King of the Castle: Brooklyn joins forces with Super League’s Castleford Tigers

This is such great news. this now brings 3-4 usarl clubs into some form of partnership with super rugby league clubs. this is also good news for the usarl as they are currently petitioning the RIFL for membership status and control of the national team, stable clubs and a growing interests things looking great for the USARL

King of the Castle: Brooklyn joins forces with Super League’s Castleford Tigers

NorCal youth scores 3/29

Varsity Single School:

CHRISTIAN BROS 3 -  CLAYTON VALLEY 81

Girls Varsity:
 RIO LINDA 14 -  LANCERS  59

Boys Varsity Silver:
BULLARD 86 -  CLOVIS WEST  15
ROOSEVELT 37 -  CLOVIS  12
NAPA 38 -  SANTA ROSA  12

Boys JV Single School:
CHRISTIAN BROS 7 -  CLAYTON VALLEY  64

Boys JV Gold:
PLEASANTON 0 -  RIORDAN  49
GRANITE BAY 0 -  ISLANDERS  Forfeit

RWCQ Americas Play off 2nd leg USA v Uruguay

CARLIN ISLES INTERVIEW AFTER FIRST 15s GAME - 29.3.14

USA v. Uruguay Post-game Press Conference w/ Mike Tolkin, Todd Clever, a...

Hong Kong Sevens day one official highlights!

Mexico new Club Champions

    Emotion! This is what this weekend took place in the Estadio Roberto Practices "Tapatio" Mendez after the conclusion of the National Rugby League for the 2013-2014 season 15s. The day started with a Children Festival (M8, M10, M12 and M14) in which I had the presence of some equipment as Greengates, Liceo Franco Mexicano and Pumas UNAM played a previous friendly triangular than expected Final 2nd Division which faced (the East Zone champion - Metropolitan) and ITESM Puebla (champion West Shoal area) Bisons Rugby Club which play next season in 1st Division in their respective areas.

 

    The match was controlled by the Sheep who lead at halftime with a difference of 17 points for leaving away the hopes of the Bison's. Entering the second half with 16 minutes of play Bisons score there first try giving them a break and allow them to get back into the game, and then add 2 tries and get the conversion. In the game's final play the Bison's commit a penalty in the Puebla area 22 and decide to go for points leaving everything to a penalty, not successfull giving victory to the Bisons team with a score of 19 - 17.

 

    Prior to the Final match of 1st Division was held an exhibition match in the M16 category which the growth of the Mexican rugby in that category is displayed.

The Final 1st was disputed by the metropolitan teams Tazmania RFC and Blackthunder Rugby Club, as expected the match was very tight as Tazmania began taking advantage with a kick to posts converted by Alejandro Chavez but soon rival to score low poles at the hands of Christian Henning and Miguel Carner making the conversion to close the first time, Gaston Ghilardi sneaks Blackthunder defend and achieve 5 points to go into halftime with the lead 1 point.

 

    Just when the second half started, a scrum at the center of field allowed Blackthunder to break the line and score another 5 points to go up on the scoreboard after that Blackthunder scored again thanks to player Ponciano Pliego and his skill with his foot adding the conversion, Christian Henning minutes later again leaving the scoring with 24 points in favor and surprise on the last play of the match Alejandro Chavez steals the ball and escapes from the side, getting valuable scoring try converted by Max Martinez. Busting the score 24-15, Blackthunder the new champions at the end of the era of dominance of Wallabies.

