Xavier University Men's Rugby XURFC News June 16, 2009 Volume 1, Issue 2 Individual Highlights: Gaffney’s Gab 2 Rising Ruggers 3 Goodbye Seniors 4 Alumni Profile 5 The Importance of Recruitment and Tradition 6 High School Tourney Results 6 Fall 2009 Schedule 7 A Final Word from the Treasurer 7 Apparel Order Form 8 A Word from the President This past Spring season was a great success for Xavier Rugby, both on and off the field. Our officers worked very hard fundraising and keeping the club in order, and the team did exceptionally well against two Division II teams (Loyola Chicago and University of Cincinnati). We also hosted our annual high school tournament this semester, which was another huge success. Hopefully these numbers will continue to show at the tournament in order to increase our recruitment efforts, which have been going quite well. We had a number of players express interest in Xavier Rugby for the Fall 2009 season. Our fundraising efforts included working a basketball tournament, hosting the high school tournament and starting a Xavier Rugby apparel line. Our treasurer, Mark Mangione, was responsible for the apparel idea and he has done an excellent job with our finances. We actually have some! Because of these efforts and because of the performance of the club and its members, we also received “Club of the Year” from Club Sports, which is a great honor and speaks to our success as a team. My hope is that our club will continue to prosper and receive awards similar to this one. Good Job, guys! I am very pleased with the way the whole team has handled themselves this semester. We did quite well in practice, and that hard work showed up on the field against those two DII teams. It will be interesting to see how we do against DII teams next semester. As a team, we will need to continue to work on our game over the summer and improve our skills if we are going to stay competitive. This will be no easy task, but I feel as though our team will do just fine if we continue to have the hard work ethic we have shown for years that have won us DIII championships in the past. Let’s keep that Xavier tradition of excellence going! I am excited to see where this success will take the club in the coming years. Have a great summer everyone, and I look forward to seeing you in August. Thanks for all your hard work! Peace, Andrew T. Brennan XURFC President
Transcript
Xavier University Men's Rugby
XURFC News June 16, 2009
Volume 1, Issue 2
Individual Highlights:
Gaffney’s Gab 2
Rising Ruggers 3 Goodbye Seniors 4
Alumni Profile 5
The Importance of Recruitment and Tradition 6 High School Tourney Results 6 Fall 2009 Schedule 7 A Final Word from the Treasurer 7 Apparel Order Form 8
A Word from the President This past Spring season was a great success for Xavier Rugby, both on and off the field. Our officers worked very hard fundraising and keeping the club in order, and the team did exceptionally well against two Division II teams (Loyola Chicago and University of Cincinnati). We also hosted our annual high school tournament this semester, which was another huge success. Hopefully these numbers will continue to show at the tournament in order to increase our recruitment efforts, which have been going quite well. We had a number of players express interest in Xavier Rugby for the Fall 2009 season. Our fundraising efforts included working a basketball tournament, hosting the high school tournament and starting
a Xavier Rugby apparel line. Our treasurer, Mark Mangione, was responsible for the apparel idea and he has done an excellent job with our finances. We actually have some! Because of these efforts and because of the performance of the club and its members, we also received “Club of the Year” from Club Sports, which is a great honor and speaks to our success as a team. My hope is that our club will continue to prosper and receive awards similar to this one. Good Job, guys! I am very pleased with the way the whole team has handled themselves this semester. We did quite well in practice, and that hard work showed up on the field against those two DII teams. It will be interesting to see how we do against DII teams next semester. As a
team, we will need to continue to work on our game over the summer and improve our skills if we are going to stay competitive. This will be no easy task, but I feel as though our team will do just fine if we continue to have the hard work ethic we have shown for years that have won us DIII championships in the past. Let’s keep that Xavier tradition of excellence going! I am excited to see where this success will take the club in the coming years. Have a great summer everyone, and I look forward to seeing you in August. Thanks for all your hard work! Peace, Andrew T. Brennan XURFC President
Page 2 of 8 XURFC News
Gaffney’s Gab After such a successful
