Rebirth of Sparta

Men's Spartan Rugby Club at San Jose State has a very rich history that any program would be excited to have. However playing rugby in the San Francisco Bay Area unfortunately has its down sides. With Saint Mary's and Cal , and Stanford for that matter, many people tend to not realize there are plenty more college rugby being played although not at the consistency winning as the programs mentioned before each has a rich tradition and each has at times added wood to the fire as to why the Bay Area is a hot bed for Rugby in this country. San Jose State over the past several years has unfortunately slowly fallen down the ladder and become inconsistent in league play. Not for lack of trying by each of the coaches and staff but the culture and communication has broken down. 

Thankfully out of the ashes a rebirth is happening. With the rallying of alumni there's change happening to position the Spartan Men's amongst the best in the San Francisco Bay Area and out west. To be part of the conversation when speaking about St.Marys , Cal rugby . First step was hiring a homerun of a hire for a new head coach. Next was rebuilding communication & community among its alumni base and re-engage the players. I would like to thank the Chairman of the alumni association Lance for answering questions about the program and its future. A Rebirth of Sparta is happening,  take note and beware. 

LLR- Can you share a bit about your connection with the Spartan Rugby Club, when did you play and what position?

LC- I played from 1991-1995 for SJSU. I started playing my High school position of open side flanker #7 but when I got to college, I was undersized for that position. I was always a bit faster than I looked and had a good boot so I made the adjustment to flyhalf #10 and played at that position through my career at SJSU and beyond.

LLR- Most college rugby teams have some sort of alumni association, what makes this alumni association different from years past?

LC- SJSU never really had an organized Alumni Association. It was always seen as a social rugby club with a few bright spots of success on the pitch here and there. Mike Annab established the Alumni Association by vetting and selecting board members from various generations of SJSU Rugby that had a passion for the club, its history and the awareness of its impact on student athletes and the broader rugby community. We are just over a year into the establishment of the Alumni Association and we have made some positive moves to improve the club. We have hired a new coach, fundraiser for new kit, held a successful Spartan Rugby tailgate at the Homecoming game, began to develop sponsorships and partnerships with area companies to sponsor the club, rebranded our social media presence and committed to keep alumni updated with schedules, scores, events and highlights.

LLR- What is the relationship currently between the current players and those who have graduated and part of the alumni group now?

LC- This is an area of opportunity for us to connect these two groups. Formally, it occurs at the alumni match in spring each year but we are working on having more events throughout the year to foster tighter connections. We feel this is incredibly important for a number of reasons; to connect college players with men’s club teams like the San Jose Seahawks, connect current players with established professionals in their field of study who may be able to provide job opportunities and to share the love of the sport across generations. Rugby is a welcoming community and it’s important to crest the opportunities for those connections to occur.

LLR- As an association what's being done to help the growth of the team?

LC- We hired a new coach this season, Nick Schlobohm, who came via a close friend and former coach of mine at the Olde Gaels RFC, John Compaglia. When I told John we were looking for a coach to transform our team from a social club to a high performance competitive side, John simply said “I have your guy”. Nick was an Assistant Coach for the Olde Gaels at the time but had aspirations to lead his own club and the timing could not have been better. Nick is a two time Collegiate National Champion with St. Mary’s with a deep love of the sport and a high rugby IQ. We chatted a number of times, conferred with the Board and hired him. Coach Nick’s impact has already been felt with solid wins over Stanford and Cal Maritime this season. The team is looking good and the future looks bright.

We have also committed to providing more content for the alumni to raise the level of engagement and interest in their former team. So far, we have seen a nice uptick in our comments and feedback about the content and information we are providing online. It’s been very positive.

I arranged for a sports photographer to take team photos which is a hallmark of any organized team. This is a seemingly small act but means a great deal to the players, their family, and friends communicates history and tradition as this will be a standard from now on.

Through my company, I donated funds to purchase the Rugby jerseys for the season. The club was in transition, their finances were a mess which left them with no funds to replace their older incomplete set of jerseys. As an Architect and designer myself, I designed the jerseys for the team and presented them to them before their first match earlier this year. It was a humbling moment to be able to give back to the club that means so much to me.

