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Written by Alex Goff
Thursday, 07 July 2011 18:09 |
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All Americans Tough it Out at SEALs Training |
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Colleges -
All Americans
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All Americans at SEALs Training
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| The Men’s All Americans visited the Navy SEAL training base in Coronado, Calif. this week during their training for their three-game series with New Zealand Universities.
“That was a trip I’ll never forget,” said co-captain Ryan Roundy. “It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. We pushed ourselves, and getting just a little taste of what those guys go through day-in, day-out, makes me so much more grateful for what I have.”
The players were put through a series of training tasks – running, obstacle courses, team tasks, and were worn out in just a few hours.
“It was an awesome team-building experience and was not easy by any means,” added co-captain Blaine Scully. “It was an honor to be allowed to train with one of the greatest teams on the planet. We learned a lot in a short amount of time and came away with 100 different lessons on mental toughness. The SEALS are a really high-performance team that operates with the highest stakes. It was a really good experience to see the kind of pressure they put themselves under.”
Roundy said he was struck first of all by how taking even a second off in a team is exposed in SEALS training. With seven men carrying a log above their heads, if one guy drops his hands, everyone feels it. It’s not so exposed in a rugby game, said Roundy, but the lesson holds.
The BYU captain was also humbled by what the SEALs personnel are expected to do as a daily lifestyle.
“Even with us I could say to myself, OK, two more hours and we’re back playing rugby and having fun; these guys, they do it every day, so they can do it as a career and keep our country safe,” said Roundy. “Once we’re gone, they don’t leave.”
“We came out of that with more of a sense of our collective identity,” added Scully. “We know we can handle any situation, any time. We’ve been through tougher times.”
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Written by RUGBYMag Staff
Thursday, 07 July 2011 17:02 |
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All-Rugby Wedding |
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Blog -
RugbyMag.com Blog
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 Former RUGBYMag.com Women's 7s Player of the Year tied the knot this past weekend with Metropolis player Matt Jaromilek. Longtime RUGBYMag.com contributing photographer Rob Wagner of www.dropkickphotos.com was on hand to record the happy event.
Best wishes to the beautiful bride and congratulations to a groom who knows he done good.
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Written by Press Release
Thursday, 07 July 2011 17:28 |
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One Million Tickets Sold for RWC |
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International -
International News
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• Ticket revenue reaches NZ$220m
• Over 211,000 tickets sold valued at NZ$51m in last six weeks
• RNZ 2011 up to 82% of final revenue target
One million tickets have now been sold for Rugby World Cup 2011 following a surge in sales during the final phase of ticketing for the Tournament, which opened to the general public on Monday.
“This has been a tremendous start to our final ticketing campaign and we are thrilled with the way fans in New Zealand and around the world have responded,” said Martin Snedden, CEO for Tournament Organiser Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011).
RNZ 2011 is forecasting total sales revenue of NZ$268.5 million based on expected ticket sales of 1.35 million from the 48 Tournament matches.
The sales in the final phase have boosted ticket revenue by NZ$17 million to NZ$220 million. This means RNZ 2011 has now reached 82% of its revenue target.
Over the last six weeks fans have purchased 211,000 tickets with a value of NZ$51 million.
“This is a fantastic result and is about where we expected to be with little over two months until the Tournament kicks off.”
Before RWC 2011, the highest revenue-generating event in New Zealand’s history was the 2005 British & Irish Lions Tour, which grossed NZ$24 million.
“As of today, we have achieved nine times the ticket revenue for that event so that is very pleasing,” said Snedden.
“Tickets are selling fast to many matches. Eighty-five thousand fans from over 100 countries are already coming so we urge New Zealand fans to get in quickly to avoid being disappointed. There is already limited availability in some seat categories while some categories for certain matches are exhausted.”
Tickets can be purchased online at www.rugbyworldcup.com/tickets.
Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “With two months until the beginning of RWC 2011, we are delighted to have reached the significant and exciting milestone of one million ticket sales.”
“We have seen a surge in sales in this important final ticketing phase and expect this to continue as excitement grows in New Zealand and around the world.”
