Your Scrumhalf Connection

For this week’s rugby video, I thought we could take a look back to last year’s Dallas 7s Tournament! We had 10 women’s teams and of course the infamous Debutante Ball (prom dress rugby). Check out the highlight video of the Debutante Ball and the Championship match between the Glendale Raptors and the Satiated Beavers. If your team is interested in attending the 2010 Dallas 7s on June 3, 2010, check out the details here and if you have any questions email me!

Dallas Debutante Ball 2009 from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

Satiated Beavers vs Glendale – Dallas 7s Final from Scrumhalf Connection on Vimeo.

To view more YSC videos hover over the heading ‘Videos’ on the navigation bar up top and choose Rugby Video Monday.

Please continue sending in your videos and I will keep posting them! Send them to wendy@scrumhalfconnection.com.

MARCH 10, 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

2ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL TOUCH RUGBY TOURNAMENT:
Highlights & Results, New Mixed Divsion Tournament Champions

The “Untouchables” after their win in Ft. Lauderdale. Back Row: Adam Russell, PJ Komongnan, Scottie Fraser, Aurora Bushner, Toshi Palamo, Tonga Fanueli. Front Row: CJ Hildreth, Stacy Bennett, Katie Miller, Beth Black.

A blow-out event this year with visiting DC/ VA/ MD team the “Untouchables” winning the Mixed finals after competitive round-robin play whittled down the competition to local hosts Ft Lauderdale & the “Untouchables.” An elite side of ex-pats, US Eagles Ladies 7′s players, and DC-area league players took home the trophy and prize money as they pushed to a 4-0 win in the 2nd half, after a tight 2-0 first period. Ft Lauderdale defended tightly, with aggressive ladies defense a highlight, but were unable to break the opposition line on attack, despite some break away runs flowing the length of the field. Experienced Cayman Islands referees Guy Major & Steve Henshaw kept tight control of proceedings, despite the Untouchables’ exuberant & canny use of the international rules and their big match experience proving the deciding factor on the day.

International representatives, Cayman Island Pirates came in 3rd in the Mixed Division, due to a semi-final loss to the hosts Ft Lauderdale with a 5-2 result. The 2008 US Nationals Mixed division champs were without some of their other experienced team-mates, but their nous & knowledge of the laws meant Ft Lauderdale had to keep pushing until the final whistle, as the Pirates threatened on every occasion with ball in hand.

Fielding teams in both Mixed & Men’s divisions, Ft Lauderdale were able to sneak a win in the Premier Men’s division match against rivals Orlando. The 4-3 final score showed the intensity & competitive conflict nature of every encounter between these 2 teams, with the infamous Mickey Cup on the line for each match.

New South Florida touch rugby club Palm Beach were the only side, other than the hosts Ft Lauderdale, to field teams in both Men’s & Mixed Divisions. Their enthusiasm & growing confidence were apparent with each successive match & they are clearly a force to be reckoned with in future competition. They may even be the dark horse to watch, with this year’s US Nationals being played at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort, FL September 24-25, 2010. http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/events/eventDetail/detail?name=FloridaTouchRugbyUSANationalsDetailPage

Upcoming competition for the Untouchables includes tournaments in Portland, OR in July, Orlando, FL in September for USA Touch Nationals, and international travel to New Zealand in February.

Your Scrumhalf Connection is proud to sponsor the 30th Annual Ruggerfest in DC this weekend. Part of that sponsorship includes posting the brackets and live score updates on Twitter and Facebook! The Girl and I will both be in DC this weekend, come find us for a free tshirt (we will have 5 for free and more for sale).

Divisions:
Competitive: Division 1 Teams
Two Social Division

Tournament Venue:
Rosecroft Raceway

Tournament Party:
DA’s Regional Food and Drink
810 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Tournament Brackets:

Thanks to the Tournament Organizers for putting on such a great event!

