Middlesex Secures National Playoff Spot

Matt Gottbrecht, Wake Forest Rugby '09, helped the Middlesex Barbarians to a second place finish in the Northeast Division II Regional Playoffs. Middlesex thus advances to the USA Rugby National Playoffs in May. Full reports on the matches are available from RugbyMag.com.

http://www.rugbymag.com/news/clubs/men-dii-clubs/middlesex-bayonne-in-dii-nru-final.aspx

http://www.rugbymag.com/news/clubs/men-dii-clubs/bayonne-flies-by-barbarians-to-win-nru.aspx

Gottbrecht Looks to Lead Middlesex to National Playoffs

Matt Gottbrecht, Wake Rugby Class of 2009, will lead the Middlesex Barbarians (Boston, MA) into the Northeast Division II Senior Men's Playoffs this weekend in New York City. Gottbrecht, an openside flanker, helped Middlesex to an undefeated regular season in the team's first year in Division II after moving up from Division III this fall. Middlesex will take on Monmouth (NJ) on Saturday and if victorious will then face the winner of Bayonne (NJ) and Montauk (Long Island, NY) for the Northeast Championship on Sunday. Both teams that advance to the finals will receive automatic bids to the USA Rugby national playoffs in the spring.

Turner Sidelined for Spring

Wake Forest's sophomore wing Brandon Turner will miss the 2010 spring season with a torn ACL suffered on November 7 while playing with the North Carolina Collegiate All-Star team. Turner becomes the fourth Wake Forest player to have suffered this fate this fall, joining teammates Matt Storck, Ben Cohen, and Mike Wills. Along with Turner, all of these players were North Carolina Collegiate All-Stars and their absence from the Wake lineup will present a challenge for the team as it competes in the inaugural Carolinas Rugby League season beginning in January. Said head coach Patrick Kane of the string of ACL injuries, "On the plus side, these guys will have plenty of company as they rehab after surgery and hopefully will be able to push each other to get fit and back on the field as early as possible next fall."

Freshmen James Jeffrey and Tommy Hopkins are on the coaching staff's short list to replace Turner on the wing. Turner scored 8 tries in 5 games for the Demon Deacons this preseason.

Wake Finishes Preseason on Winning Note

Behind two tries each from sophomore center Tyler Vanston and sophomore loose forward Jeff Millar, Wake Forest finished its 2009-2010 preseason with a 50-10 victory over Lander University. Sophomore scrumhalf Will Hank added 15 points with the boot and senior center David Sage, sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea, and junior flanker Clay Robinson each scored tries as Wake ended its fall schedule on a high note.

Meanwhile, in Knoxville, TN, five Wake players helped the North Carolina Collegiate All-Stars to a second place finish in the South Collegiate All-Star Championships. In the first match of the day, North Carolina defeated Georgia 14-11, with Wake Forest lock Christian Jewett scoring a try for the squad. In the championship match, NC fell 23-8 to the Mid-South All-Stars.

Wake now enters the offseason and will focus its efforts on preparing to compete in the newly formed Carolinas Rugby League in the spring.

Wake Lineup vs Lander

1. Nick Conte, So.
2. Chris Ryan, So.
3. Devin Henry. Jr.
4. Billy Caster, Fr. (Matt Layden, So. @ 55)
5. Ty Pierce, Fr.
6. Justen Robinett, So.
7. Kip Lewis, So.
8. Jeff Millar, So.
9. Will Hank, So.
10. Brendan Shea, So.
11. James Jeffrey, Fr.
12. David Sage, Sr.
13. Perry Salvagne, Sr.
14. Tyler Vanston, So. (Clay Robinson, Jr. @ 40)
15. Johnny McMurray, Fr. (Barret Corrigan, Fr. @ 15)

Tries: Shea, Vanston (2), Sage, Millar (2), Robinson
Conversions: Hank (6)
Pens: Hank

Demon Deacons Conclude Preseason On Saturday Against Lander

Wake Forest's 2009-2010 preseason will come to an end on Saturday when the team takes on Lander University in Winston-Salem. Kickoff will be at 1pm. Lander is a developing Division 3 program and Wake will use the game as an opportunity to try out some new combinations and get some much-needed game experience for its younger players.

Meanwhile, five Wake players will be accompanying the North Carolina Collegiate All-Star team to the South Collegiate All-Star Championships in Knoxville, TN. Mike Duffy, Christian Jewett, Trent Justice, Ross Hilton, and Ken Forte will all suit up for the side. Brandon Turner was also set to play for the All-Star team but suffered a serious knee injury in the team's warmup match this past weekend against the Life Rugby Academy.

Rugby Comes to the Big Screen

Watch the trailer for the soon to be released movie "Invictus."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Ovkye6lac

East Carolina Game Washed Out

Wake Forest's scheduled game against East Carolina has been cancelled due to unplayable field conditions. With ankle deep water making the playing surface unsafe for rugby, the unavoidable decision was made by head referee Ken Muir and tournament organizer Bob Davis to call off today's scheduled North Carolina Rugby Union Tournament matches.

Wake Forest has one remaining match in its 2009-2010 preseason schedule, against Lander University at home on November 14. Wake will then take a two month hiatus from game play as they prepare for the opening of the inaugural Carolinas League season on January 23.