Rebels Embrace Fun at Flanders Open With Irish Rugby Tours
Rebels Embrace Fun at Flanders Open With Irish Rugby Tours
Rebels Rugby 10s made the move to international rugby with the help of Irish Rugby Tours last week.
Rebels is a women's touring side was started three years ago to serve as a touring 10-a-side team that embraces serious rugby and serious fun. After a few years of success on the tournament circuit in the USA, they decided to go to Europe for the first time, and wisely brought in Irish Rugby Tours to make it happen.
The roster of 20 players toured through Brussels and Aalst in Belgium before finishing up in the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
"Genuinely some of the most authentic and passionate rugby people I’ve come across in all my years," said Irish Rugby Tours Managing Director George Hook. "It was a real pleasure spending time with them.
"We started the club about three years ago," said Autumn Powell, who co-founded the team with fellow New Englander Laura Hetherman. "Both Laura and I have played on a variety of teams with varying level of play. We really wanted to see what we could do if we combined the best players (on and off the pitch) into one touring side."
They settled on a 10s team, which, Powell said, combined the best of both worlds between 15s and 7s — the tight five play of 15s along with the tournament aspect of 7s.
They are serious about their rugby, but also serious about the fun side.
"We have players from Massachusetts, Alberta, Quebec, New Mexico, Alabama, Tennessee, New York, and more," said Powell. "We require every new player to submit a highlight reel, presentation on why they should be a Rebel, and come recommended by a current player."
You have to have competed in one tournament with the Rebels to be considered for a Red Jacket, which makes you a full member. The players, being from all over, don't practice together, but the chemistry is palpable.
"We never miss a beat the moment we go on tour!" said Powell.
In the USA the Rebels are undefeated in every tournament they've played in. So they decided to test their mettle overseas, hence the tour and the entry into the Flanders 10s in Denderonde, Belgium.
"The Flanders Open was nothing we have ever experienced in the US," enthused Powell. "It was a phenomenal tournament and an even better social. Games that ran on time, fully working bathrooms, mouth-watering food, and thousands of rugby players all supporting one another. We were a little nervous at first being the only USA team but everyone was so inviting and made us feel welcomed the moment we stepped into the festival."
The Rebels take the social side of the game pretty seriously and like to have some fun. The Flanders Open was ideal for them, but they also wanted a tour that fit their character.
"We decided to go with Irish Rugby Tours because we knew they’d be able to cater an itinerary to us and make sure every day was packed with fun and adventure," said Powell. "George and Ray did not disappoint. They altered each day depending how the team was doing and took requests even at 1am! We truly couldn’t have done the trip without them."
At the tournament, the Rebels went through Day One undefeated; they beat Bataillon d'Amour 15-10, Les Demoiselles from Armentières 20-5, and High as a Kite 30-0. But by the time Day Two dawned they only had nine healthy players. Had they been able to stay uninjured, they felt they could have won it all. Instead, they finally lost a game, going down to Asub Ladies and Weekend Warriors.
"Although not the outcome we wanted, it made us hungry to return," said Powell.
So there's another kind of winning. You can tour with your activities centered around a tournament and still find the right experience through Irish Rugby Tours. They can set up the non-rugby activities, the training, and everything else as you lead up to a tournament.
And they can have fun doing it.
See more about Irish Rugby Tours at IrishRugbyTours.com.