The Board is working hard to connect the active players and coaches with ClubSports to secure funding moving forward. During the coaching transition, this was not addressed and left the club on the brink of collapse. It’s been great to work with Coach Nick on this and we are looking forward to more support from the school in the years to come.

LLR- What are some goals for this year and next season, and where would you like to see things with the alumni and club team in 5 years time?

LC- As an alumni association, We have some big goals but now we have a hill to climb to establish some of the basics including solid organization, reconnecting alumni with the current team, developing our Spartan Rugby Community, fundraising, putting on more events and supporting the coaching staff. If we do those things well, what happens on the pitch will take care of itself. Beyond that, we want to be a part of creating an experience for the players during their time at SJSU that they will never forget and hope they return as alumni and stay connected and to give back to the club in some way. 

LLR- What's been the most rewarding part and difficult?

LC- The most rewarding part is seeing the team on the pitch doing what they love and enjoying themselves. Talking to the players after the match and getting to know them as people, hearing their stories and supporting them in whatever way we can. The most difficult thing has been locating, connecting and engaging with the alumni. SJSU Rugby has been around for over 50 years now but it has been surprisingly challenging to find those players and develop a platform of connectivity. Depending on their generation, we have found that they use a wide variety of communications, so we end up communicating across several platforms to reach as many alum as we can. It’s been a good pace of growth but there are many more out there that we still need to connect with. We are excited about that challenge.

LLR-To the players what message would you like to tell them and also to the alumni who may not be aware of the change at hand, what would you like to pass on to them ?

LC- To the players, we want you to know that the alumni board is committed to supporting the club to help you succeed on the pitch. For the first time in the club’s history, you have an organized group of committed alumni focussed on the team’s success short term and long term.

To the alumni, change is here. For the first time in club history, the team is led by two coaches who each have won Rugby National Champions twice! Coach Nick and Assistant Coach Hadin are transforming the team into a competitive team with their sites on a league title and more. So, engage with us on social media, keep up to date on the team and attend the events to reconnect with your team and meet up with friends new and old. You will love it.

LLR- Are there any special events coming up or key dates we should all keep an eye out for?

LC- Yes. March 18 is the last home match of the season. Kickoff is at 12:30pm vs Nevada. It should be a great one.

April 28 is the alumni Golf Tournament. Please contact me if you are interested in playing. You can email me at llcrannell@yahoo.com

April 29 is the alumni Match. All are welcome to watch. There will be a BBQ and an opportunity to meet the players and buy some team gear. Bring a friend.

We are active on Facebook and Instagram. Look up Spartan Rugby or SJSU Rugby Alumni and you will find us. You can always text 925-550-6800 for any updates, information or questions you may have.

We are also continually fundraising and we have found that Venmo is the quickest and easiest way to show your support. You can venmo any amount you can spare to

@Spartan_Rugby_Alumni

Your donations will go a long way toward helping the club.

www.spartanrugbyalumni.org

#UnitythroughRugby #RuntotheFight 

Kneel before the Royals

*This Blog and Life Love Rugby (LLR) on all social media accounts will never degrade anyone , rugby community or not, based because of their sexual orientation, religious beliefs and even political beliefs to that extent. All are welcomed #RugbyforAll 

The power of rugby as a sport has a way of changing lives forever and it can not be measured. In the city of San Jose, CA. , population over 1 million.  There is a lot of youth sports programs happening. there are so many options for kids of all ages from soccer, to basketball swimming and lacrosse. However, it is an absolute shocker that the largest city in Northern California has only 1 girls high school team let alone only 2 boys high school team. Almost seems like a utter knock on from Rugby NorCal to not have invested more into having at least 4 teams of each boys and girls playing with in the city limits alone.

Like many of you who find new rugby clubs at various levels Overfelt Royals, a high school girls team, came across one of my social media platform's and I was intrigued right away. Upon learning they are from my home town I had to begin to fallow them. Still relatively new to the scene there isn't much on the young club. these girls as you are about to read have endured some of the ugliest things that unfortunately are still happening in society today. I encourage every one to visit The Rugby Breakdown to read about their incredible journey thus far and the pure hate the Royals have endured. 

