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HOT NEWS
...the latest on our U-19/high school efforts

Hail to the Fort Hunt Rugby Nation:

Local High School Rugby Programs

Many of our experienced, older players have asked about opportunities to play U-19/high school rugby during the spring season. While there are no school-sponsored high school rugby teams in Fairfax County Public Schools, there are a number of established U-19/high school programs that compete in the spring. These teams accept players from 8th to 12th grade. The players play at an A, B and even C-team level within programs that fit their rugby experience, size, fitness, ability and maturity.

Fort Hunt Rugby has not been able to field a HS/U-19 team for Spring 2010, but we've been very fortunate to enjoy the good will of both Springfield Youth Club (SYC) as well as Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC).  Under the leadership of Fort Hunt Rugby assistant coach Dale Roach, we've had a number of our experienced high school ruggers training and playing with SYC this spring, gaining invaluable experience ahead of our July trip to Canada, and ahead of what we plan on being the first year of Fort Hunt U-19 rugby in Spring 2011.

 

 

 

Springfield Youth Club (SYC) Eagles: http://www.sycva.com/rugby/U19/

 

U-16 Tour To Canada in July

 

For all Fort Hunt Rugby players who are 14-16 and who are interested in playing in this year’s summer tour in Canada, playing in spring U-19/high school rugby will be an excellent opportunity to play full, 15-a-side rugby before we have to play in the Canadian tournament. Playing in the spring is by no means mandatory for the tournament participation, but will help us prepare as a team and as individuals.

Click here to go to the tour page.

 

Time to Go to Practice

 

It is important that we get everyone out who wants to play, within the coming week. SYC practices are from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Games are usually on Saturdays. Coach Dale Roach will be driving to practice from West Potomac High School on some days.

If you have questions you can contact Coach Dale Roach at 703-768-4333, cell 571-926-0709 or email dale.roach@noblis.org, or check the club website at www.fhyaa.org/rugby.

Boys' High School/U-19 Rugby
...coming soon to the Fort Hunt/West Potomac/Mount Vernon area

With the success of our summer youth program, we want to step up and create a Fort Hunt boys' U-19/high school spring rugby program.

There are two options for this to take shape:

1.  A Fort Hunt area team, which will be open to any high school-age (14-18) boy, regardless of school.  So, players are welcome from West Potomac, Mount Vernon, Bishop Ireton, St. Louis, Browne Academy, any school in the area.

or

2.  A high school-specific team.  Right now, the boys already at and moving up to West Potomac from Carl Sandburg are leading the charge, and although it looks like we won't have the numbers for spring 2010, things are looking good for the spring 2011 season.  The first school that presents with enough boys will get themselves a coach, and will have a team.  (Ideally, both West Potomac and Mount Vernon will sport rugby clubs, but this is way down the road.)

Bottom Line: Fort Hunt boys who want to play rugby must get themselves together and decide to commit to a club/team.  A minimum of 20 dedicated players is needed.  If that comes together, you've got a qualified coach (John Dacey) ready to go.

Note: Rugby will not be a simple extracurricular, but will be a full-season spring sport, and as such will compete directly with soccer, baseball and lacrosse.  Players coming out for rugby will be expected to devote themselves and their time to rugby, and to no other sports.  Players and parents need to think hard about their commitment(s).

When we get this off the ground, practices will begin in early March, with our first matches probably coming in early April.

We can expect to play matches throughout northern Virginia and into Maryland.

Fees: We have nothing specific at this time; a rough approximation will be $100, which will pay for national registration and insurance, team equipment (balls, pinnies, contact equipment, cones, field marking gear) and two full sets of home and away jerseys (which will be club equipment).

Player-supplied equipment will be shorts, socks, training jerseys, mouthpiece (required for practice and play), and gloves, headgear, padded shirts, etc. (all of these are optional).

Volunteers: This effort will absolutely require assistance with coaching and administration.  Anyone who can help will be a major hero.  No prior experience with rugby coaching, administration or playing is needed.

Contact: John Dacey, 703-780-5859, rugby007@aol.com.
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