championship season last year I was confident we could compete at the Division II level but knew that it would take dedication and a great deal of effort to be able to be consistently successful. We have a long way to go toward that end but we couldn’t have started more dramatically. Our first match this past spring season was against Loyola College of Chicago. Some of the guys were familiar with Loyola but I was not and that provided me with more anxiety than I cared for. I had no idea what to expect and coached the guys to just apply typical game strategies and make adjustments during the match. Our guys were up to the task as was evident by the energy they brought to the pitch. It was a very competitive match that ended with XURFC coming out on top for our first victory in USARFC Division II collegiate rugby. Next up for us was our cross-town rivalry UC. Our practices leading up to the UC match left a lot to be desired. The spring season minus the Mardi Gras tournament, which occurred in early February, was only two games. We didn’t have productive practices with game preparation as an integral part of the practice but instead played a lot of touch with a bit of conditioning sprinkled in just for fun! The weather on game day provided us with sunny skies but it was also very windy. I advised our captain, John Burke to take the wind in the second half if we won the coin toss. Normally if wind is a factor, we take the wind in the first half because I’ve seen games where either the wind
changed by the second half or died down taking away the advantage of the wind. The game started with UC scoring in the first couple of minutes due to some mishandling of the ball early on by XU. That early score lit a fire under each player especially our pack members as they picked up the pace and went toe to toe with the larger UC pack. Our only true try threat in the first half came about mid-way when our fullback Adam took a quick throw-in, clearly illegally as it was not nearly 5 meters but took it nonetheless through the entire UC pack and a couple of UC backs all the way into the UC try zone only to drop the ball for a knocked forward. To his credit, as disappointed as one could possible be, he shrugged it off and went back to work roaming the backfield for us splendidly the rest of the game. At half time we were down 12 to 0 but felt very confident we had what it took to win the match. I told the guys the UC pack was clearly no match for our more conditioned pack members. This was evident near the end of the half when I noticed our guys arriving at the breakdown well before their pack. The second half saw a try scored by our no. 8 Brendan Coleman on a pick and go from the back of the scrum. A standard call for us when inside the 22M with a scrum and the right side open, Brendan took the ball and looked up to see a wide-open 15M to the goal line. The UC flanker clearly missed his assignment and Brendan ran right over or through three UC players
who had good intentions but were no match for the big man. John Burke, our fly half managed a great game with timely precision kicks into the UC backfield that reeked havoc for the UC back three. Our left wing, Luca was clearly the superior player over his counterpart and I told our scrumhalf Nick Masters to get the ball in Luca’s hands as much as possible. As a result, Luca scored two impressive tries to take the lead 15 to 12. The decision to take the wind in the second half proved fruitful as the UC kickers found it very difficult kick the ball downfield. It seemed like we were running downhill in the second half and momentum gave our forwards the energy to dominate the UC forwards. Our pack, especially our loose forwards, which included the Coleman brothers really took the battle to a wounded UC pack. To mount a comeback win against a division II team that we always struggle with makes it one of the best victories for XU rugby. Other than a tournament game in New Orleans with a motley crew, the last game lost was to UC in the spring of 08’. (I can’t remember the previous loss!) We haven’t lost since! We’ll take this momentum into the 09’ fall season and compete with the other division II teams in the Midwest making XU rugby proud. Please come out and support your team this fall. You won’t be disappointed.
-Coach
XURFC News Page 3 of 8
Rising Ruggers Name: Daniel Carlin
Year: Junior
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Position: Second Row
Tidbit:
I will be entering my seventh year playing rugby during the 2009 fall season. I started playing rugby for St. Edward High School where I was equipped with the necessary skills to begin my college rugby career. At St. Edward I competed at the Midwest Championships all four years, as well as a trip to the National Championship tournament during my junior year. Rugby has been an enriching experience, and playing at Xavier means a lot to me. The friendships I have made through Xavier Rugby are forged with the trust and camaraderie that is created on the pitch. As we move on to Division II, I feel we are up to the task after our thrilling victory over UC this past spring. I can speak for the rest of the team when I say that we are ready to show the competition in Division II what we are made of next fall.
Name: Francis Flanagan
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Position: Hooker / Flanker
Tidbit:
I remember one of my high school buddies told me we had a rugby team at our high school, and I should come out to play. I remember telling him that I enjoyed not breaking my bones, and no thanks. Two years later, a friend I wrestled with said that we should go out for rugby. After a few games I was starting flanker, and at the end of the season I was voted captain for the next season. The past year of rugby here at Xavier was the most fun year I have played. I started a few games at flanker and I got the nickname “whitey” because I of my pasty complexion.
Dan Carlin (headband) turning a maul against Eastern Kentucky University.