Id like to thank Julissa Deanda , current team president, for taking the time to answer questions and for being so honest and a shinning example on being a true leader. I deeply encourage if you are a coach in college, or anyone from USA Rugby to reach out to Julissa, outside of these questions we had a bit of a exchange through messenger and what an absolute passionate, encouraging and all around amazing young woman and you to will enjoy getting to know her very much! 

*coach Susanna Guardado has given some more insight into some of the questions. 

LLR- What year was the rugby club founded, what inspired the formation?

JD-  Our Royal Rugby club was actually founded just last year in 2021 but has been in the works since 2019. It all started when a simple game was introduced to a jv soccer team back in 2019, when our rugby coach, Coach Susanna Guardado or Coach G, was actually our soccer coach. She sort of just said “Hey want to try something new?”, during our final practice and we went at it. Our team became enthralled with the game and when our coach proposed actually starting a new team, no answer was needed; We were in. Unfortunately, soon after, Covid-19 hit and most of the team members had no idea what would happen with the sport. However, our coach was working hard behind the scenes from 2020 up until 2021 and fought for our club to become a reality. And although many people doubted us, in 2021, the same year we became a team, we became bowl champions. 

LLR- When someone talks about youth rugby in the bay area, there’s mostly talk about the boys side of things. How has the reception been so far from the school and local clubs of the Overfelt girls rugby team? 

JD- Well, personally, outside teams never seemed to be the problem. We actually made friends with a lot of them and raised 11k in donations from asking within the community. Rugby itself is a very respectful community because it’s built on connections to balance the toughness of the sport, so to our surprise it wasn't the outside clubs who put us down, it was our own peers. When it was first speculated that the girls would have a rugby team, an anonymous post was made on an instagram account. From what I can remember, it said something along the lines that we “ lesbians got a rugby team” and now we think we’re “the shit”. Under it were many tasteless homphobic comments such as being called “ran through'' for liking multiple genders or “sensitive” for standing up against their disrespect. Most of these comments were left by boys football team members . The post created a bigger chain reaction than I thought because by defending our team in the comments, I myself got into an argument and had a falling out with a friend because I called her out for defending them. And it wasn't harmful only to me, but to many of the girls on the team who also identify somewhere on the LGBTQ+ scale. To be stereotyped into one category once again was frustrating as women themselves are already underpaid, underestimated, and disrespected not only in sports, but in day to day life. Our response after the dilemma: don't react, just prove them wrong. My personal response: “Where’s their trophy?”.

LLR- In a mass city like San Jose, the Royals have seem to become a bacon for the potential of girls rugby in the area, is there a sense of pride amongst you and your teammates for carrying the torch thus far for girls youth rugby in a blind spot of NorCal Rugby?

JD- My teammates and I are flattered to be seen as an inspiration to the younger athletes who want to play rugby someday. We realize our “rags to riches” story opened up a door full of opportunities such as articles and interviews that tell our story, or when we raised 11k+ from our community to fund our team, but those victories weren’t just handed to us, we had to earn it by having the grit to want better for ourselves constantly. However, we realize we wouldn't be here without our community's support so we are humble and grateful for that. We try to return the kindness by inspiring the new generations to continue the East Side rugby legacy. We hoped to inspire them by running workshops in the summer and we accomplished exactly that. In fact, many of the kids who went still refer to some of the players as “teacher” or “coach”! We have also volunteered with the BAWSI girls at sporting events and enjoyed seeing the smile on their faces when we were repeating a chant. At the core we are a community and family-oriented team, so yes we are proud of our accomplishments, but because we worked hard for it and would like to inspire the younger generations to do the same. 

SG- Of course it does! As the head coach of the program and founder of the team, I have bigger goals, bigger dreams for the program’s future. I strongly believe Rugby is a sport that San Jose needs, especially East Side San Jose!

Currently, there is so much collaboration and partnership being establish with our program. For instance, the SJSU WOMENS RUGBY program collaborates practices. Some of the San Jose Seahawks Women players come out (from time to time) to help during practices. As for next level work, I have 3 players who will be going to the U18 Mexico national tryouts in October!

