Global Partners
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
Listen Live
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Get Tickets
  • Video
  • News
  • Teams
  • Venue
  • Qualifying
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ Tickets
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
World Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • About RWC Sevens
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Feature
Sunday 07 November, 2021
3 min read

Former international Rebecca Rowe to embark on epic skiing mission to inspire rugby’s next generation

The retired Wales second-row turned firefighter is helping to raise money for the Harlequins Foundation – by crossing the Antarctic.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

Most retired rugby players struggle to replace the adrenaline buzz that you get from playing on a weekend.

But very few would go to the extremes that former Wales international Rebecca Rowe is doing to fill the void.

Check us out in @FIRE_Editor mag this month. #fire #firemag #firefighters #firefighter #femalefirefighters #antarctic #expedition #adventure #inspiringwomen https://t.co/dz0H4tVPF1

— Antarctic Fire Angels (@antarctic_fire) July 1, 2021

Rowe and a group of fellow intrepid female firefighters are currently training for a daring expedition that will see them ski coast-to-coast across Antarctica in November 2023.

Together, the Antarctic Fire Angels will cover 1,900kms, pulling 85kg supply sledges in temperatures as low as -50 and in wind speeds of over 60mph.

The motivation is not only personal but to also raise money for their chosen charities, including the Harlequins Foundation.

Rowe was playing for Harlequins when a serious knee injury forced her to retire shortly after Rugby World Cup 2017 and has always been supportive of the charity.

“When I played for Quins, I used to do talks for them and go into schools and help out with training camps so I knew the charity well before the expedition came about,” she said.

“When we were looking at charities I told the girls what the Foundation was about and it was a no-brainer for us to choose them really because their two main goals really are to inspire and promote girls and women into an active healthy lifestyle, and to try and make rugby accessible for girls and have a really good pathway through to the senior team if that’s what they want.

“We are trying to inspire women and girls through the expedition, to show that if you want something try and go out and get it, and that nothing is out of reach.

“Not only that, they have a big push on mental health. That’s another thing our expedition is about, to talk about things and it’s okay to not be okay.

“Everything the charity stands for is what we are trying to promote.”

Filling the void

When World Rugby spoke to Rowe, she was off-duty from her role as a firefighter at Paddington, London, having just returned from a weekend of crevasse rescue training.

No hole is seemingly too deep for Rowe, a former World Championship rower, who loves to push herself to the limits.

“After rugby, I had a bit of a void in my life.,” she admitted.

“I am in the fire brigade which is a challenge in itself and you get an adrenaline buzz every time the bells go, don’t get me wrong, but who gets an opportunity to be in a team that transverses Antarctica?

“COVID put a break on our expedition-specific training but it is now full steam ahead.

“We went to Sweden a few weeks ago, we’re off to Norway in January and then Sweden again in March to do more cold weather-specific stuff.

“I love a challenge, I really thrive on pushing myself and seeing where I can go with things.”

Well this was a lovely surprise!! #firefighter #femalefirefighter #offduty #alwaysonduty https://t.co/DquTEersgQ

— Rebecca Rowe (@bexrower) August 2, 2021

In the blood

Rowe may have swum for Wales as a teenager, been a world record holder and double world surf life-saving champion just out of her teens and rowed for Great Britain alongside famous Olympians like Kath Grainger, but rugby is her true sporting love and she hopes more girls will get the chance to play.

“Growing up in Wales rugby was in your blood kind of thing, but I never got an opportunity to play it when I was younger – only against the boys in the playground at school (where Gavin Henson was the year below),” she said.

“So I didn’t actually take the game up until I was 29 when I moved to London. I wished I had started it earlier not just because it is such a brilliant game, and I love playing it, but just because of everything it encompasses – the family feeling you get at a rugby club, the lifelong friends that you make and the camaraderie you get between all the other teams.

“I have competed in lots of different sports over the years and rugby is one of the sports where you can play a team and be absolute arch-enemies on the pitch but, once the game is over, you are hugging and shaking hands after the game and chatting about it, and that’s at every level.”

Rowe started at London Welsh, where she won the first of her 19 Wales caps, then had a season at Richmond before joining Harlequins.

“To get into the Welsh team was a huge bonus for me and a surprise as it wasn’t something I had thought about doing previously,” said the 40-year-old.

“Every day I was in that team playing and training with the squad and being able to tell people I was a Welsh rugby player was just amazing, almost as if in a dream. I absolutely loved every second of it.

“Playing in the World Cup was just a great experience and to play against teams like New Zealand and Canada, in the women’s game you don’t get to play against teams like that very often so it was just an awesome experience.”

Read more: Katie Sadleir “privileged to have been part of changing people's lives” at World Rugby >>

Trending News Show all
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
6 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series favourites suffer shock defeats on opening day in Toulouse as women’s champions Australia continue fine form

South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Fri 20 May, 2022
6 min read
Rikki Swannell becomes first females to commentate on men's series
5 min read

Feature

Behind the microphone: Groundbreaker Rikki Swannell

World Rugby talks to the New Zealander about becoming the first female lead commentator on the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and her life in sports broadcasting.

Feature

Fri 20 May, 2022
5 min read
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
Serevi Coaching Roadshow - HSBC Event
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fiji are in Toulouse to win: “There is still room for improvement,” says Gollings

Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 19 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022
4 min read

Rugby Sevens

Captains ready for lift off at HSBC France Sevens

Toulouse welcomes a full line-up of 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams for the first time in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on 20-22 May

Rugby Sevens

Wed 18 May, 2022
4 min read
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
Global Partners
label.rwc7s2022.logo-alt-text
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup Sevens
  • World Rugby Media Zone
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語