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 4: that if you're a fan of the offensive side, then 636 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 4: it probably would be a number of carrieres or like 637 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 4: meters carried. But those are the two that I would 638 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 4: think about. 639 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: So not as much the actual person who scores. 640 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think that sometimes it comes down to 641 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 4: maybe you ran a ton of meters, but time, right 642 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,320 Speaker 4: before you're about to score, you pass it off to 643 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,560 Speaker 4: someone and you take the tackle so that they can score. 644 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 4: I feel like, you know, the number of meters carried 645 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 4: tends to highlight that a little bit. 646 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: Oh okay, I love learning that. That's really cool. All right, Stories, Jessica, 647 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: do you have a story or two for us to follow, 648 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: a player coming back from injury, a player representing an 649 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: underrepresented group, just something we can sort of attach to 650 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 1: and look forward to paying attention to what we're watching. 651 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I mentioned the youngster Tana Wilfie. She's going 652 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 3: to be playing for our Colorado team. She's overseas right now, 653 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:39,200 Speaker 3: but both her parents or dad played at the highest level, and. 654 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 2: She's going to be the youngest player in the league. 655 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 3: And we do have a couple teams, a couple athletes 656 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:51,479 Speaker 3: who are currently playing for their home country. So we 657 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 3: have Jen Salomon Clayton who's currently playing for the Mexico 658 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 3: national sevens team. She's going to be playing with New 659 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 3: York Adriana Castillo, she plays for the Dominican Republic national team, so. 660 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 2: Also in the New York area. 661 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,840 Speaker 3: So a lot of players like that that are representing 662 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 3: the larger market but have some really great, really great 663 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 3: stories behind them. 664 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,239 Speaker 1: I love that, all Right, last question you knew I 665 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: was going to ask it. What is the chance that 666 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 1: Alona mar will be suiting up for the wr I'm 667 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:29,440 Speaker 1: seeing I'm seeing fingers crossed. I think I just spotted 668 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:30,520 Speaker 1: a rabbit's foot. 669 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, stay tuned, is all I can say. Sarah, stay tuned. 670 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: Heay tuned. Thank you so much for joining us and 671 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: helping us sort through what is a very exciting new 672 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: league in professional rugby here in the US. So thanks 673 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: so much for the time. 674 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thank you, Sarah. 675 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: Welcome back, slices. We love that you're listening, but we 676 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 1: want you to get in the game every day too, 677 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: So here's our good game play of the day. Follow 678 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: wer on social and follow some of the players that 679 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: Jessica and Betty mentioned, like Emma Farnin who'll be rep 680 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 1: in Chicago. One of the best ways to learn about 681 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 1: a new league, get to know the players and the storylines, 682 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: and keep up with the games is to have them 683 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 1: right in your social timeline. So go ahead and hit 684 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: that follow button links to accounts in our show notes, 685 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: and don't forget to subscribe. Rate and review like this 686 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: Hookers rating five out of five very necessaries review. Without 687 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: a hooker, you're going to have trouble scoring on the 688 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 1: rugby field. That is, the hooker is the central forward 689 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,319 Speaker 1: in the front row of a scrum whose main job 690 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 1: is to hook the ball. And if you don't have 691 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,840 Speaker 1: a hooker, who will the loose headline up next to? 692 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: And if you ask me, this is all happening in 693 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 1: the scruddle. Now it's your turn, subscribe, rate and review. 694 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Jessica and Betty. 695 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 1: Good game. Wer Hugh whoever made up the names in 696 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 1: rugby and didn't include scruddle? A Good Game with Sarah 697 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with 698 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on 699 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,319 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 700 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,840 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie 701 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, 702 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,839 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, 703 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 1: Britney Martinez, brace Lynch and Lindsay Cradowell. Production assistants from 704 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain