Watch Girl Power in Action as Beijing She Devils' Rugby Season Kicks Off this Saturday, Apr 16
The She Devils is a Beijing-based women's rugby team currently composed of more than 30 players from all over the world. While the men's team is long established (it was originally founded in 1992), the women's team only took off a few years ago, and was most recently re-established in 2009. Since then, the female rugby community has been on the up and up, with the team playing in tournaments all over China, recently finishing as the fourth strongest team nationwide.
The She Devils has been a great addition to Beijing's criminally underdeveloped participatory sports scene. For existing rugby lovers (particularly Shunyi dwellers), it's a good excuse to see some live sport, have a fun day out, and provides the opportunity to meet the like-minded Beijing rugby community, and for girls who are toying with the thought of playing, it's a great opportunity for them to get active and find a close-knit community.
The first She Devils game of the 2016 season kicks off this Saturday (Apr 16) at 1.30pm at Dulwich College, squaring up against local Beijing rivals the Aardvarks. Then, on May 20, the team heads down to Guangzhou for a tournament. Following that, they will play in this year's Sino Tens, which will be held in Beijing on June 4.
We spoke with current She Devil Stephanie Jackson about the team, and how being part of it has enriched her life in Beijing.
Tell us about the She Devils.
We are one of the most active teams in China's women's rugby community and compete in tournaments across the country. We come together for rugby and, perhaps more importantly, for great socials on the weekend. We live by our motto: "The girls that train hard, play harder, and party the hardest!"
Do you play in any league?
Unfortunately we don't play in a league because there are not enough women's teams in the nearby area to create one, and China is ginormous! However, we play in tournaments all over China wherever we can and it is a great excuse to go on trips to places like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xiamen. In our most recent tournament we finished fourth in China.
How do eager fans go about watching She Devils games?
Anyone can come to watch our games – there's no entry fee. When in Beijing, we usually play and train at Dulwich College.
What's the environment like? Is there any food and drink for sale nearby?
There's always a great crowd and atmosphere around the games: people bring their friends and family down to watch. The boys team will also come down and mingle with other spectators, and in between games there is always time for a casual throw-about by the audience. People can bring their own beer and food, and make it a fun day out.
Why should people head out and watch a She Devils game?
Rugby is an absolutely fantastic sport, and is really up and coming as a women's sport. It's great to see how many girls of different nationalities and experiences come together and play. The vibe around a game is always good fun.
Are there usually any after-game social events?
Straight after the game, we will usually go home to have a shower and then reconvene in a bar with the opposing team, as well as the boys' team, and whoever else would like to join for food, fines (drinks are handed out to the players for a great try they scored or for a terrible passes etc.), and to kickstart a big night out. This means we sometimes hit the town in groups of more than 50 people.
As a member of the team, how does the She Devils experience enrich your life here in Beijing?
It's fantastic. When I first arrived I was in a similar position to most newbies to Beijing: I didn't know anyone and, I have to admit, was a bit lonely However, after joining the She Devils, I immediately had a crew of girls, some of who have gone on to become my best friends here in Beijing. Being part of a team is always good fun, but there is something extra special about a girls' rugby team. I don't know what it is. It might be something to do with the fact that not that many girls play the sport yet, meaning you automatically bond with those who do.
Are there any She Devils social events? How can we participate?
Most definitely! We usually meet up once a week, either to watch rugby matches, celebrate some festivals such as Halloween or Paddy's Day, go on bicycle pub crawls, or just get together for no good reason.
Thinking about joining them? Shoot them a message at shedevils@outlook.com to be added to the team's WeChat group. Training sessions are Tuesday and Thursday evenings alongside the male team at Dulwich College and Chaoyang Park, respectively. Transport to and from Dulwich on Tuesdays leaves and returns to Liangmaqiao and Schiller's on Liangmaqiao Nan Lu. Newbies don't need to have any prior playing experience as girls from all levels are welcome.
The Beijing She Devils Season Schedule
April 16, 1.30pm: The She Devils vs. the Aardvarks, Dulwich College
May 20-22: Guangzhou Tournament
June 4: Sino Tens
Dulwich College
Beijing Legend Garden Campus, 89 Capital Airport Road, Shunyi
北京德威英国国际学校丽京花园，顺义区首都机场路89号
Photos courtesy of Stephanie Jackson
