The 2033 women's rugby world cup is not that far and the current female athletes that are in high school and college will be the core of the USA lineup come that first kickoff. There is an explosion, albeit small right now, for women's and girls rugby in the USA. the emphasis on providing high quality matches and reporting on youth teams is seeing a rise for female players and their respected clubs. Sydney Copeland is one of those players who are taking advantage and thriving thanks to new programs being established and bridges being made between the various levels of rugby. She is a star on the rise and could very well be in the history books come 2033. A NorCal native Sydney has found her stride while attending and playing for Western Washington University, bringing pride to not just Bellingham but all the north west. With the PR7s and the much talked about potential investment into the WPL, players like Sydney and others could very well be better prepared for the future and I hope you all enjoy learning about Sydney as much as I have.
SC- I am from Martinez in the east bay area
LLR- When did you first start playing rugby and for what club?
SC- My senior year at Carondelet high school, they created a womens rugby team and I joined about halfway through the season in 2019.
LLR- You currently play for Western Washington university, how has your experience playing at the collegiate level been thus far?
SC- I have had a great experience with WWU, I have developed a lot of my core skills from being on this team and from the coaches that I have had. When I first came to western, my coach had taught me how to play scrumhalf and how to kick, and to see the progress I have made in those skills with where I am at on the team now is really cool. We also won our league last year and made it to regionals in California which was a great experience and a nice opportunity for our team to continue to progress to higher levels.
LLR- At such a young career you are experiencing some amazing opportunities, PNW selects, Pacific coast grizzlies. What are some key points that you feel those programs have helped you improve your overall playing experience?
SC- For both of these teams, being able to come together, having never played together as a team or even with most of the people there, and understand everyone's skills and the team dynamic is a great learning experience. Just being able to adapt to a new dynamic and figure out how to let everyone's skills shine and flow smoothly together is a great feeling and growth opportunity, and we got to see it work in Iowa with the PacCoast grizzlies with us winning tier 1.
Also, just being able to play rugby at a higher level than our current collegiate level, with some of the best players in our region has been a huge factor in helping me improve as a player and teammate.
Even with the PNW selects and our recent loss against UBC, it was a great learning experience. I feel like a game like that can help put into perspective what our weaknesses were as a team and individually, and how we can improve on those. If we are out here winning every single game we wouldn't get the opportunity to see those little things they were able to capitalize on and be able to grow from it.
LLR- Another amazing thing to point out is your time down in chula vista, can you explain what the reasoning was for the training and the impact it has had on you as a whole?
SC- This year in 2023 I just started getting into 7s. My first camp at chula vista in June was a huge learning experience for me as a player and for my game in 7s especially. The first camp I attended was more of a learning-based camp to understand the strategies and skills for 7s and how to read the players and the field when on offense and defense. The next two camps in August and October were more performance based camps where we were able to take what we have learned and put it into practice with the scrimmages we did at the end. Overall, I have learned so so much just from these camps, especially being able to train and play with extremely talented athletes from all over the nation. I feel like I have grown with rugby and within my values, seeing how skilled and dedicated everyone is, is extremely motivating and pushes me to continue to work hard to be able to compete at this high of a level.
LLR- Focusing on WWU and the 2023/2024 season how has the team performed thus far reaching the halfway point.
SC- WWU has performed so well! We are currently 2-0 so far this season with big wins against U of O and UW. (our first game against OSU got rescheduled). We are looking forward to continuing to dominate in our league and hopefully we will be able to to compete at regionals again this Spring.
LLR- In your own opinion is there enough being done to get potentially young female players to pick up the ball?
SC- I have seen a lot of growth with girls and womens rugby but I always believe we can be doing more to spread the love of the game, especially to the next generation. Girls rugby is doing an amazing job of growing the name of rugby and empowering young girls all across the nation. I would love to see more funds and spotlight on them and their program.
LLR- Where would you like to see the women's game go here in North America come 2033 ?
SC- I would love to see womens rugby just as big as mens rugby in North America and the United S⁸tates specifically. I would also hope that by 2033, womens professional rugby players are getting paid enough to where they do not need another job.
LLR- Speaking of the USA Women's Rugby World Cup , is there any specific location you personally would like to see at least one round played at in 2033?
SC- I would love to see them play in San Francisco or at least somewhere in the bay area.
LLR- After WWU what's the next step in your rugby and personal journey ?
SC- After I graduate WWU I will have a bachelors in kinesiology exercise science, and will find a job in that field. With rugby, I am wanting to pursue it as far as I can and hopefully even playing professionally one day, thats the dream.
LLR- If you had an opportunity to go back to your middle school and high school, what would you say to those young girls in encouraging them to take up rugby and , for the older ones, going to WWU?
SC- I would tell them that they are capable of amazing things and to always, no matter what, through the ups and downs of life, always continue to believe in yourself. You are strong, powerful, and dangerous.
LLR- Final words of encouragement to those who are reading this?
SC- Keep putting in the work. Even if its not fruitful today or tomorrow, the hard work will pay off. Set your standards high and prove to yourself what you are capable of.
*If you would like to fallow Sydney on her journey along with the Western Washington Woman's rugby club and the PNW Womens Selects please give each profile below a fallow below!
Sydney- @sydneycopeland
WWU club team instagram- @wwuwomensrugby
PNW u23 regional instagram- @pnwws_rugby