Wake Rugby Partners with Triad Youth Rugby

The Wake Forest men's rugby team has entered into the beginning stages of a relationship with the Triad Youth Rugby Association. The partnership will officially kick off on January 11, as the team will host a skills clinic for the TYRA as part of the team's preseason training camp. Wake Forest will also host TYRA matches throughout the spring season. The first of these will be on January 31, as TYRA is tentatively planning to play both a U-15 and U-19 match as a curtainraiser for Wake Forest's showdown with University of North Carolina.

Wake Forest's involvement with TYRA will hopefully help strengthen the youth rugby presence in Winston-Salem. TYRA has simultaneously entered into a similar partnership with the UNC-Greensboro men's team in order to increase participation and involvement in Greensboro.

Any Triad youth interested in becoming involved with rugby are encouraged to contact TYRA Director Richard Ridewood at richard.ridewood@coats.com.

Wake Rugby Fundraising Raffle Underway

The Wake Forest Men's Rugby Team has kicked off its annual fundraising raffle. Tickets are $2 or 3 for $5. If you are interested in entering the raffle and supporting the team, please email team Vice-President Dave Poplaski at popldj5@wfu.edu. The prize drawing will be held on February 1, 2009 and winners will be posted here and notified by phone or email.

'08-'09 Wake Forest Men's Rugby Fundraising Raffle

Grand Prize: $500
Second Prize: $250
Third Prize: $100
Fourth Prize (6): $25
Fifth Prize (12): Wake Rugby Golf Shirt
Sixth Prize (20): Wake Rugby T-Shirt

Wake Rugby Legends Victorious at Homecoming

After the current Wake Forest squad defeated UNC-Pembroke 41-12 on Saturday, they remained on the field to play a second match against the Wake Forest Rugby Legends, a squad comprised of Wake Rugby alumni, coaches and supporters, rounded out by a few current players. The Legends scored early and often against the fatigued Wake team, winning 53-0. Alumni who suited up for the Legends included Achilleas Patounas '06, Justin Edwards '06, Hien Nguyen '07, Greg Wagner '07, Adam Blincoe '07, Rusty Hedrick '07, and Tyler Eure '08.

Wake Closes Fall with 41-12 Defeat of UNC-Pembroke

Wake Forest finished its fall rugby campaign with a mixed first and second side taking on upstart Division 3 program UNC-Pembroke on Homecoming Weekend in Winston-Salem. The inexperienced Wake side found themselves on their heels early as Pembroke ran out to an early 12-0 lead behind the stellar play of NCRU All-Star scrumhalf Rich English. Wake regrouped and two unconverted tries left them trailing 12-10 at the half.

The second half was a completely different game from the first 40 minutes, as Wake ran in five tries while Pembroke could not muster anything offensively. Wake freshmen wing Will Hank converted three of the five second half tries, while also touching down a try of his own. He was joined in the scoring column by fellow freshmen Brendan Shea and Charlie Crockett, both of whom scored two tries on the day.

Wake now moves into its offseason. Training will resume on January 10, when the team returns early from semester break for an intensive three day training camp leading up to the Atlantic Coast Invitational in Florida on January 17-18.

Wake Forest Spring Rugby Schedule Announced

1/17-18 Atlantic Coast Invitational Rugby Tournament (Tallahassee, FL)
1/24 Off
1/31 University of North Carolina (Home)
2/7 East Carolina University* (Greenville, NC)
2/14 North Carolina State University* (Home)
2/21 Appalachian State University* (Boone, NC)
2/28 Davidson College (Home-Senior Day)
2/28-3/1 Wake Forest High School Rugby Showcase (Home)
3/7 Off (Spring Break)
3/14 Off (Spring Break)
3/21 USA Rugby South DII Quarterfinals (Location TBD)
3/28-29 USA Rugby South DII Final Four (Location TBD)

*Denotes League Match

Wake Places 3rd in North Carolina Rugby Union Tournament

Wake Forest finished third in the 2008 North Carolina Rugby Union Tournament, besting North Carolina State 24-0 on Sunday morning in the tournament consolation game.

