Immersed in Culture, History, and the Sport, UVA Women to Tour Ireland
Immersed in Culture, History, and the Sport, UVA Women to Tour Ireland
The University of Virginia women's team is off to Ireland to tour over the next week-and-a-half.
The tour, run by Irish Rugby Tours, will include three games and three professional coaching sessions.
"This is our third tour with Irish Rugby Tours and I can only say that each experience was incredible and life-changing," UVA Head Coach Nancy Kechner told GRR.
There are all sorts of reasons to go on a rugby tour—it's fun, it's a team bonding experience, it's a good way to challenge yourself as a rugby player and a rugby team, it's culturally enriching, and more.
"Yes team bonding and challenging ourselves is important, but we also want to have the team immersed in a rugby culture," said Kechner. "On our first tour we went to a pub to watch France vs. Ireland. There were a whole lot of people there, all of whom understood rugby. Imagine going to a sports bar in the States to see football. Everyone is into the game. Well, my players all of a sudden are surrounded by hundreds of people watching their sport, and everyone was cheering Ireland on. It totally changes their view of rugby from a fringe sport in the US to a very popular sport in many nations."
Along with that there is the rugby to be played.
UVA will play Corinthians, UL Bohemians, and Navan WRFC.
"Players are in awe of the clubhouses and the notion that it is a community hub," added Kechner. "We play the match, then get fed and enjoy a social with the home team. We exchange plaques, pick players of the game from their team, and give them team T-shirts to remember us. Then they have a social, and start singing songs together and they realize that rugby is global, and very much a worldwide community."
All of that is part of the culture, and in addition Irish Rugby Tours works hard to get matches that are the right competitive level for the touring team.
Part of the rugby experience includes training sessions with some expert coaches. They can be former British and Irish Lions players, or championship professional coaches. In 2018 the UVA team had a session with Lions player David Corkery—"It was amazing," enthused Kechner. "I’ve never seen my players so engaged in a training session.
Some of the UVA players have never left the country, so the cultural part of the trip isn't just about bonding over something you know—in this case the sport of rugby—but seeing something you've never seen.
"They get to travel with their teammates and coaches to another country, and when that country is Ireland, you know they will love the island, the people, their culture and history, the food, and the rugby culture," said Kechner. "Basically, touring is life-changing! We asked for more unplanned time, and the players can walk the cities, have a Guinness, go to the Silent Disco, and generally absorb a lifetime of unique experiences."
Kechner has asked for a lot of history to be infused into the tour, and their guide, Michelle O’Callahan, is well-versed in that.
"Even I didn’t know the history of Ireland and that it wasn’t even a country until the 1920s," said Kechner. "And going back over the brutal history of British rule. I told the players to watch Black 47, Michael Collins, and The Wind that Shakes the Barley for background. It is mind blowing for them considering the suffering the Irish endured."
Why Irish Rugby Tours?
IRT takes care of everything. Once they get there players are only responsible for lunch and dinner. They have a dedicate bus and driver, a tour guide, and a well
"George Hook is great to work with," said Kechner. "I email or WhatsApp him two to 10 times a day when the tour is close. He really works with you from working on costs and through interests of the group. George sets them up on a payment schedule, so the cost isn’t shocking. Everything, and I mean everything, all included, is under $3000 total. The only thing we pay for in Ireland is lunch and dinner. Everything goes pretty smoothly."
For more about touring with Irish Rugby Tours go to www.irishrugbytours.com.