“We are confident planning and preparation is on track and have no doubt it will be a spectacular and memorable tournament for all who attend.”
Snedden added: “We expect tickets to continue to sell strongly from here as happened at the Rugby World Cups in France in 2007 and Australia in 2003. Interest is clearly growing in the New Zealand Tournament and that is being helped by the RWC 2011 Roadshow which is touring throughout the country in July.”
”We’ve had great turnouts from fans in Bluff, Invercargill and Queenstown so far and that bodes well for the rest of the month.”
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Written by Pat Clifton
Thursday, 07 July 2011 16:43 |
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New Titlist to be Crowned in Kansas City |
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Sevens -
Club Sevens
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 Heartland 7s, hosted by the Kansas City Blues in Kansas City, Mo. Saturday, is the second of three West qualifying tournaments. First-place Glendale will not be in attendance, so it’s possible they’ll slip in the standings over the weekend. Likewise, the defending Heartland 7s champion Chicago Lions will be playing in Milwaukee in Lakefront 7s, so a new champ will be crowned.
Aspen, coached by Andy Katoa, is making its debut in the summer series. They enter the contest as the sixth seed, having not attended the Denver tournament. However, they project to finish higher. James Aldridge, a former Notre Dame running back and one of 7s National Team coach Al Caravelli’s crossover projects, is expected to boot up for Aspen, along with several other talented young recruits.
Unfortunately for the Gentlemen, they find themselves in a very difficult pool. They’re joined by Omaha, the host Blues and five-time defending West champs, the Denver Barbarians. The Barbos finished third in Dallas and the Blues second.
The Blues are captained by Kenny Scott, a speedy winger from Kansas State. When Scott catches the ball in space, he’s not an easy tackle and often ends his long-striding runs in the try zone. The Blues are also bolstered by Joe D’Agostino (Scott’s teammate at K-State) and David McDonough, a shifty midfielder from Truman State.
Denver, like Aspen, won’t be joined by some of the names you’ve perhaps become accustomed to seeing on their roster in recent years, but Maximo DeAchaval and Ben Haapapuro are still in the fold and playing well. What the Barbos lack in speed and explosiveness they make up for in skill, chemistry and experience.
The Omaha G.O.A.T.S are the unknown of this pool. They’ve had a successful DII 15s team the past couple of seasons, reaching the Elite Eight in 2010, but haven’t fielded a 7s qualification side in that time. Nearby colleges, Nebraska and Creighton, play solid 7s, so they have a good player base from which to draw.
Pool B is headlined by the Dallas Harlequins, who finished second in the first qualifier, the Woodlands Exiles, Kansas City Rogues and St. Louis Ramblers. The Ramblers are making their debut on the 7s circuit this summer, so they too are unknowns.
The Woodlands Exiles finished third in their pool in Dallas, just missing the chance to point. They have the talent to do much better in Kansas City, especially given their draw for pool play.
The Rogues went a disappointing 0-3 in Dallas, but were within a try at halftime against both Glendale and the Barbos. They will field a stronger lineup in Kansas City, which will be headlined by former Jamaican international Donald Walter and former FCS safety Theodore Hughes, both of whom were absent in Dallas. The Rogues also have a golden chance to point this weekend, largely because of their pool draw.
Dallas is the hands-down favorite to win Pool B. They looked rusty and in need of cohesion in their own tournament, but it was obvious they possess the talent and skill to improve in a hurry. Zac Mizell conducts the orchestra on offense, and Hunter Leland and Gonzalo Ruiz are two of the main benefactors.
If the Harlequins finish second or better in Kansas City, they’ll be at least tied for first-place in the West. Same goes for the Barbos, if they win it all. The West gets three bids to Nationals, and if anyone besides Glendale, Denver and Dallas wants one of them, they’ll need to do well Saturday.
Current West standings
Glendale Raptors: 6
Dallas Harlequins: 4
Denver Barbarians: 2
Kansas City Blues: 1
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Friday All Americans head coach Alex Magleby will be choosing his team to face New Zealand Universities, and it will be a tough job.