LLR- In the article from The Rugby Breakdown posted towards the end of last year, it was stated that there was a lack of support from the school in helping with supplying practice space and proper time set aside to do so. Have things changed since then?

JD- Unfortunately, it is true that we had and still have an overall lack of support from the school. It’s just not as bad as it used to be. From the beginning, we realized we would have to share the field with the football boys, but we did not realize that we would be getting pushed off the field as well. We originally aimed for half of the field considering it is a 7’s team that requires a lot of running, but were given a shot put area to practice in. Not only that, but once we gained access to the lights to have our practices on the field from 6-8 pm, the football team began “extending” or pushing their practices back which left us once again in the shotput area. Regardless of the area we practiced in, we still won the 7’s championships, however, that still wasn't enough to gain respect or support because when tryouts for the 15s season began, suddenly a new rule was implemented, that “no players currently in a season can try out” for a club sport. This rule was probably made with the fact in mind that many of our core players in rugby 7’s also came from the girl's soccer team and that many of the boys interested in starting their own boy's rugby team, were from the football team. It was justified as a “safety precaution” for players in a season since playing BVAL sports should be prioritized and we are a club sport that's more prone to injuries. That rule cut our three weeks of practice to three short days right before the KOT tournament, which resulted in players getting injuries, myself included, from lack of tackling preparation. Yet regardless of the restrictions imposed on us, those who were truly passionate about rugby stuck around and for 15s season we ended up in the top three!

SG- It all starts from the top right. Last year we held a student body meeting with the school’s principal. Where we came prepared to take things to the next level and bring in title 9. Many things were agreed on during that meeting but as soon as season began, most of it went out the door and the story repeated itself. We have limited access due to football (field and weight room). We proposed a decent start time of 6p for the safety of our girls but that was declined. We don’t officially jump on the field until 7p, ending practice at 830pm

LLR- Overfelt just concluded a club sign up day for students, how was the turn out this year thus far for potential players?

JD- We had so much fun recruiting new players for our rugby team! It was very successful and we now have around 20 players compared to last year's 13-15 players. We gained so much interest from students at club rush that we even had to make a boy's sign-up sheet for those who were interested in starting a rugby team of their own. Now if they'll stick around, who knows, but we really hope they do!

LLR- Are you planning on continuing to play after high school and into college, if there a specific college you have a eye on or one reach out yet?

JD- Yes I want to continue playing rugby for college, specifically Howard or Harvard University! They specialize in my interests of political sciences and law and both have powerful politician alumnis such as Kamala Harris and Barack Obama. It’s also a POC dominated school so it would make me feel welcome as a POC myself. I actually hope to be in communication with Howard’s Rugby coach soon, as she has connections with my coach, Coach G. I plan to use all the opportunities in front of me to join these schools. They’re my dream colleges!

LLR- As club president what are some joys and hardships you face?

JD- Undoubtedly, everything about being class president is a joy to me. Knowing events ahead of time and helping plan them taps into the passionate leader inside of me. Facilitating a room and directing it when needed has always been one of my strong suits, as well as something I enjoy doing, so when I apply these traits in my day to day rugby life, by running informational club meetings or by representing our voice, like now, it's not because I have to, but because I want to. And although it is hard for me to focus, as a naturally forgetful and scatterbrained person, my position as president has taught me to be responsible. It has taught me to be a dependable person and show up when it really counts, because when my team needs to rely on me, I will be there to support them. 

LLR- If given a chance to speak at another school and talk to potential players about starting their own club team, what would you say to them?

JD- I would tell them that regardless of the obstacles they may face in their path, ambition and grit is the key to making it not only as a team but also as a family. If you can learn to trust your teammates to protect you when you're tackled, you’ll eventually learn that you can trust them with anything as well. They’ll be the first ones to have your back when you need support so if those connections are the ones you're looking to make, rugby is an option worth fighting for! Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re aiming too high or asking for too much. Just make sure you're ready to work for it too!

SG- Funny, because I have been reaching out to all High schools around the area and NOTHING. So now I’m opening my options asking charter schools and continuation schools. This sport is amazing and will open up many doors.

LLR- On the teams Instagram account I noticed this summer that there was some sort of clinic being run for younger kids, how was the reception of the clinic over the summer and how key is it to building a strong connection between the club and community?