 

*translated to English from Spanish, original article --- mexico rugby

RWC Qualifier Americas Play off 1st leg Uruguay v USA

NOR-CAL YOUTH SCORES 3/15

Boys Varsity Single School:

DIXON  13 -  DE LA SALLE  52

BISHOP O`DOWD 12 -  DIXON  41

JESUIT  79 -  MCCLATCHY  0

Boys Varsity Gold:

GRANITE BAY  67 -  MOTHER LODE  17
HAYWARD  21 -  NORTH BAY  37
ISLANDERS 63 -  LANCERS  20
PEN GREEN  54 -  EPA  5  
SFGG 33 -  OAKLAND  29
WOLFPACK forfeit -  JESUIT 0
COUGAR  28 -  VACAVILLE   68

Girls Varisty:

MOTHER LODE 45 -  CHICO  0
LANCERS 55 -  DAVIS  0
AMAZONS 82 -  SIERRA FOOTHILLS  14
CHICO 5 -  DIXON  107

Boys Varsity Silver:

CLOVIS 26 -  FRESNO  27
BUCHANAN 29 -  CLOVIS WEST  3
BULLARD 46 -  ROOSEVELT  27
RIORDAN 12 -  ALAMEDA  20
BELLARMINE 40 -  NORTH BAY  43
GRANITE BAY 17 -  ELK GROVE  31
PITS 19 -  PLEASANTON  80
KENNEDY 0 -  SAC EAGLES Forfeit
CHICO OAKS 15 - RIO LINDA  51
DAVIS 34 -  GRANT JR PACERS  24
LAMORINDA 38 -  DANVILLE  19

Boys JV Single:

DIXON 49 -  DE LA SALLE  0  
JESUIT 40 -  MCCLATCHY  15

Boys JV Gold:

ISLANDERS Forfeit -  LANCERS  0
COUGAR Forfeit -  VACAVILLE  0
PEN GREEN 43-  EPA  13
SFGG 12 -  PLEASANTON  40
WOLFPACK 24 -  JESUIT B  38
LOS GATOS 70 -  SOUTH VALLEY  5

Carlin Isles Interview

France v Ireland - Official Extended Highlights 15th March (+playlist)

Men's Eagles WC qualifier squad.

Men's Eagles | Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier v Uruguay
Todd Clever - NTT Shining Arcs
Tom Coolican - Richmond RFC
Miles Craigwell - Seattle-OPSB
Cameron Dolan - Northampton FC
Eric Fry - London Scottish RFC
Luke Hume - Narbonne
Seamus Kelly - University of California
Olive Kilifi - Seattle-OPSB
Titi Lamositele - Saracens RFC
Scott LaValla - Stade Francais
Toby L'Estrange - London Welsh RFC
Samu Manoa - Northampton FC
Tim Maupin - Olympic Club
Folau Niua - Glasgow Warriors
Mike Petri - New York Athletic Club
Blaine Scully - Leicester Tigers RFC
Robbie Shaw - London Scottish RFC
Hayden Smith - Saracens RFC
Louis Stanfill - Seattle-OPSB
Kyle Sumsion - Brigham Young University Rugby
Andrew Suniula - London Wasps RFC
Shalom Suniula - Seattle-OPSB
Phil Thiel - Life Rugby
Tai Tuisamoa - Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
Nick Wallace - James Bay RFC
Chris Wyles - Saracens RFC

Men's Eagles | Coaching Staff
Mike Tolkin - Head Coach
Billy Millard - Assistant Coach
Justin Fitzpatrick - Assistant Coach
Phil Bailey - Assistant Coach
Dave Williams - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Chris O'Brien - Kicking Coach
James Walton - Video Analyst
Jeff Mjaanes - Doctor
Richard Quincy, Jr. - Physio
Zach Vyhananek - Physio
Sarah Sall - Massage Therapist
Tristan Lewis - Manager

Eagles Roster 7s

men's roster for the next two stops, Tokyo and Hong Kong
Men's Eagles Sevens | Tokyo Sevens/Cathay Pacific HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Roster
Danny Barrett
Garrett Bender
Andrew Durutalo
Nick Edwards
Pono Haitsuka
Madison Hughes
Ryan Matyas
Mike Palefau
Marcus Satavu
Mike Te'o
Zack Test
Brett Thompson

Rugby World Cup - Argentina 2023: Details emerging for 2014 South American Champions...

" The behavior of Tier One European unions, the Six Nations, resembles the Tri Nations unions not Argentina"



Rugby World Cup - Argentina 2023: Details emerging for 2014 South American Champions...: The governing body of South American rugby, CONSUR, has drawn up plans of a new format for the South American Championship but is yet to ...

