January 18, 2010 (Raleigh, NC) -- The new Carolinas Rugby League for men’s collegiate rugby teams from colleges and universities in North Carolina and South Carolina kicks off its season on January 23rd 2010. Wake Forest will play South Carolina in Columbia, NC State will take on North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and East Carolina will travel to Clemson. Appalachian State has a bye on the first weekend. This is the inaugural season for the league.
“It was time for a shake-up in collegiate competition in the Carolinas. This league structure will bring together some fierce rivals that will evoke a lot of local interest,” said Carolinas Rugby League Commissioner Andy Richards.
The cost and time to travel thousands of miles to play other teams was hurting both the financials and player numbers for many of the rugby clubs. Most of the Division One teams were not competitive, so a group of concerned coaches and club directors saw a local league as a way to improve the situation.
Student-athletes, coaches and club administrators eagerly anticipate the prospect of the league. “The league’s structure will foster healthy rivalry and competitive sportsmanship between teams known for playing at the top level of collegiate rugby”, said junior year student and player at UNC Alex Lee. South Carolina’s Head Coach Geoff Mason said, “The geographic proximity of the league will continue traditional rivalries and also create some new ones. USC – Clemson, UNC – NC State, are already fierce now and playing each other every year with national championship qualification potentially at stake will really ramp up the competition.
Rugby’s increased visibility with the general public was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the league. Appalachian State Club President Ben Llewellyn hopes this type of league will generate new interest and respect for rugby at the local level.
Director of Rugby at Wake Forest Pat Kane adds: “With rugby now the newest Olympic sport, awareness of the game is going to increase dramatically over the next few years. The Carolinas Rugby League, which features well-recognized universities and collegiate rivalries, will serve as yet another step towards bringing rugby into the mainstream of American Athletics. Wake Forest is proud to be part of the league and looks forward to an exciting season of competition.”
You can find out more information about the Carolinas Rugby League at:
http://www.carolinasrugby.com/index.htm
Contact
Andy Richards
League Commissioner andyrichards62@gmail.com
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
View From The Sideline - Week 1
The return to Winston-Salem for the spring semester brings me much anticipation- not for classes, but for the Carolinas League rugby season. It’s not easy to go into your final season as a Wake rugby player knowing that you won’t be on the field with your teammates, but there are certain times in life that you must accept things for what they are and make the best of your situation. Although I can no longer help this team on the rugby pitch, I can use my 8 years of rugby experience to help coach my teammates and make an impact in that way.
It’s very exciting to get back on the rugby pitch for the first practice of the season, and it was great to see the team fired up and ready to get to work. With our first match less than 2 weeks away, we have very little time to get the kinks out and try to get into midseason form. As Perry mentioned in his blog, the team looked very sharp in 2v1 drills on Tuesday, and everyone appeared to be picking up right where they left off after an encouraging fall season. Practice ended with every team member channeling their inner meathead and flipping a gigantic 600 lb. tire. It was good to see the team start the year off right with a solid practice.
As we opened our Thursday practice, the team made many mistakes and appeared uninspired and sloppy. After some harsh ridicule from Coach Kane, the team really started to pick up the intensity and execution. My favorite part of practice was always splitting up into backs and forwards to work on plays and set pieces, which we did for the first time on Thursday. Observing the backline play was very encouraging, and the execution was impressive given the long layoff of winter break. The unit looked crisp and in synch, and there were very few mistakes from the starting unit. Sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea looked especially sharp in the first line, and his play will be pivotal for the Wake backline to succeed in the Carolinas league.
Last night I asked my housemate, senior captain Michael Duffy, how he felt about the first week of practice. “We had to shake off the rust from winter break, but we started to put things together in our Thursday practice,” Duffy said. “The most important thing for the team right now is getting back into an offensive rhythm and improving our fitness level. Everything we do now is in preparation for our game against South Carolina on the 23rd.”
It’s very exciting to get back on the rugby pitch for the first practice of the season, and it was great to see the team fired up and ready to get to work. With our first match less than 2 weeks away, we have very little time to get the kinks out and try to get into midseason form. As Perry mentioned in his blog, the team looked very sharp in 2v1 drills on Tuesday, and everyone appeared to be picking up right where they left off after an encouraging fall season. Practice ended with every team member channeling their inner meathead and flipping a gigantic 600 lb. tire. It was good to see the team start the year off right with a solid practice.
