Play Rugby USA News, Events and press releases

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		Play Rugby, Inc is a non-profit organization providing a fun, unique and inspirational educational experience through the innovative coaching of rugby. Our programs provide children with a fun athletic and developmental experience giving them the tools they need to succeed in life. We live by our philosophy of ‘developing youth through rugby’.

Play Rugby USA establishes New York City's first ever Sports Leadership Academy!

SLA Director position open for applications.

Play Rugby USA (PRUSA) is excited to announce the creation of New York City's first ever Sports Leadership Academy (SLA), due to open this fall at Edward A Reynolds West Side High School (West Side HS) in Harlem. The Sports Leadership Academy has been successfully piloted in albeit in a very condensed form by PRUSA at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington DC since September of 2009. Recently however, upon receiving a substantial New York State Department of Education award, Play Rugby USA is able to roll out the full program in New York City. "We are very excited to be establishing this unique SLA program at West Side HS. As a "Transfer School" West Side HS embraces students that have previously dropped out of the public school system and provides them with a last chance graduate. Jean McTavish the school's principal could not have been more supportive of this exciting new initiative." Stated Mark Griffin, Founder and President of Play Rugby USA and creator of the Sports Leadership Academy model.
The Sports Leadership Academy model encompasses all 4 elements of Play Rugby USA's program - character development, community development, conditioning and academic commitment, through a sports-themed after school program that will also incorporate arts components to embrace diverse interests of the school's student body. The program will be run in partnership with and alongside other well known community partners including the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF) and Health Corps for example. The primary objectives of the program include: (1) academic enrichment to help participants complete high school and go on to college; (2) character education through team sports and inclusive, structured competition; (3) fitness, wellness, and nutrition education to involve students and their families in healthy, active lifestyles; (4) community and youth development through service learning, online learning, and team participation. "We know the quality of our various curricula, the passion of our instructors and the collaboration of our community partners will together make an extremely positive impact upon the participating students." Griffin, continued. The SLA will also proudly boast boys' and girls' rugby teams which will compete in flag, 7's and ultimately 10's and the 15-a-side game. Old Blue RFC one of the country's leading Super League rugby teams has stepped up to sponsor the SLA's rugby teams and will support the program with start up equipment, volunteer coaching support, selected match hosting and ultimately a mentoring program for member students. The rugby teams will compete in co-branded jerseys between Play Rugby USA and Old Blue and will be open to the local community. Importantly, the teams will also continue to embrace students that graduate from West Side HS - something that is not usual in other sports. In this way, the SLA endeavors to become a community-based center of excellence for sports-themed after school education in Harlem.

As part of launching this new program, Play Rugby USA is taking applications for the exciting SLA Director (SLAD) position. The SLAD has overall accountability for the growth, quality and success of the program operation, its students and staff. The primary responsibility of the SLAD is to manage the day-to-day operations of the West Side HS after school program in order to ensure that Play Rugby’s quality standards and guidelines are met and that the program is meeting all contract requirements. The SLAD will work in conjunction with key school personnel, Play Rugby and partner staff – primarily with the Sports and Arts in School Foundation (SASF) to implement the SLA year-round program model. He/she will foster an atmosphere of fun and learning where the concept of teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship can flourish and serves as a role model to youth, preparing them for graduation from High School. The SLAD will always conduct him/herself in the utmost professional manner and always maintain appropriate boundaries with students.

For a detailed job description of the SLA Director position click here. To apply, please email your resume along with cover letter to mark.griffin@playrugbyusa.com.

USA Rugby Partners with Warner Bros. to Promote Film About 1995 Rugby World Cup

BOULDER, CO. – November 30, 2009 - USA Rugby recently teamed up with Warner Bros. in an effort to promote the movie “Invictus” (PG-13), which will open nationwide on Dec. 11, to American rugby fans.

From director Clint Eastwood, “Invictus” tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their deeply divided country after the end of apartheid.

The film focuses on Mandela’s successful effort to make South Africa the host of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which Pienaar’s underdog Sprinboks won in dramatic fashion against legendary winger Jonah Lomu and the New Zealand All Blacks. The moment was recently called one of the “Top Ten Sporting Moments that Shook the World” by Foreign Policy magazine.

The director and stars got serious about rugby while making the film and in order to be ready to portray a veteran rugby player, Damon got help from Pienaar and another star member of the 1995 Springboks, Chester Williams, who served as a coach for the onscreen rugby players.

Producer Lori McCreary attests, “Chester was a great technical advisor because he remembers every single play and where every person was. He was in a unique position in 1995, being the only black player on the Springboks. He became kind of a symbol at the time, which wasn’t his choice because he really just wanted to play rugby.”

“Chester wanted to make sure we played real rugby in the film,” Eastwood adds. “He said, ‘None of this fake movie stuff. We’re going to play proper rugby,’ as he put it. It’s a very tough game, and the guys who play it are a special breed of cat.”

“Clint actually became a big rugby fan,” says producer Robert Lorenz. “When we were in South Africa, he would watch hours of rugby every night and come in the next morning and talk about the games. He enjoyed it quite a bit.”

With nearly 85,000 registered members and a database of over 100,000 fans, USA Rugby, along with Play Rugby USA, are organizing numerous events around the “Invictus” opening in cities across the U.S. The events are not only engaging the rugby community to see the movie, but are also intended to get the local community involved with their youth rugby programs and inspire more young players to ‘pick up the ball and run with it.’

“A movie such as ‘Invictus’ promotes exactly what the game of rugby is all about; rugby combined with local leaders can help transform lives and communities. USA Rugby and Play Rugby USA are very excited to be working with local communities all around the country to engage them in rugby clinics, tournaments and movie outings,” said Mark Griffin, USA Rugby’s Youth & High School Director and Founder of Play Rugby USA.

