California Bear in the North East

Rugby League has seen a explosion of clubs and the player pool over the last four years has grown tremendously , and for the first time in a long time the waters have calmed for the 2024 season and all competitions are competing under one governing banner. Anson Jiang is the man in charge leading the newly rebranded Boston Bears into battle for the season. Anson comes from the west coast and union playing background but has a passion for rugby League and pushing the code forward with the cooperation from the North Sydney Bears. The the beasts of the east are preparing to be the flag bearers of a new age for development of rugby league in America.

LLR- Where did you first start playing rugby?

A- I first started playing rugby at San Jose State University sometime around Fall 2012 after seeing a flier at the gym at SJSU.

LLR- How was your time playing at SJSU, any memorable moments stick out?

A- I had a lot of fun playing at SJSU and made a lot of great friends along the way. I think there are too many memories that stood out while playing at SJSU like the UCSC Slugfest tournament, going to Reno to play against UNR and playing in the alumni games.

LLR- When did you start playing Rugby League and for what club?

A- I started playing in 2019 a week after moving to Boston from San Francisco. One of my teammates and coach from the San Jose Seahawks played Rugby League before and asked if I was interested in playing. The first club I played for was with White Plains Wombats at the time and played against the Boston 13s for a game and ended up joining the Boston 13s afterwards.

LLR- How was the transition from playing union to playing league, what was the hardest part coming from one code into another?

A- The transition wasn't too bad since they are both collision sports and requires carrying the ball and tackling. I think the hardest part was learning the rules of the game like playing the ball correctly and having to run back 10 meters on defense.

LLR- The Boston Bears, formerly the 13’s, has been yet another positive factor some may say from the Las Vegas NRL event where new relationships have developed from international sides with a USA based club team. How has the process and any feedback been since the partnership was started between Boston and North Sydney?

A- Our e-board was able to get this setup so all the credit goes to them. The process overall has been amazing and pleasurable with North Sydney who has been nothing but helpful as well as respectful to the Boston 13’s heritage and history. They have worked with us every step of the way. We are excited with this new partnership and seeing what the future has in store for us.

LLR- Where do the Bears hold home matches during the season?

A- Last year, we held our home matches at Mignone Field at Harvard University, but this year we are going between having it at Grellier Field in Newton, MA and Pine Banks Field in Malden, MA. We are welcoming anyone to come practice with us at Newton Highlands Playground on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30PM.

LLR- How many players on the team also play or come from a union playing background?

A- I believe most of our players if not all of them have played or are currently playing union with a club around the Greater Boston area.

LLR- What's your opinion on playing rugby league here in America, can both union and league coexist, do both have something to offer the other for players interested or should it be one or the other?

A- I think they can both coexist in America since they are fun sports to play and some of the skills from both codes are transferable to one another such as tackling, ball carrying and passing.

LLR- What would you say to those who are skeptical about playing rugby league, or to those who think it's a bad idea?

A- I'd say give it a try. You'll never know and you might end up liking the sport instead.

LLR- For the first time ever all four regions of rugby league major competitions are competing under one governing USARL umbrella, RLU (north east), PCRL (west coast), URL (Rockies ) and FRL (south east), How has the relationship been between your team and others around the country?

A- The relationship between every one of the conferences and teams has been great. Although we play each other in our respective divisions we all support each other and want rugby league to grow in the United States. Every team no matter what always has respect for the next team and at the end of the day we are excited and pleased that we are all unified in the same league with the USARL.

LLR- Words of encouragement for anyone considering starting their own rugby league club?

A- I'd say to get as many people interested as possible. The rugby league community has been great and we all are supportive of each other and have a common goal of growing the sport in the US.

LLR- How can fans follow your journey, the Boston bears and show support?

A- Instagram: @bostonbears.rl

LLR- Boston Bears playing a friendly against an Oregon rugby league team sounds like a good time, wouldn't it be a site?

A- I agree since this will be a great opportunity as this will help both clubs prepare for the matches in their respective conferences.

Salem-Keizer , OR.

New high school girls rugby team. Come out and join. 

THANK YOU.

Welcome to the Jungle

 Located in the county of Yamhill, the Valley Panthers have built themselves into a consistent player in the girls side of Rugby Oregon. Lead by second year head coach Christine Bader the panthers finished only 3rd in the high school state championship. With a emphasis on building comradery amongst her players who hail from various schools in the area, Christine is excited for what the future holds and not only where her program falls into growing the game but also where female rugby will be in the coming years. 

