May Mental Health Month & Banshees Rugby Recap

 

Boston Banshees (orange) take on Denver Onyx

Boston Banshees vs. Chicago Tempest May 9^th (L 32-36)

The Boston Banshees took a loss on their road trip to play the Chicago Tempest May 9th in Chicago. Despite the Banshees holding a 24-17 lead at half time, Chicago came back to score with productive ruck series and then some breakaways, which really hurt them. The Banshees had a late-game scoring rally, but still notched the loss 32 to 36.

Boston Banshees vs. Denver Onyx May 16^th (L 19-52)

The Banshees were back on home turf at Veterans Field to take on the Denver Onyx, last year’s playoff champions, winning the 2025 Legacy Cup, outscoring the NY Exiles 53 to 13 in the final. 

Spring-like weather and stands filled with fans lightened the day. We were also relieved to hear the crowd cheering for the Banshees, and not Boston; someone must have gotten the memo, thank you!

The play was pretty even in the first half, with Denver ahead by only one try at half, the score 14-19. Denver had scored early and fast, but then the Banshees answered with two back-to-back tries. Onyx evened the score to 14-14, followed by a try with a missed conversion.

The second half saw the Onyx open things up, scoring about ten minutes into the half, on a quick penalty, a tap-and-go right in front of the goal posts. It was almost all Onyx after that, aside from a Banshee try with ten minutes left in the game. The Banshees had been threatening deep, starting from a lineout, followed by some impressive power-running by Lock #4 Molly McAlevey.

 

Ultimately they passed the ball out wide right to Wing #11 Emma Santosuasso, who took it in for the try.

The Onyx prevailed, scoring repeatedly, through both productive back-line rucking and break-aways. Final score 19-52.

POSTSCRIPT

Revisiting my previous blog, “Falling” (April 25, 2026), I had posed a couple of questions about Noah Kahan and Jessie Diggins.

https://www.gainline.com/2026/04/falling.html

About Jessie - How can one person be so joyful?

And Noah - How can one person be so sad?

Jessie Diggins, despite all her glitter and joy, has definitely faced hard times, really hard times, which she has shared so openly about in her movie, Threshold, documenting her struggles with an eating disorder during the 2023-2024 x-country ski season. I did a quick movie review here:

https://www.gainline.com/2026/03/threshold-movie-review.html

But also see her recent Facebook post from May 13^th, recognizing May as Mental Health awareness month.  

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18UHEqPnz5/

A few quotes from her post, copied here, but I do encourage everyone to read her full post, and see the advocacy she has been doing, as an ambassador for the Emily Project, helping others.

"I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t just fix myself. Because I was ashamed and embarrassed that I couldn’t seem to get it together, I refused to talk about it with my loved ones and got sicker and sicker while my self worth plummeted and I hated the person I was becoming.”

"You don’t have to be alone in this! If I had known that this wasn’t my fault, that I didn’t do anything to deserve this mental illness, then maybe I would have talked about it with my family sooner. We need to bring eating disorders into the mental health conversation and make them ok to talk about.”

"When I got sick, I quickly lost hope; I thought this would now be how I lived my life forever. But recovery is possible - I am living proof of that! - and when we get the help we need quickly there’s actually a higher likelihood of recovery. So please, if you or someone you love is suffering, don’t wait. You deserve care and compassion and the chance to live a fully joyful, healthy life.”

And so – even the most joyful-looking person might be in extreme pain, emotional or physical, and dealing with unseen struggles. And so, maybe it should be said the other way around, that despite all her struggles, she has found joy. And glitter.

Joy. I think she found her joy in skiing, and in the love for her teammates.

