On Friday, the Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva, contradicted a directive from the nation’s education minister, Penisimani Fifita, that stated girls would not be allowed to play rugby in order to “preserve the dignity of Tongan women and hold on to Tongan cultural values.”
We may never know the rules of rugby. As far as I can tell, it involves an initial group tussle, followed by some running around, blood, occasional ball tossing, angrily pulling one’s mouth guard in and out, and—of course!—love.
In May, the Feminist Majority Foundation filed a federal Title IX complaint against the University of Mary Washington, alleging that the school had ignored anonymous threats made on the social media app Yik Yak against a campus feminist group, Feminists United on Campus (FUC). The complaint also suggested those…
One chilly afternoon in late November 2014, a few dozen students at the University of Mary Washington gathered in a house about a half mile off their Fredericksburg, Virginia, campus for a party at a house rented by rugby players. For a Sunday, the mood was raucous, with students belting bar chants in celebration of…
Two heterosexual men in New Zealand are getting married. For love? No. For building a life with one's best friend? No. In order to show solidarity for the LGBT+ community? Not in the least. So why? Because a radio station has offered them a chance at a free trip to the Rugby World Cup.
Summer's in full swing, and there are sporting events all over the damn TV. The World Cup has presented us with lots of excuses to gaze upon Thighlights, but are soccer uniforms really the most awesome uniforms in the sporting world? If not, then what sport has the best uniform? Time for some investigative journalism.
Beyoncé went to New Zealand for her tour and was greeted by her crew there with a haka, or "a traditional war dance meant to intimidate the opponent" that is also used to indicate "honor for a distinguished guest." She responded in a totally Beyoncé way, i.e. completely game and with only a smattering of surprise.…
An Australian company called Sportsbet (bet you can’t guess what it does) found a remarkably horrible way to greet international visitors at Melbourne Airport — they painted an enormous (170 meters by 90 meters) sign directly under the international flight path depicting what appears to be interspecies rugby mascot…
If only the military took sexual assault as seriously as West Point apparently takes rape culture: the academy recently disbanded its men's rugby team and punished 60 cadets after administrators found a “derogatory email chain” that illustrated “a culture of disrespect towards women.”
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Manu Tuilagi of Leicester is brought down by Billy Vunipola during the Aviva Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and London Wasps at Welford Road on April 14, 2013 in Leicester, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
BARNET, ENGLAND - MARCH 24: Mako Vunipola of Saracens charges upfield during the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and Harlequins at Allianz Park on March 24, 2013 in Barnet, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Alex Goode of England charges forward during the RBS Six Nations match England and Italy at Twickenham Stadium on March 10, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Anthony Mullally of Huddersfield tackled by Danny Addy (left) and Adam Sidlow (right) of Bradford during the Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls at John Smith's Stadium on March 3, 2013 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
LLANELLI, WALES - FEBRUARY 03: Scarlets scrum half Aled Davies attempts a box kick during the LV= Cup match between Scarlets and Leicester Tigers at Parc y Scarlets on February 3, 2013 in Llanelli, Wales. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)
WORCESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Igor Mirones of Bizkaia Gernika passes the ball during the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2 match between Worcester Warriors and Bizkaia Gernika RT at Sixways Stadium on January 19, 2013 in Worcester, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 30: Phil Dowson of Northampton breaks clear to score a try during the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and Northampton Saints at stadiumMK on December 30, 2012 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 09: Santiago Fernandez of Montpellier runs with the ball during the Heineken Cup match between Cardiff Blues and Montpellier at Cardiff Arms Park on December 9, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: John Smit of Saracens takes on Billy Twelvetrees during the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and Gloucester at Vicarage Road on December 2, 2012 in Watford, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Tim Visser of Scotland races clear to score a try during the international match between Scotland and New Zealand at Murrayfield Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Samu Manoa of the Northampton Saints is tackled by Sean Lamont of the Glasgow Warriors during the Heineken Cup Round 1 match at Franklin's Gardens on October 14, 2012 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