The partnership between USA Rugby and Warner Bros. also allows for the placement of the USA Rugby logo on the “Invictus” movie website and vice-versa. In addition, USA Rugby is hosting a contest centered around its ‘I Play’ promotional video that invites players to tell organizers why they play rugby by a short piece on www.rookierugbyclub.com. USA Rugby will choose 10 inspirational winners to receive a commemorative “Invictus” T-shirt.

More information on selected city-based events can be found on the website at www.usarugby.org/goto/invictus and all organizers are being encouraged to highlight their events on the recently upgraded Rookie Rugby Club events calendar as a platform to promote their efforts.

For more information on the movie, USA Rugby’s partnership or the contest, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/invictus or www.invictusmovie.com. For downloadable general press information and photos, please visit: http://press.warnerbros.com.

USA RUGBY, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization is responsible for the development of boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club rugby programs, as well as the nation’s rugby coaches, referees, administrators and all of its national teams that represent the U.S. in international competitions. As part of this development, USA Rugby hosts a number of courses, clinics, National Championship events and international matches throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.usarugby.org.

Play Rugby USA, is youth development program and 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that focuses on developing youth through rugby. Play Rugby USA places careful emphasis on having fun, improving fitness and developing life skills and communities through delivery of specially designed curriculum, coaching services and events. For more information, please visit www.playrugbyusa.com.

“Invictus,” starring Oscar® winners Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby,” “The Dark Knight”) and Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting,” the “Bourne” franchise), is produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. The film was based off the screenplay by native South African writer Anthony Peckham, based upon the book Playing the Enemy, by John Carlin. Freeman, Tim Moore, and Spyglass Entertainment’s Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum are the executive producers. Filming on “Invictus” was accomplished entirely on location in and around the cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa.

Play Rugby USA Media Contact:

am:Mediaworks

Alyssa Miller

President

646.360.2733

alyssa@ammediaworks.com

“Brownsville to Xavier: Developing Youth through Rugby”

New York, NY, October 1, 2009 - Gaining a high quality high school education while getting the chance to compete in sports that you love, especially Rugby, is not an everyday opportunity in America. It is even further out of reach for young people from inner-city environments, where public high school rarely exists and educational opportunities can be limited. However, that’s exactly what one young man and Play Rugby USA program participant has just accomplished, having recently enrolled at Xavier High School an academically elite school in New York City with one of the top rugby programs in the country.

Isa Sylla graduated from IS 392 in Brownsville, Brooklyn this year as valedictorian of his class. A well liked member of the school community and MVP of the school’s 2009 Mayor’s Cup Championship winning flag rugby team, Isa is hooked on rugby. Given his athletic talent, Isa attracted the interest of local athletic directors and football coaches, and earned the offer of an athletic scholarship from a well know prep school in Brooklyn with a strong football program. For most public school students in Brownsville this would have been a dream come true, but for Isa it wasn’t enough...he wanted to play rugby!

The ambitious 13 year old learned about Xavier High School from his rugby coaches while participating in the New York City’s Department of Education C.H.A.M.P.S. program. Isa is a great ambassador for the program – a perfect example of a Cooperative, Healthy, Active, Motivated, Positive, Student. Isa has successfully balanced his development of character, physical fitness and academic commitment and is a leader within his local community – exactly what the Play Rugby USA mission seeks to achieve.

Recognizing Play Rugby USA’s successful youth development program at this year’s Mayor’s Cup Flag Rugby Festival attended by 38 NYC-based teams, Kenneth Podziba, New York City’s Sports Commissioner, commented: “Play Rugby USA has worked tirelessly to create a terrific program in New York City that has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students. I commend their efforts to create an educational environment that imparts many of the core values associated with the sport of rugby such as commitment, discipline, leadership, respect and teamwork”.

One of Play Rugby USA’s full time coaches, Dominic Wareing, trained Isa’s physical education teacher Ovi Grozav how to coach rugby. Ovi too, is hooked on the game, running rugby for 60+ students at his school and another 20+ at a Brownsville elementary school. “Coach Ovi” deserves a good deal of credit for Isa’s development.

Recognizing Isa’s talent both on and off the field, Play Rugby USA Founder Mark Griffin contacted Xavier, to see if it might be possible for Isa to attend the Manhattan school. Knowing the school’s reputation in both academics (99.9% college enrolment) and athletics – especially rugby and football – Xavier seemed a fantastic opportunity for Isa. Over the summer, Isa and his parents met with Xavier’s Head Rugby Coach Mike Tolkin and Mark Griffin to take a tour of the school. They loved it and, given Isa’s excellent academic potential coupled with his superb natural athletic talent, he was indeed a perfect candidate for Xavier. However, the tuition would be out of reach for Isa’s family. Further, an athletic scholarship was out of the question as Xavier does not offer athletic scholarships and Xavier’s academic scholarships had already been awarded well before the summer. It seemed Isa would have to accept his football scholarship at the Brooklyn prep school, where he was told they would encourage him to stay back in 8th grade, for purposes of his athletic development. A small group of Xavier alumni who had been introduced to rugby during their days as Xavier students and were connected with the Play Rugby USA program became aware of Isa’s dilemma and stepped up to the plate. The combination of Xavier’s need-based financial aid and the generosity of these alumni enabled Isa’s family to afford Xavier’s tuition and Isa was enrolled at the school a few weeks before classes began in September. Isa has settled into Xavier well, is doing well in his classes and on the football field and is looking forward to representing his new school at rugby this year.