Jessie Diggins, speaking at a local grade school recently about the Olympics, asked the kids which mattered more: getting a medal hung around her neck, or getting hugs from teammates after a race, and they all got this answer right. Those hugs came when they didn’t even know how she'd placed yet, because it didn’t matter. Neither congratulatory nor consoling, they were purely loving.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18wHpJKTEX/

Joy. Despite the pain and sacrifices. After the 10K race in Lake Placid, she mentioned the taste of blood in her mouth after the race, which turns out to be from pushing the lungs to the limit, resulting in small blood losses through the capillaries. Yes, I had to Google this. She'd ski until her lungs bled practically, but what room do I have to talk? When I was first in Boston in '91 and found Beantown, I showed up at their summer scrimmages over at the MIT fields, and not only would I have played ‘til my feet bled, I actually did play until my feet bled. A blister that wore right through the skin on my heel. I wound up putting a Band-Aid on it, and then duct tape over that, to sort of help hold the skin on. Not sure this was actually a good idea, but it turned out okay. Do not try this at home, just because you read it on the internet! (Although Doctor Google does sort of support this idea, as long as you cover the blister w/ a sterile dressing first.)

#BloodySockClub – Anyone else? Besides me and Curt Schilling?

Likewise, Noah Kahan, I think can also be happy, and if I had to guess, it would be when he is creating, experiencing flow, and in the zone, making music. Just as Jessie naturally took to skiing as a child, wanting to go faster and faster. He writes and plays music. He is also committed to advocacy work for mental health, through the BusyHead Project which he founded:

https://www.busyheadproject.org/

It’s about finding what makes your heart sing.

Whether it be rugby, hockey, x-country skiing, singing, writing, or riding.

And getting help when you need it.

Find your joy.

 

SPORTS CALENDAR:

RUGBY:

Check the WER home page for the latest on schedules, times, etc.

https://www.womenseliterugby.us/schedule-boston-banshees

May 30, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Twin City Gemini. 6:00 PM EDT.

All 2026 WER games will be available to stream on the Women’s Sports Network, which is in the LIVE TV sports section of the various streaming services: Prime Video, fubo, tubi, Roku, PLUTO, plex, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Watch Free Vizio, MyFree DirectTV, TABLO.

See the WER website for details on how to watch.

May 31 - Rosie's Ruck 7s in Canton, MA.

June 7, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Bay City Breakers.

Kick-off is at 6:00 PM EDT.

June 11 - MA High School Rugby State Championship in Quincy, MA.

June 13, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Denver Onyx. 7:00 PM EDT.

June 21, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Bay Breakers. 8:00 PM EDT.

July 11, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Twin City Gemini.

Kick-off is at 3:00 PM EDT.

July 18, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Chicago Tempest.

Kick-off is at 5:00 PM EDT.

July 25, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at NY Exiles. 5:00 PM EDT.

 

HOCKEY – WALTER CUP FINALS:

May 18 – Montreal vs. Ottawa, Game 3, 6:00 PM EDT, at Ottawa.

Games are being streamed on PWHL YouTube: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/

May 20 – Montreal vs. Ottawa, Game 4 (if needed), 7:00 PM EDT, at Ottawa.

May 23 – Montreal vs. Ottawa, Game 5 (if needed), 12:30 PM EDT, at Montreal.

 

BOSTON LEGACY FC (SOCCER):

May 22 – Seattle Reign FC, at Centreville Bank Stadium. This is a super-nice stadium, and located just outside Providence, RI.

May 30 – At KC Current.

 

Books:

If anyone wants copies of my books, they’re both on Amazon, but for the rugby book, just reach out in a comment, and I’ll send you a copy. It will be simpler.

The Happy Clam can be ordered directly through the printer/distributor (IngramSparks), cutting out all the middle-people:

 https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=H5CEjLsCLxp0QjPdNOPvntbgUAZdvqWRZoms9HXVnCO

SubStack – Also, thanks and welcome to all the new followers on SubStack! A simple and convenient way to get each new post delivered directly to your in box.

https://substack.com/@rosemaryschmidt

 

References:

 

© 2026 Rosemary A. Schmidt

Rose Schmidt is the author of The Happy Clam (© 2020), and Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life (© 2004), both published by Gainline Press. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is permitted. To request permission to re-use or reprint any of the content on the site, please contact me.

