Hello folks, and welcome back to another edition of the Club Rugby '6 Pack' of the week. We will go over Divisions 1, 2, and 3, which encompass the Frontier, True South, Red River, and the Pacific Northwest conferences. This wide array of competitions are shaping up for a great final push of the regular season, and these 6 matchups are hotly contested, which could shape the future playoff picture.
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Women's D2 - Frontier: St. Louis Sabres vs Queen City Chaos
Starting off this preview, will be the Frontier's D2 women's sides who are in the meat of their prospective seasons. The St. Louis Sabres are at the top of the table at 3-0 with 15 points, and the Queen City Chaos are in 3rd, 1-1 record with 5 points. The Chaos have one more game than the Sabres in the season, and knowing the competitive levels of these two rival clubs, anything is open to happen this upcoming weekend with the conference on the line.
According to their website, the S. Louis Sabres explain the beginning of their club, which is quite unique: The concept of our women’s rugby club was born in the Fall 1972 during a tournament in Kansas City. Many wives had traveled to the tournament with their husbands who played for the St. Louis Rambler Rugby Club. When a women’s rugby team was seen playing during the tournament, the Rambler wives decided to form a team of their own. Founded in 1975, the club adopted its current name, “The St. Louis Sabres” in 2003 after being known simply as “The St. Louis Women’s Rugby Club” for many years.
The St. Louis Sabres Women’s Rugby Club celebrated its 30 year anniversary in 2005. In its 30+ years of existence the club has had many committed coaches, fans and Old Girls. One of the founding members, MaryAnn Lane can still be found on the sidelines of most Sabres home matches. MaryAnn’s home has been host to countless Christmas parties, pool parties, after-parties and unexpected overnight guests. One room of her house is dedicated entirely to the trophies, photos and other treasures of this team.
On the other side of the pitch, Queen City Chaos explain the origination of their club via their social media channels: In 2015 women's rugby returned to Springfield RFC. The Springfield Chaos women's rugby team was established and fully supported as a part of the Men's Club.
They're still a young team with most of the players having 3 years or less experience. Starting with 10s in August they've started to see the rugby knowledge light bulbs coming on for a lot of the players. Queen City have been successful this year in able to hold their opponents for stretches, alongside of exploiting the player advantages with the speed of their outside backs. It will be a tough match but it will give them a good opportunity to see how that earlier season progress can continue in the positive direction.
Men's D1 - Red River: Austin Huns vs Austin Blacks
Continuing our 6 Pack journey, we will stop off in Austin, TX as he have a cracker of a match ensuing between the (6-0, 30 points in the standings) and 1st Place Austin Blacks will take on the cross town rival (5-1, 26 points in the standings) Austin Huns. With just each more game each on the line, after this test, the upcoming match will be one for the books folks. This immense game could determine the 1st place conference finisher, along with needed bonus points in order to do so.
In their previous head-to-head matchup earlier in the season, the Blacks came away with the 36-26 victory on their home field. Now that the tables are turned, the Huns will have the opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season, in front of their fans on their turf. If you're in the area, we highly recommend checking out this clash of Red River titans, in a game that will certainly not disappoint.
The Austin Huns Rugby Club was founded in 1972 and is one of the first rugby clubs of its kind in Central Texas. Over more than 40 years, the club has developed an organization and a culture that have produced winning teams, first class coaches and players. For many years now The Austin Huns Rugby Club remains one the largest men's clubs in the United States, competing in all 3 National USA Rugby 15s divisions and the National 7s division. Over the years, the Huns have maintained a tradition of tough and scrappy rugby while always exemplifying the solidarity and camaraderie of a true team.
Since 1972, the Huns have consistently put together strong sides and have regularly competed in the Texas Rugby Union Championships. Furthermore, In 2016, the Huns partnered with Huns Rugby Management to contract players in a move towards professionalism. And in 2017 the Austin Huns won the USA Rugby Division 1 Men’s Championship.
On the other side of the pitch, The Austin Balcks Rugby Club, is one of the top rugby clubs in the nation. The club was founded in 1967 and is the oldest rugby club in the Southwestern United States. The teams, affectionately know as the Austin Blacks, compete in the USA Rugby and Texas Rugby Union's Division 1 and Division 3 competitions. The Blacks are consistently ranked in the Top 10 of USA Rugby national rankings throughout the years.
Austin RFC is known for its hospitality and is a venue for most tours to Texas and the Southwestern U.S., having played more than 60 foreign touring sides. The Blacks D1 side have been to the national championship 6 times, 3 of those in the last few years. In 2019 all three of the Blacks sides D1, 2 and 3 won their division in the Red River Rugby Competition (RRRC) and went to the National round of 8. This was the first time a club in the USA had completely won its Competitive Region. That same year the Division 1 and 3 sides made it to the USA Rugby National Final.
Women's D2 - Pacific Northwest: Tacoma Sirens vs South Sound Assassins
In the third matchup of the preview, the Pacific Northwest's D2 conference is in full swing as the 3rd place Sirens take on the 5th place Assassins. This upcoming matchup will be the one and only regular season head-to-head test between the two clubs, and will surely be an intriguing one. In last year's matchup, the Sirens took the victory home with a 39-0 victory and bragging rights of the series. Different year, different teams, different expectations are on the line as these two conference rivals will trade blow for blow this upcoming weekend.
The Tacoma Sirens was founded in 2010, and the Sirens are part of Tacoma Rugby Club, a nonprofit club committed to the support and development of rugby for all ages in Tacoma and the surrounding communities. They are part of the Pacific Northwest Rugby Union, which is a competitive league, including over 10 Women’s teams in the PNW.