As we opened our Thursday practice, the team made many mistakes and appeared uninspired and sloppy. After some harsh ridicule from Coach Kane, the team really started to pick up the intensity and execution. My favorite part of practice was always splitting up into backs and forwards to work on plays and set pieces, which we did for the first time on Thursday. Observing the backline play was very encouraging, and the execution was impressive given the long layoff of winter break. The unit looked crisp and in synch, and there were very few mistakes from the starting unit. Sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea looked especially sharp in the first line, and his play will be pivotal for the Wake backline to succeed in the Carolinas league.
Last night I asked my housemate, senior captain Michael Duffy, how he felt about the first week of practice. “We had to shake off the rust from winter break, but we started to put things together in our Thursday practice,” Duffy said. “The most important thing for the team right now is getting back into an offensive rhythm and improving our fitness level. Everything we do now is in preparation for our game against South Carolina on the 23rd.”
The team heads up to Roanoke, Virginia this weekend for training camp, and there is a lot to work on in preparation for next weekend’s game against South Carolina.
-Mike Wills, '10
Mike Wills is a senior center whose Wake rugby career ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in October. Mike will be writing a weekly blog giving his perspective on the team as it competes in the inaugural season of the Carolinas Rugby League.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
View From The Field - Week 1
After a month of training and rest, the team returned to campus this week with its attention fixed on the quickly approaching Carolinas League season. Through daily email conversation during the break, the team members were able to both stay in touch and encourage each other by providing reports of their off-season training progress.
At Monday night’s fitness test, most players seemed apprehensive about the test, fearful of performing poorly despite the long training break, but results showed marked improvement for all players in most areas. From my personal experience and from talking to others, some areas definitely still need a lot of work, and fitness still remains an issue for many, but it is apparent the effort that was put in over break to improve.
On Tuesday afternoon the team gathered at Waterfall Field once again to kick off spring season practice. The long winter break was evident in some sloppiness and dropped balls at the beginning of practice; however, after a few minutes the squad seemed sharper and more energetic in their play than was seen in the fall season. In a regularly used 2v1 drill it was clear that there has been marked improvement since November, with partnerships completing successful passes on nearly every play. Later on, players enjoyed learning to use some of the recently acquired training equipment now at the field, namely a 600 lb tractor tire that can be flipped for a very rugby-specific workout. Each player took their turn flipping the tire, including two new players who were thrown right into the mix, each driving the tire over amidst encouraging shouts from their new teammates. It was exciting not only to urge the guys through their tire flips, but also to see the brand new players welcomed and encouraged as if veterans. While practice began somewhat slowly, with all players needing to shake off a little rust, at the end I could sense optimism towards the upcoming season and it looked like the club had certainly improved. There was a certain sharpness to the play that was not seen before.
This weekend we head to Roanoke, Virginia for a weekend-long training camp. For most players, myself included, this will be a new experience and the weekend holds curiosity and excitement as well as partial fear for what the coaches might have in store for us. I think all players expect to work very hard this weekend, and most members of this team have shown dedication in the past that makes me expect this weekend to be both extremely productive and also fun. At the close of the weekend, I expect the team to be more prepared for the high level of play that we should expect to see throughout the Carolinas League season. We definitely need to improve, but since returning to campus, I have seen a level of commitment in the Wake squad that I have not seen in my 3.5 previous seasons. We appear on track to be physically prepared and in the right mindset to take on the University of South Carolina on January 23 in Columbia.
-Perry Salvagne, '10
Perry Salvagne is a senior center who is writing a weekly blog throughout the season giving a player's perspective on the team. His blog will appear every Wednesday.
At Monday night’s fitness test, most players seemed apprehensive about the test, fearful of performing poorly despite the long training break, but results showed marked improvement for all players in most areas. From my personal experience and from talking to others, some areas definitely still need a lot of work, and fitness still remains an issue for many, but it is apparent the effort that was put in over break to improve.
On Tuesday afternoon the team gathered at Waterfall Field once again to kick off spring season practice. The long winter break was evident in some sloppiness and dropped balls at the beginning of practice; however, after a few minutes the squad seemed sharper and more energetic in their play than was seen in the fall season. In a regularly used 2v1 drill it was clear that there has been marked improvement since November, with partnerships completing successful passes on nearly every play. Later on, players enjoyed learning to use some of the recently acquired training equipment now at the field, namely a 600 lb tractor tire that can be flipped for a very rugby-specific workout. Each player took their turn flipping the tire, including two new players who were thrown right into the mix, each driving the tire over amidst encouraging shouts from their new teammates. It was exciting not only to urge the guys through their tire flips, but also to see the brand new players welcomed and encouraged as if veterans. While practice began somewhat slowly, with all players needing to shake off a little rust, at the end I could sense optimism towards the upcoming season and it looked like the club had certainly improved. There was a certain sharpness to the play that was not seen before.