JD- Running the open summer clinic allowed the rugby team to come full circle and return the favor for the overwhelming support the community has expressed for us by allowing them to learn the sport itself. Dani, Sol, and Vero taught the kids not only the basics of rugby techniques but also what it means to be a “team”. They taught them to communicate, be respectful, and persevere; skills that they will need not only in sports but also in their personal life. But these kids didn’t only learn life skills, they also had fun! In fact, they got so close to their teammates and teachers that many of them didn't want there to be a “last practice” and tournament. We made an effort to build a connection with the kids because they’re vital to keeping our legacy alive. By involving these kids in rugby ahead of time, we gave them the opportunity not only to fall in love with the sport and gain a new passion but also to possibly be part of the future generation of the Royal Ruggers!

SG- Yes! The summer clinic was something that I pushed for during our meeting. The vision was to host FREE rugby clinics for kids ages 5-12 years old every Friday. And May I say, this was a success. Every Friday we had 20-24 kids ages 5-12 yrs old out there learning the sport. I created a junior coach position so that 3 of my athletes can learn how to coach. I paid them out of pocket for their amazing work. Alongside, we had the older group (13-18 years old)  who would scrimmage for 1.5 hours. The older group would usually gather 14-18 people every practice. Like this we met many middle schoolers who are now interested in rugby and many little ones who wish to be in a team! 

LLR- Lastly what final words would you like to share, how can people interested fallow along and what can we all do, living in San Jose and outside the area to help support the program as it continues to grow

JD- In life, you will face much opposition as you try new things, just as we did when we fought tooth and nail for the Royals Rugby club to flourish and become our legacy. The key was to have grit and just like our scrums say, to “keep driving” because you can’t give up without a good fight, regardless of what life may throw in your path. Whether it’s by playing rugby yourself or simply supporting the community, we encourage you to immerse yourselves in the world of rugby. It is a diamond mind full of professional athletic opportunities and life-changing bonds within the small world we live in, so we advise you not to miss out! If you would like to follow along on our team’s journey and continue supporting us to the fullest, our Instagram handle is @wcoroyalrugb, and we’re both lucky and appreciative of having you!

SG- Add: if anyone is interested in being a part of the royal family in the spring, please reach out. We are looking into establishing a boys side as well. 

#RugbyForAll

To fallow the Royals please fallow along on Instagram: @wcoroyalrugb ,  I highly recommend if you are a women's college coach to please keep a sharp eye on the Royals and their progress being made, you may find the next group of stars that you need to help carry the program to a national title.

Let it be known, Rugby is a sport for all. if you have hate against some ones sexual orientation, color of skin, religious belief's and race then Rugby is not for you and we will as a society, as a community and as a family will not condone such views. I hope that Overfelt High school in San Jose,CA has or will investigate such disgusting acts if they are associated in any form with its own student body. It is also unfortunate but very true for many club teams on almost any level but the Royals have had to fight , mostly the football team, for practice time and space on campus. I commend the team as a whole for continuing to care the flag and represent Overfelt even when they have been exiled by most and are the main target from the powers that be to make it a point to extinguish the club as a whole. But with their adversity they have found a way to turn it all into fuel and prove everyone wrong over and over again.

As for the last point that needs to be made, there has been little to no effort made from Rugby NorCal to help grow the game for young women. How can the Largest city in its region have only one youth girls rugby team. 

If you would like to get in contact with Julissa please reach out in ether form.

Cell: 408-599-6080

Email: julissa040205@gmail.com

If you would like to get in contact with Royals Rugby (Overfelt Rugby) 

Email: coachguards@gmail.com

Instagram: @wcoroyalrugb 

*update: There is now movement being made that there will be a boys team spring (2023)

Opinion 2

A while back I did reach out to James Fonda, commissioner of PacWest Rugby Conference, on his opinion for some questions that where also asked a few post back. 

It has been sometime since he has responded and I unfortunately am just getting to posting them now. 

apologies to all, and I am currently working on a new post also.  

LLR-Over the course of the last five years have you seen growth of rugby in NorCal or has it gone stagnant?

