Tag: Rugby World Cup

  • Project: Sarah Hunter

    Project: Sarah Hunter

    Sarah Hunter, 2017 – photographed as part of the Instants* series

    Back in 2017, I was very fortunate to find myself in Ireland/Northern Ireland for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

    I did photograph the final of the tournament and I blogged about it briefly here.

    When working on my Instants* project, I am sometimes too shy to walk up to people to ask them for an autographed photo of themselves. This photo happens to be one that I have just taken. It’s really a daunting task asking someone to pose and then keep them a while longer for them to sign the print.

    On this day, England lost to New Zealand in the final and the only photo I was missing was from the England captain, Sarah Hunter. I had already managed to get one of the New Zealand and French captains as they were first and third in the tournament.

    When I got wind that England was about to leave for their hotel, I joined the waiting crowd, but I was nervous. I was there as an accredited photographer and was working on my project going a step too far. Luckily, I had a fellow female photographer friend to encourage me, because I would have totally missed my chance at getting this image to complete my set.

    And as Hunter walked out of the main building heading towards their team bus, I summed up the courage to ask for a picture and autograph. Thus getting my full set of the medalled captains from the WRWC 2017.

    I am sharing this as the news broke this week that Hunter is retiring from rugby.

    Thank you Sarah Hunter and all the best in your future endeavours!

    England’s most capped player, Sarah Hunter, is to call time on her rugby playing career following Saturday’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Kingston Park, Newcastle.

    Hunter, who has captained her country since 2015, is set to represent the Red Roses in her hometown of Newcastle, which would be her final playing appearance.

    The 37-year-old has made 140 international appearances and became England’s most-capped player in last year’s Rugby World Cup where she surpassed Rocky Clark’s previous record of 137.

    She was part of the Red Roses’ 2014 World Cup-winning squad and led her team to finals in 2017 and 2022. The North Shields-born forward has won 10 Six Nations titles and nine grand slams during her career.

    Press release from England Rugby

  • Will I ever photograph at a major tournament?

    A small disclaimer – I should start off by adding to the question the word AGAIN because I have photographed a major tournament before.

    I have been reflecting on this question a lot lately. Just the other day on the Black Women Photographers Slack channel, I shared my desire to be at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand happening later this year, but the way the travel situation is right now, it is making that look like an impossible dream.

    Even before Rona, the likelihood of me traveling to New Zealand (as it is one of my bucket list countries to visit) even using sport as an excuse looked very doubtful, but not impossible. The cost for visas, flights, accommodation, local travel, insurance, etc. was just adding up. Now, I have to think about PCR tests and the likes to add to the list of expenses.😩

    Self-portrait at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast before the New Zealand v England Final

    In 2017, when I traveled to Ireland/Northern Ireland for the last women’s Rugby World Cup, I was literally planning it with days to go before my departure date. This was due to the fact I was waiting for my accreditation to be approved before I could apply for my visa*. Even then when I was submitting my visa application, I needed to have done it like 2 to 3 weeks prior to my travel date, but I was literally submitting my application a week or so and I was a wreck that week with worry because my accreditation was approved late. By the grace of God, my visa was approved the day before I was due to leave. I picked up my passport from the Irish Embassy after being in bed sick with migraine to only pack that very evening and leave the next day. I really enjoyed my time in Ireland/Northern Ireland as the days when there were no matches, I got to see a bit of the country.

    *As a Kenyan passport holder, I needed a visa as I was traveling to Dublin, Ireland which is part of the EU. If I was only traveling to Northern Ireland, I would not need a visa as it is part of the U.K.

    I would consider myself lucky as I was able to secure cheap flights to Northern Ireland and together with a photographer friend of mine, Sarah Muirhead, we traveled to Dublin by car from Belfast. This was also helped by the fact that a flight from England to Northern Ireland is less than 2hrs in comparison to one to New Zealand which will take at least 24hrs from London. Double 😩

    Self-portrait on the pitch during the New Zealand v England final in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    Last year, I was glued to the telly as I watched the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan (another country I would like to visit) and I was reflecting on this question as well as I would really like to be a photographer at an Olympics in my lifetime, even it was just to photograph the general atmosphere surrounding the games. However, with this, unless I am commissioned by the IOC of the country I am representing (in my case Kenya) the likelihood of it happening is close to never. Then again, miracles can and do happen, so you never know. My dream might just come true and find myself in France in 2024. 🤞🏾🙏🏾

    Whilst I continue with my reflections, I am slowly trying to get back to photographing more women’s rugby and other sporting events as I had taken a break when I was studying for my MA and then the pandemic happened. You never know, I might just end up photographing a major tournament or find myself heading to New Zealand to watch the final of the women’s Rugby World Cup. 🤷🏾‍♀️

    #Reflection

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  • Wk1: My Favourite Highlights of the Rugby World Cup 2015

    As a rugby fan, unless you live under a rock or are in a coma, you would fail to notice that the RWC 2015 has already kicked off.

    I have been following this tournament since it was announced that England will be hosting. From attending the press launches, trophy tours, ticket design launch and the England 2015 kit launch.

    My family had to be warned well in advance that whilst the rugby was on, the telly was MINE!!!

    Finally the tournament kicked off on Friday 18th September with England playing against Fiji at Twickenham. The opening ceremony was short and sweet.


    Opening Ceremony Video Highlights

    Then came the match that kicked the whole tournament off.


    England v Fiji 35-11 – Full Match Highlights & Tries

    I have to say though the first game was marred by the amount of times the TMO (Television Match Official aka Video Ref) was used. It made watching the first game a tad bit irritating, but it was a brilliant opening match to kick off the RWC 2015 after months and years of waiting.

    The objective of the television match official system is to ensure accurate and consistent decisions are made on the field in a timely and efficient manner. The TMO is a tool to help referees and assistant referees with their on-field calls and the referee remains the decision-maker who is in charge of the process.

    A snippet of a statement released to the press by World Cup bosses via The Independent

    Final score:

    Over the weekend, there were 7 matches – 4 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday – and here are the results.

    The jubilation of Georgia beating Tonga was clear for the fans to see.

    This was the match everyone was, still are and will continue to talk about. The fact that Japan held out for a try instead of a penalty and managed to beat South Africa made for match viewing gold. This will be up there as the rugby history highlight of the tournament.


    Full Match Highlights and Tries

    This was the match I was waiting for as defending champions New Zealand took on Argentina. Argentina played well in the first half until the All Blacks outsmarted them towards the end.

    So far underdogs Georgia and Japan are on my teams to watch, with New Zealand still up there as tournament favourites. Let’s see if this will change next week.

    Videos: World Rugby’s Youtube Channel

    Images: My screen grabs via the RWC2015 Mobile App

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