Wake began the tournament with its second side taking on the East Carolina second side in the B Division of the tournament. Wake won the match 17-14, with tries being scored by freshman flanker Jeff Millar and freshman scrumhalf Kip Lewis. Junior flyhalf JD Harrison converted both tries and added a penalty to lead Wake to the victory.

The Wake first side opened the tournament against Elon and the result was never in doubt as the Demon Deacons completely dominated territory and possession, running out 24-0 winners. Wake led 19-0 at the half behind a try from sophomore flanker Hunter Lostan, a brace from senior #8 Timo Kawira and two conversion from sophomore wing Scott Gillespe. After the break Wake tacked on another 5 points courtesy of a penalty try after they drove a 5 meter scrum across the tryline where an Elon defender infringed and prevented Kawira from touching down for a third time.

The second side was then back in action against the UNC-Chapel Hill second side and lost a heartbreaker 19-14 as UNC ran in a converted try on the game's final play. Wake tries were scored by flyhalf Harrison and sophomore center Kyle Rate. Harrison was again perfect with the boot, nailing both conversions.

In the A Division semifinal, Wake took on familiar foe East Carolina, ranked #3 in the country in Division II by eRugbyNews.com. ECU beat Wake twice last spring, including the South Championship game and Wake was eager to avenge those defeats. ECU opened the scoring with a try in the corner from NCRU All-Star wing Bobby Allen. The difficult sideline conversion was good and Wake trailed 7-0. The Demon Deacons responded with an impressive try from their forwards who drove a 5 meter scrum across the line for #8 Kawira to touch down. Gillespe was good with the conversion to knot the score at 7 apiece. A handling error in the Wake backline inside its own 22 allowed ECU to regain the lead and the teams went into the half with ECU ahead 14-7.

The second half began with ECU pressuring the Wake tryline, but a strong defensive stand turned into a Wake counterattack, culminating in junior lock Christian Jewett touching down between the posts. Gillespe's conversion tied the game at 14. Off the ensuing restart, Wake continued to pressure and the forwards notched their seventh try of the day with freshman flanker Brendan Shea this time doing the honors. Gillespe's touchline conversion was no good and Wake led 19-14. Finding themselves down in the second half for the first time all season, the experienced ECU side shifted into another gear. A try from NCRU All-Star center Matt Hughston tied the game at 19 and with 5 minutes remaining in the match ECU took the lead 26-19 with another converted try from Allen. With time running down Wake could muster very little in terms of an offensive attack and the match ended with Hughston scoring another try on an impressive individual effort. Final score ECU 33 Wake 19.

The loss to ECU meant Wake would play for third place on Sunday against NC State, who were unlucky to have lost to UNC-Chapel Hill 8-3 in the other semifinal. The third place match was all Wake Forest, as they defeated a less than full-strength Wolfpack side 24-0. Gillespe started the scoring with a try in the corner and followed that up by converting a try from senior scrumhalf Drew Legge for a 12-0 lead at the half. After withstanding a strong NC State start to the second half, Wake finished the day with tries from freshman wing Ben Cohen and junior prop Kenton Forte.

In the championship game, ECU picked up where it left off on Saturday against Wake, winning 49-14 over UNC-Chapel Hill. It was an extremely impressive display of rugby from the Pirates who proved this weekend that they are head and shoulders above the rest of the teams in the union.

Wake's fall season will come to an end in two weekends as the first side plays the Wake Forest Rugby Alumni on Homecoming weekend and the second side takes on UNC-Pembroke.

ALUMNI MATCH SET FOR NOV. 8

The annual Wake Forest Rugby Alumni Match will take place on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend at 12pm on Poteat Field. Former Wake Forest Ruggers will lace up the boots to take on the current Wake first side, followed by the Wake second side taking on UNC-Pembroke. All Wake Rugby Alumni are encouraged to attend, even if they don't plan to play. If you do plan to play, please notify Alumni Liason Critter Commins as commcj5@wfu.edu so that we can get an idea of numbers.