Efforts pay off for Anne Arundel County youth rugby

Tag : rugby t-shirts


His focus was Arden, and he brought together kids and coaches fromthe neighborhood. They joined up with other area teams similarlycobbled together to have fun playing rugby. To get games, theybecame part of the Potomac Rugby Union and traveled a wide area onweekends to play. Back then, players had little to no experience inthe sport, but they had enthusiasm.

Now, in time for summer rugby, the Arden team and teams fromAndover, Cape St. Claire, Bowie, Edgewater and the Green Hornetsteams have triumphed with recognition by Anne Arundel County as theAnne Arundel County Youth Rugby. They are sponsored by Anne ArundelCounty Recreation and Parks and have Saturday games with two-hourpractices twice a week.

Their new status means they have county support for advertising andrecruiting. They can use county facilities, benefit from schedulingand have greater structure provided by the schedule.

They field teams in the under-11, under-15 and under-19 agebrackets.

They have attracted the league sponsorship of John Horrigan and hisoffice at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Annapolis.John's sponsorship has given the league visual legitimacy and theplayers a sense of team with new jerseys.

The different-colored jerseys represent the different teams in theleague, and replace the variety of T-shirts, polo shirts and mixedcolors that gave their previous play sort of a ragtag look.

In a preseason test of the newest age group, under-19, three Ardenplayers joined players from the Andover Apaches in a Northern

Virginia tournament that pitted them against experienced teams. BenSuper, Sean Reedy and Will Tucker threw in with the Apaches.Arden's head tackle coach, Steve Compo, was proud of the results.

The play was true rugby. A kick down field came to a complete stopin the middle of a mud puddle. As Steve put it, "The only mudpuddle anywhere on the pitch."

The combined Arden-Apaches scored, but not until their player got amouthful of nasty water.

The combined team had never played together, but by the second gamethey were able to win.

In the third game, they gave it their all but were beaten by a moreexperienced team. "The support by family members was amazing.Everyone stuck it out until the very end - heat and all,"Steve said.

Everyone included Steve's two non-rugby playing daughters.

Ironically, the combined team that played so well together will nowface off in future games. As Steve points out, though, it's aboutthe sport, but it's also about the bonds of friendship. The proofof the attitudes comes after each team event when opponents on thefield enjoy a social event such as a cookout together.

The rugby these young people play is known as 7's Rugby. A typicalteam is 15. These players come in all shapes, sizes and speeds.

With 30 people on the field, the demands on any one player areless. On the other hand, a 7's team has only seven players playingon the same size field. Each half is only seven minutes long with atwo-minute break between halves. The play is fast and furious.

Consequently, the players are lean, fast and possess significantendurance.

The journey from the first call-out to anyone in Arden who wants toplay rugby to a county league is remarkable.

The success is attributable to people like Mike and Steve and theirefforts in the past few years. The Arden team benefits from thesupport of another group. Five of the team's coaches are members ofSevern River Rugby Old Boys, which was the name originally given toplayers age 35 and older. These men fall into that originalcategory.

Now that age 50 is the new 30, though, old boys are more likely tobe players in their 50s with the 30-year-olds still playingcompetitively. These coaches bring their expertise and passion forthe game to the kids as well as their sense of fun, proving it is alifetime sport.

The other factor in creating the league came from the efforts ofPat Walsh. Pat went from one athletic association to anotherseeking support for youth rugby. His dedication gave rise to theteams that now compose the Anne Arundel Youth Rugby.

AAYR and its teams, Andover Apaches, Arden Athletic Association,Cape St. Claire Cougars, Edgewater Blue Devils, Severna Park GreenHornets and the South Bowie Boys and Girls Clubs, welcome any childunder age 19. Just contact Pat at walshpj@erols.com.

Families with children from age 3 to sixth grade have anotheroption for summer activities. Baldwin Memorial United MethodistChurch's Vacation Bible School runs from 9 a.m. to noon July 7-11.

The school provides lots of fun for $10 per child or $20 perfamily. The theme is "Beach Party-Surfin' through theScriptures."

Following the surfing theme, children will learn about the"Beach Be-Attitude:" be obedient, be kind, be forgiving,be bold and believe.

Sandi Phillips and Emmie Wade are coordinating this year's school,bringing the beach to Crownsville. For information or to register,call 410-987-4273.

Please send your Crownsville news to Elaine Nagey atelaine@nagey.com.