“It’s great to have Isa at Xavier this year. Isa may be the first student we’ve ever had who learned about Xavier through rugby. Most of our guys learn about rugby through Xavier. Getting a Xavier education should be a great opportunity for Isa. Xavier has always been a place that offers young men from humble means a chance to earn an first class, college preparatory education – we were founded in 1847 to serve the Irish Catholic immigrants that were coming into New York – so as unique as Isa’s situation is, he’s following a 160-year old tradition offering an elite education to bright kids of immigrant parents. At Xavier we believe in educating the whole person, so Isa will work hard in class, do service to the New York community, learn the lessons of teamwork and sacrifice on the athletic fields and have the opportunity to see the world through both rugby tours and service trips to place like Appalachia and Mexico. He’ll have to work in the classroom and on the fields to make the most of this opportunity, but he’s such a mature, composed, and positive young man that I think he will excel in both academics and athletics. He certainly would not have earned admission to the school if we weren’t confident that he would do well here academically and I can’t wait to see him show his stuff on the rugby pitch.”
(Mike Tolkin, Head Rugby Coach Xavier and USA National Rugby Team, Defensive Coach)

Clearly, this type of opportunity is not available to every New York City public school student. However, Play Rugby USA continues to partner with the New York City’s Office of Health Fitness and Physical Education to ensure that more students are given the chance of participating in Rugby as a proven tool for their personal development. In addition to increasing participation in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program through rugby, the two organizations are in the early stages of discussions to introduce the game into the Public School Athletics League at High School level, initially in Flag and 7-a-side (Rugby 7’s) formats. Play Rugby USA works in over 50 organizations each year to bring the game to public schools and youth organizations, after school.

While, Rugby may not yet be able to offer as many scholarship opportunities as Football or even Lacrosse for example at High School or College level, there are more and more such opportunities every year as the game continues to grow at over 10% per year. It is likely to grow significantly faster over the next few years as the game gets organized on a state by state basis and USA Rugby’s National Teams may well have the opportunity to retain their Olympic Titles (USA 1924 Reigning Olympic Champions) with the USOC’s Committee recommending Rugby 7’s as a new sport for 2016. More importantly perhaps, Rugby programs focus on developing the athlete as a well rounded student – hence Play Rugby USA’s successful focus on character, fitness, community and academics. Perhaps the best opportunity for all Rugby players however, is the opportunity to continue playing the game for life, with opportunities to compete at any level from socially to professionally, and to be part of a connected worldwide community.

Mark Griffin, Founder of Play Rugby USA concluded: “We are really excited for Isa and look forward to him experiencing the life long benefits of rugby, both on and off the field. I’m sure he will be a great motivation to many other students who would like to create their own opportunities through involvement in the game"

USA RUGBY NAMES MARK GRIFFIN ITS NATIONAL YOUTH, HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTOR

January 7, 2009

BOULDER, Colo. – CEO Nigel Melville has officially named former Eagle and Play Rugby, Inc founder, Mark Griffin, as the USA Rugby Youth and High School Director.

“I feel both excited and privileged to take on the role of the Youth and High School Director for USA Rugby,” Griffin said. “The timing couldn’t be better, given the hard work that Katie, Nigel and the team have put into Rookie Rugby and the important platform it provides to lower the age at which children are introduced to the game.”

One of Griffin’s first tasks will be to lead the development of State-Based Rugby Organizations (SBROs) within the USA. Currently, the U.S. has 14 SBROs nationwide at various stages of development and USA Rugby has made it a goal to grow this significantly by the end of 2009.

In addition, Griffin will combine his efforts with Play Rugby USA and his new director position at USA Rugby to bring both programs closer. Mark has nearly three years of experience running Play Rugby, Inc. and its Play Rugby USA Youth Development Program in New York.

“It has been a fantastic learning process and one we continue to move forward,” Griffin said. “The most important take-away from that for me has been the importance of linking the development of the business model to the development of youth programs and the game of rugby as a whole.”

USA Rugby’s youth efforts will be complemented in several ways by joining forces with Play Rugby, Inc. USA Rugby strives to grow the game, increase the base of talent and decrease the age of the players, while Play Rugby is focused primarily on urban youth development by changing children’s lives through after-school programming. If successful, bonding the two organizations, will result in more kids playing rugby in areas that otherwise would not naturally play the game.

“I have worked with Mark during the past 12 months and he is an obvious pick for the role of Youth and High School Director. In addition to his work at Play Rugby, he has worked on the USAR Youth Committee and his knowledge will enable him to hit the ground running in 2009,” USA Rugby’s CEO Nigel Melville said.

“I very much look forward to helping drive the growth in the youth and high school game in America,” Griffin finished. “If everyone puts the youth and game development first, we’ll be able to make some powerful progress in creating growth, developing players and implementing high quality programs in addition to creating sustainable systems, processes and businesses to support long-term success.”

Griffin will officially start his new position at USA Rugby this week. For more information on the Youth and High School game, please visit www.usarugby.org. For further information or to contact Mark Griffin, please email him at mgriffin@usarugby.org.

USA RUGBY, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization is responsible for the development of boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club rugby programs, as well as the nation’s rugby coaches, referees, administrators and all of its national teams that represent the U.S. in international competitions. As part of this development, USA Rugby hosts a number of courses, clinics, National Championship events and international matches throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.usarugby.org.

Play Rugby, Inc. is a non-profit social enterprise delivering transformational change for youth through sports. The organization’s core character development program “Play Rugby USA®” is founded upon a philosophy of “developing youth through rugby”. Play Rugby’s rugby, fitness, nutrition and community development programs provide children with a fun, athletic and developmental experience giving them the tools they need to succeed in life. For more information, please visit www.playrugbyusa.com.

PLAY RUGBY USA OFFERS NEW PHYSICAL EDUCATION PRESENTATION FOR EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE.
NEW YORK - September 25, 2007

In conjunction with running the Play Rugby USA after school programs, Play Rugby, inc is also a strong advocate for the inclusion of non contact and flag rugby into Physical Education classes throughout America.

