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 

Young Slug

    When I played rugby during my brief time at San Jose State University there was always one game we looked forward to. No matter how the season went, it was the rivalry match with University California Santa Cruz. But with that I never really had a opportunity to speak with a player from the opposition let alone learn a bit about the rugby program at UC Santa Cruz.  I am very lucky to able to get in contact with this year's captain of the Santa Cruz rugby club. Jackson who is a a junior at the college was able to give some info on the club, his own career thus far and his thoughts on who will win this year's MLR shield. Hope you all enjoy. 

LLR- Can you please share with us your rugby playing career up to now?

J- I first started playing rugby my freshman year of high school for the Marin Highlanders. I played for the JV my first year and we barely had enough kids to field a team. Now I play for the UCSC men's team with enough guys to put out two sides, so it's a blessing to have that kind of depth to practice and play with.

LLR- How did you get into rugby?

J- I got into rugby after my football teammates begged me to come out and try it. I got one practice in to figure out the rules and then played my first game against Lamorinda two days later.

LLR- Many people may not know about the UCSC rugby club, can you share with us a brief history on the club?

J- The rugby club is the oldest club and sport at UC Santa Cruz. We have alumni still helping the club that were part of the first team in 1967. We play in the PACWEST conference.

 

LLR- There is a pretty heated rivalry with San José state rugby, do you have any memories that stick out from any of those game ?

J- There's always been a rivalry between us and SJSU, we play for the Macbeath-Porter cup, named after the founder of UCSC and SJSU's first coach, but I've never played in the game. My freshman year our B side played them and lost in a close match and my sophomore year it didn't take place because of COVID, so this year I'm extremely excited to get after it.

LLR- How is recruitment done on campus and for incoming players?

J- At UCSC, our coaches and some players handle outreach to clubs that we have connections with or have played for. We can sometimes help players get into the school and if not we can certainly help them find a place that's right for them. Other than that, we have a big club day on campus where we recruit the bulk of our new players, with experience levels ranging from veteran to complete newbie. 

LLR- If you had a chance to speak with high school and youth students, what would you say to them to get them to not only come to UC Santa Cruz but join the rugby team?

J- UCSC is certainly a special place. I understand it's not for everyone, but I will say that you are guaranteed a team who is going to welcome any guy who is willing to commit and work hard. If you can do that, you'll have a strong community of people who look after you. We're not a team with clicks and separate groups. We work towards a common goal together. The rugby community in particular is one that celebrates the game and having fun, rather than wins and losses, even if we do want to win. 

LLR- Lastly, who do you fallow in the MLR and who are your two teams playing for the shield this season?

J- I got the Gillitini's taking it home again over the Warriors. Gotta root for the West Coast!

*This Q&A is out after the Macbeth-Porter Cup played on 1/29/22. Score was 

UCSC 57 - 17 SJSU 

If you would like to fallow and learn more about the rugby club at UC Santa Cruz please fallow them on Twitter @MensSlugRugby and also on Instagram @ucscmensrugby

*if you know of a club or player you'd like to be featured on here please email @ llrugby@yahoo.com or reach out via any social media platforms,  Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Pacific Western Rugby Confrence

It has been sometime since LLR last Q&A and I do love doing these because it helps me as a fan and others to gain insight not just into there favorite teams or players but also what goes on behind the scenes and what the player or club opinions are on current events going on national and international.

As a fan of San Jose State it was only natural to contact the rugby conference they play in and get in touch with the commissioner of the Pacific Western Rugby Conference or PWRC. James Founda was a coach once for SJSU till he took the head job of the conference and is now leading all those involved down a bright future as the league continues to enjoy success with in their own conference and also against the rest of the nation, UC-Davis being a example. With so much emphasis given to DI-A and the Varsity cup, DI-AA tends to be over looked in my opinion and am glad to help shed a little more light on a portion of the level of rugby being played at DI-AA.

A man who wears many hats for the PWRC isn't just your ordinary commissioner who just holds the title and attends a few occasion meetings but instead he is also heavily involved with the growth of the conference and growing the collegiate game and helping to build bridges between everyone involved. I will leave the rest to further explain and give insight..

LLR- For those who may not know who you are, can you please share with us who the commissioner of PWRC is and your rugby back ground?

JF- My name is James Fonda and I am the commissioner of PWRC.  I have been involved in rugby for 28 years starting from years at Chico State to ending my playing career at Back Bay RFC in Newport Beach, CA.  I have coached, BBRFC, UCI Men's Rugby and San Jose State Men's Rugby.   As being the commissioner of PWRC currently, I also sit on the Collegiate Eligibility Committee for USA  Rugby and scout for the Collegiate All Americas.


LLR- The Conference last experienced growth in 2014 with the inclusion of Sacramento State and UC Davis, does the conference have plans to grow more or is 8 teams it for now?