JF- I do not get see all levels of rugby but I think some levels are going strong like the collegiate women.  I think there needs more competition levels with a pathway to move when programs are getting stronger or weaker. 

LLR- Is there more that can be done to grow the game at a youth level for both boys and girls? There is always more that can be done. 

JF- I think one of the things that could be done is college programs need to do more to get youth involved such as rugby camps, speaking to programs, invitations to watches matches or practices.   

LLR- The amount of girls rugby programs compared to boys through Rugby NorCal is very minimal. What should or can be done to change that and prevent programs from folding. 

JF-  Programs so often fold for a couple of reasons.  One, a coach has a son or daughter on a team so there is invested interest in really helping a program.  Once that son or daughter leaves that program so does that coach or parent who really has done a lot of work for that program.  It leaves a huge void that needs to be filled.  Second, just a lack of organization and understanding the game. 

LLR-With NorCal having quite a few big cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose where would a MLR team fit best, or is there room for two teams? 

JF- I think in time there could be room for two teams.  Right now MLR needs to establish itself first and build that foundation.  It has some recent high profile signings but those players will leave eventually.  Broad expansion can kill MLR however no expansion looks like no growth and therefore no interest.  MLR has done well to expand in markets that can use a sports team and yet not get over their head financially.  So, I think Sacramento will be a good choice.  

LLR-With the news of yet another financial failure from USA rugby is it time to blow it up and restart the governing Union or do you think there should be drastic changes done before we get to that point ?

JF- I think USA Rugby should actually stop and try to reinvent the wheel.  They are always thinking multi-dimensional when it comes to the game that is has caused good people to leave and constant chaos.  USA Rugby is great at doing post season competitions and governance of those competitions.  It is here that should be trying to make them better and better.  I also think they should really start looking for different revenue streams no matter how small.  USA Rugby constantly weighs on the dues from its members.  They really need to explore other revenue streams at different levels of rugby.

LLR-What are your expectations for the USA men's xv's in the 2023 world cup (IF they qualify of course) and the women's xv's 2021 World cup.

JF-  I honestly think we have great coaches in the last few years.  The men need to spend more time playing as a team.  They are doing a little better with new competitions but they need to have a little more practice time.  I am very hopeful for both sides. 

SJSU- Women of Sparta !

There have been a few posts in the past on the men's program at SJSU, this time around I believe it is time for the women of Sparta to get the spot light. Even though the program has it's beginnings from several years ago it wasn't till recently that a revival and dedication from a few have now began to have this program blossoming and booming with participation numbers. Tiffany Lopez, current club president and fullback was gracious enough to answer some questions for LLR. I hope you all enjoy and fallow these remarkable women on their journey because soon they  will be Eagles! 

How did you find rugby ?

- I asked a friend of mine (previous president) If she could send me her game schedule so I can watch a game or two and she invited me to practice. It took me a week or so to get the courage to go and try it. After trying my first practice, I instantly fell in love with the sport. I spent most of my time watching All Blacks and Eagles videos and reading the rules of the game.

When did the club start?

The club was originally founded over a decade ago, however, it did not survive past the original team. in 2017, a student decided she wanted to revive it. The club was not able to take off with a team of 15 let alone a full roster of 23. Last year, we struggled to make 15 again but decided that we want to get this program fired up and ready to take on our conference. We currently have 39 girls rostered on USA Rugby for our team.

What conference does the team play in ?

West Coast Division II Women's Conference

Any team traditions worth sharing?

None yet. However, we are establishing a great foundation for our program now.

How is recruitment of new players every year?

Our hopes are to have at least 10-15 new players every year, especially after we started with 5 returning players and now have 39 on the team this year.

Is there a dedicated field for the women's rugby team to play on ?

Unfortunately not. Our club sports are given half of the School's Football field to practice on for our designated days and times, which we are very grateful for, however, we do have limited time to set up and take down when it comes to Game Days. We are booked up with a few other sports. This can cause a bit of panic and chaos for our team as we try to mentally and physically prepare on game day.

What's some struggles the team faces ?

Because our team is new, we work really hard to make a name for ourselves. We have to spend a lot of time reaching out to other organizations, individuals and students to support our team whether it be financially, fanatically or socially. We like to volunteer and spend some of our free time helping out other organizations in order to show our community that the SJSUWRC understands the humility, humbleness and sacrifice it takes on and off the field to become a great rugby player and athlete.

