The Angry Ref - "I’m with the Ban"

So, the organizers of the Rugby World Cup came out against vuvuzelas.  Bravo!  Those things are abysmal.  Terrible.  Awful.  Horrible.  An abomination.  Seriously, I hate them.  I was all ready to be a fan of this past Copa Mundial until I was listening to early pool play on the radio and marveling at how bad the reception was.  I mean c’mon South Africa, get some fiber optics or something!  When I found out that the killer bee sound wasn’t ancient S.A. technology but in fact ancient S.A. culture I was done.  I hardly paid attention to the rest of the tournament.  So bravo to the RWC folks for ensuring that rugby fans don’t have to endure that nonsense.  Anything we can do to distance our sport from soccer is a good thing.
 
But why stop at vuvuzelas?  I can think of more things to ban.  For example, can we ban the referee jerseys worn at the Collegiate Sevens Tournament?  What the hell was up with those?  For god’s sake I thought a lost and lonely Newcastle United player had wandered out onto the field.  I was worried about him, you know what happens when a soccer player is almost touched.  I thought he might be killed.  But no, it was the referee.  It was shocking.  I mean really, is this what we have to do to get U.S. viewers involved?  Zebra stripes?  Yuck.  BAN IT!
 

The Angry Ref is back and we got pictures!

Maybe its Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow, but the Angry Ref is back out from hibernation!

The first post from the ref for the year is an oldie (did we mentioned the hibernation bit?) but expect plenty of fresh stuff as the spring season kicks off.

Meet Joe

To join the ref this year, I have the great pleasure of introducing Joe Hunter, whose fantastic artwork will now be accompaning the trials and tribulations of our beloved referee.  You can check out Joe's comic and other great work at ghostbucket.com 

Stay tuned...the Angry Ref and Joe will be right back!

Rugby Academy of New York Launches to Develop Elite Players & Coaches

Press Release courtesy of Bret Costain, Rugby Academy of New York

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Rugby Academy of New York Launches to
Develop Elite Players & Coaches

Partnership with HSBC Waratahs and Village Lions (NYC) brings International Rugby Luminaries Eddie Jones, Scott Bowen and professional players to US for Player and Coach Development

New York, NY – February 9, 2011 - The HSBC Waratahs and the Village Lions Rugby Football Club announce the establishment of the Rugby Academy of New York, an elite rugby academy, to be based in the New York Tri-State area and serving to improve the skills, knowledge and welfare of US-based rugby players, coaches, administrators, and referees.

World Cup winning coach Eddie Jones and HSBC Waratahs coaches, along with a number of professional players, will feature in the Academy’s program in its inaugural year. Player and coach programs for Men and Women will begin in August 2011.

Expo Mejia, Village Lions Head Coach and Director of Rugby at the Academy certainly knows a few things about high performance rugby. As the former Coach Education Coordinator for the HSBC Waratahs, he points out that the Academy will utilize the very same program developed in Sydney which over the years has consistently produced great Wallabies.

Inaugural TRY donation drive with the Village Lions this 6N Saturday!

This Saturday not only sees the clash of the Celts in the 6 Nations, but I'll be hosting my 1st TRY donation drive with my good friends, the Village Lions, at Dorian Gray in the East Village.

As well as your thirst, please bring any old or new, clean kit (jerseys, boots, shorts, socks, pads etc) for donation.  All kit will go directly to HS boys and girls who are new to the sport and play for local Community Clubs established by the fantastic folks over at Play Rugby USA.  

All cash donations will go to the TRY Donation Program to help share the love with other kids across the Nation.  As TRY is a 501(c) organization, all donations are tax deductible.

I'll be at Dorian's from 11am onwards and BBC America will be providing free coverage of the game at 11:30am.  Look forward to seeing you (and your kit) on Saturday!

Dorian Gray's is located at 205 E 4th St New York, NY (between Avenue A & B). 
Nearest Subway is Lower East Side - 2 Avenue (F)

Jon Velie Named University of Oklahoma Director of Rugby

Press Release courtesy of  Tyson Meek, Oklahoma RFC

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Norman, OK - The University of Oklahoma Rugby Program named Jon Velie as Director of Rugby. Velie served as Head Coach of the Sooners from 1998-2006. Velie’s top season was in 2005 when the Sooners boasted a 19-1 record and finished third in the Western US. Velie also led Oklahoma on an undefeated tour to Oxford, Cambridge and London. 

Velie’s other noteworthy accomplishments were: Establishing the Big XII Rugby Tournament, which was televised on the Fox Network, Establishing the Johnsonville Brats Full Contact Tailgate Party, rugby matches held prior to OU Football games with live radio broadcast from KRXO 107.7, establishing the Oklahoma Rugby Camp held in the $90 Million Everett Indoor Training Facility and creating the Scrumdown for the Skull, an annual showdown with the University of Texas the night before the football matchup in Dallas, Texas. 

6 Nations, here we go!

Like a kid waking up on Christmas morning, I am rather excited that today see's the 2011 RBS Six Nations Championship get under way!

England face their old rivals Wales in the opening match in Cardiff this afternoon.  If the verbal battle off the field is anything to go by, should make for a cracking game!  Ireland are in Rome on Saturday for their first game against the Italians and will be keen to get off to solid start if they wish to repeat their Grand Slam success next year.  Later on Saturday, the Scots, coming off two great wins in their Autumn tests head to Paris to face Les Bleus.

Aside from who will win it thie year, the big question, especially in the US, is when the games are on and where to watch them.  Well problem solved!  This year I have added a dedicated page includes this years schedule, tv channels, online options, and local bars the will showing the games.

Head on over to http://www.arugbylife.com/p/6-nations-in-usa.html for the details!

Introducing the New ARL logo!

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the new 'a rugby life' logo!

A BIG thank you goes out to Adam Kopp and the folks at Madak Design and Rugby Athletic, who did the design for me.  The idea of a redesign came up in conversation after wrapping up last years podcast on Rugby Athletic.  Adam has been working with me since and I am chuffed to share his finished work to the world today.  

Let me know what you folks think of it :)