For members of the Liga Femenina de Rugby (Women’s Rugby League) in Costa Rica the idea that the sport is for men no longer exists.
Three years ago the first team was formed, four are currently in the leagueand last year the first women’s tournament was played.
These women play Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches.
As women’s rugby union developed in the 1960s and 1970s the format became very popular as it allowed games, and entire leagues, to be developed in countries even when player numbers were small, and it remains the main form the women’s game is played in most parts of the world.
The first team, Universitarios Club de Rugby (University Rugby Club), is made up of 15 woman who train religioulsy every Wednesday and Sunday.
For more info on women’s rugby in Costa Rica go to: http://www.rugbyuniversitarios.com/web/jugadoras-division-femenina