This weekend we head to Roanoke, Virginia for a weekend-long training camp. For most players, myself included, this will be a new experience and the weekend holds curiosity and excitement as well as partial fear for what the coaches might have in store for us. I think all players expect to work very hard this weekend, and most members of this team have shown dedication in the past that makes me expect this weekend to be both extremely productive and also fun. At the close of the weekend, I expect the team to be more prepared for the high level of play that we should expect to see throughout the Carolinas League season. We definitely need to improve, but since returning to campus, I have seen a level of commitment in the Wake squad that I have not seen in my 3.5 previous seasons. We appear on track to be physically prepared and in the right mindset to take on the University of South Carolina on January 23 in Columbia.
-Perry Salvagne, '10
Perry Salvagne is a senior center who is writing a weekly blog throughout the season giving a player's perspective on the team. His blog will appear every Wednesday.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Another National Power to Attend High School Showcase
West Shore United, a U-19 team from Pennsylvania who finished 4th in USA Rugby's 2009 national U-19 playoffs, has committed to attend the Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase on February 27-28.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wake Players to Blog About 2010 League Season
Two senior centers, Mike Wills and Perry Salvagne, will be writing weekly blogs this spring giving their perspective on the Wake Forest men's rugby team. Salvagne's blog, which will appear on this website every Wednesday, will be called "View From the Field" and will provide insight into what a Wake rugby player goes through on a weekly basis. Wills' blog will be called "View From the Sideline" and will be published here every Friday. Wills suffered a knee injury in early October that put him out for the remainder of the year and unfortunately forced a premature end to his Wake rugby career. His blog will give a unique perspective on the team from an All-Star player who can now only help his team from behind the ropes. Both blogs will premiere next week as the team returns to campus and begins its preseason training.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wake Forest Rugby Foundation Elects Officers
The Board of Directors of the Wake Forest Rugby Foundation met for the first time last night and elected officers for the newly-formed 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Foundation will provide support, both financial and otherwise, for the Wake Forest University men's rugby team.
Andrew Gentles, '05, was unanimously elected as President of the Foundation. Andrew is an Associate Relationship Manager in the U.S. Corporate Banking Group of Wells Fargo. Andrew lives and works in New York City and plays for the Old Blue Rugby Club.
Greg Wagner, '07, was unanimously elected as Vice-President of Marketing. Greg currently works as a Division Manager for University Directories and resides in Durham, NC.
David Poplaski, '09, was unanimously elected as Secretary and Treasurer. Dave is a Process Analyst for Aon Consulting in Winston-Salem, NC.
For more information on the Wake Forest Rugby Foundation or to become involved in the Foundation, please contact Greg Wagner at greg.s.wagner@gmail.com.
Andrew Gentles, '05, was unanimously elected as President of the Foundation. Andrew is an Associate Relationship Manager in the U.S. Corporate Banking Group of Wells Fargo. Andrew lives and works in New York City and plays for the Old Blue Rugby Club.
Greg Wagner, '07, was unanimously elected as Vice-President of Marketing. Greg currently works as a Division Manager for University Directories and resides in Durham, NC.
David Poplaski, '09, was unanimously elected as Secretary and Treasurer. Dave is a Process Analyst for Aon Consulting in Winston-Salem, NC.
For more information on the Wake Forest Rugby Foundation or to become involved in the Foundation, please contact Greg Wagner at greg.s.wagner@gmail.com.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
National Powers to Headline Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase
Gonzaga College High School and East Chapel Hill Highlanders have committed to the 2010 Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase on February 27-28. Gonzaga is a perennial participant in the USA Rugby National High School playoffs, finishing 4th in the country last spring. Gonzaga is also the alma mater of current Wake standouts Mike Wills and Johnny McMurray. East Chapel Hill, meanwhile, has just recently burst onto the national scene, finishing 8th in the USA Rugby U-19 national playoffs last spring. The Highlanders return to the Showcase after dismantling all of their opponents in last year's event.
The remaining teams for this year's Showcase are still being confirmed, but may include Unionville High School who won the inaugural Showcase in 2008 and also participated in 2009.
For more information on the Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase, please contact Director of Men's Rugby Patrick Kane at pmkane78@aol.com.
The remaining teams for this year's Showcase are still being confirmed, but may include Unionville High School who won the inaugural Showcase in 2008 and also participated in 2009.
For more information on the Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase, please contact Director of Men's Rugby Patrick Kane at pmkane78@aol.com.
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