The organization has trained over 500 teachers over the last couple of years and has used this experience to pull together a short introductory rugby presentation for use at Physical Education conferences, training workshops, or in meetings with educators generally to help give them a good understanding of the game.

The presentation includes video footage from the Play Rugby Club and users are encouraged to join the Club with their students for free to access additional videos, information and the opportunity to connect and share with peers. Additionally, the presentation compliments the PRUSA/USA Rugby PE curriculum - a great free online resource for PE teachers for use in classes.

The presentation is planned to be used in New York, Philadelphia, Florida and Virginia alone over the next few weeks. If you download the presentation, please let us know your thoughts via email, or through the Play Rugby Club where you can connect with other educators doing the same.

Full information and 2 different formats of the presentation have been included in the Free Resources section of the Play Rugby USA website, where browsers can also download the latest Flag Rugby Rules, various rugby trivia and other link to other curriculum and support resources.

PLAY RUGBY USA SOON TO HIT PHILLY!

NEW YORK - September 15, 2007

On October 4, 2008 Play Rugby USA looks forward to officially launching its program in Philadelphia Public Schools.

Culminating from over 18 months of discussions and a teacher orientation last spring Play Rugby, Inc is very excited to kick off the program.

"We're nearly there now. It's been a long road but subject to final DOE approval it looks like the program will significantly exceed our earlier expectations. We are very grateful to the Philadelphia Foundation for their pledging support for the program" stated Play Rugby Founder, Mark Griffin.

Play Rugby is confident that over 10 middle schools will sign up to an after school flag rugby program and culminating tournament along with an additional 20+ tools integrating flag rugby into their Physical Education lessons, with support from Play Rugby USA.

Stephen Cohen, President of the EPRU stated: "The East Penn Rugby Union eagerly awaits the arrival of Play Rugby USA to Philadelphia expected to start in October. While the EPRU youth and high school programs are flourishing in the surrounding areas, the City of Philadelphia has long been a challenge in bringing rugby to its youth.We are confident that Play Rugby USA will make a positive difference for many deserving kids by developing their potential, not only as athletes playing rugby, but more importantly as fine young citizens thus making a positive difference in their lives that otherwise may be missed.

So for now - watch this space. The Play Rugby USA team say you should be able to check back in a months time and read about how successful the kick off event was!

FIRST EVER MAYOR'S CUP RUGBY TOURNAMENT A HUGE HIT!

NEW YORK - Tuesday, June 10, 2008

On Saturday June 7th, Play Rugby USA hosted the first ever Mayor's Cup Rugby Tournament for 23 elementary and middle school teams from all over NYC.

in the elementary school bracket Epiphany School and Pelham Youth Rugby competed in a closely contested elementary school final, during which Pelham came away close winners, 35-30.

For the middle schools, PS218, PS392 A & B teams and PS 279 demonstrated some outstanding rugby skills making the semi-finals. PS392 A and B teams won the semi finals by one try each leaving 392 A to snatch a close win over 392 B 25-20.

The win for PS392 was the first ever team competition for the school and was rewarded by the principal by presenting the Mayor's Cup to all A & B team participants in front of the school assembly on Monday June 9th. We have heard reports that the students wore their medals all day - even on the subway.

We would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors, our strategic partners, teachers and importantly students in attendance for making this event such a success.

To view photo and video highlights from the event visit the Play Rugby Club. To view and download all tournament photos, click here. We would particularly like to thank Marc Alldrige for the excellent photos and Katha and Don Cato who will be supplying the video footage.

USA Rugby Announces Select XV Squad for England Counties Match
Thursday, May 22, 2008

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby officially announced today the Select XV squad set to compete in two matches against the England Counties XV on Friday, June 6 and Monday, June 9, at Columbia University’s Baker Field Athletic Complex.

The developmental squad includes 16 players from the Rugby Super League, the premier level of rugby competition in the U.S., as well as a handful of Division I Senior Men’s Club and Collegiate Club players who impressed selectors during the spring season. This addition to the men’s schedule provides a prime opportunity for the USA team to develop an expanded player pool leading up to the summer competition season.

“Increasing the size of the Elite Player pool from which the Eagles will be selected makes competition for places more intense and develops a healthy rivalry within the squad,” USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville said. “It’s important that all of our elite players have an opportunity to play against elite opposition from other countries and the visit of the England Counties will ensure a larger group of athletes are challenged to play in June.”

The Select XV will be led by head coach Mike Tolkin, along with assistant coaches Ron Laszewski (forwards) and Chris Osentowski (scrum) and Lex Maccubbin as the manager.

Cal Berkeley’s Gary Golding was initially chosen for the Select XV squad, but following a strong showing at the College Club Playoffs, he will now join the recently named Barclays Churchill Cup team for its June competitions.

Both matches between the Select XV and the England Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Guinness Premiership, are slated for 7 p.m. (EDT) kickoffs. Coverage of the match-up will be delivered LIVE online via the USA Rugby Network.

Admission to the matches on June 6 and 9 is free, but donations will be accepted to support Play Rugby Inc.’s youth development program in NYC. In the week leading up to the USA matches, from May 31 – June 7, Play Rugby USA will host National Rugby Week, featuring free non-contact rugby activities and competitions in nearly 50 schools throughout New York City.

Rugby Week will culminate in the inaugural Mayor’s Cup, also at Baker Field Athletic Complex on June 7, where more than 24 teams from around the New York City area will compete from 12-4 p.m. For more information on Play Rugby USA, visit www.playrugbyusa.com.

For more information on the USA Rugby Select XV’s matches, visit www.usarugby.org. Media interested in attending the event should contact USA Rugby Communications Coordinator Ashley Voss at avoss@usarugby.org.

