First chatisode coming soon!

There are a lot of great rugby lives out in the world, and I have the pleasure of sharing my first one from Italy as a chatisode (an interview episode conducted via IM).

As soon as its ready, it will be online for your reading pleasure...so watch this space!

Americas Rugby Championship

USA Rugby just announce that this year, the Americas Rugby Championship will replace the IRB North America 4. The new Championship will feature six teams: four Canadian provincial sides, the Argentina Jaguars and the USA Select XV side, and aims to unite rugby in North and South America in a high performance sub-international structure for the first time.

The four Canadian teams will play in a round robin format with the top two meeting in the semifinals. The other semifinal on October 10, will pit the Jaguars against the USA Select XV side at Glendale’s Infinity Park in Colorado.

Tickets are on sale with price being $20 for adults, $15 for students (13-18). $5 Children (5-14, 4 under is free) and cane be purchased here.

For more information on the Americas Rugby Championship, head on over to www.americasrugbychampionship.com or www.usarugby.org/goto/ARC

Podcast Episode 4 - Phaidra Knight

Phaidra Knight (Credit: Randy Mar)

I had the great pleasure to sit down recently with one of the USA's top female rugby players, Phaidra Knight. Phaidra has already earned 25 caps playing for the US National side and also plays locally for New York Rugby Club in the Premier League. I talked to her about her early playing career at college in Wisconsin and what its like to play and prepare for being on the National team. We also talk about her many other endeavors and her future rugby ambitions.

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PRU Annoucement - U23 womens all star camp

Potomac Rugby Union (PRU) is holding their second U23 women's all star camp on Sunday, Oct. 4th at the fields located on the corner of 23rd and Constitution in Washington DC (right behind the Abe Lincoln Memorial) from 11:30am-2:00pm. High School women are welcome and encouraged to attend. This will be the PRUs last "Open Camp" for Fall 2009.

The PRU will be hosting the MARFU U23 Round Robin in November and will be looking to fill two sides. Please bring cleats, mouth guard and thirst quenchers.

The tentative itinerary is as follows:

11:15 - 11:30 Arrival and Registration
11:30 - 11:50 Dynamic Stretching/Warm Up
11:50 - 11:55 Water
11:55 - 12:55 Skills Sessions
12:55 - 1:00 Water
1:00 - 1:20 Break Down Session (Forwards & Backs)
1:20 - 2:00 Games

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Kenny Pope (Head Coach). U23 All Star Info can also be found on the PRU website.

Save the Black Rooster!

I discovered over the weekend from my friends in the Potomac Rugby Union that one of the local rugby pubs in Washington DC is under threat of closure. The building is owned by the Peace Corps and wanted to expand there offices at the expense of the pub.
I have frequented the Black Rooster Pub many times during my time in DC and is a proud sponsor of Northern Virginia Rugby Football Club, whose woman's team I have had the pleasure of refereeing. Its been a pillar of the community for over 39 years and I, along with many others, would like to see continue serving the locals and visitors to the Capital.

If you are in DC and would like to help, please swing by the pub on 1919 L Street NW and sign the petition. If not, you can still help by joining their Facebook group. I will post some updates as things progress.

US Womens Premier League

The Womens Premier league got kicked off a few weekends ago here in the US and for anyone who is interested, there are some great sites to follow the action. One of my personal favs in Your Scrumhalf Connection which is a great site with lots of info on the league and Womens rugby in general. I also recommend two of the official league sites, USA Rugby and Womens Premier League blog.
If anyone has any news that they would love to share, please post a comment or tweet me.

Womens rugby this weekend

Come and join me this Saturday in Brooklyn as the Village Lions take on the locals.


Details are as follows:
Event: Brooklyn Women's Rugby vs. Village Lions Start Time: Saturday, September 19 at 11:30am
End Time: Saturday, September 19 at 7:00pm
Where: Red Hook Playground Complex

For further details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=132108899315&mid=11cbcc8G2555d427G29d1a14G7

Podcast Episode 3 - Scott Martell

In this episode, I talk to Scott Martell, the founder and CEO of Rugby Ink (www.rugbyink.com), a premier rugby design agency & custom team-wear supplier in the US. We talk about Scott's business including their extensive product line and superb designer kit services. We also talk about his rugby beginnings in Wisconsin and playing for NYAC rugby club, a New York based Super League club.

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