Spaghetti - A Sports Re-Cap

This is one long strand, so bear with me…

 

Boston Banshees (orange jerseys) playing NY Exiles Saturday, May 2nd.

It was a marathon weekend of women’s sports in the Boston area, between the PWHL Fleet hockey playoffs and the kick-off of the Women’s Elite Rugby season. And for the first time ever, a horse with a woman trainer won the Kentucky Derby, congrats to Golden Tempo and Cherie DeVaux!

But first, Saturday morning began with a writing salon at the Hull Public Library. So much talent gathered in that room, as local writers shared from their published books and works in progress. Each one made me want to read the next chapter.

The Banshees rugby game on Saturday May 2^nd was sandwiched between two PWHL playoff games. Didn’t make it to the Boston Legacy soccer game on Sunday May 3^rd, but was delighted to hear they won their first match, 3 to 2, in OT, over the Denver Summit. Olympians x-country skier Jessie Diggins and downhill skier Paula Moltzan were in the crowd at Gillette supporting the team, and maybe even bringing them some good luck and positive energy, and definitely joy and glitter!

Everyone watches women’s sports. Supporting each other’s sports lifts everyone up.

A rising tide lifts all ships.

Snow Row, 45th annual boat race, held in Hull, MA, back in March

It’s Rugby Season!

Finally, at last, after watching so many other sports, I find my home, my place, at the rugby game on Saturday. Sitting with some other Beantown alumni in the stands, we chat among ourselves, “Don’t you feel like you could still play again?”  

There’s a vocal crowd from Northeastern University behind us. They have a lot to cheer about, just coming off their 7s Championship in April, their third year in a row taking the crown in the National Collegiate Rugby Division I-AA. And this follows their capturing the 2025 XVs Championship in December. And to top that off, one of their players, Molly McAlevy, the NCR Final MVP, is also taking the field for the for the first time, just named to the Banshees squad in January.

Elsewhere in the stands, a few people cheer, “Let’s go Boston!” This is jarring, and rankles because there is already, and still is a Boston Women’s Rugby Club, that still exists, and was historically a cross-town rival to Beantown RFC. And the Banshees include a pretty good-sized contingent of players who came from Beantown, somewhere on the order of 15 to 20. It would be like cheering, “Let’s go Yankees!” at a Red Sox game, by the logic that New Englanders are also northerners, above the Mason-Dixon line, and therefore Yankees.

Might I suggest next time folks cheer: “Let’s go Banshees!”

The first weekend of the Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) season ended with three decisive victories:

Boston Banshees over the NY Exiles 38 - 19

Twin City Gemini over Chicago Tempest 78 - 22

Bay City Breakers over Denver Onyx 36 - 19

Seeing these teams, I’m reminded of the original clubs that played decades ago: Twin City Amazons, Minneapolis Valkyries, Chicago, Bay Area She-Hawks (aka BASH), and Berkeley (with their Grateful Dead-like dancing bears logo), and of course Beantown. And now it’s no surprise that many of these same cities are home to the first professional women’s rugby teams.

The prior Women’s Premier League (WPL) operated between 2009 and 2024, with a hiatus between 2020 and 2022 due to the pandemic. While it was the highest level of play within the US, outside of the Olympics, it was still amateur, player-run, and players had to pay their own way. The start of the WER marks the advent of players getting paid a monthly stipend to allow them to focus on their sport, which is literally a game-changer.

The Banshees came on the field with high energy, and a completely different look from their last meeting with the New York Exiles, when they suffered a painful 20 - 24 loss to them last April. It feels like the team has gelled over the off-season, with 20 returning players, and showing textbook execution of forward loose play, going to ground, efficient delivery out the back of rucks, and clockwork back play, with really nice offloads to the next rugger before being taken down. And there was scoring. Lots of scoring.

