Too Pretty to Play Rugby

I am not a particularly observant individual. I have also not done too much research into this; so it comes entirely from what I have (badly) observed when I say that I'm pretty sure that women's sport has seen much better coverage over the last few years than it ever has. With the women's World Cup being shown on BBC this Summer, it bodes well for what looks like an upsurge of coverage in women's sports. Which will hopefully lead to an abolition of any sort of negative stigma towards women who play and will help people to see that women are no less important than males in sport.

Despite this, I do believe that there are some differences between men and women - they tend to play differently. Referring more to rugby, I would argue that in-play, women are more calculative in their decisions when playing whereas men tend to smash each other up and hope for a good outcome - both excellent methods, but still different. Of course, these are massive generalisations and are not always so black and white, women can be just as vicious as men, and men can be just as tactful in their decisions as I have seen women be.

This does not mean that we (women) are not made for contact! Our legs are fast, our bodies are strong and at times, playing rugby is not a walk in the park! Some girls I know have taken some bloody hard hits, sustained some pretty nasty injuries and have also been at the giving end of them.

Some LUWRU injuries, just in case you're interested -

Sian was given this gorgeous shiner only 10 days before starting her new job having graduated from Liverpool University. The other picture is of Amy Brady's leg after it endured a particularly rough game. No one (including herself!) realised quite now bad it was until we stepped off of the pitch. She may bruise like a peach, but no one ever hears her whinging!

Our Tammy dislocated her finger during one training session and STILL came back fighting to be awarded Back of the Season for this year.

Emily Oliver ruptured the cruciates in her knee and has subsequently been absent for the end of the season, we're wishing her a speedy recovery as she's currently undergoing a long course of physio and potentially another operation!

Buzzy Bee, one of the only two fresher second rows, broke her collar bone and had to be cut out of a shirt in A&E. No one had any idea that she'd actually broken anything as she didn't even feel any pain until we were almost back in Liverpool.

Eleanor, (conveniently, the other second row) was also badly injured this season before she'd even set foot on the pitch! In the same training session that left Tammy with a finger at a 90 degree angle, Eleanor broke two bones in her foot. She hopes to return this season with a vengeance!

They're a bunch of bloody hard girls! 

So why do we play if we end up getting smashed up and constantly look like we're wearing black and blue tights?

Because playing Rugby is exhilarating. There are few words on this Earth to accurately describe how you feel when you're on the pitch. The adrenaline is so intense you feel as though you're going to burst as you create an indestructible force against another team alongside your best friends. What feeling could top this? 

I was 14 when I first decided that I wanted to play rugby, but it wasn't until I was 18 and at Uni that I actually joined a team. Becoming involved in sport isn't always easy, especially when the sport you want to play isn't widely offered and therefore I played in my school team which only consisted of one game and a 7s tournament before the only female P.E. teacher willing to teach us left to work at another school. 

Although, I learnt that it is never too late to start! University opens up so many windows of opportunity and becoming involved in sport is one of the most rewarding and exciting ones. I can't recommend it enough, if you can't do it at Uni, when can you?! During my time with LUWRU, I have been lucky enough to play with players of all different abilities, from players who had never touched a rugby ball to some extremely experienced players. This is a photo of Catherine O'Donnell, she is part of the England u20s squad and she also plays for LUWRU. We have the pleasure of playing (and partying) alongside her in the BUCs league. The dynamic of having experienced and inexperienced players only makes us stronger as a team as we learn from each other and we develop pastoral relationships on and off the pitch.

Winning or losing, Rugby is an incredible sport and the people you play against generally mirror the attitude that you give to them. If you're looking for a good, clean game, that's what you'll get. Rugby is a game that is traditionally played by 'gentlemen' and any decent rugby player will recognise that this is a standard that is in our interest to maintain.

But how we feel about the sport doesn't change the sneers and comments that we get from people when they learn that we are rugby players. So I'm just going to share with you some of my least favourite things that have ever been said to me.

• "So you're a lesbian then?"

Something that I have heard way too many times. No I am not a lesbian, but if I was - who cares? The assumption that rugby players are all lesbians is uneducated and wrong. Some people who play rugby are lesbians, some people who play netball are lesbians and some people who don't play any sport at all are lesbians. The fact that a few people still have this ridiculous assumption only shows their ignorance not only to the sport, but to culture today.

• "Oh but don't you have to get up close with lesbians? Doesn't that make you feel uncomfortable?"

