Wisconsin Tag Rugby Meeting

Wisconsin Tag Rugby's annual meeting will be held on  Wednesday, October 15th from 6-9pm at Menomonee Falls High School (W142 N8101 Merrimac Dr).  The general meeting will take place from 6-7:30pm in the Library, followed by a hands on ref/coaches training from 7:30-9pm in the New Gym.

WTR provides coed flag tournaments each summer for kids in grades 1-8.  New clubs, those considering starting a club, or those that would like to help out with an existing club are welcome to attend this meeting and help us grow the game!

 

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at 414-550-4052 or at dwzeroth@yahoo.com

 

Editor's Note:

 

The number of programs across Wisconsin continues to swell.  Word on the street is that there is some discussion coming about Fall Touch leagues and Middle School tackle rugby.  This past summer Waukesha Tag Rugby began the first middle school tackle program.

Women's World Cup 2014 Top Tries

Worth watching.  The women's teams were playing even more skilled rugby than in 2010.  With so much more television coverage, it was a great Cup.

"Professionalism" in high school rugby

 

Some observations on youth rugby, in an informative interview with Danielle Miller, head coach of the Women's All-Americans.  The interviews come from Alex Goff's new publication, the "Goff Rugby Report" with a new focus on youth and high school. Check it out.

In response to Miller's observations, how professional is your team?  How professional are your coaches?  Do they plan drills, practices, and communicate?  Do you and your teammates take your sport seriously?  Do you show up to practice on time and prepared?  Do you eat right?  Do you take care of yourself and stay in shape in the off-season?  Rugby is fun, but only if you are healthy and in shape.  It's also safe if you are in shape and have learned the proper techniques by attending practice. 

Rugby is exploding across the country.  There are more and more competitive teams and programs cropping up.  Where does your team and its commitment stand in the changing landscape of the fastest growing women's sport in the world?   

WGR 2014 Fall Schedule

Fall 2014 Wisconsin Girls Rugby

The 2014 Fall Conference alignment and full schedules have been released.  Opening weekend will feature some pre-season non-conference matches.  Each team will also play one non-conference match against a similarly pre-season ranked team over the course of conference play.

This year's state championship will move to the Milwaukee County Sports Complex at 60th and Ryan Rd in Franklin.

MASTER SCHEDULE
The North South Conference (NS):  DSHA, Oak Creek, Brookfield, Appleton, Fond Du Lac
The Classic Five Conference (C5) :  CMHS, KM, Vernon, DSjv, Muskego

*Home team listed first. 

Sept 6th  @Oak Creek HS, Pre-Season Matches   week1
10am  OC v CM
11am KM v DS 
12:15am  DSjv v Muskego      

Sept 11th Thursday
4:30pm Catholic Memorial @ KM  Naga-Waukee Park

Sept 13th week2 Saturday
NS Conference @Dretzka Park 
2pm  Brookfield v Appleton
3:15pm  DSHA v Oak Creek
4:30pm DSHA jv v Vernon

Sept 14th  Sunday
1pm  Muskego v Fond Du Lac   Bluhm Park, Muskego

Sept 20th week3 @Appleton
NS Conference
1000 Appleton vs FDL
1115 DSHA vs Brookfield
1230 Muskego vs DSHA JV

C5 Conference @Naga-Waukee Park
11:15  KM v OC (non-conference)
10am  Vernon v CMHS

Fri Sept 26th week4
4:30pm  CMHS v  DSHA jv  (Homecoming Game) Minooka Park

Sept 27th week4
NS Conference @DSHA field
11am DSHA v Appleton
12:30pm Fond Du Lac v OC

C5 Conference @ Vernon Town Hall Park
10am    Muskego v KM
1130am Vernon v Brookfield (non-conference)

Oct 4th week5
NS Conference @Oak Creek High School
11am  OC v Appleton
12:30pm Brookfield v Fond Du Lac

C5 Conference @ Minooka 
10am CMH v DSHA (non conference)
1130  KM v DSjv
1pm   Vernon v Muskego

Oct 11th week6
NS Conference @ Fond Du Lac
Fond Du Lac v DS
Appleton v DS jv (non-conference)
Brookfield v OC

C5 Conference @Muskego
10am      CMH v Muskego
1130am  KM v Vernon

Oct 18th week7  Playoffs:
Teams Seeded 1-5 based on conference record
NS Conference @DS/Brookfield
NS#1 v C5#2 (winner plays for 1st, loser plays for 3rd at state)
NS#3 v C5#4 (winner plays for 5th at state, loser play for 7th)

C5 Conference @Minooka
10am  C5#1 v NS#2
1130am  C5#3  v NS #4

#5 in each conference has a bye and play for 9th place at the state tournament.  Or, pickup a game against a b-side.