Here are a few pics from the game. Boston Banshees are in orange jerseys, NY Exiles in teal.

Upcoming: Next home game is May 16^th vs. Denver Onyx.

See end of post for the sports calendar.

Check the WER home page for the latest on schedules, times, etc.

https://www.womenseliterugby.us/schedule-boston-banshees

 

It’s Stick Season!

Yes, I originally thought that Noah Kahan’s song was about HOCKEY, and later learned that it was just about, literally, sticks. Well, whatever. I still say it could be about hockey.

The Walter Cup playoffs are in full swing, with both semi-final series tied at 1 game each.

The Boston Fleet won Game 1 of the Walter Cup Playoffs (PWHL) over Ottawa Charge on April 30^th, with a score of 2 - 1, with goals shot by Alina Müller & Jamie Lee Rattray, but then dropped Game 2 on May 2^nd, with a score of 1 - 3.

The Minnesota Frost overcame Montreal Victoire 5 to 4 in OT in Game 1 on May 2nd, but then Victoire came back to take Game 2 with a single goal scored by Captain Marie-Philip Poulin in a late-night triple-OT nail-biter May 5^th.

And yet, I think, rugby is still so much more civilized. A game designed for hooligans, played by gentlepersons, as they say. In hockey, there’s an awful lot of unnecessary hitting. Practically fisticuffs, but they have gloves on. Roque has a black eye, Curl gets suspended a game.

See the sports calendar below. Next games are May 7^th and May 8^th.

Mother’s Day

As we’re also approaching Mother’s Day, it occurs to me, where have all these amazing women been in decades past? They were there, in our midst, the whole time. If you look back decades, or generations, they were there. Our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, sisters, great aunts. Just picture them in a jersey – rugby, hockey, basketball, soccer, bobsled, skiing, you name it. They could have done what these modern warriors are doing, if they had the chance. They simply lacked access. Opportunity.

 Nixon did a lot wrong (Watergate). But he got one thing right: Title IX.

Signed in 1972, it legislated equal access to athletic opportunities in schools. It has taken over 50 years for cultural expectations to evolve and organizational change to happen, to build an environment where women’s sports can flourish. At last!

Sports Calendar:

RUGBY:

May 9-10 - NERFU tournament in Newport, RI.

May 10, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Chicago Tempest, on the Illinois Benedictine University campus in Lisle, IL. Kick-off time is 6:00 PM EDT.

All 2026 WER games will be available to stream on the Women’s Sports Network, which is in the LIVE TV sports section of the various streaming services: Prime Video, fubo, tubi, Roku, PLUTO, plex, Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Watch Free Vizio, MyFree DirectTV, TABLO. See the WER website for details on how to watch.

May 16, 2026 – Next Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Denver Onyx, at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA. Kick-off is at 5:00 PM EDT.

This should be a competitive match, as the Banshees will be going up against the current reigning champion. Denver Onyx took the Legacy Cup last spring, outscoring the NY Exiles 53 to 13 in the final last June. 

May 30, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Twin City Gemini. 6:00 PM EDT.

May 31 - Rosie's Ruck 7s in Canton, MA.

June 7, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Bay City Breakers. Kick-off is at 6:00 PM EDT.

June 11 - MA High School rugby state championship in Quincy, MA.

June 13, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Denver Onyx. 7:00 PM EDT.

June 21, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at Bay City Breakers. 8:00 PM EDT.

July 11, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Twin City Gemini. Kick-off is at 3:00 PM EDT.

July 18, 2026 – Boston Banshees HOME GAME vs. Chicago Tempest. Kick-off is at 5:00 PM EDT.

July 25, 2026 – Boston Banshees play away at NY Exiles. 5:00 PM EDT.