Players selected for the Select XV squad include:

Forwards
Mark Kernan (Belmont Shore)
Chris Moreno (Denver Barbarians)
Phillip Thiel (Life University)
Mike Bunce (Pearl City)
Will Vavoa (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Will Johnson (Olympic Club)
Samuela Manoa (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Brian Doyle (NYAC)
Jared Wolfgramm (Belmont Shore)
Rikus Pretorius (Cal)
Pat Quinn (Denver Barbarians)
Dan Laprovette (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Peter Dahl (Belmont Shore)
Justin Stencel (Charlotte)

Backs
Tim Usasz (Nottingham)
Chris Mayo (NYAC)
Maximo DeAchaval (University of Colorado)
Scott Peterson (Chicago Lions)
Ata Malifa (Belmont Shore)
Nathan Rodgers (Life University)
Justin Boyd (Dallas)
James Gillenwater (Belmont Shore)
Jone Naqica (San Francisco Golden Gate)
Mike Graham (Glendale)
Justin Hundley (NYAC)

Mayor�s Cup Rugby Festival
Saturday, June 7, 2008

Play Rugby USA hosts NYC�s first ever Mayor�s Cup for Rugby.

Play Rugby USA after-school rugby program has been given the nod of approval by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has gifted a Mayor�s Cup to be contested at Columbia University�s Baker Field during national rugby week, on Saturday 7 June.

The Mayor�s Cup will provide 24 teams of young budding rugby players with their first taste of competition against the other participating schools and offers education leaders, politicians and fitness professionals a chance to witness the positive impact that rugby has had on the students and participate first hand in this growing sport.

International Rugby Match in NYC!
Friday, June 6, 2008

On Friday June 6th, evening under floodlights, the USA National A Team will compete against England Counties XV at Columbia University’s Baker Field. The event will be the first international rugby match in Manhattan for many years and will feature elite level developing players from the USA and England’s top amateur players. The event will be taking place as part of America’s first ever National Rugby Week (May 30 – June 7) which will encompass a number of high profile and community level rugby events nationwide. New York City’s Rugby Week running the same week is detailed below.

First Ever: NYC Rugby Week
Friday, May 30–Saturday, June 7

This will be New York City’s first ever Rugby Week as part of America’s first ever National Rugby Week. Play Rugby, Inc’s employees coaching consultants and volunteers from the local rugby community will run multiple “Try Rugby” sessions throughout the city to thousands of public school students city-wide using fun games and competitions from the Play Rugby USA program. To request a free “Try Rugby” session in NYC please email christian.mayo@playrugbyusa.com.

The week’s activities will be made available online for free through a condensed curriculum to rugby clubs, schools and youth organizations nation-wide with the weeks events being coordinated through the Play Rugby Club online . Check back here for updates. The Play Rugby Club online will offer all participants, coaches, volunteers and parents the opportunity to learn more about rugby and upload their results, video footage and photos to showcase their skills! New York Rugby Week will culminate with the Mayor’s Cup Rugby Festival on Saturday June 7th at Columbia University’s Baker Field.

Champs culminating tournament
Sunday, March 9, 2008

Each participating CHAMPS programme site gets 10 hours of mentoring from an experienced Play Rugby coach, to get the students ready to represent their school in a 7 a side flag rugby tournament. 2 Tournaments will take place this season, one for the Bronx and Manhattan schools and one for the Brooklyn and Queens Schools. For many students this will be their first chance to compete against other schools and showcase their new skills in front of a crowd. They will take place on the weekends of the 9th and 16th of March.

New Year - New Schools
Monday, February 11, 2008

The winter season is under way. New schools, students and educators far across the New York area are experiencing the fun and fitness from playing flag rugby, with 34 schools and over 700 students now regularly participating in flag rugby every week including 19 schools in the C.H.A.M.P.S programme. CHAMPS is a NYC Department of Education programme “to offer additional opportunities for students, regardless of athletic ability, to engage in a wide variety of physical activities, and to encourage these students to find activities that they enjoy and can participate in for life.”

More details on CHAMPS How can your school can participate?

Play Rugby executive recognized as youth sports leader in national awards program
Saturday, December 1, 2007

Mark Griffin, founder/president of Play Rugby, has pioneered a completely new and unique youth sports education program using a non-contact "flag" version of rugby as an effective tool for boys and girls in urban area schools and after-school programs across America.

It is for this reason, Mark Griffin is being honored by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) as the recipient of the 2007 Hershey's STRIVE National Administrator of the Year Award.

STRIVE stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence and the award honors adult leaders for their "heartfelt passion, enthusiastic commitment and contagious spirit to help kids succeed in youth sports activities." This year, NCYS will present Hershey's STRIVE Awards to a national administrator, a volunteer, a coach, and two local administrators. Honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.

Play Rugby was first piloted in New York City. More than 3,000 youth players and more than 400 teachers from close to 40 after school programs were trained and played in the program's first 18 months. Griffin now drives the program's growth and is developing non-contact rugby in schools and after school programs throughout the United States.

Play Rugby encourages kids to have fun, improve their fitness and learn a new game while developing 10 core values. Those values include: caring, citizenship, commitment, discipline, fairness, leadership, respect, responsibility, teamwork, and trustworthiness. USA Rugby, the governing body for the sport in the U.S., shares the same youth development goals with Play Rugby proving fun and educational rugby programs will make rugby the "best experience in American sport." USA Rugby is encouraging its State-based Youth Rugby Organizations (SBOs) to incorporate Play Rugby programs into their development plans.

Griffin brings more than 23 years of experience as passionate and motivational rugby player, coach businessman and administrator to his role at Play Rugby. He works tirelessly with young people to strengthen character, encourage academic commitment and build a diverse range of social, moral and physical competencies needed to succeed in life. Griffin's leadership, passion and extensive rugby experience makes him the perfect role model in promoting Play Rugby's philosophy of "developing youth through rugby'.

Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director, noted that the lack of recognition given to outstanding adult leaders involved in youth sports prompted NCYS to create the STRIVE awards four years ago. "Honoring America's hometown heroes on a national scale gives them the praise they deserve," Johnson said. "It is awe-inspiring to pay tribute to these exceptional individuals who devote countless hours each week, all while juggling full-time careers, families, and other commitments."

Griffin will be honored on Saturday, December 1st at a USA Rugby conference in San Diego, California. The STRIVE event presentation is hosted by the NCYS and The Hershey Company. During the celebration, Griffin will receive a check for $2,500 which he has announced will be donated to Play Rugby, Inc. to support free rugby programming for a qualifying school in 2008.

Other STRIVE Award winners include:

In addition to National Administrator of the Year, the other STRIVE Award winners for Volunteer, Local Administrator(s), and Coach of the Year include:

Hatti Hartman of Austin, Texas was chosen as the Hershey's STRIVE Volunteer of the Year. Hartman was recognized for her contagious spirit of enthusiasm, her unparalleled ability to organize and communicate, and her unquestionable integrity. The Oak Hill Youth Sports Association community agrees, "It would take ten people to wear all the various hats that Hatti Hartman wears each and every day." She is a motivator, a doer, and the one who "pinch hits" whenever and wherever the need arises. 'Hart'man is the humble heart of the volunteer-run sports league.

George Waldbauer of the Suffolk County New York Police Athletic League (PAL) will also be honored as the Hershey's STRIVE Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year. PAL aspires to make a youngster's first experience with the police officer a positive one by keeping at-risk kids off the streets and out of trouble in supervised athletic activities. Waldbauer has been Executive Director of PAL for 26 years. The program has grown and now serves over 29,000 boys and girls many of whom would have no sports in their lives without PAL. He led the extraordinary effort to build a state of the art multi-sports complex for players and families to enjoy. His supporters say, "For George, it's all about the kids and his community."

Amy Skeen of Chicago, Illinois will also be honored as one of the Hershey's STRIVE Local Youth Sports Administrator's of the Year. Skeen serves as Executive Director of Girls in the Game, a program that incorporates both multi-sport and quality fitness opportunities with comprehensive health and nutrition education. Girls in the Game is committed to enabling girls to try a variety of new sports and develop healthy habits in a safe and supportive environment. Skeen leads by example mentoring staff and coaches who provide individual attention and serve as positive role models while improving the health and overall well-being of girls.

Ron Komornik of Virginia Beach, Virginia was chosen as the recipient of the Hershey's STRIVE Coach of the Year Award. Komornik coaches baseball and basketball to youth ages 7-17. Komornik's nominators said his focus on respect, discipline and perseverance, as well as basic sports skills, has improved young players' self-esteem. His testimonials are a tribute to the positive difference one can make in the life of a child. "He treats every player as amazing individuals while leading each one to great achievements as a unified team.

Calling All Supporters - Play Rugby USA™ Coaches to Compete with the Best in Premier Division of NY 7’s
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Play Rugby USA, the unique youth development program (the �Program�) focused around the sport of non contact rugby today announced it�s coaches will be showcasing their skills at the New York 7�s, taking place this Saturday, November 24th at Randall�s Island, NY.

Seven of Play Rugby�s coaches will be representing the Program this weekend and they aim to exhibit the same teamwork, leadership, discipline and respect that they promote to their students after school. The remainder of the squad will has been filled with invitational players from local clubs.

The game of 7-a-side rugby that is played at the tournament is very similar to the game of flag and non contact rugby that is coached by Play Rugby on local basketball courts and playgrounds. As Christian Mayo, Play Rugby�s Director of Programs explains:

�We�ll basically be playing the same game as we coach to the kids with the same number of players on each team, less contact than regular rugby (although more than flag) and the opportunity for everyone on the team to run, catch, pass, tackle and score�.

Although originally Play Rugby USA entered their team purely as a fun team-building exercise for its coaches, it could represent much more than that. Mark Griffin, Founder of the Program is excited about the weekend ahead:

�It�s a unique opportunity to get to play the sport your passionate about with your work colleagues, unless of course you�re a professional rugby player! We spend our professional time coaching rather than playing, facilitating the development of kids� character, athletic ability and academic commitment. Ultimately, we want achieve something similar for ourselves this weekend by putting in good performances to represent what Play Rugby USA and the underlying game are all about. If we can come away with some silverware, well that�s all the better!�

Play Rugby USA are of course hoping for some local support as they take on the best International teams in the tournament. For those interested in supporting Play Rugby USA at the tournament, they will have a tent set up on the premier field just adjacent to Ichan stadium.

The squad selected to represent Play Rugby USA includes: Mike Di Bona (PRUSA/Old Blue NY), Justin Goonan (PRUSA/Old Blue NY), Mark Griffin (PRUSA/Old Blue NY), Dominic Mara (NYAC), Christian Mayo (PRUSA/NYAC), Ross McClelland (PRUSA/Old Blue) Matt Pritchard (Old Blue NY), Doug Rowe (PRUSA/Old Blue NY), Dominic Wareing (PRUSA/Old Blue NY), Marcus Respes (Philadelphia Whitemarsh), Ben Sadgrove (Old Blue NY), Dan Taylor (PRUSA/Wheaton College)

For more information about Play Rugby USA, visit www.playrugbyusa.com.

Play Rugby USA
Play Rugby, Inc (Play Rugby) is a non-profit organization providing a fun, unique and inspirational educational experience through the innovative coaching of rugby. Play Rugby’s programs provide children with a fun athletic and developmental experience giving them the tools they need to succeed in life. Play Rugby lives by its philosophy of ‘developing youth through rugby’.

