Your Scrumhalf Connection

To contact NBC sports w/comments use

nbcsportshelp@nbcuni.com

To view their rugby page go to

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35910886/ns/sports-rugby_sevens

No women’s rugby, but rugby on TV nonetheless…lets support!

NBC has agreed to broadcast the first Rugby 7′s collegiate championship June 5-6, marking what NBC believes is the first time college rugby games have appeared on broadcast television. The round-robin tournament will be held at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and feature 16 teams, including Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida, Cal, Harvard and Yale. NBC will broadcast the games in the 4:30-6:00pm ET time slot on both Saturday and Sunday, while Universal Sports will air coverage from 2:00-4:30pm both days.  NBC Sports Exec VP Jon Miller said, “Rugby Sevens is an exciting, fast-paced sport that is growing in global popularity, participation and interest. USA Sevens is the ideal partner for this event, which features the best collegiate rugby teams in the country.” Rugby 7’s will make its Olympic debut at the ‘16 Rio de Janeiro Games.

From Buzz McClain and NBC Sports:

All times in ET

Saturday, June 5
Universal Sports (LIVE)
2:00 p.m. – Florida vs. Indiana
2:30 p.m. – Arizona vs. Arizona State
3:00 p.m. – Harvard vs. Notre Dame
3:30 p.m. – Utah vs. Bowling Green

NBC (LIVE)
4:00 p.m. - San Diego State vs. Tennessee
4:30 p.m. – Army vs. Navy
5:00 p.m. – California vs. Dartmouth
5:30 p.m. - Ohio State vs. Penn State

Sunday, June 6
Universal Sports (LIVE)
2:00 p.m. – Challenger semifinals
3:00 p.m. – Championship semifinals

NBC (LIVE)
4:00 p.m. – Challenger final
5:15 p.m. – Championship final

Complete Rugby Sevens schedule

Event Dates: June 4-6, 2010

Event Location: Columbus Crew Stadium – Columbus, OH

The Rugby 7’s Collegiate Championship Invitational is a new, sixteen team round-robin tournament featuring the most intense Division I collegiate rivalries in the country. With only seven players per team playing on the same size pitch as a 15s match, sevens rugby offers non-stop action where speed, high scoring & athleticism rule the day.

As Rugby Sevens will be an Olympic sport in 2016, the Collegiate Championship Invitational will showcase the top college rugby players in the nation and future Olympians.

NBC Sports will broadcast the Collegiate Championship Invitational live on Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, 2010. The broadcast is unprecedented in American Rugby history, as it will be the first time collegiate rugby is shown live on a major national network.

For full schedule and other details, go here.

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.

I was standing on the pitch last Thursday night along with Kent Jeffries (aka “Lumpy”).We were both watching our sons practice rugby for the Raleigh Rattlesnakes. Lumpy and I played together on the first Raleigh team back in ’81 that Jim and Charles Frazelle put together.

Anyway, I spoke to Kent about our first days of Raleigh Rugby. I do remember a friend of mine telling me to go down to the Player’s Retreat on Hillsborough Street for an impromptu meeting regarding recruitment of players for the new Raleigh Rugby club and to get an interview with Jim Kellenberger. I walked in saw a young man wearing one of those English looking beanie caps whilst others in his group were whirling darts. The Interview went like this. Jim to me- “Do you have wheels?”. Me to Jim- “ I reckon”. Jim to me – “Good, practice starts next Tuesday”. That was it. I am not sure how he recruited Lumpy.

In those days our matches were held behind the old Westinghouse building on US 1 on mainly flat ground with very little grass and assorted geological wonders (rocks) scattered around the pitch. Good times. The discussion went on about playing on those fields, the early days of the club, trying to get the number to field a full side, traveling, parties, etc. But I digress.

The human interest piece might be such: I asked Kent at that practice, “Did you ever think that almost 30 years later that our children would be playing this sport on a pitch owned by Raleigh Rugby (with grass no doubt) and that we would be coaching them?” Then it dawned on me. Wait, Kent Jeffries twin sons are playing, Frank Milchuck’ son and soon to be sons are playing, John Kellerman who is also coaching has a son playing with us, Rick McBride who has coached the Rattlesnakes and now coaches the Vipers has a son playing and of course, I have a son who is playing. Have to mention Philip Davies (aka “Paddio”) who used to cook for Raleigh Rugby has a son playing. I have no doubt that all four of Milchuck’ sons will play when they become age appropriate.

So if there is a human interest story here at all, I think it a strong testament that past players not only encourage their sons to play this sport, but are also coaching them as well. I say this because so often I hear from parents that will not allow their boys and now young women to play the sport of “rugby” for fear of it being too “rough”. Fact is, we see more injuries in court volleyball. We are teaching safe play and we all know of no other sport that requires the “team” approach the way that rugby does. It certainly builds character, fellowship and I might add a great way to stay fit.

But in searching for any kind of potential human interest I see several angles of approach and the aforesaid above being one of them. Another might be the early days and progression of the club citing examples of early struggles and how we now boast youth rugby teams. The fact that we run our own club and maintain well kept pitches and facilities (where other clubs have floundered), provides fertile ground for expanding the youth programs. How the sport will continue to grow and become more popular in the US because of youth rugby. Youth rugby will most definitely lift the skill levels for future adult players by virtue of the added experience alone.

We have so many people that contribute to this great endeavor for no profit whatsoever other than the satisfaction of the sport and what it has to offer. No one is bought off with $$ or big contracts here. There is no follow the money trail. For anyone that has ever had anything to do with the sport of rugby, be it, fan, player, coach, referee, administrator, it really gets into your blood and it is hard to walk away. Just ask our board members, our players and our coaches and coaches with sons that they are passing the sport to.

I am sure we will have more stories to tell as the season progresses, but we do want to present something to promote Raleigh Youth Rugby going forward. By the way, our numbers are continuing to grow and we may have enough players to field a full U15 (15 years of age and under) side this season.

Respectfully and just thinking out loud,
Tommy Myatt
Raleigh Rattlesnakes U19/U15 Rugby

Western Rugby Union Collegiate Divisions I and II Championships – Saturday and Sunday – 27 and 28 March 2010

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Venue Details

• Spectators will be issued wristbands and must wear at all times while in attendance at the tournament.
• Entry to and exit from the facility must be through controlled access points only. Other exits will be used for emergencies and operational use only.
• Gates will open 90 minutes prior to the first scheduled match of each day.
• Team personnel, support staff, and officials will be issued event credentials and must display/present for entry.
• Individuals (to include team personnel, event staff, spectators, etc.) may re-enter the SAC at any time throughout the two day tournament, provided they present their appropriate mode of entry (credentials or wristband).

Concessions and Merchandise

• There will be on-site concessions, tournament programs, and event t-shirts for sale throughout the duration of the tournament or while supplies last. Cash or check payments will be accepted.
• No outside food or drink will be allowed into the complex.

Schedule

Divsion I Women

Divsion II Women