Sunday Oct 26th State Tournament 
Milwaukee Sports Complex
1v2  1st Place Match  (evening match, under the stadium lights)
3v4 3rd Place
5v6 5th Place

Get Your Scrumcap On!

It's time to get to practice, bring a friend, and put your mouthguard in!  

Are you ready for the Fall Wisconsin Girls High School Rugby season?

Welcome Kettle Moraine Coach Kevin

This Fall new Head Coach Megan Kevin brings in a new staff to the state's second-oldest team.  The Kettle Moraine Knightmares new staff will include assistant coaches: Dane Kilpatrick, who some may already know from reffering, and long-time Milwaukee Rugby Club veteran and former center Ric Bellis.

As part of our league-wide welcome, Coach Kevin has agreed to a short interview and preview.  Welcome aboard and best of luck!  

How long and where all have you played rugby?  
--> I played at Northern Michigan University for 3 years. Started as a Scrumhalf, then moved to Flanker. I played for the Wisconsin U23 Select sides, also nominated to be on the WI All Star Team.

--Did you play any other sports in high school? 
--> I Didn't have the opportunity to play Rugby in High School, but my time was spent playing Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball.

--Real Job? 
--> I am an Account Executive at Zywave in Milwaukee, WI

--Why do you want to coach high school girls rugby? 
--> I wanted to coach because I never had the opportunity to play for such a unique, family oriented sport like rugby in High School. I believe the game has helped myself grow into a better woman, student, and employee overall. I have a desire to help young women develop the mentality that they can do anything if they work for it. Help them want to work outside their comfort zone to become a better person/athlete/leader. And, ultimately to have fun; to enjoy this sport that brings so many unique and talented people together. I cannot wait to see what this season brings!

--Favorite rugby player(s)? 
I would have to say my Fiancé, Dane Kilpatrick. (Who is also assisting me in coaching KM)

--Best team you ever played against? 
I would say Grand Valley State University. I have never seen a team so fluid and confident in every pass, tackle, and play in my career.

--anything else you'd want to add? 
I am excited to get into the season, work with my team, and continue to learn from not only my own team, but every other team we see this season.

--When and where does KM start practices? 
--> KM has stated practices on Monday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Naga Waukee Park. We are going to be recruiting heavily in the next few weeks, getting posters/flyers/etc. out all over towns, and working to get communication within multiple different schools!

USA Women Drop Opener to Ireland

Today, the USA women lost their opening World Cup match 17-23 to Ireland, in a tough loss.  With New Zealand in their pool, the USA women face a tough challenge in vying to advance to the final.

USA v Ireland: Women's World Cup TODAY live and online

The USA women play Ireland TODAY,  Friday, August 1 – 11:00 A.M. ET / 12:oo CST in their opening game of the World Cup.  

You can watch the match live online here:  

USA Roster

1Hope Rogers2Katy Augustyn
3Jamie Burke
4Carmer Farmer
5Sarah Walsh
6Jillion Potter
7Lynelle Kugler
8Kate Daley (C)
9Jocelyn Tseng
10Kimber Rozier
11Sadie Anderson
12Emilie Bydwell
13Bui Baravilala
14Vanesha McGee
15 Meya Bizer

Reserves

Sarah Chobot
Kittery Wagner
Sarah Wilson
Sharon Blaney
Shaina Turley
Deven Owsiany
Hannah Stolba

Ireland Roster

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)

Reserves

16. Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile)
21. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile)

Universal Sports - Will broadcast three of the pool play matches, SFs and Finals. Don’t have Universal Sports? Check out DishWorld, $10 for a month!

TG4 – This match will be broadcat live on TG4, with coverage beginning at 3.50pm Irish time.

Get more details about the #WRWC2014 here.