 

HOCKEY:

Games are being streamed on PWHL YouTube: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/

May 7 – Montreal vs. Minnesota, Game 3, 7:00 PM EDT.

May 8 - Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge, Game 3, 7:00 PM EDT.

May 8 – Montreal vs. Minnesota, Game 4, 8:30 PM EDT.

May 10 - Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge, Game 4, 3:00 PM EDT.

May 11 – Montreal vs. Minnesota, Game 5, 7:00 PM EDT.

May 12 - Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge, Game 5, 7:00 PM EDT.

 

 

BOSTON LEGACY FC (SOCCER):

May 9 - At NY Gotham FC.

May 12 – Orlando Pride, 7:00 PM EDT, at Gillette.

May 15 – At Bay FC.

May 22 – Seattle Reign FC, at Centreville Bank Stadium. This is a super-nice stadium, and located just outside Providence, RI.

May 30 – At KC Current.

 

Books:

If anyone wants copies of my books, they’re both on Amazon, but for the rugby book, just reach out in a comment, and I’ll send you a copy. It will be simpler.

The Happy Clam can be ordered directly through the printer/distributor (IngramSparks), cutting out all the middle-people:

 https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=H5CEjLsCLxp0QjPdNOPvntbgUAZdvqWRZoms9HXVnCO

 

SubStack – Also, thanks and welcome to all the new followers on SubStack! A simple and convenient way to get each new post delivered directly to your in box.

https://substack.com/@rosemaryschmidt

 

References:

 

© 2026 Rosemary A. Schmidt

Rose Schmidt is the author of The Happy Clam (© 2020), and Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life (© 2004), both published by Gainline Press. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is permitted. To request permission to re-use or reprint any of the content on the site, please contact me.

Writers Wanted!

Henry David Thoreau's writing desk, at the Concord Museum. 
This is all you need, a desk, a notebook, pen or pencil, or laptop. 

Writing Salon May 2^nd from 10 AM to 12 noon at the Hull Public Library

Opportunity to share and listen to the works of other writers in the area.

Join Paula Nesoff for a gathering of writers sharing pieces of their creative journey. The work can be poetry, to excerpts from a book of nonfiction, fiction, memoir, magazine article and none need to have been published. The time is for reading, no critique or feedback - just appreciation of the person sharing. People can come to listen and maybe be inspired to write!

I plan to share the first chapter of a work-in-progress novel, just drafted by a local author that I represent. Come give a listen!

Register ahead of time on the Hull Public Library website:

https://hullpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/writers-reading-salon/

Nine seats still available as of Friday morning.

There is also a writer’s group that meets at the Hull Public Library every third Thursday of the month – next meeting is May 21^st!

For those closer to Boston, there’s also a writer’s group called the Lit Squad that meets at the Watertown Public Library every second Tuesday of the month at 7 PM in the Reya Stern Room (behind the circulation desk) – next meeting is May 12^th!

And of course there is GrubStreet in Boston, now located in the Seaport.

https://grubstreet.org/

Sports Calendar:

April 30 – Boston Fleet Women’s Hockey Team – Congrats to Boston Fleet for winning Game 1 of the Walter Cup Playoffs (PWHL) last night! Score was 2-1, with goals shot by Alina Müller & Jamie Lee Rattray.

https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2026/april/24/2026-pwhl-walter-cup-playoffs-to-begin-april-30-in-boston-may-2-in-montreal

May 1 - Beantown Social/Fundraiser - From 6 to 8pm at Drawdown Brewing (3204 Washington St, Boston).

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWzrJAYjVM9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

May 2 – Banshees Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) - Home opener vs. NY Exiles at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA. Kick-off is at 5 PM. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time: https://www.universe.com/events/boston-banshees-vs-new-york-exiles-tickets-7WRV5J?ref=share-widget-buffer

May 2 – Boston Fleet Women’s Hockey Team - Game 2 of the Walter Cup Playoffs (PWHL) at 7 PM Eastern, at Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA, vs. the Ottawa Charge.

