Alcohol consumption among women rugby players in France: Uses of the "third half-time". (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fuchs, Julien; Le Hénaff, Yannick
• Other Names: Palmer Catherine guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International review for the sociology of sport. Volume 49:Number 3/4(2014:Jun./Aug.)
• Page Start: 367
• Page End: 381
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: alcohol -- rugby -- third half-times -- togetherness -- women; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.48305
• DOI: 10.1177/1012690213510513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1012-6902

Abstract

This article explores alcohol consumption among women rugby players, particularly during the "third half-time", which traditionally takes place after the matches. The article will focus on alcohol use and the transgression of the norms of femininity. A series of ethnographic observations were carried out and semi-structured interviews were conducted with players ( n = 10) from an amateur league-level women's rugby team in Western France. The results show that within the context of rugby – which is marked by festive excesses and has been socially constructed as a "male" sport – women have a specific relationship with alcohol; although drinking is deemed necessary to demonstrate their inclusion in so-called "rugby culture", it is, nevertheless, far from being completely unrestrained. On the contrary, some of its effects are a construct of the group itself. In this sense, drinking in the third half-time poses a dilemma for women: how to establish themselves as women rugby players whilst remaining women at the same time.