A player bravely playing on despite a painful injury is usually the sort of story we hear about after an AFL grand final, Bledisloe Cup or State of Origin encounter. When it comes to toughness it’s almost always men we hear about.
It took Australian Georgia Page to highlight just how brutal women’s rugby can be.
20-year-old Page became an unexpected internet sensation for her inspirational effort to get up and land another tackle despite breaking her nose during a crucial match in the Collegiate Rugby Championship in America.
The majority of rugby players male or female at any level would stay down in that situation, to at least make sure of their own personal well-being, knowing the referee would eventually stop the game for medical treatment.
Instead, she thought of her teammates who would struggle to defend without her in the rugby sevens format.
Her efforts no doubt spurred them on on in much the way John Sattler did when he played on with a broken jaw in 1970.
Page’s college Lindenwood won the game 24-17 to reach the final.
She’s now been labelled a ‘rugby war goddess’ but that title could be used for any girls who play rugby according to Page who took to twitter to express her desire for greater coverage of the women’s game.
“I want to be an good ambassador for rugby and growing the game, what [I] did wasn’t for me it was for the team!” she tweeted.
“Many of you have seen my video on the Internet when it could’ve been live TV,”
“Very disappointing that the Collegiate Rugby Championships Sevens tournament that this happened at did not air that game or our final. Instead [it was the] men’s.”
While Ronda Rousey has done a lot to change perceptions with her incredible bouts in Mixed Martial Arts, more stories like Georgia Page will help tackle the old view that women’s sport is less physical, demanding and tough than its male equivalent.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Which woman in her right mind would prefer ironing???????!!! :P
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Surely, she is more tougher option at 10 than Quade Cooper? :p
HandsOffBlack7
Guest
Enough already!!! She broke her nose, then made a tackle... Next story please!
Digby
Roar Guru
Got to have a laugh aye, :)
Jake
Guest
We're all supposed to be equal aren't we? Articles like this promote a divide between women and men, as if women aren't as tough and capable as men. They are, so why have an article on how a female rugby player played with a broken nose? Many players have played with a broken nose and worse. No need to differentiate between the sexes.
Bondy
Guest
Jonny What's disappointing is if she doesn't have her nose smashed nobody knows of her, now she's a hero ....
Son of Yoda
Guest
Can we get her for the Reds please
Jonny
Guest
why do we glorify this stupidity . Why is it great ,male or female to stay on the field with injuries . Some sports are just stupid . Teach our kids to smash each other playing body contact sport and get injured and hurt ,why ?????? And then wear a broken nose like a badge of honour . Strange world
Leroy14
Guest
A few negative comments here. Disappointing to be honest. Good on ya Geo! Great play! We have all played with some uncomfortable injuries. Playing on shows individual spirit for the team. Good tackle and clean out attempt. Happy days! Love ur work -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Roy Isbister
Roar Rookie
One word is enough to deal with all this patronising nonsense: childbirth. At least the article refers to "women's rugby" rather than "ladies'". I guess that is some kind of progress.
Billy Bob
Guest
Staying on field after a nose cracking can be different for different people and situations. I've had it happen a couple of times. Can't remember what my response was to the first one. A second rower in my team (who later ended up in gold for a short while) hit a ruck and moved it. Good for him. But his point of contact with the ruck was my head. Not so good for me. Another time, while paying league, I was king-hit in back play, and stayed on, though not very effectively. I can say that it's not always easy to play on with a busted honker. So good on the player in question. Well done to her. But as for teaching the rest of the rugby playing community something new? Not so sure.
Riddler
Guest
Digger now u r just trying to get a reaction out of the fan boys!! Well played, like ur style..
Harry Jones
Expert
The women playing in the soccer World Cup right now are a great advert for fitness, skill, and toughness.
pjm
Roar Rookie
It was just a broken nose champ, the oddity would be a player staying down while play was still on for it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
Look how 'beta' the author is though. White Knights ASSEMBLE!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think women have nothing to prove to men when it comes to toughness or any other attribute btw. A woman who would have left the field with a broken nose instead of playing on would imo be as worthy. Then it's up to us spectators, men and women, to either watch or not but its true that most women sports don't get the same airtime than males sports. Personally I love female athletes and found them (at amateur or semi pro level) refreshingly natural. More of a mixed bag when it comes to elite athletes, similar to men really. But deep inside I reckon they still prefer knitting or ironing they just don't know it yet (surely ;)
Zero Gain
Guest
The Wallabies are plenty tough. They have nothing to learn from this tough cookie.
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
Is she single?
Minz
Guest
Yeah, I've done this, following the example of tough women I've played with. It certainly impressed the guys who were watching. However, nothing I've seen compares to the woman I played with who popped her own dislocated kneecap back in, on the field, without even going down on the ground, and then played the rest of the game. Nails got nothing.
PhillNZ
Guest
None of them would complain!!!