CSU Rugby played one of their most successful seasons in team history last season going 10-1 on the season and sweeping league play, qualifying for the Western Regional Playoffs which is the national round of 64 for collegiate Division I.  Unfortunately due to a payment processing error we forfieted a match we won against Wyoming and therefore are the third seed out of the league and will have to play a tougher schedule through the western tournament to make the Sweet Sixteen round of Nationals in San Fransisco at the University of Cal Berkely.

CSU Rugby has been preparing for a buildup to the Western Playoffs and the National Sweet Sixteens.  The team had 25 new recruits this Spring due to player recruiting on campus and news spreading of the teams national ranking currently 10th on http://www.goffonrugby.com/ and14th on http://www.americanrugbynews.com/ .  The team has also raised $2000 through fundraising this semester, making $1500 doing the hard work of signing students up for credit cards on campus and $500 hosting a Rugby Night at CB & Potts.  The team also has 2007 team calendars and new black T-shirts for sale with Hoodies and Polo's on the way.  The team also purchased Rugby kit bags through a generous donation from Stella Artois beverage and the InBev corporation.  All in all the players and co.

Colorado State University Men's Rugby plays its spring season opener against Air Force Academy at Air Force Academy this Sunday Feb 18th at 1PM for the A-side kickoff with B-side to follow at ~2:30PM and C-side to follow at ~4:00PM.  Please review the season schedule at the bottom of the E-mail and our website www.RamRugby.com.  Also note Alumni Night for the spring will be Friday Night March 30th against UNC the week before the Western Playoffs.

Check the team hotline to verify the game will be on (970) 491-0478.  The field is clear now and the forecast is for warm temps on Sunday but the weather has not been good lately.
Directions to Air Force Academy.  From Fort Collins, Head out to the Highway on Mulberry Ave.  Turn Right Heading South on I-25.  Drive 113 miles south to North Gate BLVD exit 156B.  Exit turning right heading West.  Stay on North Gate BLVD staying right at the forks in the road.  The road will reach the foothills and bend around to the left and south.  A set of fields will be on the left, park along the top of the fields.

Practice starts the second week of school
 
Monday Jan 22th Practice 7-9PM South College Gym
Wednesday Jan 24th Recruiting on campus 10-3:30 in the lory student center
Wednesday Jan 24th Team Meeting 5:30PM Upstairs in the Rec Center
Wednesday Jan 24th Practice 7-9PM South College Gym
 
 
Practice in February
 
Monday 7-9PM South College Gym
Wednesday 6-8PM Football Turf Field
Thursday 8:15-9:30PM Practice in South College Field House

On December 27, 2006 a new rugby player was born to Blake and Corrie.  We hope to see Jack Sebastion Stevens wearing a CSU jersey in about 18 years.

Paul had been very sick the past couple of years.  Yesterday Monday Nov. 6th 2006 he had a brain hemmorhage occur early in the morning and was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital by ambulance.  Unfortunately the doctors were not able to repair the damage.  Paul died at approximately 12:30 PM Monday afternoon.  His daughter, and ex-wife Donna, were with him at the time.  We will miss him

 If you go to www.allnutt.comyou will be able to read Paul's obituary.

The service was Thursday Nov. 9th 2006 at 3:00 PM

The interment is at 2:00 PM Friday Nov. 10th at Fort Logan in Denver.

You can electronically sign the guest book.

I don't know how many of you are aware that a piece of the soul of Ft. Collins rugby moved on this week. Paul Ireland, a founding member of both CSU and Ft. Collins rugby clubs died this past Monday after a six month struggle. Legend has it that during a Monday Night Football drink up at his house the name Flamingos was born.

Paul is fourth generation military and a highly decorated Vietnam era green beret. At his memorial service yesterday he was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit, something like the eighth highest medal the military awards and one of only two United States medals authorized to be worn around the neck; the other being the Congressional Medal of Honor. If there ever was a soldier you would want to thank for his or her service, Paul would be the one.

Unfortunately, I never played even one phase of rugby with Paul. When I moved here he was recovering from career ending knee surgery, which back in the day before scopes was not an uncommon result. However, Paul's joy of life, the warmth of his friendship and his love of rugby makes him my favorite Flamingo. So, if just past 2:00PM this afternoon you feel a slight shudder, it is part of the soul of this club being laid to rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery and hopefully moving on to a greener pitch.

Thanks for indulging me as I process. Just thought you'd want to know a bit of how deep the roots of this club are.
Larry Belasco

A clash of top ten teams will likely decide the league champion this Saturday at CSU when Colorado State and the University of New Mexico face of at 1PM.

New Mexico is currently perched at #4 in the nation and CSU sits at #6 in the nation.  This match will feature a Rugby match between some of the best in the nation.
Come out and enjoy the game this Saturday at 1PM on the CSU intramural field at the center of campus on the corner of Meridian Ave and South Dr.

Colorado States own #8 Jake Humphrey represented the USA tonight in an international match when the Collegiate All Americans destroyed Canada U-21’s 40-10. 

After the match Jake Humphrey was quoted as saying “It was awesome to be chosen to represent our country in this great sport.”  He also stated that he acquitted him self well after coming on as a sub making “a big hit and running past a couple of guys on a 5m take”. 

Jake is the first full Collegiate All American from Colorado State University (as far as the current team and coaches are aware).  Several CSU Men’s Rugby athletes have made honorable mention All American, and so was Jake until he was called up this week to join the All American squad. 

Join us in congratulating Jake on his accomplishment and representing the University well on the international level.

Jake has another match to play as the All Americans rematch against Canada Under 21 this Saturday.

Ram Rugby will kick off the fall 2006 season with a home match against the University of Metro Denver on Sunday August 27th at 1:00 PM on the CSU fields in front of the student rec center. 

Practice will start on the first day of school Monday August 21st from 6:00-8:00 PM on the CSU intramural fields in front of the student rec center. 

New players are encouraged to come out and experience Rugby.  
Fans and Friends come out and support CSU at their first match of the season.

Come join CSU Rugby and the CSU Rugby Alunni in celebrating the clubs 36th anniversary.  The main event of the weekend will be the annual Alumni Match where the current squad will face an All Star team of CSU Rugby Alumni.  Full itenerary for the weekend is below.

Itinerary

Saturday September 2nd 12:00 PM Weber State vs CSU Tailgate and Football game.
Game time 3:00 PM, tailgating opens at 12:00 PM. 
Please let me know if you would like to join the group ticket package $20 ticket in the North end zone face value of ticket $30.  E-mail blakestevens1@gmail.com to reserve a ticket.

Sunday September 3rd 1:00 PM Alumni vs Students Rugby Match
 A-side match 1:00 PM 30 or 40 minute halves
 Women’s match of 7’s 10’s or 15’s dependent availability of Women Alumni
 B-side match 2:30 PM 25 or 30 minute halves
 There has also been some interest in a 7’s match, and this could be fit in.

Sunday September 3rd 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM After Match Social at the Stonehouse Grille
 Head to the restaurant directly after the match and go upstairs to the Highlands Room.