Montreal Victoire also play Minneapolis Frost at 2 PM Eastern on May 2, and again on May 5 at 7 PM Eastern.

Games are being streamed on YouTube and the PWHL website: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/

May 3 – Hull Pride 5K Run (run, walk, or dance; all paces as well as dogs and strollers are welcome!) – Registration is required. Begins at 9:00. Race starts and ends at Hull High School. https://www.hullpride.net/events/over-the-rainbow-5k-run

May 3 – Boston Legacy Women’s Football Club (i.e., Soccer) – Host the Denver Summit FC at 3 PM at Gillette Stadium. Celebrating Pride! Will also be televised on CBS & Paramount Plus.

https://www.universe.com/events/boston-banshees-vs-new-york-exiles-tickets-7WRV5J?ref=share-widget-buffer

May 9-10 - NERFU Rugby tournament in Newport, RI.

May 31 - Rosie's Ruck 7s in Canton, MA.

June 11 - MA high school rugby state championship in Quincy, MA.

 

Post-Script:

Henry David Thoreau was also such a good friend to Geologist Rev. Joseph Osgood, he built a box to house his geological specimens!

Rosie Brennan, World Cup and US Olympic x-country skier, has just announced her retirement from World Cup skiing. A difficult decision, but congrats on a remarkable career!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXxVtm7krZQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Song For The Day:

Galileo, by Indigo Girls (“I think I’ll write a book…” and “How long till my soul gets it right…”)

https://youtu.be/dI1keSSwdcI?si=qrO_-Ld2kqmNHsyY

Playing at the Chevalier Theater in Medford, MA on August 20^th, 2026.

Books:

If anyone wants copies of my books, they’re both on Amazon, but for the rugby book, just reach out in a comment, and I’ll send you a copy. It will be simpler.

The Happy Clam can be ordered directly through the printer/distributor (IngramSparks), cutting out all the middle-people:

https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=H5CEjLsCLxp0QjPdNOPvntbgUAZdvqWRZoms9HXVnCO

SubStack – Also, thanks and welcome to all the new followers on SubStack! A simple and convenient way to get each new post delivered directly to your in box.

https://substack.com/@rosemaryschmidt

References:

 

© 2026 Rosemary A. Schmidt

Rose Schmidt is the author of The Happy Clam (© 2020), and Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life (© 2004), both published by Gainline Press. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is permitted. To request permission to re-use or reprint any of the content on the site, please contact me.

Ruggers Wanted: Come Play for Beantown RFC!

 

All experience levels & skill levels welcome!

It’s a chance to not only play for a team with 50 years of history behind it, but also the opportunity to help shape the next chapter.

Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) brought a national team to Boston – the Banshees – but so many members of my old club, Beantown RFC, were picked up by them, it has led to this turning point for Beantown. 

This Saturday, May 2^nd, the Boston Banshees play their home opener vs the NY Exiles, at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA. Kick-off is 5 PM. Come check it out!

Also - this Instagram post has some great pics of the Banshees, representing Beantown, wearing the red and blue hoops during some recent New England Select competition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXmZOGIlR10/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Pics by @gsabin

I can’t tell you what rugby will do for you, only what it gave back to me. Every drop of blood, sweat, and tears that I put in, returned tenfold:

-         A circle of lifelong friends

-        Camaraderie

-        Acceptance

-        Encouragement

-        Belonging

-        Laughs

-        Good times

-        Road trips

-        Family

-        Drinking buddies, friends, friends who became more than friends

-        Challenging myself

-        A tiny fracture in my elbow (fine now)

-        A lot of mud

-        Feeling like I could do anything

-        Opportunities to test myself, be tough, be the one to make the play, the tackle, the blocked kick

-        Courage that I didn’t know I had

-        The inspiration to write my first book

I could never re-pay rugby, Beantown RFC, and the University of Illinois club, for what they’ve done for me.

