A YEAR IN REVIEW - 2008...Program Highlights!
December, 2008

• CHAMPS & D75 – C.H.A.M.P.S: (Cooperative Healthy Active Motivated Positive Students) offers extra opportunities to students to take part in after school sports and fitness activities. Read more (link to newsletter #8) about the 16 schools and nearly 500 students that learned a new sport through our 12 week mentoring program and culminating tournaments. Read more (link to http://www.playrugbyusa.com/news/documents/RugbyMag_D75_NYC.pdf) about the 3 Special education, District 75 schools that experienced great success through this program.
• Play Rugby USA & Natal Sharks: helps 4 NYM U19 players from the Bronx go on the trip of a lifetime to SA and the Natal Sharks rugby academy. Rob Cabrera, Jorge Cabrera, Matt Cortes, and Arnold Chavis were selected for the South African program for their commitment to both developing their own rugby skills and for their maturity and leadership amongst their team mates http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/April_22_2008.pdf

International Rugby Match in NYC!
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.

New York Rugby Week!
June 2–June 7, 2008

As part of Play Rugby USA�s localized delivery of National Rugby Week activities which have been available to the rugby community nation-wide, Play Rugby USA will be running a series of free �Try Rugby� demos on schools and youth organizations throughout NYC. Any organization may request a Try Rugby demo but spaces are limited. To request a session please email christian.mayo@playrugbyusa.com or call 212 851 8859. You may also download our flyer for further information.

First Ever: NYC Rugby Week
May 30�June 7, 2008

May 30�June 7 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.

Prepare for the Mayors Cup
Sunday, May 18, 2008

The next FREE scrimmage is again at Chelsea waterside field located on 23rd and 11th it will start at 12pm and run until 2pm on Sunday 18th May, then Wednesday May 21 at 4:00�5:30pm, Pier 40 rooftop field. These practices are open to all program partners past and present, also if you know someone who may want to try rugby for the first time bring them along!

HSS Support Quad Rugby
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Last month, students, parents and educators from 3 Henry Street Settlement sites � PS110, PS20 and Corlears Educational Complex competed in a fun scrimmage, coaching clinic and presentation with the NY Jets Quad Rugby Team. Players from all teams involved did themselves proud and it was an eye opening and inspirational experience for all. Special thanks and congratulations should go to all participants for raising $1,500 to support the Jet�s team and to Alan Davage at HSS for making this event possible. We were proud to be involved.

Mayoral approval for Play Rugby USA�
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

New York, N.Y. April 23, 2008 - Mark Griffin�s 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 Mayoral honor comes after Griffin was awarded the 2007 National Council of Youth Sports Administrator of the Year Award for his efforts in pioneering this program, and will conclude a busy week for Rugby in New York. A US national selection will face off against an English Saxons squad brimming with international stars on Friday 6 June, as a warm up for the Churchill Cup international series between the US, Canada, England Saxons, Ireland A, Scotland A and Argentina A later in the month, in Chicago.

A former member of the US national rugby team and current member of the Old Blue Super League squad, Griffin left a successful career as an investment banker to develop the Play Rugby USA after-school program.

Play Rugby USA focuses on �developing youth through rugby� and places careful emphasis on having fun, improving fitness and developing life skills through delivery of specially designed curriculum. While learning this new sport participants develop ten core values - caring, citizenship, commitment, discipline, fairness, leadership, respect, responsibility, teamwork, and trustworthiness. Griffin feels promoting these values is critical in combating rising obesity rates and gang membership in the USA. More than 5,000 young people and 400 teachers from over 50 after school sites throughout 4 of NYC�s 5 boroughs have already participated in the program with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The Mayor�s Cup will provide 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.

Where: Baker Field, Columbia University, 218th St and Broadway (A or 1 subway line)

When: Saturday 7 June, 12 noon to 4pm

Who: 24 teams from schools participating in the Play Rugby USA program

For more information on Mark Griffin, the Mayors Cup, national rugby week or the Play Rugby USA development program, please contact Christian Mayo on 212 851 8859 or christian.mayo@playrugbyusa.com.

First Ever: NYC Rugby Week
May 30–June 7, 2008

May 30–June 7 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.

The Inaugural “PLAY RUGBY USA RUGGATHON”!!
October 7, 2007

We invite everyone to join Play Rugby USA, along with Genesis Adventures Sunday, October 7th for the Westchester Marathon Festival at the Bronx River Parkway in White Plains, NY. Test your stamina and push yourself beyond your limits while you challenge the trail in the Full, Half, or Quarter Marathon while raising money for a great cause! We have included a little summary information about us at the end of this letter but for now, let’s focus on the race! View flyer. More details TBA.

Rugby World Cup Kickoff Benefit
September 8, 2007

Play Rugby is excited to announce its first Rugby Word Cup Kick Off Benefit which is being brought to you by event sponsor's Setanta Sports at the Old Castle Pub, 160 West 54th, between 6th & 7th Avenues on Saturday September 8th. Live games will be shown featuring New Zealand, Australia, Italy, England, Japan and USA in addition to cooked breakfast, lunch and liquid refreshments throughout the day. For full details, click here.

