Also I have secured a venue for us to go to after the match, the venue will be Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (the address is on the home page of this web site) and will begin about 9:00pm. We are looking forward to everyone coming out to
watch us play and enjoy good food and beverage with us after the match.
The second week of practice is in the books, a Wednesday and Friday practice in which we continued to work on fitness and building on their rugby skills.
This week has been a very good week and they've accomplished a lot. We've the lads learning how to ruck and maul (see blogs from December 2011 for keys to the game and positions) and they've responded very well in learning something that was new and with time, they’ll be able to turn these skills to the opposing teams instead of their own team-mates.
Good news the player that we had our medical emergency with came back to practice Wednesday with all the vigor you would expect of a veteran and that’s good news.
In the upcoming weeks, we’ll begin splitting into backs and forwards and begin the task of teaching the forward players how to build a scrum and line outs. The backs will begin learning each other in the back line and going forward with the ball and supporting each other.
The Green vs. Orange is not about winning or losing, this is for everyone to get actual game experience under pressure. We’ll be evaluating all the players to see if we’re using them in the right position or maybe try them at another to see where they fit. UT Dallas Rugby isn’t a team that the lads have to try out for and if they aren’t good enough they’ll be cut. Everyone who practices will play. We are scheduled to play three 20 periods and I expect everyone to get at least 2 periods of playing time. A few might be called to play all three periods, but we’re trying to fill every position with at least 2 maybe 3 deep, so that will be a game time decision based on the availability of the players. Our numbers have dropped a bit from our first practice (50+), we are still getting 40+ still and that’s very promising, because I can see that while this is all new to them they are ready and willing to learn this great sport.
I’ve been approached by a couple of families inquiring about hosting a post match social at their homes; I thank you all for this, and would like to come to you later in the year if possible. But this coming weekend, my main concern is that you all come out, support the lads and enjoy the evening after the match talking with your son, his team-mates and other parents. We have in my opinion a great opportunity to reach the lads and build something that is quite incredible in seeking our second/repeat as Texas Rugby Union Collegiate Division III Championship, improving on our National Ranking of 16th and going farther in the National Small College Rugby Organization's national playoffs.
The journey begins next Saturday for everyone and as they improve so do our chances, but we’ll still have to take it one game at a time. There are and will be clubs out to get us and it’s our responsibility to prepare them for each match. What they do with it once the match begins will be totally up to them, but as long as they play together as a team, I like our chances.
As always if anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me and I’ll do what I can to answer those questions and comments.