What has been some highlights for yourself and the team since you have been with them ?

One of my biggest highlights was winning our division at a Sevens Tournament held at CSUMB at the end of our season. We played some tough teams, yet were able to come out victoriously. We worked every day, some days twice a day, to get ourselves better conditioned and better equipped to play. Our team bonding and hard work seemed to pay off. After that, our 5 returning players, including myself, decided to make this year the bets year that SJSUWRC has ever had.

What is your opinion on the status of women's rugby in the US?

I think it is becoming a bigger thing now. Before, I know that female rugby players are naturally labelled as masculine and barbaric. But I think that unfair opinion is now slowly dying out. I have spent the past 20 years in physical sports while competing and winning nationally for Taekwondo with 15 years and collegiately for Judo. I have been lucky to have supportive peers, family and coaches in my life that encouraged my siblings and I to be strong athletes and love what we do just like any other male athlete. This is what I want for my program. To encourage all women, no matter your age, sexual orientation, identity, religious preference or lifestyle.

What would you like to see done to further the game for all levels of female players?

I would love to see more social awareness of local clubs. All of these clubs have so much to offer for boys and girls of all ages. In my hometown area, we have a few clubs not to far, however, you do not see many young girls playing. I think it would be great to share the culture and support that rugby has to offer in order to empower other young women to pursue whatever may come during or after rugby, as well.

Is there one particular player you would like to meet and why ?

I had the opportunity to briefly meet Porsha Woodman after the 2018 World Cup in San Francisco. Luckily after I volunteered for the event, I was chosen to be a part of the awards ceremonies for each winning team. I follow her on Social Media and think she is a fantastic rugby player on and off of the field. She shows so much mana, and positive pride that helps to encourage young women that we can face injury and setbacks, yet still come back and come out stronger than before. Her and her team, the Black Ferns, often give back to their community and show how appreciative for the love and support they receive.

How can people follow you and the women of Sparta rugby club?

We have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sjsuwrc and 

Instagram: @sjsu_womensrugby

Final closing words, any opinions, thoughts or heads up to pass along to the public?

At first I was apprehensive about the commitment and joining after I already retired my athletic career in Taekwondo after 15 years of competing. However, I decided that I wanted to give it a go. This was the best choice I made in college. I met new friends who are now family. Some times new doors open in life and you ahem to take advantage while they are still open. 

Scores

Scores from 4/7-4/10

Boys

Oakland 66 - Pleasanton 24

San Joaquin memorial HS 33 - Southside 17

Elsie Allen 38 - NAPA 12

Newberg Hs 17 - Oregon city 19
Reynolds 35 - Summit HS 0

Girls

Valley Panthers 35- Reynolds 0
Linn Benton 49 - Newberg 20
Bishop O'Dowd (W) 0- Milpitas 0
Solo Falcons 58 - 35 Chico Oaks 

Mens

ORSU 44 - 12 Portland Lumberjacks 

NorCal 3/18/18 Rankings

Premier Varsity A

1- CK McClatchy

2- Granite Bay

3- Jesuit

4- Danville

5- Mother Lode

Premier Varsity B

1- Ck McClatchy

2- Danville

3- Jesuit

4- Granite Bay

5- Marin

Boys D I

1- De La Salle

2- Cougars

3- Bullard

4- SacPD PAL

5- Oakland

Boys JV D I

1- Razor Hawks

2- De La Salle

3- Christian Bros

4- Los Gatos

5- SacPD PAL

Girls D I

1- Bishop O'Dowd

2- SacPD PAL Amazons

3- River City HS

4- Land Park Harlequins

5- Pleasanton 

NorCal 3/2/18

Premier Varsity A

1- Granite Bay

2- Ck McClatchy

3- Mother Lode

4- Jesuit

5- SFGG

Premier Varsity B

1- Ck McClatchy

2- Danville

3- Jesuit

4- Mother Lode

5- Granite Bay

Boys D I

N/A - Rugby NorCal website does not work for these listings.