Amy Shopkorn
Ryan Whited
Co-Chairs Ruggerfest 2010
ruggerfest@dcfuries.com
http://www.dcfuries.com/ruggerfest.shtml

On Saturday, the Buffalo Rugby Club hosted their 15th annual “7s in the Snow Tournament”. The tournament began in Delaware Park with half a dozen local teams, though it has grow to over 35 teams from NY, Pennsylvania and Canada.

This year there were over 400 participants playing rugby on 5 fields. The teams included men’s, women’s and college teams. 7 on 7 rugby is a shorter, more wide open format that is used for the tournament. Instead of the normal 15 on 15 teams, the 7 on 7 leads to more scoring which is more fun for the fans and participants.

The Buffalo Rugby Club is the premier rugby club in Western NY. Founded in 1966, they currently have two competitive sides. The first side competes in the Midwest in Division 1. The second side competes in NYS Division 3; it won the 2009 NYS championships and finished 2nd in the Northeast. By virtue of that, the team qualified for the National Sweet 16 championships in May.

by Kirstin Hartos

SAN DIEGO, California (January 25, 2010) – The San Diego Surfers Rugby Club proudly presents the 27th Annual Champagne Classic rugby tournament. The Champagne Classic is the West Coast’s premier women’s rugby tournament, and will be held on March 6 & 7, 2010 at NTC Park. The 2009 National Champion Surfers will host up to 20 women’s teams from all over the United States and Canada, competing in multiple divisions. This year’s tournament marks an exciting change in location to the newly renovated facilities at NTC Park and Liberty Station in Point Loma, adjacent to the tournament hotel and social. Teams already registered for the tournament include:

Club

• Belmont Shore
• Berkeley All Blues
• Boulder Babes
• Canadian Caribou
• Canadian Kodiaks
• Coast Classic
• Dirty Chickens
• NorCal Triple Threat
• San Diego Surfers
• San Luis Obispo Beaches
• Santa Monica
• Stanford
• Tempe

Collegiate

• Claremont
• Rugby Canada U18
• Blackdoodles
• University of California – San Diego
• Utah State University
• Utah Valley University

For more information or to register online, go to www.sdsurfersrugby.com/champagne_classic.html.

Registration fees:
• $450/club and $350/collegiate through February 5th; click here to register online:
http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=1802532

Prizes:
Team prizes are awarded to Champagne Bracket 1st and 2nd place, Chablis 1st place and Collegiate 1st place.
MVP prizes awarded for Club-Tight 5, Club-Middle, Club-Backs and Collegiate overall.

More about the Champagne Classic – The Champagne Classic is the Surfers’ biggest annual event and also serves as the club’s primary fundraiser. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Surfers are always looking for sponsors and donations from local businesses and individuals to help cover our operating expenses (including equipment, uniforms, travel expenses, field rental, etc.). Anyone interested in advertising in the tournament program, making a tax-deductible donation to or sponsoring the Surfers should visit our website at www.sdsurfersrugby.com or e-mail the Surfers at SDSurferRugby@gmail.com.

About the San Diego Surfers – The San Diego Surfers are the only women’s rugby club in San Diego, and originated as “Ombush” (part of OMBAC) in 1975. The club changed its name to the Rio Grande Surfers in 1980. In 1997, the club applied for non-profit status and officially changed its name to the San Diego Surfers. In 2009, the Surfers won the USA Rugby Division I National Championship in 2009, and finished 3rd at the National Invitational 7s Tournament. The Surfers have previously finished 10th (2008) and 12th (2007) at the USA Rugby National Championships. For more information about the San Diego Surfers or the Champagne Classic Tournament, visit www.sdsurfersrugby.com.

Directions to NTC Park (2335-2455 Cushing Road, San Diego, CA 92106) – From I-5 South, or I-8 West, exit Rosecrans St. and continue onto Rosecrans St. Turn left at Roosevelt Rd., then turn right at Cushing Rd. The park will be on the left.