I would have absolutely no problem in getting up close to a lesbian on the pitch to tackle them/to scrum alongside them/etc. etc. etc.. Lesbians don't instantly fancy you just because you're female and if you think they do, then you need to deflate your ego. I don't care if there are lesbians on my team or lesbians on the opposing team, we are there for one reason - to play rugby. AND if you're referring to the relationship we have off of the pitch - I care even less about having friends that are lesbian/bisexual/straight/anything else under the sun, because I'm not an arse.

• "But you don't look like a rugby player!"

Of course I look like a rugby player! That is what I am. Whatever your idea is of what a stereotypical rugby girl looks like - forget it and look no further! We are rugby players and as you can see from the picture on the left - we are sexy, so the insinuation that you made that all rugby players are butch and ugly, couldn't be more wrong.

• "You're too pretty to play rugby!"

By far the worst. Since when has being pretty had anything to do with playing a sport and enjoying yourself? Never. You are never 'too pretty' to do anything that will make you happier or a better person. Besides, we can be pretty AND play rugby.

• "But aren't you scared of being hurt?"

I'm scared as much as I would have been had I taken up crochet knitting, except I try to live my life on the more exciting side. Every sport has the potential to injure you and I have seen some fairly brutal injuries during my time playing hockey. Not only this, but you rarely hear people saying to boys - "aren't you scared of being hurt?" No they're not, and no, we're not either.

But aside from the negativity occasionally shown from these imbeciles, joining Rugby was the best thing I could possibly have done at Uni. I have met some of my best friends through it. They are great girls; I don't have a bad word to say about any one of them and you're sure to find at least a couple of girls who are up for a night out, whatever day of the week it is.

Finally I would just like to say that Sport England's 'This Girl Can' campaign is absolutely brilliant. Women deserve to be able to play sport for enjoyment and not feel intimidated or like they're being judged. Although different sports will suit different people, I can't emphasise enough how rewarding it is to join a sports team; team sports improve your life in so many ways, fitness, friendships and your general happiness. No matter how old you are or what your ability is - do it, you won't regret it.



http://www.sportengland.org/our-work/national-work/this-girl-can/

The Assumptions made by Enola Gay

On the morning of the 6th of August 1945, the first ever nuclear bomb was used in war. Tens of thousands of people died instantly and the fires that came as a result of the bombs did not go out for three days; killing more and more people as each horrifying day went on. Three days later, a larger device was released over Nagasaki.

This week, people are celebrating the end of the Second World War and the end of the atrocities that it encompassed. By association, celebrating the dropping of these bombs and the obliteration of two cities. 129,000 - 246,000 people were sent to an early grave.

When I was younger (I'm talking until I was 17) I had no tolerance for other people's opinions but now, as far as politics students go - I would say that I'm pretty ok with people having viewpoints that are different to mine. I would argue that the key to peace is knowing and accepting that your opinions and beliefs are different to others. I understand that views on warfare are not easy things for people to agree on and my opinion will grate on the principles of others. However the purpose of this post is not to cause a fight, it is to give my personal understanding - or should I say - lack of understanding of the existence of nuclear weapons.

I feel that this is an appropriate time to make the announcement that I have incredibly good friends that are in the army and my Uncle was a solider. I respect wholly what soldiers have done for our country and how our lives in the UK are better because of what they have done. I believe that if becoming a soldier and fighting for this country is what they view as right, then they should be free to do so. Just because I don't support war, it doesn't mean that I don't understand that many people around the world believe that it is necessary for the betterment or defence of their country. I am not disrespecting soldiers or individuals - I want to make that very clear.

This blog could be the length of 50 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix copies explaining why some people believe that America were in the right for bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, all being completely valid beliefs. Perhaps your view is that the bombings were an imperative last resort by the Americans as a desperate response to the attack on Pearl Harbour, the torture of American prisoners and most of all, to put an end the atrocities that at the time, the world could see no end to.

War makes no sense to me. I cannot give you a sufficient explanation as to why the Americans should not have used nuclear weapons as a response to what Japan had done, because I do not understand why political/economic/moral disagreements between the countries escalated to war in the first place. I cannot give you an explanation as to why war of any sense is needed to resolve issues, again, because I do not understand it. All I can tell you is that I disagree with it.

Got to be one of my favourite quotes. Some people may argue that Japan surrendered after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and so it created peace. Surprise, surprise! I don't agree. The millisecond after that bomb was dropped from the Enola Gay, world politics changed forever. The millisecond after that bomb was dropped, a premise was set, a moral level of what is acceptable was unveiled. A moral level which told the inhabitants of the Earth that it was ok to destroy others and the planet they live on. The above quote at first seems to be saying that bombing for peace is pointless, just as fucking for virginity is. But as an annoying English student, I see it to mean something different.

