Citation

Fuchs J, Hénaff YL. Int. Rev. Sociol. Sport 2014; 49(3-4): 367-381.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Sociology of Sport Association, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1012690213510513

PMID

unavailable

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.

Language: en