(girl sport) a brazil rugby women in their competition

Brasil, o país do
 RUGBY!

por LetĂ­cia Bahia

A gente jĂĄ escreveu aqui no blog sobre a rainha Marta, e vocĂȘ estĂĄ cansada de ouvir dizer que o Brasil Ă© o paĂ­s do futebol. Mas essa semana foi a vez de o Girl Up entrar em campo pra jogar
 rugby!

O esporte Ă© forte na Inglaterra, paĂ­s onde nasceu, e carrega uma sĂ©rie de valores que combinam com feminismo. No rugby, a equipe vem antes do indivĂ­duo, e a camaradagem alcança inclusive o time adversĂĄrio. É comum que depois dos dois tempos oficiais de uma partida os jogadores dos dois times se reĂșnam no chamado “terceiro tempo” pra discutirem juntos as jogadas e estratĂ©gias que mais se destacaram.

Em 2012, o Conselho BritĂąnico lançou no Brasil o projeto Try Rugby, uma iniciativa internacional pioneira, realizada em parceira com Premiership Rugby (uma das ligas mais importantes do mundo). O projeto traz tĂ©cnicos britĂąnicos da Premiership Rugby para atuar em escolas e comunidades no Brasil, treinando atletas amadores e capacitando futuros tĂ©cnicos.

Foi a partir de um convite do Conselho BritĂąnico que eu fui parar em um treino de rugby feminino, para conhecer as garotas que estĂŁo se aventurando nesse esporte truculento e convidĂĄ-las a fazer parte do Girl Up.  

Mas péra: menina jogando rugby?

Jogando e arrasando! O espĂ­rito de equipe e apoio mĂștuo impressiona. Mesmo sem ter a menor noção das regras, fui incrivelmente bem recebida. Existe uma preocupação muito forte em popularizar o esporte no Brasil, em atrair financiamento, conquistar quadras melhores, conseguir equipamento e prestĂ­gio. Isso se reflete em portas escancaradas para novatas e uma disponibilidade incrĂ­vel das meninas mais experientes em ensinar – parece que estamos falando de um Clube Girl Up, Ă© ou nĂŁo Ă©?

Foi esse espírito que levou a Letícia Moura, uma das jogadoras mais experientes ali, a dar uma chuteira de presente para uma colega. Letícia conta que a chuteira veio da Inglaterra, mas estava apertando seu pé. A primeira ideia era vender pra conseguir comprar um novo par, mas as chuteiras acabaram tendo um destino muito mais nobre como presente pra outra jogadora.

“Ela tem potencial pra caramba! Pensei, ‘vou fazer ela se sentir especial’, Ă© muito importante vocĂȘ saber que tem alguĂ©m com quem contar, sabe? Ela estĂĄ começando, quero que ela chegue em um nĂ­vel ainda melhor que eu, eu quero ser um exemplo pra ela”.

E com certeza Ă©, LetĂ­cia, pra ela e pra muitas outras meninas!

Brazil, the country of 
 RUGBY!

by LetĂ­cia Bahia

We’ve already published a post here about Marta, the queen of soccer, and you’re all tired of hearing that Brazil is the country of football. But this week Girl Up Brazil went to field to play
 rugby!

The sport is strong in England, where it was born, and carries a number of values ​​that go along just fine feminism. In rugby, the team comes before the individual, and camaraderie reaches even the opposing team. It is common that after the two official times of a match the players of the two teams meet in the so-called “third time” to discuss together the plays and strategies that stood out the most.

In 2012, the British Council Brazil launched the Try Rugby project in the country, a pioneering international initiative carried out in partnership with Premiership Rugby (one of the most important leagues in the world). The project brings British Premiership Rugby coaches to work in schools and outskirts communities in Brazil, training amateur athletes and future coaches.

The invitation for me to play rugby came from the British Council. I would go to the field to play at the girls’ training to get to know Try Rugby, meet the girls who are venturing into this truculent sport and invite them to be part of Girl Up.

But wait: you’re talking about girls playing rugby?

Playing and rockin’! The team spirit and mutual support is quite impressive. Even without the slightest notion of the rules, I was incredibly welcomed. There is a strong concern about popularizing rugby in Brazil, attracting funding, conquering better fields, obtaining equipment and prestige. This translates in wide open doors for begginers and in an incredible availability of girls in teaching – it does sound like a Girl Up Club, doesn’t it?

It was this spirit that led Leticia Moura, one of the most experienced players there, to give a colleague a gift. Leticia says the pair of Adidas boots came all the way from England – but they were squeezing her feet. At first she thought about selling them and use the money buy new ones, but the boots ended up having a much more noble fate:

“This girl has amazing potential”, says Leticia, “I’m wanna make her feel special. I find it very important that you know that you have someone to count on, you know? She’s just starting, I want her to reach an even better level than mine. I want to be an example for her.”

And you sure are, Leticia, for her and for many other girls!

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