Official HSBC Hong Kong 7s #BRINGYOURGAME

)

Pioneers begin a new era for USA development teams

exciting times and news coming out of the USARL camp.

Pioneers begin a new era for USA development teams

NOR CAL YOUTH SCORES 3/9

BOYS VARSITY GOLD :                

GRANITE BAY  0 -  WOLFPACK   Forfeit

ISLANDERS  27 -  SAC EAGLES          8

JESUIT B  25 -  SIERRA FOOTHILLS  21

MOTHER LODE  10 -  VACAVILLE   48    

OAKLAND  7 -     PEN GREEN   29

LANCERS  27 -  COUGAR  36

Girls VARSITY:

BOD  24 -  PLEASANTON  34

BOYS VARSITY SILVER:

FRESNO  14 -  BULLARD        22

ALAMEDA  17 -  DANVILLE  43

BERKELEY  24 -  PENN GREEN  43

ELK GROVE  38 -  KENNEDY  38

BOYS JV GOLD:

BERKELEY  0 -  PEN GREEN  68

MOTHER LODE  34 -  VACAVILLE     22  

EPA  0 -  DANVILLE  68

BOYS MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN:

EPA  5 -  BOWLING GREEN  55

Gay Rugby players? Who Cares.

There has been a question that I have wanted to ask of late, Are Gay Rugby players welcomed in the “locker room”? With all the talk of Michael Sam and Jason Collins, some being good and some negative the American media is all over this, which leads me to the point. Being involved with Rugby for just about 7 years now, playing and coaching, I’ve always been told that rugby is an accepting sport and we will take anyone regardless of size and playing experience. But I’ve always wondered what about your sexual orientation; yes I know there is Gay Rugby Clubs such as SF Fog, Washington Renegades and others, but how does the general census feel toward a gay team mate.

 Is America also ready for a gay Rugger?

So I’ve reached out to a few Rugby Writers here in America that spends a lot of time covering the game a various different levels.  So I asked a few simple questions and here are their responses.

Hedley Lagrand : A Rugby Life

Grant Cole: Ruck Bottom

Curtis Reed: This Is American rugby

Ted Hardy: Rugby America

Kevin Sullivan: Rucking Insurance

___________________________________________________________________

LLR- Is America ready for a gay rugby player, since we don’t have a pro league I’m asking about on the National teams, sevens and fifteens women’s and men’s ?

Hedley Lagrand: I think that ship has already set sail.  We already have openly gay rugby players here who have played for the Eagles.  Phaidra Knight has represent the US 33 times and played in three Rugby World Cups, and she is certainly not alone out there.

Grant Cole: What the American rugby community is or is not ready for with regard to this issue is irrelevant. Gay men and women have already performed admirably on both the 7s and XVs NTs.

Curtis Reed: Yes. I've always found that rugby players are open as long as you can play. I also think the public feels the same way. If you can produce it doesn't matter. Also, I highly doubt the public or teammates would blame a bad performance on sexual orientation. There have been people with same-sex attraction on national teams before and it hasn't been a problem.

Ted Hardy: Absolutely. I don't think it would be an issue at all. I'm certain there are some in our elite player pool already. It's just a matter of whether that is something that they wish to share publicly. As far as the rugby community goes, I don't believe it would be an issue at all.

Kevin Sullivan: Rugby has been "gay" since the 90s.Ian Roberts and nobody cares. Nigel Owens, best ref in the World, gay.  Nobody cares.

_____________________________________________________________________

LLR-Are Gay Players, men or females accepted in any club or just on Gay specific clubs?

HL: For every team I have played for or had the opportunity to coach, gay players were always made welcome.  The Washington Renegades in DC was actually one of the first rugby teams in the US to actively recruit gay players.  They compete competitively in the PRU division 3, where they are currently top of the division, and take part in biennial IGRAB Bingham Cup.  The same can be said for any of the major women’s clubs like New York and Berkeley. Playing rugby and being gay are not mutually exclusive here.