*Please excuse this next metaphor*
When a person loses their virginity, whether it's on their wedding night or down an alley - there is always some sort of build up, perhaps between yourself and your partner, or perhaps you haven't told anyone, but you have been wondering what it will be like. There is sense of almost not wanting to do it, not wanting to spoil what can seem so unblemished. But then it is done. It is not something that can be undone, you may not want it to be undone; whatever your view on the matter is - you cannot take back what has happened. That then sets the standard for what is held in the future. Some people find that the build up for the second time they have sex is not quite so big - and soon it may not become a big deal whatsoever. Some people find that the same goes for new partners - after a while it can start to lose its significance.

So rather than simply saying that bombing is pointless; is what these girls meant that when one bomb is dropped, it will simply become routine for countries to eradicate enemies in this manner? Leading ultimately, to the end of the world. This was shown when nuclear weapons were almost used once more only 6 years after Nagasaki when China joined the Korean war.

After the end of the Second World War, countries invested more and more money into defence because if  their enemies ever decided to drop a bomb on them - surely they would need weapons to attack back. But if they had weapons in the first place, then perhaps the enemy wouldn't attack them in the fear that they would react. This is what is known as the security dilemma. All these countries are armed with nuclear weapons and each country invests more and more money into them (see the Conservative's shitty plans for Trident) to seem the most powerful in order to prevent other countries from attacking.

And there you have it - that is Realist theory on defence in international relations - something arguably prominent in international politics today.

Realism was the leading school of thought during the Cold War which is arguably the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. The event I'm referring to is the Cuban Missile Crisis. I wont go into it right now, but feel free to google it in your own time.

No, there has been no nuclear war in the last 70 years, but it came agonisingly close in 1962 between the USA and Russia and also the UK joined America in the invasion of Iraq over the supposed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) (which have NEVER been found). This proves to me that even the idea of WMD is too dangerous to support to any degree. It also shows how close the world can come to nuclear confrontation if the time calls for it - and nuclear confrontation is not something that is taken lightly or should be seen as an option.

In the 2015 General Election the Green Party, contrary to Realist theory, campaigned for unilateral nuclear disarmament. This means that they would renounce Britain's nuclear weapons without seeking the equivalent from actual or potential rivals. Dangerous, some might think. Too dangerous to consider.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is a campaign to non-violently rid the world of nuclear weapons and other WMD in order to create a safe world for the future. It is a campaign that I support as I don't support war and I don't support the use of or existence of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons can only end in two ways, waste or death. The Conservative's plans to upgrade Trident has been estimated to cost £20bn. Why are we investing that money into something that if is used, will only begin the end of the world? Hospitals, schools, welfare, international aid, the environment. Think about where this dead money could have been spent. That's what it is when the WMD are sat underwater with virtually no purpose - dead money. If I'm proved wrong and the bombs are used, then it's likely that no one will be around to say "I told you so."






SOURCES
http://www.cnduk.org/campaigns/global-abolition
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hiroshima-nagasaki-70th-anniversary-facts-aftermath-damage-first-nuclear-bombs-used-war-1514194
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/17/trident-future-election-agenda-costs-spiral-nuclear-submarines

10 things that I have learnt at Festivals

This week I'm keeping it very simple: I'm going to tell you 10 things I have personally learnt from going to festivals! If you've ever been to one, I'm certain that you'll be able to relate to several of these and if you haven't - ah well... Welcome.

1. Not showering for 5 days straight is not as horrible as it sounds
- Before I went to my first festival (Reading), I was nervous; mostly due to the fact that I was going to be horribly dirty and unable to shower for 5 days straight. The mere thought revolted me and it was the part that I was least looking forward to. However, it turned out that dry shampoo and a packet of wipes did me fine! Everyone was in the same boat as me and let's face it, in a muddy field full of people off of their faces, very few people give a toss what you smell like - there is no room for self consciousness. Getting home and having the longest bath of my natural life was tremendous and made me feel as clean as the day I was Christened. Although not showering isn't the most fun (or hygienic) thing I've done in my life, it was not as dreadful as I thought it would be.