JF- With the constant change of competition year after year, we are looking to expand that makes sense for all the teams.  There are numerous competition idea's floating around and we review it every year.  But, in the end our conference universities wants to compete for a national title year after year both in 15's and 7's.


LLR- When Sacramento and UC Davis joined what was the process, was there certain criteria that clubs must meet before coming in, who has a say in the process?

JF- Any change in competition, gets review by the board, which consists of 5 elected members, and than members are told to vote on it.  


LLR- UC- Davis are defending DI-AA champs and find them self’s in the Finals once again, how significant is this for the conference?

JF- It is massive!!!  Especially if UC Davis repeats again as a national champion, the only team that has beat UC Davis is another conference team Chico State.


LLR- For those who are not aware of the PWRC, what makes this rugby conference different from the others in the west and California?

JF- First off,  we have back to back USA Rugby Div 1AA National Champions.  Second, our top four teams can beat other top teams from other conferences and some Div1A teams.  Third, we were first conference both Div 1A or Div 1AA that has a representative side.  We are going into our third year and will be heading to the Aspen Tournament.  


LLR- How many conference games do you attend as commissioner, how involved are you with the 8 clubs and relationship with USA Rugby?

JF- Since we do have a representative side,  I attend a match a week during the season.  I get involved when teams are struggling or when they are bending the rules.  I try to help prepare teams get ready for a national title run.   Otherwise, the teams run their own programs.  
I work very closely with USA Rugby.  I am trying to build a healthy relationship with them while also building a successful national competition.   I also try to build relationships with other conference commissioners.  


LLR- Now to move on to some world rugby news, what do you make of the Super Rugby mess that has accord, do you agree with the axing down to 15 teams, how would you like to see it played out? 

JF- I think rugby has a major issue.  If you watch some of the super rugby matches, there are some clubs that can barely fill the stands.  The bottom line is that some clubs do not have a good product on the field and our barely being supported  or definitely losing money.  This in return,  puts pressure on the governing body to help fill in the deficit.  I think they are tired of doing this.

They need to consolidate.  They need to get the high standard of the product back on the field.  This brings back the fans and better TV viewing from around the world.

LLR- -there was a article out recently that there is still a shot for a super rugby team to be placed in Canada and USA come 2020, Patrick Johnston from The Province. Is having a team in super rugby and say the PRO12, USA Rugby future or should we just focus on developing our own “League” for Union? 

JF- Well it sounds like super rugby is definitely getting back to consolidation so I do not see this happening anytime soon.  I think a pro rugby league will happen in the US.  But, it's success will depend on how the competition is built.  It can be rushed, it really needs to be thought through.  Every time we try this, we fail and than it takes a few more years to get the fans back.  Remember, the key is the product on the field has to be excellent so people can say to themselves, "Wow, that was entertaining".       

LLR- Next year is the 7’s world cup played in the Bay Area, what are your predictions?

JF- It will be successful.  I also think the world should take notice if USA Rugby does well from operating the tournament than this can lead to the grand daddy of hosting the 15's world cup.  I also think the Pat Clifton does not know what he is talking about when is stating that the USA Rugby is built on a house of cards from his article on www.rugbytoday.com.   If I had to evaluate where we are in 7's it is that we are right on track to really give it a go in 2018.  I even like the depth of some real talent coming in as well.    

LLR- Last two questions, the Toronto wolf pack kicked off this year in the league 1 and plan on working their way up to the super League, if things go according to plan there is talks to start 2-3 US based Professional league clubs just like the Wolf Pack, with that talk and also again with Pro12 and Super Rugby eyeing US for potential teams, could League and Union work at the professional level in America?  

JF- Union by far, it is really grabbing on the roots level while league has no youth program what so ever.  Once again, it is the time to set up the competition properly and not rush it that will make the difference.

LLR- Lastly, if you could see one match up of any National side or Club team, what would that be?  

JF- Wow, a tough question, I think that a collegiate representative side tournament brought back could really be huge.  The college game is where it is at.  The structure is there as well.  I am hoping to see this in 2018.  

PWRC representative side.

________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to thank James for taking the time to respond and hope to do one of these again in the lead up to the 2018 season and what new developments we can expect from the Pacific Western Rugby Conference. if anyone has any question for me or James please feel free to use the contacts listed below, and I encourage everyone to not only fallow and support the PWRC but also there own local college programs, the more support and enthusiasm shown to these programs the more serious those university associated with them will begin to lend a helping hand in many shapes and ways.

*Stanford over the weekend won the PacWest 7s tournament and will be heading to the USA 7s nationals. 

PWRC: pacwestrugby.com/

PWRC Commissioner: James Fonda - jamesfonda@pacwestrugby.com

LLR: llrugby@yahoo.com