I can’t guarantee what it will do for you, but I can easily say that rugby changed my life, immeasurably, for the better.

If you haven’t played before, or have never seen a game before? All good. Come on out to watch the Boston Banshees home opener this Saturday May 2 at 5 PM in Quincy, MA, at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium. There will be some current/retired Beantown players there you can talk to. Look for the red & blue.

While Beantown RFC is in this re-building phase, re-inventing itself, it’s also drawing on the support of the alumni community which is deeply invested in Beantown’s continuing success.

Rugby is a place for everybody, and every body type, shape, and size. There are positions for the fleet-footed backs and strong-willed forwards.

I’m going to address the two issues that might keep potential players away. The elephants in the room. They both revolve around safety, personal safety and physical safety.

First, I’ll take on the L-word thing, straight on.

Rugby has always been historically – and to this day – an open and accepting environment for all women – gay, straight, bi, trans. Non-binary, genderfluid. And has probably suffered and paid the price for that, because some women might shy away from playing because of the fear of that stigma, of being associated with a “gay sport.” This was a topic of debate back in the 1980s. What should we do to look less gay? It was a form of self-censorship, alas. But still, what it means at the end of the day is that if you play rugby, no one will assume you’re gay, or that you’re straight; everyone will simply accept you as you are. It is a safe place.

And then I think, how far we’ve come, how evolved the world has become! All the out athletes at the Olympics, and in the WNBA and PWHL. All these amazing, strong, powerful women. Amber Glenn speaking so openly. Athletes proposing to each other. And then the whole Heated Rivalry book series. It seems like we’re having both a moment and a movement. And I’m not even really that familiar with all of these sports and teams. I didn’t even realize we had a women’s professional hockey team in Boston until after the Olympics. Why? I’ve been working non-stop full-out for 38 years and obviously LIVING UNDER A ROCK! A complete idiot sports-wise. I didn’t even make it to the Beantown games after a while. And I thought the song, “Stick Season,” was about hockey…

I’ve digressed a bit… but I’m going somewhere with this.

What broke my heart, though, after all of this, was reading on Wikipedia (yeah, I know, that’s some in-depth research there), that one very high-profile athlete hesitated to come out until only recently because she was afraid… And I think, oh my God, it’s 2026. But there it is, there is still fear.

Except, not in rugby. It just doesn’t matter. But, the fact that it doesn’t matter? Matters. A lot.

The second issue that might keep players away is physical safety, which I’ll address head-on.

No, I won’t. Because you should never go into a tackle head-first. Go low, and tackle around the waist or thighs.

Nothing is completely safe. Not gonna’ lie, injuries happen, as they do in all sports. It is this raw, sheer physicality of the sport, which is part of the draw, that also poses the greatest risk. But if you learn good form, and how to tackle low, you can lower the risk.  

What you miss risking – you risk missing.

So, don’t miss out!

Beantown RFC:

Come join our pack! Currently recruiting players, all skill levels welcome, for both summer 7’s and fall 15’s. Beantown will be competing in NERFU Division II this fall. First league match of the XVs season will be Saturday, August 29th.

Just fill out this form on Google Docs: Player Interest Form

Beantown is currently hiring a coach for sevens this summer and 15s for the fall:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWsIoKzjSB9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

All of this comes just as Beantown is about to celebrate its 50^th anniversary:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVvrtHgjf-H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

For a pretty complete history of women’s rugby in the US, check out Kerri Heffernan’s book, No Advantage Given: The Incomplete History of U.S. Women’s Rugby 1972 – 2026.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWXbAypDfU1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The best place to order it from is the publisher:

https://www.stillwaterbooksri.com/no-advantage-given-incomplete-history-womens-rugby-1972-2026

