The Official Blacksburg Rugby Blog for Players and Supporters
After a hiccup in our final trial match, it’s time to get more organized for the beginning of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Division III playoff rounds.
To hep us get an early start, please click here to tell us your plans for the match, including your lodging plans for Friday night. Please respond soon so that we can get arrangements underway.
We’re down to the last trial match of the season before the playoffs! Click here to let us know if you will be making the trip to Roanoke Saturday, 16 April.
With Blacksburg down to the last couple of trial matches of the season, it’s more important than ever to get organized for every match. Take a moment to click here and let us know if you’ll be making the short trip to River Valley for Saturday’s trial match. See you there!
As we enter the final month before the playoff rounds, we are down to our final few trial matches of the season. This Saturday we have a short trip to Radford, and we are hoping we have enough interested players to get two good matches in there.
To help us plan, please click here and take five minutes to let us know if you are available for the weekend. See you there!
This Saturday (1 p.m.) marks the return of the Legends match (a match for current players and “Old Boys”/Alumni of the club), an event that provides a chance for Blacksburg players past and present from all over to get together for a special trial match.
Everyone who attends will get a run, but we want to know who will be there. To help us plan for the weekend, please click here and take a moment to let us know if you will be attending. See you there.
It’s time to begin the charge toward the knockout rounds at home this Saturday against Winchester. Winchester is prepared for two matches, so help us plan our combinations by responding to this brief survey questionnaire to be sure we can know who is available and who is not. See you there!
It’s been said before on this site, and it will likely be said again: Whether you’ve played rugby for a year or thirty, it’s a good idea to give the rugby union laws and their application a quick study every single season.
Although the full set of laws may be too thick a read for your schedule, you can get a very sound overview from the 2011 Game Management Guidelines. The GMGs are doubly useful because their primary audience is American referees, so by reading them you can see how the referees you’re dealing with have been instructed to appy the laws.
As always, the tackle area remains a particular focus in rugby union laws and their application. Most penalities at all levels of the game ensue at the tackle area and ensuing rucks, so it is important to be sure how to stay ou of trouble there. After giving the guidelines a read, you may also want to have a look at these short video clips from the International Rugby Board to get even more insight on how to stay in the right at the tackle area.
Video 1 (with examples of illegal handling):
Video 2 (with examples of illegally leaving the feet):
Video 3 (with examples of acceptable legal rucking):
With training starting back up this week, you may want some inspiration from some of the world’s best as you get the rust off.
Last year, representatives from the New Zealand All Blacks produced this video showcasing some talents:
They followed up on that this week with a summer-themed skills display:
Not to be outdone, a few players from the Canberra, Australia-based Brumbies super Rugby side came out with their own video last year displaying what it takes to play at the Super Rugby level:
And finally, some members of Super Rugby’s Waratahs from Sydney, Australia, showed off their own summertime talents:
Hopefully that’ll inspire you in some way or another as we get things started. No trick photography at the Blacksburg sessions!
Right now, everyone at Blacksburg Rugby has their attention on the club’s final match of the season this Saturday. Once November arrives, though, it will be time for some of us to step up to another challenge.
1 November marks the beginning of “Movember,” the month where some brave souls step up to the challenge of growing a moustache to raise money for and awareness of men’s health issues (including prostate health, depression, and other issues). To take part, participants simply start a moustache on 1 November and stick with it until the end of the month.
Blacksburg Rugby has a team fundraising page within the USA Rugby Network, and we need some members to grow one for the cause. What do you have to do to get in? Just grow a moustache starting Monday. (No beards; that’s cheating.) If you commit to it, leave a comment here with your name and contact information and we will create an account for you on the Blacksburg Rugby team fundraising site (unless you’d prefer to make an account yourself). We’ll then provide you with a donation link to raise money for our team.
You can solicit donations yourself using online tools, or you can just focus on cultivating your moustache and let the club raise money to support it. Current club members, past club members, members of other clubs, and friends are welcome, as are female supporters (who don’t need to grow a moustache to participate, though cheers to you if you can). If you don’t have what it takes, consider making a donation instead.
We’re looking forward to seeing those moustaches and donations. If you need some inspiration, check out these moustache examples from rugby union and league players who participated last year:
After a near loss to Charlottesville, it’s time to finish strong against Roanoke. A win will put Blacksburg in a good position moving into the Spring knockout rounds. Continue reading ‘Players: Who’s In for the Final 2010 Competition Match?’
So far, there are two undefeated sides in the Virginia Rugby Union Senior Men’s Division III competition. After Charlottesville and Blacksburg play in a week, there will be one. Continue reading ‘Players: Who’s Up For The Top-Of-The Table Clash?’
After a couple of road matches and a week off, we’re back at home this week against Virginia Beach. Continue reading ‘Back At Home; Who’s Available?’
We are getting into the thick of the competition now and despite a 2-0 start there is tough going ahead. Continue reading ‘Players: Can You Make it to Newport News?’
Another week, another match. Players, click on this link to let us know if you can make it to the 25 September away match against Blackwater in Lynchburg, VA. See you there!
After a long summer off and a few good trial matches, it’s finally time to get the Virginia Rugby Union Senior Men’s Division III compeition underway this comin Saturday. To get prepared, we need you to tell us whether you can make it. Continue reading ‘Players: Are You Available For Blacksburg’s First Fall 2010 Competition Match?’
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