2. I am not as tall as I thought I was
- Over the course of the few days I am at festivals, I hear a lot of music, but I do not actually see any acts (unless of course, they are on a big screen). BUT! Rather than letting this bother me, I tend to close my eyes and get lost in the music, though it is important to remember to put your sunglasses on (no matter how dark it is) so that people don't think that you're dying. This is something I thought was very individual of me until I told Hannah my cunning tactic and found out she was doing the exact same thing. Being short at festivals isn't something that will ruin your time, plus, if you're short enough then you will be the nominated friend to get on a stranger's shoulders when you've lost the squad which is an incredibly useful tool *ahem* Alex Asher.

3. There are evil people in this world that will attempt to mosh to house music
- My moshing days ended the day that my love for metal ended. Back in't day I went to a Bullet for my Valentine gig and at this particular gig, they were supported by Bring me the Horizon - so you can imagine, there was a lot of moshing. So in certain situations, I can understand why a load of angry adolescents would want to relieve their anger by angrily shoving each other to angry music. As a fan of drum and bass, I can even slightly understand it in this environment, but house? Absolutely not. I can tolerate a skank, even a shuffle, never a mosh. Stay out of my dancing space and I'll stay out of yours. As Hannah and I will tell you, when house music is allowing you to reach Nirvana, there is nothing worse than someone bursting your bubble just as soon as you are on the doorstep.

4. Toilets are more disgusting than I ever thought they could be
- I don't know if you've ever been to Reading festival, but if you have, you will know the extent of the hideousness that I am referring to. Nothing, not even the sincerity of my good friend Bella, could ever have prepared me for what I was about to experience. The "toilets" are a hole sitting above a giant hole filled with excrement that only rises throughout the weekend. Not only this, but each toilet seat is covered in bodily fluids and you can only guess what they are. If (like I did) you arrive on the Wednesday, you have two days before you can enter the music arena where the toilets there are only marginally better.

5. Pulling at festivals has to be the most grimey thing in the world
- Not showering for days on end makes you smell like ass, not showering for days on end when you're sleeping in a tent and surrounded by lots of people in a crowd - not even worth trying to describe. Sharing that filth and various other uninviting bodily fluids with another human that you don't know sounds like THE worst possible thing I could imagine. Trying to explain this reasoning to some random who attempted to get with me during Disclosure didn't go down too well as I'm sure you can imagine.

6. Wellies are a gift from God
- If you're at a festival in the UK, it is probably raining or has rained or will rain soon. Therefore wellies will help you from being knee deep in mud/whatever the hell is on the floor. I'm sure Jessica Clayton regrets her decision of not wearing wellies when her big toenail fell off following a heavy skank/sidestep at X. She has well and truly learnt her lesson regarding footwear. Bless her! (I would post a picture of it, but I'm scared she'll dump me as best friend.)

7. Drinks are atrociously expensive
- It is no wonder why UK festivals are notorious for their drug culture when they are able to charge £4 for a bottle of beer. I'm a giant lightweight and that would cost me over £20 to get mildly tipsy for a few hours, let alone sloshed for the whole weekend - which was the general aim of the festival. Unless (like myself) you are lucky enough to sneak in a bottle of vodka, you can end up paying another hundred or so pounds on top of what can already be a very expensive ticket, depending on which festival you have chosen. Best options (I would suggest) are either to rob a bank beforehand, take out a second mortgage or sell a kidney if you aren't planning to try and smuggle alcohol into the event.

8. I discovered music that I had no idea I liked
- From Flume to ScHoolboy Q, festivals have had me standing in a crowd, loving life and the music despite having no idea what I'm listening to. They have introduced me to new artists and new genres alike; I would probably have no idea how much I liked grime had I not been to a festival.

9. 95% of people want to be your best friend
- Almost everyone is so friendly. That guy pissing on your tent? Friendly! That dealer walking around the crowd repeating "Charlie, Mandy, Cat."? Friendly! And you are just another one of those super happy dappy clappy friendly people loving life. The small 5% are those who are just looking to get into fights, but I would argue that there is a similar (if not higher) percentage if you go out to town on a Saturday night, so to the untrained eye, they go largely unnoticed.

10. You have THE best time of your life
- It was only a year before my first festival that I was completely repulsed by the idea of one. I was beyond skeptical about them, vowed I would never go and it was only severe FOMO and an old friend that managed to persuade me. I discovered that I was so very wrong about them. I had an incredible time, from the awful toilets, to eating canned all-day breakfasts and everything that once sounded like hell, I discovered that it was actually just a muddy heaven. I urge anyone who hasn't been to one to go A$AP Rocky. If you're not a fan of camping and you're too precious to go a few days without showering - don't be put off! Ease yourself in with one where you don't have to camp - there are plenty! Or just throw yourself in the deep-end like I did and come back and try to tell me that you didn't enjoy it.