"Pursuing normality in sports: The struggle of Yaras to popularize rugby in Brazil, faced with restricted finances"

In the heart of South America, where football reigns supreme, a small but determined group of women are making waves in the world of rugby. The Brazilian women's rugby team, affectionately known as the Yaras, recently qualified for the 2021 Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand.

The Yaras, with their speed-based style, faced difficulties in their first match against South Africa. However, their journey to the World Cup was not an easy one. To secure their ticket, they had to defeat Colombia in a hard-fought battle.

The Brazilian Rugby Confederation (CBRu) was established after the Rio 2016 Olympics, a time when resources were allocated to promote rugby and financially support athletes through scholarships (bolsa atleta). One of the key figures in this promotion is Simon Corbi, a Frenchman and computer engineer, who has been volunteering as the director and coach of the El-Shaddai rugby club in Brazil for nearly 15 years. Corbi's mission is to promote rugby, a sport not widely known in Brazil.

The Yaras, despite their struggles, have gained attention both at home and abroad. Their performance in the Rio 2016 Olympics may not have been stellar, but a viral video proposing marriage to a half-time referee during a match certainly did.

The national championship for rugby is solid in Brazil, but the fifteen version remains in the shadows, especially among girls. This is particularly evident in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where there are only three women's rugby sevens clubs, and none for the XV version. Resources are often stretched thin, with teams like the Yaras having to offer meals and transportation to recruit players, particularly from disadvantaged families.

Thais Prioste, a player of the Yaras, believes in the diverse team and is ready to take on the biggest challenge in Brazil's rugby history. She aspires for rugby to become a 'normal' sport in Brazil and for Brazilians to learn about and love the sport. Mariana Mineiro, president of the CBRu, celebrated the qualification as the beginning of their story.

Despite the challenges, the future of rugby in Brazil looks promising. The CBRu lists 3,500 female athletes in the country, mainly concentrated in the south of the country. Rugby culture exists in some parts of Brazil, such as the state of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Alexandre Massi, the press attaché of the Federation, accompanied the Yaras to Tokyo and Paris, marking a significant step in the growth of rugby in Brazil.

As the Yaras prepare to face the world's best in the Rugby World Cup, their story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the potential of rugby in Brazil. Corbi's oval ball may be peculiar in a country where football is dominant, but it is undeniably making strides towards becoming a part of the Brazilian sports landscape.

"Pursuing normality in sports: The struggle of Yaras to popularize rugby in Brazil, faced with restricted finances"