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TRFC Sends Thanks For A Great Fundraiser |
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Written by Lars
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Tuesday, 30 August 2011 |
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The Topeka Rugby Football Club would like to send out our thanks for all of you who made donations to us this past Saturday night for a very successful fundraiser. A great and fun crowd showed up at Speck's Bar & Grill for an evening of food, drinks and laughs as we raised money for the upcoming rugby season.
All the food and drink went in a flurry and the raffle table was a big hit with everyone. The crowd was hungry, thirsty and loud! We also enjoyed watching the Barbarians vs. All Blacks game from 1973, which some consider the greatest rugby match ever played.
Topeka Rugby greatly appreciates all who helped out as the funds go a long way in our season. The team has been working hard to becoming something that the city can be proud of and support. We would also like to thank Speck's Bar & Grill for doing a great job and being our team clubhouse.
Now with the fundraiser over, it's time to focus on the upcoming season. Our first game is quickly approaching on Sept. 10, at home vs. the KC Carnivores at 2pm. We would love to have everyone there to kickoff the season in a big, LOUD, way! Thank you all once again from the Topeka Wizards.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 August 2011 )
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Topeka Ruggers Participate in Wichita Harlots Fest |
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Written by Lars
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Monday, 29 August 2011 |
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On August 20th, five members of the Topeka Wizards Rugby Football
Club participated in the annual "Wichita Harlots Fest" in Wichita. The
event is a unique opportunity for rugby players to play in a tournament
made up completely of random teams, comprised of ruggers from other
teams.
Ruggers sign up and place their name and position on a slip
of paper and then they draw 3 teams, randomly out of those names from a
mug. Once the teams are made up they compete against each other in a
round robin format, and the team with the best record at the end of the
day is declared the victor and the members of that team are awarded a
custom beer mug to commemorate the event. The teams consisted of 10
members on the pitch and they played with no flankers or eight man.
Every team got the opportunity to play in four games at ten minute
halves.
The action was spirited and it was a good warm up for all
involved for the upcoming season. A few old boys came out and played,
to enjoy the day. The members of the TRFC all played great and the hard
work being put into the pre-season really came to light. Team
president Matt Crawford, team Match Secretary Jay Brewer, Kris
Ailslieger, Ben Rufenacht and Mike Sutton all laid it out on the
field. The team felt the effects of the game when the day was done.
Congratulations to Ben and Kris for coming home with the mug!
Those
who played thought it was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn
more about the game through playing with others from other clubs. It
is highly recommended to participate in these types of tournaments in
the future. I think we are going to start planning ahead to do the
Storm Lake, IA Harlots in May to build upon the experiences of the
20th. We are looking forward to doing the Wichita Harlots Fest next
year!
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Coach Marts: "What Makes Rugby So Addictive?" |
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Written by Lars
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Thursday, 25 August 2011 |
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From the first time I played the game, I knew there was
something special about the game. I had grown up playing sports year round and
played on several very successful teams but none of them could compare with the
excitement and satisfaction of playing a game of rugby. As a player at one of
the most successful clubs in the country I had the opportunity to travel and
play in a couple of big tournaments and across the pond. Penn State tourney is
where I got a major taste of how skilled players from New Zealand, Australia
and England were when we played them in the semi finals and won a hard fought
10 to 7 victory. The team was called the Toronto Nomads and they had won the
Penn State tourney for several years in a row and after the match we understood
why because they were a very physical and skilled team. Fortunately for us we
were in superior shape and managed to upset the defending champs. The
championship game was against Penn State later that same day and we defeated
them easily by a score of 35 to 7. Our next major tournament was in Nashville,
Tenn at Vanderbilt University. This tournament had several teams from
throughout the south and we were able to easily win the tournament. During the
Spring break of my senior year in college we had the opportunity to travel to
England and play 4 games on consecutive days. The highlight was defeating
Sandhurst, England’s military academy, by a score of 11 to 0. This was the
first time West Point had played Sandhurst and only 1 of 3 times in the 33 year
history that we have beat the Brits at their own game.
I share these stories to show how successful we were on the
rugby pitch but that pales in comparison to he life long friendships I have
established with my rugby brothers of the past. Even to this day you never know
when contact will be made from one of them. No matter who it is the
conversation seems to pick up right where it left off whether that was a year
ago or 33 yrs ago. There is a bond that you develop with your teammates that
will stick with you for a lifetime. Many of the Topeka club got to see how
powerful that bond was this past Spring season when we held our 1st
alumni game. The old boys, many who hadn't see each other for many years, were
able to come out and not only be competitive but actually defeat the younger
guys by playing good support style rugby. That bond they developed during their
playing days was still there and many of them didn't have to tell the other one
what they were going to do they just instinctively knew.
In many sports the game is all about the super stars.
Football is the quarterback and running backs, basketball it is the great
shooter or shot blocker but in rugby it is all about the team. When you get
tackled you want to know that your guys will be there to support you and
maintain possession of the ball. There is no room for super stars only room for
super teammates on a successful team. That team work attitude carries over to
off the field activities as well as on the pitch. I have talked to several
players who have moved away from Topeka and the one common theme I hear is how
much they miss the closeness of our rugby club.
So if you are looking at our website or reading this article
and are telling yourself that you are looking for an organization where you can
learn a new sport, develop some great friendships and have fun while you get in
to great shape, then Topeka rugby is where you need to be. We are always
looking for new talent and look forward to adding you to our rugby family.
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