On the 28th, the UT Dallas Rugby Club (both men and women) met for the first time to introduce the coaches and all the new players to meet their returning team mates.
   It was exciting to see, 19 women showed up to learn or continue learning about rugby and on the men's side we had 40 players show up.  Many of our returning players came back looking fit and ready to help the rookies the game.
   We also introduced our newest coaching addition Jacey who'll be helping the women and coaching the backs.  With her and Sharpie the girls have a pair of former Texas A&M players to help them along the way, I'll be there as well.
   After the meeting, everyone went out and played touch, this was so that we (the coaches) can evaluate the new players raw talents as well as the returning players in what they may have learned over the summer.  This proved to be quite good.  it seems that a lot of the rookies to UTD Rugby either started picking up this fairly quickly or they had previous rugby experience in high school.
   On the 30th, we had our first real session, again 19 women and roughly 40 men showed up for 1 3/4 hours of running, passing, tackling and water breaks on this triple digit evening under the Texas setting sun.  Again this was a tremendous evening, both the guys and girls picked up the passing and tackling quite well and next week we'll be able to advance on to the next level in preparation for our first scrimmage on Sept. 14th.
   On that evening the ladies will play at 6:00pm - approx. two 20 minute halves.  The guys will play UTD Alumni in roughly three 20 periods.
   As we continue our trip through this preseason and into the league season, I'll update you on our goings on and if anyone has a question or comment, feel free to email me.

   The time is almost here, this Wednesday at 7:00pm all the guys and girls will meet in the gazebo for our first team meeting in introductions to the coaches, their new team-mates and the game.
    With all that's been going on this past summer in preparation of this season, I'm happy to say we have our schedules posted, the games are on.
   All that's left is for these young men and women to get themselves prepared for the game of rugby. For some it'll be second nature, for others they'll struggle to learn it, but that's good because those of us who are now coaching.  It took us a while to learn what we were doing way back when.
   Looking forward to seeing all the returning players and their parents and others, meeting new players, their parents and others.  These are the best of times and we're all excited about the prospects of this upcoming season.
   See you all Wednesday evening.. 

   Practice begins next Wednesday, August 28th with a team meeting to be held in the gazebo next to the soccer fields.  The meeting will begin about 7:00pm for both our Men and Women's team.
   After the meeting the players will go out and have some fun playing touch Rugby, while the coaches look on and offer a small amount of instruction.
   Friday, August 30th will be our first official practice with both the men and women meeting before 6:00pm to begin our first 2 hour session.

Women's practice schedule
Monday - 7pm to 9pm
Wednesday - 7pm to 9pm
Friday - 6pm to 8pm

Men's practice schedule
Monday - 7pm to 9pm
Wednesday - 9pm to 11pm
Friday - 6pm to 8pm

   We would encourage every player to get to practice early, get their boots/cleats on and warm up

  Our schedule has been approved, times are listed and we're ready.  See our schedule for a listing of all matches complete with times. 
   Well classes are about to begin next Monday the 26th of August, and UT Dallas Rugby kicks off our new season on the 28th of August.
   I've met with the ladies (Sharpie and Jacey) who'll be coaching the ladies, I'll be there to add some assistance as well.  Bear and I have met and discussed what we'll have to work on.
   I've got meetings set up with the officers to discuss some of the coaching wish lists and see what we can do to make them come true.
   It's an exciting time to be going into our 3rd rugby season on campus and to be in the hunt for a possible 3rd undefeated season and championship.  But we need to remember to take it one match at a time.
   I'm equally excited to begin our first women's rugby club on campus and there will be much anticipation leading up to our first scrimmage and match, only time and practice will tell where we go, but regardless on wins or losses on either the men's side or the women, we are all about having fun, supporting each other, creating a bond that will last a life time and carry each student athlete into the next phase of his/her life.
   I'm looking forward to writing about UT Dallas Rugby and all the interesting players we'll have this coming season.  
 

   Here we are August 6th, classes at UT Dallas begin on Monday the 26th and our first official practice is Wednesday the 28th.  I plan on meeting with Dominic and Alyssa, Bear, Sharpie and our newest coach Jacey (more about her later) in the very near future.

   Some of the items for discussion is that first practice, I would like it to be a team meeting/introduction then after the meeting, go out and play a little touch rugby.  The coaches will be evaluating the raw talent of the new players, joining our happy family.

   I am pleased to announce that we have a new member of the UT Dallas Women’s Rugby Club Coaching Staff, her name is Jacey.  She played rugby at Texas A&M and is currently playing with the Dallas Harlequins Women’s Rugby Club.  Her strength is back line play where she’ll be able to help mold our young ladies from not knowing what rugby is to ok, I know what it is now, let’s run with it.  Her bio and picture will be posted soon.

   ALL NEW PLAYERS AND RETURNING PLAYERS – with summer still going and it will be hot especially from 6pm till roughly 9pm, it will be IMPORTANT that you all hydrate (this means drink lots of water, the day before practice, the day of practice and especially after practice).  The UT Dallas Rec Sports Department will have a 10 gallon cooler of cold water for everyone and we will be taking water breaks so that no one gets heat exhaustion or worse heat stroke. 
We will tell everyone, if you feel sick, let us know immediately.

   Our schedule is just about complete, Chris McAlpine has the last few items to be added and I’m waiting for his approval before I post them on the web site.

   This year we’ll have something new, our first Alumni vs UT Dallas rugby match, Nathan Sohadaseni is working on the alumni end of it and I expect to see a very talented side with him on the pitch again.

   Like the first two years, we’ll travel to Austin for the St. Edward’s Round Robin Tournament to be held at Burr Field, home of the Austin Blacks.  For the past two years, we’ve used this tournament as our spring board to the league season and defending our championship won’t be easy, but that will be left to the guys to defend and play.

   Now more on our ladies inaugural season, it’s been crazy, hectic and frustrating, but all the pieces are finally falling into place. This fall your UT Dallas Women will take to the practice field in preparation for their own league opener, against Rice University, more on this game as we get closer. 

   This is an exciting time of the year, Rugby is gearing up and the coaches are giddy (ok, maybe only me) the other coaches I know are excited about the prospect of this new season, new players and a new league. 


     We’re all looking forward to seeing you out and supporting both our clubs
this coming season.