Frank Flanagan breaking through the
defense of Eastern Kentucky University
Goodbye Seniors
Page 4 of 8
XURFC News
I've played rugby since junior year of high school up at St. Edward's by Cleveland. Rugby was easily the best part of being at Xavier. I met all of my best friends now playing rugby and I had a lot of good times going on road trips for games. Having a game on Saturday basically motivated me to get through the school week. I played Flanker freshman year and switched between Flanker and Second Row sophomore and junior year. Senior year I was captain, which was awesome, and I played Prop which was interesting being half the weight of the Props I was against. I love rugby and would play after college, but I've gotten injured too many times while at Xavier to get my body to agree to keep going with it. I definitely want
I first would like to thank some people… Coach Gaffney it has been a pleasure playing for you for four years. Spunk and Alums, thank you for all the support you all have done for us, without it we would not be where we are today. Last, I would like to thank all my teammates over the years. My rugby experience could have been nothing better, I enjoyed every minute of it. I came to Xavier without knowing anybody and with my luck I had
My time at Xavier was quite the experience and Rugby was a large part of that. It’s very true what they say about the bond that you make with your brothers on a Rugby team and Xavier’s team is no exception. Through my four years I met great players and friends who I’m sure I’ll continue to stay in touch with. My senior year though was by far the most exciting. The team that we had was relentless and we battled to our third undefeated DIII Championship season. To cap it all off in the spring, the very last game I got to play in was a second half comeback victory over the University of Cincinnati. Knowing that I’ll go out on top like that will be a memory that will last for a lifetime. Coach Gaffney and the team will have their work cut out for them next season but I’m very proud and excited to see them succeed. As I’ll be staying in Cincinnati, I hope to remain a large part of Xavier Rugby as well as the Cincinnati Rugby community. Cheers and Eat Donuts! -Nick Masters
to coach rugby wherever I end up living. I have applied for jobs dealing with finance in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Virginia so I'm not sure yet. I would like to end up being an investment analyst of some sort eventually. -Vince “Stash” Hyland
two hall mates (Vince Hyland and Nick Masters) who convinced me to play rugby since I played football in high school. I had no idea how to play but from day one I knew I was in the right place. My first day consisted of me, 5-9 (on a good day) and 175 pounds, in with the forwards who consisted of people like Michael “Beezo” Brennan and Joe Lally, people who are much bigger than I am. Even on that first day, not only I didn’t know what I was doing but I was giving a nickname right away, “Q-Tip” only because they had a “Whitey” already, which almost the whole team and coach didn’t know my real name for about a semester or so. Four years and 3 championships later, I am proud to say that I was a Xavier Rugby player. It was one hell of ride, it is sad to let it go. I am now living in Cincinnati and trying this thing called the “real world.” Good luck to the team next year in their first year at Division II level and Eat Donuts!
-Pat “Q-Tip” Riepenhoff
XURFC has been fun, and I'm going to miss playing for the club. Some of the best friends and memories (and lack of memory) from college have come from this club and group of guys. Since I'll be attending that other college in Cincinnati for grad school, I will be looking forward to seeing our guys test the waters in DII every Saturday. With a little luck, maybe they'll ask me to chaperon the Mardi Gras trip to make sure no one gets into any kind of trouble. At any rate, playing rugby with these guys has been the time of my life, and I'm glad I've had the opportunity. Let's get a three-peat in DII now, -Tony "Soprano" Mangione
Nick Masters shows no fear against Kenyon College in the
2008 Division III State Championship.
As back captain John Burke goes low, Vince
Hyland goes high to bring down this back from Ohio
Northern University.
Pat Riepenhoff makes a perfect set as he protects
the ball in the ruck.
It was a tag-team effort made by the Mangione
brothers to bring down this large prop from Eastern
Kentucky University.
Alumni Profile
From tackling to running, Whitey realizes that his old age is finally catching up to him, as
he takes a short rest after giving up a try to the high school kids of his Warrior
Rugby squad during the Alumni Game in 2008.
XURFC News Page 5 of 8
I may have a problem.... I love this Game! I don't know where to begin other than the fact that I began playing Rugby at XU in 1992 with no concept of the game other than the fact that it was tackle and did not allow for pads. One practice and I was hooked. 18 years later and I still can't get enough of it. Captain at XU, 2 Division 2 State Championships, Men's Clubs in Charleston WV, Cincinnati, OH, and Chicago, IL,. Coaching at XU from 1998-2001 and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland from 2004-Present. A ton of stitches, metal staples, and broken bones along the way but I still cannot stop playing and coaching. Rugby is a hard thing to explain to people with a different vice in their lives. Runner's high is a myth I could not catch, baseball was more fun to watch than to play, football was too structured and specialized, and almost any other sport I see can not compare with the physical nature of the struggle on the pitch. I guess for some people the physical brutality of the game is an adrenaline rush or release they have to have versus the fear most people have when they just watch it from the sideline. You learn as you get older who is a "Lifer" for Rugby and it takes a special breed to be an XU Rugby "Lifer". People like my older brother Chris White (‘94), Matt McCormick (‘93), Scott Trainor (‘96), Connor Fitzpatrick - Fitz (‘98), Dave Kendrick (‘02), Brian Sabolik (‘04), Dan Arbeznik (‘04), John Spencer - Spunk (‘81), Tom Powers - Popcorn (‘77), Bill Strietmann – Streets (’77). & Tom O'Brien -Tank (‘75) make me smile every time I see them because I know they are still involved in the game. Coaching or Refereeing games if they cannot physically play or still lacing the cleats up for another Saturday game. Personally every year passes and I think about how I can really get back in shape enough to keep up with the college kids secretly knowing that as time passes I get farther and farther from that possibility. I still play when I can and coach for most of the year but it all goes back to Xavier.