Play Rugby USA� teams up with US Peace Corps and St. Vincent Rugby Union
Monday, October 22, 2007

NEW YORK, NY. � Play Rugby USA™ (Play Rugby), in conjunction with the US Peace Corps, is proud to announce a unique partnership with the St. Vincent Rugby Union. The tiny, developing island, located in the Eastern Caribbean, will soon be introduced to Play Rugby’s fun, game based youth development curriculum, in the form of co-ed, non-contact flag rugby.

Based on the success one of the Peace Corps volunteers had applying the Play Rugby curriculum to his village youth clinic a few months ago, he figured the same model Play Rugby has implemented in nearly 40 New York inner city schools over the last 12 months, could be applied to the schools of St. Vincent. And though the game itself is still in its infancy on the island, there still exists a national rugby team with several experienced players. It’s these particular players with whom the Peace Corps and Play Rugby have partnered, who will be trained and mentored as youth development coaches to deliver a sustainable program (the goal of each serving Peace Corps volunteer) that will ultimately see schools form teams and compete in a flag rugby league, the first of its kind in the region.

Why rugby, and why on St. Vincent? Rugby remains affordable and accessible to children from all backgrounds and abilities. In flag rugby, all players are given the opportunity to run, catch, pass, tag, evade and score. This makes it a great sport for boys and girls of all ages, sizes and abilities. In addition, much of rugby’s value comes from its rich history, traditions, camaraderie and community involvement with the sport. The game also promotes life skills such as, teamwork, leadership, discipline and respect, and it’s these values the new Vincentians coaches hope to instill in a youth culture often lacking positive role models and plagued by early drug use.

The initial pilot program, which coincides with the 2007 Rugby World Cup (which captivates an audience of roughly 3.6 billion people), will include 4 schools, 6 coaches, and approximately 80 students, and will run for 10 weeks, culminating with a flag rugby tournament.

Play Rugby, Inc was founded by National Team member Mark Griffin in 2003. It is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization whose philosophy is to ‘develop youth through rugby’. For more information regarding the company and its youth development programs, visit www.playrugbyusa.com.

HEADLINE NEWS
STRIVE: Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence

The National Council of Youth Sports is proud to announce the winners of the 2007 Hershey's STRIVE Award! We are inspired by the number of nominations and humbled by the quality of so many dedicated mentors to our young people. How privileged we ALL are to be a part of this incredibly diverse and uniquely united youth-serving industry. Thank you to The Hershey Company for its sponsorship of STRIVE and dedication to helping youth “Dream, Reach and Succeed.”

Send your Congratulations and Best Wishes to:

National Administrator of the Year
Mark Griffin
Play Rugby, Inc.
New York City, New York (event location San Diego, California)
mark.griffin@playrugbyusa.com

Local Administrator of the Year
Amy Skeen
Girls in the Game
Chicago, Illinois
amy@girlsinthegame.org

Local Administrator of the Year
George Waldbauer
Suffolk County Police Athletic League (PAL)
palgeorgie@aol.com

Volunteer of the Year
Hatti Hartman
Oak Hill Youth Sports Association
hartman4@austin.rr.com

Coach of the Year
Ron Komornik
Kempsville Pony Club, Inc.; KHS Home Run Club
Virginia Beach, Virginia
ron.komornik@beachem.com

National Spotlight Shines on Hometown Heroes
Dedication, passion and commitment determine America’s best youth sports leaders
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

STUART, Fla., September 18, 2007 – The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) selected five adult leaders involved in youth sports organizations as recipients of its 4th annual Hershey’s STRIVE Award. STRIVE stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence.

NCYS is a national youth sports advocacy organization. Its membership represents more than 52 million boys and girls involved in youth sports activities nationwide.

This year, NCYS will present Hershey’s STRIVE Awards to one national administrator, two local administrators, one volunteer and one coach. Honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.

The honorees include Ron Komornik of Virginia Beach, Va., who is the recipient of the Hershey’s STRIVE Coach of the Year Award. Komornik coaches baseball and basketball to youth ages 7-17. Komornik’s nominators said his focus on respect, discipline and perseverance, as well as basic sports skills, has improved young players’ self-esteem. “He treats every player as amazing individuals while leading each one to great achievements as a unified team.”

Mark Griffin, founder/president of Play Rugby, based in New York City, is the Hershey’s STRIVE National Administrator of the Year. Griffin has pioneered a completely new and unique youth sports education program using a non-contact “flag” version of rugby as an effective education tool for boys and girls in urban area schools and after-school programs across America. Griffin brings more than 23 years of experience as a passionate player, coach and administrator to his position at Play Rugby. Play Rugby encourages kids to have fun, improve their fitness and learn a new game while developing 10 core values including teamwork, leadership, discipline, respect, and responsibility.

Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director, noted that the lack of recognition given to outstanding adult leaders involved in youth sports prompted NCYS to create the STRIVE awards four years ago. “Honoring America’s hometown heroes on a national scale gives them the praise they deserve,” Johnson said. “It is awe-inspiring to pay tribute to these exceptional individuals who devote countless hours each week, all while juggling full-time careers, families, and other commitments.”

Other STRIVE Award winners include:

Amy Skeen of Chicago, Ill. will be honored as one of the Hershey’s STRIVE Local Youth Sports Administrator’s of the Year. Skeen serves as Executive Director of Girls in the Game, a program that incorporates both multi-sport and quality fitness opportunities with comprehensive health and nutrition education. Girls in the Game is committed to enabling girls to try a variety of new sports and develop healthy habits in a safe and supportive environment. Skeen leads by example mentoring staff and coaches who provide individual attention and serve as positive role models while improving the health and overall well-being of girls.

