Two 7s tournaments (SWWC & ARC) and an SWC roadtrip to play two games in two different cities on the same day are on tap this weekend.
SWWC
The Southwest Women's Rugby Conference (SWWC) holds their qualifying tournament at Glencoe Park in Dallas, TX on Saturday.
A favorite prop of mine as a coach and consummate gentleman, Chris Kelly, is scheduled to referee in this tournament. When I discovered that Chris became a rugby referee, I was proud to have coached someone who decided to ensure our game stays in play by picking up a whistle. Thanks for making that call, Chris, sir.
ARC
The Allied Rugby Conference holds the southern edition of their 7s preliminary tournaments at Burr Field in Austin, TX on Saturday. Count on 16th-ranked Texas & 11th-ranked Texas A&M to play great rugby in this tournament, but don't count out Oklahoma. The Sooners come into this tournament needing a good showing to gain an invitational bid to USAR's 7s Collegiate National Championships in College Station, TX on Nov 30-Dec 1.
A&M's cheering section may have been the most numerous at last year's 7sCNC, but Oklahoma's cheering section (particularly, Dakota's mother, who was awesome!) was the loudest. They'd be missed if they don't make the trip this year.
SWC
The SWC was not scheduled to see any action this weekend, but Texas State has put together a rather ambitious roadtrip to Baton Rouge & New Orleans this weekend. Saturday morning at 10:30am Renegade Rugby plays the Tigers at LSU's SAC Complex. Immediately thereafter, Texas State travels down to New Orleans for a 3:30pm match against the New Orleans Rugby Club (2011 USAR Men's D2 Champions) at Gretna Park. Taking on two quality teams in one day is ambitious and declares that Texas State is prepared to do whatever it takes to forge themselves to fight the battles required to win in the SWC.
International Rugby in Texas
Texas Ex, former Eagles 7 player, and slippery eel, Dallen Stanford, announced this week that South Africa's Lions - recently relegated from Super Rugby - is seeking to play in the US next year and have announced opponents (which, oddly enough, do not currently exist), but not dates (keo.co.za reports the same).
I speculate that the "Texas Cup champion" will have something to do David Yeoman's idea of metro-based select-sides that is being bandied about. However, I have no clue as to what or where the USA Barbarians stems from (I'm going to guess either west coast or Denver-area).
Coaching Rugby
Finally, USA Rugby Women's National Team Coach, Pete Steinberg, blogs about selections being a challenge for both coaches and players and how coaches can positively affect someone who is not selected. Highly recommended reading for everyone!
SWWC
The Southwest Women's Rugby Conference (SWWC) holds their qualifying tournament at Glencoe Park in Dallas, TX on Saturday.
A favorite prop of mine as a coach and consummate gentleman, Chris Kelly, is scheduled to referee in this tournament. When I discovered that Chris became a rugby referee, I was proud to have coached someone who decided to ensure our game stays in play by picking up a whistle. Thanks for making that call, Chris, sir.
ARC
The Allied Rugby Conference holds the southern edition of their 7s preliminary tournaments at Burr Field in Austin, TX on Saturday. Count on 16th-ranked Texas & 11th-ranked Texas A&M to play great rugby in this tournament, but don't count out Oklahoma. The Sooners come into this tournament needing a good showing to gain an invitational bid to USAR's 7s Collegiate National Championships in College Station, TX on Nov 30-Dec 1.
A&M's cheering section may have been the most numerous at last year's 7sCNC, but Oklahoma's cheering section (particularly, Dakota's mother, who was awesome!) was the loudest. They'd be missed if they don't make the trip this year.
SWC
The SWC was not scheduled to see any action this weekend, but Texas State has put together a rather ambitious roadtrip to Baton Rouge & New Orleans this weekend. Saturday morning at 10:30am Renegade Rugby plays the Tigers at LSU's SAC Complex. Immediately thereafter, Texas State travels down to New Orleans for a 3:30pm match against the New Orleans Rugby Club (2011 USAR Men's D2 Champions) at Gretna Park. Taking on two quality teams in one day is ambitious and declares that Texas State is prepared to do whatever it takes to forge themselves to fight the battles required to win in the SWC.
International Rugby in Texas
Texas Ex, former Eagles 7 player, and slippery eel, Dallen Stanford, announced this week that South Africa's Lions - recently relegated from Super Rugby - is seeking to play in the US next year and have announced opponents (which, oddly enough, do not currently exist), but not dates (keo.co.za reports the same).
I speculate that the "Texas Cup champion" will have something to do David Yeoman's idea of metro-based select-sides that is being bandied about. However, I have no clue as to what or where the USA Barbarians stems from (I'm going to guess either west coast or Denver-area).
Coaching Rugby
Finally, USA Rugby Women's National Team Coach, Pete Steinberg, blogs about selections being a challenge for both coaches and players and how coaches can positively affect someone who is not selected. Highly recommended reading for everyone!