On the other side of the pitch, the South Sound Assassins started as a dream for a few former DII women's players living in Olympia and Tacoma, WA. Dreaming of an opportunity to play competitively in the area, the Assassins were born! As rugby continues to grow in popularity, the Assassins are looking to grow the opportunities for women in the South Sound region. Start playing now and help us build the culture of their organization.
Men's D2 - Frontier: Little Rock Stormers vs St. Louis Royal Ramblers
Next on our exciting list of hot rugby action will be the Frontier's D2 conference's two divisions, the North vs South. In the North, the Little Rock Stormers are currently 3-1, sitting atop first place in their division, while the St. Louis Royal Ramblers are 4-1 and 2nd in the South. this important inter-divisional game will be extremely useful in testing each other's mettle across the divisional lines, while setting a precipice within their own conference play. This will be the lone head-to-head matchup between the two clubs this season, but will certainly not be overlooked in its importance. Pleanty of clubs in both respective divisions are closely contesting the 2st place standing, as this conference will more than likely come down to the final wire.
The Little Rock Men’s rugby team, in the past decade, has become a constant competitor in championship rugby. Formally competing in the South Rugby Union, Little Rock decided to make the jump to the Texas Rugby Union in 2014 and has experienced a continued elevation in success with the ultimate goal of a national championship. Also, their 7’s program is elevating its game as well. The 7’s club is led by former USA Women’s 7’s head coach Julie McCoy. In 2016, McCoy led the team to the national tournament and ended the season 11th in the country.
The Little Rock Men’s Rugby Club is continually looking for players who wish to be part of not only a team but a second family. The club competes in the Mid-America Rugby Union Division 2. Little Rock is excited for the future and proud of our past. They of course hope to see you on the pitch soon, or at least in the stands.
On the other side of the pitch, the Royal Ramblers came to be in 2019 when the St Louis Rambler Rugby Club, established in 1933 and the second oldest club in the USA, and the 2017 National Champion St Louis Royals merged. Part of the goal for the Royal Ramblers is to foster local participation and competition in the sport of rugby, including Men’s, Collegiate, High School and youth introductory rugby leagues.
The St Louis Royal Rambler Rugby Club is a merger of the St Louis Rambler Rugby Club and the St Louis Royals Rugby Club beginning in the 2019/2020 season. “The merger of these two clubs is a historic step for rugby in the city of St Louis. It’s exciting to see the enthusiasm from both clubs to join as one and compete for national titles across all divisions”, says Ryan Dunn, President of the Royals. Colin Heath, President of the Ramblers says “The two clubs have a long rich history and we’re excited about the merger. The combining of resources and players will no doubt elevate the play and talent pool of rugby in St Louis.”
Women's D2 - True South: Knoxville Minx vs Memphis Flamingos
In the second to last matchup in this week's preview, will be the the True South's conference test between Knoxville and Memphis. Both these clubs are currently tied in the standings at 1-1, with 6 points a piece. This will be a cool matchup to behold as their rivalry has turned into a spirited competitiveness over the years. In last year's two head-to-head matchups, the Minx came away with a clean sweep of the Flamingos, and will be vying to make the same approach this weekend.
According to Knoxville Min's Website: In the spring of 2005, alumni of the University of Tennessee Women's Rugby Football Club set out to establish a senior side and take women's rugby in Tennessee to the next level. The end result was the Knoxville Women's Rugby Club, informally known as the Knoxville Minx. The KWRC is fast becoming a formidable team and is making a name for itself in the South, with a 15s side fielded in the spring and fall, and a 7s side in the summer.
On the other side of the pitch, the Memphis Women's Rugby Football Club was founded on May 11, 2004. Originally, Kathleen Babilon moved to Memphis having played rugby for several years in Albuquerque. She quickly made contact with the men of the Memphis Blues and began efforts to start a women’s team. Deciding to give women’s rugby in Memphis another try, they agreed to start practices on May 11, 2004, and that if rugby ‘practice’ only consisted of just two or three players, so be it. They would practice every Tuesday until a team formed.
Momentum was built through some good press and word of mouth. Enough so that the team was able to field a full team in time for the 2004 Fall season. Winter workouts brought more new players so that by the Spring of 2005 the Lady Blues felt like a real rugby team.
Men's D3 - Pacific Northwest: Eugene Stags vs Bend Roughriders
In the final matchup of this weekend's preview, we travel Northbound to the Pacific Northwest where we'll find the D3 clubs, Eugene Stags take on the Bend Roughriders. Eugene is currently 2-3 on the year, while Bend is 4-1, within their Pacific Northwest (South) division. Their previous head-to-head matchup earlier this year was unfortunately cancelled, but these two will be surely excited to play one another for inter-state bragging rights. In last year's two tests between the clubs, Bend came away with the clean sweep, and will be eyeing to do the same this weekend.
Bend Rugby was founded in 1975 and is one of the most well respected teams in the region. Bend RFC prides itself on developing inexperienced players into high achieving rugby players through a commitment to share the game with anyone willing to step on the pitch. Their members come from all walks of life and are an integrated part of the Central Oregon community. With exceptional athletes, long time players, and a legacy of success, year after year Bend rugby has held top accolades within Northwest leagues.
The Bend Rugby community is made up of current and past players, administrators, and rugby enthusiasts that strongly support the camaraderie and joy found within the sport. We are currently developing and instituting greater community initiatives that are building networks with local business and community members at large.
On the other side of the pitch, the Eugene Stags Rugby Football Club is Eugene, Oregon's own men's rugby team. The ERFC is a Division III team in the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union. The Stags share this league with teams from Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