Summer Camp Partners
July 9 - August 16, 2007

We are pleased to announce the following organizations as our Summer Program Partners: PS146, PS13 (Bronx), PS27, PS285, PS139, PS180, PS286, PS50, PS13 (Staten Island), PS125, PS272, PS212, PS93, PS577, PS64, Maspeth Town Hall, University Settlement, Baychester Community Center and NYAC summer camp. We would like to thank the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation for providing the introduction to many of these sites.

Play Rugby’s Culminating Championship Tournament, Pier 40, Manhattan
June 6, 2007

Open the flyer to get all the details on this great event that will take place from 4pm - 7pm on the rooftop field at Pier 40. Over 15 organizations will be invited to participate in the event that will include a coaching clinic and multiple flag rugby matches.

Fun in the Park
May 16, 2007

Play Rugby USA is pleased to be involved for a second year in this park's department event that will introduce rugby (and 3 other sports) to over 120 children from West Harlem.

Play Rugby Flag Rugby League Kick Off
April 4, 2007

April 4 will witness the first ever league matches between Play Rugby USA program partners. Play Rugby is currently taking enrollment from over 15 organizations and will be posting a schedule online in March. The Flag Rugby League (FRL) will be partially supported by the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation and will end with a culminating tournament in mid-June.

All league games will take place between 4pm – 5.30pm on Pier 40’s rooftop field.

Sunday Spring Rugby Clinics
March 18, 2007

March 18 sees the kick-off of the Spring Sunday Rugby Clinics. Each week rugby will be run from 12pm – 2pm at Chelsea Waterside Field @ 23 rd Street and 11 th Avenue. The clinics are open to boys and girls aged 5-14 and will be focused on non-contact/flag rugby using games from the Play Rugby USA curriculum.

The clinics will run for 10 weeks between March 18 – June 10 for a cost of $200 which includes $100 of equipment - a full uniform (jersey, shorts and socks) and rugby ball for each participant. Subsidized rates and scholarships are available for current Public School players through Play Rugby USA’s existing program.

Please register / pre-pay using the following link: http://shop.playrugbynyc.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=3&categoryId=2

For questions please contact: mark.griffin@playrugbyusa.com

Play Rugby / Henry Street Downtown Rugby Expo
February 20, 2007

Play Rugby USA and Henry Street Settlement announce the First Annual Downtown Rugby Expo! February 20 th will see over 70 or more children plus parents and teachers, playing fun rugby games, enjoying a DVD-based rugby orientation and then watching the first ever school flag rugby match in New York City….Henry Street Settlement vs Riverdale Community Inc.

Multiple Teams from Henry Street and Riverdale will comprise of 5 students each and will play in the gym.

Students will be attending the event from Grand Street Settlement, University Settlement and Children’s Arts and Science workshop.

Feedback from the Rugby Expo will be posted on the website and in our March newsletter.

Winter Rugby
January 3, 2007

After school flag rugby winter programs commence.

2nd Annual Front Row Union Club Dinner & Court Session
November 16th 2006

Play Rugby USA is delighted to announce the  2nd Annual Front Row Union Club Dinner & Court Session www.fruc.co.uk . The event which was attended by 125 New York City professionals last year, is a quality dinner with an interactive court session running throughout.

Venue : To be announced (Manhattan)
Cost : To be announced (last year's ticket price: $175)
(Tickets sold as Individual or as Tables of 10)

In the Company of three international rugby legends :
Paul Rendall - The Presiding Judge
Brian Moore - Chief Prosecutor
Jeff Probyn - Court Clerk

The dinner gives attendees the opportunity to experience British justice in action while experiencing in the witty banter and repartee. This is a unique opportunity, open to ladies and gentlemen alike, to have fun with three genuine international rugby legends. While this is not a Play Rugby USA event per se, certain auction proceeds from the dinner will Play Rugby USA as it continues to make great strides in the "development of youth through rugby."

Play Rugby's C.H.A.M.P.S. Professional Development Workshop
October 21, 2006

Play Rugby USA will be running it’s engaging Flag Rugby Training Workshop as part of this school year’s inaugural C.H.A.M.P.S. professional development training. Play Rugby will run 2 introductory workshops from 9am – 12pm and then 12.30pm – 3pm, on October 21, 2006 at the Lehman High School in the Bronx. The training workshops will enable Physical Education teachers to complete the first half of Play Rugby’s non-contact rugby coaching course, providing co-certification through by USA Rugby; the National Governing Body for rugby in America. Teachers that complete the course will have the opportunity to complete a follow up workshop and/or receive a Play Rugby trained coach as a mentor to team-coach with them in their school. All training and mentoring will be free to participating schools, as it will be funded by the NYC Department of Education, who run the C.H.A.M.P.S. program.

C.H.A.M.P.S. stands for Cooperative, Healthy, Active, Motivated, Positive, Students. It is a city-wide initiative 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. Rugby is a great fit with C.H.A.M.P.S. as it is a sport with a position for every student, regardless of shape or size, and truly a participation sport, allowing players the opportunity to play for life at any level, professional or amateur. That is somewhat unique in America, where many players cease playing organized sport after high school or college.

Play Rugby endeavours to establish itself as one of the leading training providers through C.H.A.M.P.S. by running entertaining workshops throughout NYC for the remainder of this academic year.

Play Rugby and Yoga Learning Connection Community Health Day
October 12, 2006