GC: This question is asked out of context. We should be asking why there are still rugby clubs in the US that are exclusionary based on sexual-orientation. These clubs are fewer and farther between today than 15 years ago and that's the way it should be. Rugby is the ultimate egalitarian sport and that should never change.

CR: As far as I know they are. It may be that gay players feel more comfortable with a gay-specific club, which maybe says something about other clubs.

TH: I'd like to believe that they would be accepted in any club. Every women's club that I've ever been around has their share of openly gay players and it has always been a non-issue. Rugby is very much a merit-based sport. Players come from all socio-economic backgrounds and earn their positions on the pitch. Your race, religion, or sexual preference has nothing to do with whether you can run and tackle.

KS: In Norcal, I can't think of a single Men's team that does NOT have at least one gay player.  Again, nobody cares. (Women's rugby has plenty of Lesbians... again, nobody cares.) Rugby players are judged by their ability to play rugby, and pretty much nothing else.  Why do you think so many weirdo’s come to our sport?  Ha!  Fog is not a gay team, they're just open to gay players, and tend to recruit from that population, see their mission statement.

____________________________________________________________________

LLR- In the next 5-10 years American will have its own Professional Rugby Competition, will the rugby community shun a gay player on a team or will the community not care and rather focus on that player playing skills?

HL: Outside of the US, rugby already has openly gay players like Gareth Thomas and Ian Roberts, plus Nigel Owens, one the world’s most well renowned rugby referees.  If you are talented player, I don't think it isn't going to matter to the rugby community if you are gay or not.

GC: In 5-10 years, Americans won't care about sexual-orientation in public. If the player can play the game brilliantly, such differences will not matter.

CR: I highly doubt the rugby community would shun a player if they can play.

TH: I think the public, in general, is accepting of openly gay athletes. I believe the old-school governance of some sports is what creates the issue. The reason I refer to the general public is when/if professional rugby comes to America the indoctrinated rugby community will only make up about 5% of the fan base. The fans that will be needed to support professional rugby will come from a much broader base of the American public. That said, I still don't believe it would be a major issue. The reason it seems to be such an issue is that people love to make it an issue.

KS: Will Rugby go pro in America is a tougher question, than whether they'll be an openly gay player.  To me, Rugby doesn't care.

____________________________________________________________________

     This past Thursday in San Jose, CA, I attended the showing of The Rugby Player. “Timely film provides keen insights for the national debates on LGBT rights, marriage equality and gay athletes in sports.”  Let me just say I highly recommend finding a showing closes to your area and go see it! At the end of it you will feel like you yourself knew Mark Bingham personally.

 If having a Homosexual team mate isn’t such a big deal at all for those of us in the rugby community and with the national teams known to have a player or two, then why do the media and these “Big 4” leagues have to create such a media storm about such players coming out.  Why is there a instant fear of backlash in the locker rooms, when we’ve never cared. How and why is rugby so different from other sports?

Jason Collins and Michael Sam are true pioneers for any Gay athlete in America who wants to pursue a professional career, and why the heck shouldn’t they be allowed to! But let’s not forget that around the world they aren’t the only professional players to come out, Gareth Thomas ( Wales/British & Irish Lions) , Louisa wall (New Zealand Netball & Rugby), David Wilson ( Canada figure skating), Stephen Rhodes (American Stock car racing). 

The goal of all this is plain and simple, we as a society need to move on and get over the Homophobia. Can you play? That should be the only question to ever be asked, judge on playing skills not sexual orientation or any other views. Whether you are Black, white, Straight or gay, Jewish or atheist we will hit you and ruck over just the same as the next person and then after we will want to grab a pint with you. 

                   *me and Alice Hoagland the premier of The Rugby Player in san jose.