And then there is my rugby book, published 20+ years ago, Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life. And The Happy Clam, which came out in 2020, which is about, well, happiness. If you want a copy of my rugby book, just put something in the comments, and I’ll get one out to you, it’ll be simpler. The Happy Clam can be ordered directly from the printer/distributor:

https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=H5CEjLsCLxp0QjPdNOPvntbgUAZdvqWRZoms9HXVnCO

Quoting from my earlier post on the Lake Placid trip (“Why so many cowbells?”):

 "Sports offer opportunities to take risks, fall down, fail. And get back up and try again. Girls are historically taught to behave. We miss those chances to take risks, possibly fail. Moments that are scary, but build grit.”

Bringing this full circle –

I always said, the best thing, or at least one thing, I learned from rugby, was how to fall, and get back up - over and over again.

I would, if I could, pull out my old jersey and cleats and get back on the field and play again. Some days, I feel like I could. And this is one of those days.

Go forward, support!

BUSY HEADS:

"Stick Season," by Noah Kahan – just give this a fresh listen, and see if it couldn’t be about hockey after all! Yeah, I think this is definitely about hockey!

https://youtu.be/JKrDdsgXuso?si=H62auaQ0OOxGGNmH

BUSY WEEK AHEAD:

April 30 – Boston Fleet Women’s Hockey Team - Game 1 of the Walter Cup Playoffs (PWHL) at 7 PM Eastern, at Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA. Cheer on the Fleet as they take on the Ottawa Charge. Games are being streamed on YouTube and the PWHL website.

https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2026/april/24/2026-pwhl-walter-cup-playoffs-to-begin-april-30-in-boston-may-2-in-montreal

May 1 - Beantown Social/Fundraiser - From 6 to 8pm at Drawdown Brewing (3204 Washington St, Boston).

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWzrJAYjVM9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

May 2 – Banshees Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) - Home opener vs. NY Exiles at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA. Kick-off is at 5 PM. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time: https://www.universe.com/events/boston-banshees-vs-new-york-exiles-tickets-7WRV5J?ref=share-widget-buffer

May 2 – Boston Fleet Women’s Hockey Team - Game 2 of the Walter Cup Playoffs (PWHL) at 7 PM Eastern, at Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA, vs. the Ottawa Charge.

Montreal Victoire also play Minneapolis Frost at 2 PM on May 2, and again on May 5 at 7 PM Eastern.

May 3 – Hull Pride 5K Run (run, walk, or dance; all paces as well as dogs and strollers are welcome!) – Registration is required. Begins at 9:00. Race starts and ends at Hull High School. https://www.hullpride.net/events/over-the-rainbow-5k-run

May 3 – Boston Legacy Women’s Football Club (i.e., Soccer) – Host the Denver Summit FC at 3 PM at Gillette Stadium. Celebrating Pride! Will also be televised on CBS & Paramount Plus.

https://www.universe.com/events/boston-banshees-vs-new-york-exiles-tickets-7WRV5J?ref=share-widget-buffer

May 9-10 - NERFU tournament in Newport, RI.

May 31 - Rosie's Ruck 7s in Canton, MA.

June 11 - MA high school state championship in Quincy, MA.

Books:

If anyone wants copies of my books, they’re both on Amazon, but for the rugby book, just reach out in a comment, and I’ll send you a copy. It will be simpler.

The Happy Clam can be ordered directly through the printer/distributor (IngramSparks), cutting out all the middle-people:  https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=H5CEjLsCLxp0QjPdNOPvntbgUAZdvqWRZoms9HXVnCO

SubStack – Also, thanks and welcome to all the new followers on SubStack! A simple and convenient way to get each new post delivered directly to your in box.

https://substack.com/@rosemaryschmidt

References:

 

© 2026 Rosemary A. Schmidt

Rose Schmidt is the author of The Happy Clam (© 2020), and Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life (© 2004), both published by Gainline Press. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is permitted. To request permission to re-use or reprint any of the content on the site, please contact me.