Boys JV D I

N/A

Girls D I

N/A - rugby Norcal website does not work for these listings.

NorCal Standings

Standings as of 2/10/2018

Premier Varsity A
1- Mother Lode
2- Granite Bay
3- Ck McClatchy
4- Jesuit
5- Solo Falcons

Boys D I
1- Cougars
2- Christian Bros
3- San Joaquin memorial HS
4- Center Parkway Harlequins
5- SacPD PAL

Boys JV D I
1- Chico Oaks
2- Razor-Hawks
3- De La Salle
4- Christian Bros
5- Gridley

Girls D I
1- Clayton Valley
2- Pleasanton
3- Mother Lode
4- Land Park Harlequins
5- Bishop O'dowd

Brotherhood and responsibility | The Oakland Warthogs

SFGG WRFC

Many of you have probably heard of the SFGG (Rhinos) men's side and there many success stories and rich player history pipeline to the US national team or over seas pro clubs. But what many are starting to realize like myself is that the women's side of the SFGG brand is also starting to make just as much noise. Still a relatively young club, in years active, by a simple fallow on just there instagram you can just tell that these ladies are having a blast and enjoying every aspect of the wonderful sport of RUGBY. The Women had a very successful 2015 season that saw them move through to the NorCal Division II playoffs, also they where able to begin to develop the High School Girls 7s team. I was lucky enough to gain some perspective from a member of the SFGG ladies.

 

 

What does SFGG Women’s side mean - " Our women's side is fairly young in the history of the San Francisco Golden Gate RFC. In the past three years we have gone to playoffs each year and been a large contributor to the club with volunteers and fundraising efforts. On all fronts we are helping the club grow. On a more personal level it provides a place for women like me who played in college to continue and advance their level of play and allows women who have never played before to learn the amazing sport. For example, we have women who have been playing for more than a decade packing down next to women who have been playing for less than a month. Our players are from all over the Bay Area, and are very diverse. We join together twice a week for practice to get ready for our, competitive, DII league. We hope to create a squad that will grow in strength and tradition for many years to come." - Olivia Morales

What do you say to that young girl in high school or college about SFGG and why they should come out to play- " SFGG is an all-inclusive club. We want anybody who has a lot of heart and wants to get strong and learn all about rugby! With the recent reintroduction of rugby sevens to the Olympics, beginning play as early as possible gives you a head start on the competition, an opportunity that many of us never had before college level. Rugby is a sport where you lay your body out for your team and fight with them for 80 minutes. It's a sport where you give all you have against the opposing team then social with them after. It teaches you discipline, teamwork, and to push yourself in a way you couldn't imagine. If that's something you think you want to be a part of then we'd love to see you on the pitch representing Golden Gate." - Olivia Morales

The SFGG WRFC currently are sitting at 3-1 this season and you can head to Treasure Island in the middle of the Bay to catch this years matches. the next home game will be April 2, although this coming Saturday March, 12 SFGG will be playing the San Jose Seahawks in San Jose which is just such of San Francisco. I heavily implore that you guys/ladies find time to go watch a match and support not just SFGG WRFC but any and all female rugby clubs at all levels, even though there is a great deal of attention surrounding the mens side of rugby and a new competition begging there is also a greater need and much needed respect to be shown to the women's side, with advocacy for equality in media attention and development of future female Eagles along with preparation for all national team test matches and competitions . #FutureFemaleEagles #usaWrugby

You can follow SFGG WRFC on:

 Instagram @sfggwrfc  (Preference contact form)

Facebook :  Facebook.com/sfggwrfc (preference contact form)

Twitter @sfggwrfc.

 

There is some brief team information at sfggrugby.com

 

 

lastly if you would like to help grow not just the women's side of the SFGG organization you can also help grow Rugby for all levels of female players in the San Francisco Bay Area - "We are currently raising money to cover the cost of our season on indiegogo. Playing rugby in the Bay Area can be quite costly in addition to travel costs and rugby equipment, but in return we do have some great prizes in exchange for donations." -  You can check them out at 2016 SFGG Generosity Funding  .

*thanks to Forwards Captain  Olivia Morales for the answers/quotes and Social Media chair, Beth McKee for passing along the info.