Eagles World Cup Camp

USA Rugby
_______________________________________________________________________
BOULDER, Colo. – Men’s Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin has released the Men’s Eagles squad for the preliminary Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier Camp in Atlanta, Ga.
   Returning Eagles from last fall’s November Tour include Derek Asbun, Joe Cowley, John Culled, Shaun Davies and Seamus Kelly. Eric Fry will also join the Eagles at Life University as the Eagles prepare for the two-leg series against Uruguay in Montevideo and Atlanta’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University.
   Following the Eagles’ February Domestic Camp, at which he called for 27 players, Tolkin said the weekend was “valuable” and created competition for players on the fringe. “Guys are really having to compete one-on-one against each other,” he said. “Earning a place on the squad continues to become much more challenging.”
  The Eagles will train in Atlanta March 11-15 and scrimmage Life University the final day before Tolkin selects approximately 11 players to travel to Florida, where the overseas professionals will arrive to camp once the international window officially opens. Though they will not have had as much time with the team, Tolkin said he was not worried about the professionals not being ready for the team’s biggest series of the year.
  “They’re in full-time environments playing against good competition week in, week out,” Tolkin said. “That helps a lot. The biggest challenge is getting players from many different clubs to be on the same page in terminology and style in a short time.” Tickets are still available for the Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University March 29. Purchase tickets here. The final Eagles assembly squad for the Qualifier will be announced prior to the team’s departure for South America.

Men's Eagles | Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier Camp
Derek Asbun - New York Athletic Club
Garrett Brewer - St. Mary's College
Chris Chapman - New York Athletic Club
Joe Cowley - Life Rugby
Miles Craigwell - Seattle-OPSB
John Cullen - Seattle-OPSB
Shaun Davies - Life Rugby
TC Elliott - Seattle-OPSB
Zach Fenoglio - Glendale Raptors
Eric Fry - London Scottish RFC
Troy Hall - New York Athletic Club
Graham Harriman - James Bay RFC
Seamus Kelly - University of California
Olive Kilifi - Seattle-OPSB
Kelly Kolberg - Dallas RFC
Chad London - Glendale Raptors
Dave Martini - Santa Monica RFC
Tim Maupin - Olympic Club
Adam Siddall - Men's Eagles Sevens*
Louis Stanfill - Seattle-OPSB
Kyle Stroman - Life Rugby
Kyle Sumsion - BYU Rugby
Shalom Suniula - Seattle-OPSB
Phil Thiel - Life Rugby
Tai Tuisamoa - Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
Matt Trouville - Seattle-OPSB
Zach Walker - Life Rugby
Nick Wallace - James Bay RFC *Pending medical examination

Men's Eagles | Coaching Staff
Mike Tolkin - Head Coach
Billy Millard - Assistant Coach
Justin Fitzpatrick - Assistant Coach
Phil Bailey - Assistant Coach
Dave Williams - Strength and Conditioning Coach
Chris O'Brien - Kicking Coach
James Walton - Video Analyst
Jeff Mjaanes - Doctor
Richard Quincy, Jr. - Physio
Zach Vyhananek - Physio
Sarah Sall - Massage Therapist
Tristan Lewis - Manager

This Is American Rugby: Winners & Losers: Hawkins, Seattle-OPSB, Hume, Gle...

This Is American Rugby: Winners & Losers: Hawkins, Seattle-OPSB, Hume, Gle...: Winners Seattle-OPSB: Not only is the club trouncing their opponents in BC (they play in the second division) but they have loaded up o...

NOR CAL youth rugby scores 3/1

Varsity Boys Single School:

DIXON        48 -  CHRISTIAN BROS  17    

Boys Varsity Gold:

DANVILLE  31  -  OAKLAND   7

GRANITE BAY  26 -  LANCERS  20

PEN GREEN  12  -  HAYWARD  24 

Girls Varsity:

LEASANTON  0 -  LOBO GIRLS  Forfeit

Boys Varsity Silver:

BELLARMINE  15 -  PLEASANTON   62

Boys JV Single School:

DIXON  27 -  CHRISTIAN BROS  0

Boys JV Gold:

DANVILLE – A  5 -  PLEASANTON   51