Virtual Play Rugby World Cup Winners announced
October 22, 2007

Just 2 days after the sixth Rugby World Cup final, where South Africa pipped England to the post in Paris, France, we are please to announce the winning schools that took part in the first ever Virtual Play Rugby World Cup. With over 2000 students having participated in Play Rugby programs over the last year we estimate that some 400 from twelve different schools competed in the first ever Play Rugby World Cup. The coaches focused on five different games from the curriculum recording the results and submitting them online.

THE WINNERS

Tail Tally
Riverdale Community Center [group size 8]
Well done to Aiden O’Brien who managed to grab 5 flags.

Circle Passing
Bishops College, Kingstown, St. Vincent
They averaged 41 passes in each direction over the space of 30 seconds!

Zig-Zag Passing
PS 180 3rd Grade
With eighteen students participating they completed the passing drill in 32 seconds.

Touchdown
Henry Street Settlement
Playing as groups of 7-aside the students amounted over 18 scores in two minutes – impressive stuff guys!

Just Score
Riverdale Community Center - Thursday 4:15 Class
In two minutes with 5 v 2 six tries were scored.

All the winning students will receive prizes this week which, were kindly donated by the National Council of Youth Sports as a follow up to their Hershey's STRIVE awards. Coaches will be announcing individual "Teamplayer" awards for each winning site this week.

Virtual Play Rugby World Cup
October 15-19, 2007

With the Rugby World Cup final scheduled for Saturday October 20th, we thought that it would be a great idea to introduce a virtual tournament for all our students. Our Play Rugby USA coaches will be conducting a serious of different games during the week of October 15th, which include many of the favorites from the “Give Rugby a Try” curriculum – Tail Tally; Circle Passing; Zig-Zag Passing; Touch Down; Just Score 1.

The results from each after school program will be submitted online by the coaches and thus both a school and an individual student will win each game. Individual students will be awarded their title for being the best team member throughout the competition. The winners will be announced on October 19th and prizes will be handed out the following week. Check back with us to see who will win our version of the Webb Ellis Cup!

(Photo above: Mark Griffin presents USA National Team Jersey to the winners of last spring's Flag Rugby Tournament...who will win the Virtual Play Rugby World Cup?)

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