 

LLR- How long have you been coaching the Panthers? 

C- I joined as assistant coach for the spring seasons in 2022 and 2023, and became head coach following the spring 2023 season.

LLR- Why coach rugby? What sets the sport apart from others?

C- I’ve played and coached other sports, but rugby’s “third half” in which teams share a post-game meal at all levels creates an insanely collaborative culture. Stepping in as the Panthers head coach this year, I’ve benefited so much from the generosity of other coaches, in and outside of Rugby Oregon. We’re competitive in that we want our teams to perform their best, but first and foremost we all want to grow the game together.

LLR- When were the Panthers founded?

C- In 2003-04—we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary this year! The club was founded by a McMinnville High School chemistry teacher, DeVon Cutrell.

LLR- How many players does the club have?

C- We had 30 players on our roster this spring.

LLR- How did the 2024 season go for the team?

C- We went 2-3 in league play, finishing 3rd overall in the state.

LLR- In your opinion have you seen a growth of girls rugby in Oregon or can there be more done to help grow it more?

C- Apparently there were 18 girls teams in Oregon before the pandemic! So yes, there’s a lot that we need to do to rebuild. Rugby Oregon does registration and scheduling; but there’s so much more to do in terms of proactively recruiting and supporting coaches and players, fundraising, liaising with schools, developing curricula for girls’ health and leadership development, and strengthening pathways before and after high school rugby.

LLR- Between the Premier Rugby 7s and now the recently announced Women's Elite Rugby, are these competitions that your players are excited for and an opportunity for you to help bolster the numbers for players coming out? 

C- Of course: the more rugby, the better! I’d point to a few other competitions that are more immediate to my players: the rapid growth of women’s collegiate rugby, so my players have a sense of what their next step could be; the Olympics, since it brings the sport to a mainstream viewing audience; and Girls Rugby Inc., which runs flag rugby for girls in grades 2-8, and is on a mission to grow the game in the U.S. leading up to the Women’s World Cup in 2033!

LLR- 2033 will be here soon: Do you think Oregon should host a few matches for the World Cup, or should games be played at other locations? 

C- It would be amazing to have World Cup matches here! Portland in particular is a hotbed of women’s and girls rugby, with the Portland Pigs and ORSU womxn’s clubs, and the biggest girls’ team in our league, the East County Grackles; and women’s sports more generally, with The Sports Bra bar that only shows only women’s sports earning national media coverage, and the very popular Portland Thorns soccer team. Outside of Portland, the Oregon Sharks is a top-notch elite squad; and on the women’s collegiate front, the University of Oregon’s Dirty Ducks and Western Oregon University’s Wolves just went to 7s Nationals! So yes, World Cup planners, Oregon is ready to welcome you with open arms!!!

LLR- Valley Panthers is a multi-school program, how is the relationship between players coming from different schools?

C- We’ve spent a lot of time fostering 1:1 relationships to break down any barriers between schools—we had six different high schools represented this season!—and it’s been surprisingly seamless. We’re all Panthers!

LLR- Do you have words of encouragement for young girls currently playing in middle school, elementary, on continuing playing rugby as they move up in grades? 

C- Unfortunately there are few elementary and middle school opportunities for girls to play rugby in Oregon right now. But Girls Rugby Inc. is working to fill that gap!

LLR- What's the best way for everyone to follow the team and get updates? 

C- Instagram @Valley.panthersrugby, or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/valleypanthersgirlsrugby. 

 We also have a basic website at https://valleypanthers.carrd.co/, though it’s not updated as often as our social media accounts. But our contact information is there—feel free to reach out any time!

 I would like to thank Christine very much for her responses and I would also like to acknowledge the previous female leaders and players of their respective clubs that I have interviewed. The way each of them talks so passionately and cares deeply for their teams, players and teammates and the development of not just the athletes themselves but also taking the time to care for each one of them as a individual person. It gives me hope as a father with some of my young girls already involved with Girls Rugby inc. that the path women's rugby is heading down right now here in America , the game is due for a explosion from the bottom up. If people like these women I've spoken with in the last 4-6 months continue to be involved and continue to keep doing what they are doing, I for one feel confident and comfortable leaving my kids in the hands of individuals to help mold them into great athletes and also great humans, and that the USA Eagles women's will be a force on the pitch come 2033.