George Waldbauer of the Suffolk County New York Police Athletic League (PAL) will also be honored as the Hershey’s STRIVE Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year. PAL aspires to make a youngster’s first experience with the police officer a positive one by keeping at-risk kids off the streets and out of trouble in supervised athletic activities. Waldbauer has been Executive Director of PAL for 26 years. The program has grown and now serves more than 29,000 boys and girls. He led an extraordinary effort to build a state of the art multi-sports complex for players and families in Suffolk County. His supporters say, “For George, it’s all about the kids and his community.”

Hatti Hartman of Austin, Texas was chosen as the Hershey’s STRIVE Volunteer of the Year. Hartman was recognized for her contagious spirit of enthusiasm, her unparalleled ability to organize and communicate, and her unquestionable integrity. The Oak Hill Youth Sports Association community agrees, “It would take ten people to wear all the various hats that Hatti Hartman wears each and every day.” She is a motivator, a doer, and the one who “pinch hits” whenever and wherever the need arises.

Winners will receive a check for $2,500, payable to the youth sports organization of his or her choice. Ceremonies for each will be held in their communities or at their organization’s national event.

ABOUT The NCYS
The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) comprises the who's who in the youth sports industry. Its membership represents more than 180 organizations/corporations serving 52 million boys and girls participating in organized youth sports throughout the United States. NCYS members include organizations such as: Little League Baseball, Pop Warner Football, U.S. Youth Soccer Association, United States Olympic Committee, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. To learn more about the NCYS visit www.ncys.org.

ABOUT The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company has long offered successful fundraising programs for youth in America. Its sponsorship of the STRIVE Awards stems from The Hershey Company’s devotion to helping children of all ages to “Dream, Reach and Succeed” in everything that they do. For more information about The Hershey Company and its fundraising programs, visit www.hersheysfundraising.com.

CONTACT
Sally S. Johnson, Executive Director
National Council of Youth Sports
772-781-1452
youthsports@ncys.org

Play Rugby USA announced its summer camp series for 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007

Play Rugby USA is excited to announce its summer camp series for 2007 and it is proving to be a busy summer! Play Rugby will continue to work with a number of public schools, introducing rugby to their summer camps throughout July and August. It is likely that over 10 schools will benefit from Play Rugby’s expertise bring rugby to over 1000 students. Play Rugby maintains its relationship with the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, and organization that administers a number of summer activities and will also continue to work with a number of existing program partners.

Play Rugby is also providing up to 20 students full scholarships to attend a Fresh Air Rugby Camp, in the green mountains of Norwich Vermont. The scholarships will be awarded to students in Play Rugby’s public school programs that have exhibited positive rugby values such as teamwork, leadership, discipline and respect, in addition to showing good sportsmanship throughout their seasons.

A little closer to New York City, Play Rugby is planning to run a week long day camp (9am – 1pm) in Pelham Bay Park during the week of July 23 – 27. This is open to any boys and girls aged between 8 and 14. Additionally, Play Rugby is offering a 3 day camp (9am – 3.30pm) for the same age-group in Manhattan, August 7 – 9. The latter camps will take place on the fantastic rooftop field at Pier 40. Both camps will offer players in and around the New York area an opportunity to play numerous fun rugby-themed games, develop basic rugby skills and compete for fun in World Cup-themed teams. Play Rugby will base all of its coaching on it’s 2 curriculum – “Give Rugby a Try” and “Team Rugby”.

Speaking about the camps, Mark Griffin, Founder of Play Rugby stated: “it’s going to be a busy summer for us and we’re really looking forward to it. Not only can we continue to grow our good momentum throughout New York’s public schools but for the first time we will be offering fee-based camps in New York City that will help build some momentum with young players here while supporting our program. Needless to say, applications for coaching jobs are open!”

For anyone interested in learning more about Play Rugby’s camp offering, they should visit: http://playrugbyusa.com/programs/camps.html or call Mark Griffin directly on 212 851 8858.

Play Rugby USA Founder Named 2007 Hershey�s STRIVE National Administrator of the Year
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

BOULDER, Colo. � USA Rugby is excited to announce Mark Griffin has been named the 2007 Hershey�s STRIVE National Administrator of the Year by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS). Griffin is a member of USA Rugby�s Game Development team as well as the founder/president of Play Rugby USA, an innovative youth sports education program.

USA Rugby Game Development Officer Katie Wurst nominated Griffin for the award and is pleased that he has been honored by a nationally recognized youth sport organization.

�Mark has played a major role in developing youth and high school initiatives within USA Rugby,� Wurst said. �His work with Play Rugby USA has created new opportunities for rugby to be introduced into schools and community-based organizations. Recognition of Mark�s work by the NCYS will help many others to view rugby as a viable option in youth sports.�

As part of USA Rugby�s Game Development team, Griffin has been instrumental in the creation of the Youth Rules Continuum and the development of the USA Rugby physical education curriculum. He is also supporting USA Rugby�s state-based organizations in the improvement of youth programs as part of the State-Based Development Model (SBDM).

Additionally, Griffin�s organization Play Rugby USA encourages kids across the country to boost their fitness and learn the skills of rugby while developing a set of core values including teamwork and leadership. The organization has partnered with USA Rugby on a number of initiatives, including the World Rugby Shop Youth Rally held during the Rugby World Cup send-off weekend in Chicago.

Griffin is one of five adult leaders selected by the NCYS as a recipient of the 4th annual Hershey�s STRIVE (Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence) Award. The NCYS is an advocacy organization with a membership of more than 52 million boys and girls involved in youth sports nationwide.

STRIVE Awards will also be given to two local administrators, one volunteer and one coach serving a variety of different sports. Award honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of officials.

The award will be presented to Griffin at the 2007 Youth Conference on the Game in San Diego, Calif., December 1-2. He will receive a check for $2,500, payable to the youth sports organization of his choice.

For more information, please contact USA Rugby Game Development Officer Katie Wurst at kwurst@usarugby.org.