Familiar face in short-list for IRB "Rugby Photo of the Year"

If you have played in any girls' rugby tournament - from Herts 7s and National 7s to county and regional tournaments - chances are she has taken your photograph. You'd probably recognise her face too, though chances are the name Lissy Tomlinson (from RugbyMatters) may be unfamiliar.

However, it may become slightly better known shortly as Lissy - who specialises in women's and girls' rugby - has been shortlisted for the IRB's annual "Rugby Photo of the Year" competiton with this photo (right) of Maggie Alphonsi ("England's Magnificent Flying Machine") brushing aside Ireland's Niamh Briggs at the World Cup last month.

If it wins the picture will appear on the cover of next year's IRB Yearbook, which will be a big thing for women's rugby in general, not just Lissy. However she's up against some stiff competition.

In fact three of the the six pictures in the running for the title feature women's rugby.

Australian photographer Michael Paler 'Semi's Delight' (left) records the joy felt by Australia's Lindsay Morgan and Danielle Meskell as they celebrate reaching the semi final of the World Cup following their 62-0 victory over South Africa.

However, the third picture is from completely the other end of the world of women's rugby. Richard Lane's picture "Bengal Khuki" shows a group of girls playing Rugby at an orphanage outside Kolkata, which he took last April during a charity trip to India to coach rugby to children.

The other three photos include a remarkable picture of Sale Sharks and Harlequins playing rugby in what appears to be a blizzard, South Africa men's sevens team preparing a match at the Emirates Sevens, and a close up of a player's hand as he makes a desperate attempt to touch the ball down in a match in South Africa.

The winner will be announced in early November.