For the young men playing today, enjoy these times! Many of you will play for 4 years and only show up every few years for an old boys game. Others will become "Lifers" an continue to play for men's clubs until their knees, shoulders, hips, and other body parts give out. You will still talk to your old teammates but you will also realize as time goes on who will give up this childish game and who else will forever remain a 20 year old drunk belting out songs at parties and telling stories of lore that only get crazier as the years past. I do not have enough time or space on this page to start telling stories of things I have seen, done, or will never admit to witnessing. I am also sure that a fair number of you have already heard those stories over the past 18 years any ways. I will only ask that if you are a "Lifer" or if you miss the game even a little bit that you take a serious look at coming back to XU this November for the Old Boys Game. A 35th Anniversary is something special, and Gaffney has done a tremendous job with the boys as he continues to make a name for the club that is both respected and feared in the Ohio Rugby Union.
So dust off the cleats, find that old jersey that now fits like Spandex, and get a flight to Cincinnati. Even if your knees are shot, you can't feel your shoulder, you haven't taken a quick step since 1993.... Come out for this one. You can stand on the sideline with a "Pop" and cheer on the rest of us as we try to recapture the glory of those years past. If you are looking for me I will be on the field probably getting raked by former teammates, friends, or players I have coached over the years even before the game starts. I already have a grin just thinking about it. -Brian “Whitey” White (1996) P.S. - To my brother Chris...You owe me about 20 beers at Dana's after the game for representing the family at the Old Boys Games for the past 13 years. So you better show up Loser!
Page 6 of 8 XURFC News
The Importance of Recruitment and Tradition
Since 1974, Xavier Rugby has been a tradition of the university that has developed young men into hard working and successful individuals on and off the field. Xavier Rugby has been successful in winning championships, stringing together undefeated seasons and has created a social environment that allows the players to bond as an athletic unit. Every year the alumni return to the campus in the fall, and participate in the tradition of the classic and ever so epic Old Boys weekend. It is at this time where the old generation plays the new generation in a gentleman’s game of rugby. Traditionally, one will see the legendary Tank O’Brian ’75 yelling from the sidelines, Beezo ’07 injured as always, Streets ’77 running it “old school” on the pitch, Ryan Nemeth ’07 posing like Randy Orton, and Spunk ’81 scoring tries like he was Air Jordon in the NBA Finals. For the last three years under the coaching of Sean Gaffney, Xavier Rugby has been successful in winning the Ohio Division III State Championship, in which two of those seasons the team was undefeated. As
“Tradition, athleticism, and consistency are essential for future
success, but the most important element is the recruitment of potential
players.”
a result of a strong talent pool, strong traditions, the support and dedication of the Old Boys, multiple successful seasons and the desire to get to the next level of talent, the men’s team has finally made it to Division II Ohio Rugby. Though a great accomplishment, new challenges and responsibilities arise from this promotion. Tradition, athleticism, and consistency are essential for future success, but the most important element is the recruitment of potential players. In 2006, Xavier Rugby put together its first high school tournament. This tournament allowed high school teams from cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis to come compete in a two day round robin. The high school tournament is coming up to its fourth year and has been a positive means of allowing high school players to play teams from other states, but also allows Xavier Rugby to influence and recruit potential players and future students. As a result of the hard work of the alumni and the current players, the tournament has had successful results
in where handfuls of players attend the school every year. Now that the Xavier Rugby has moved up in the food chain of the stiff competition in Ohio, it is important now more than ever to continue to influence potential students and players. Xavier Rugby is more than just a team that has continued to show athletic success over the decades, it is a unit of men that transcends generations and allows all of us to experience the thrill and accomplishment that go along with team camaraderie. With the continued efforts of alumni, current players and future players, Xavier Rugby will continue to be the dominant and prime tradition that has lasted all these years. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Kevin Coleman ’08 every year at Old Boys!! Eat Doughnuts!
-Dan “Danimal” Richardson ‘10
High School Tournament Results This year’s high school
tournament consisted of Warrior Rugby and Parma Blackhearts Rugby, both from Cleveland, and Northbend Rugby along with Moeller High School Rugby, both from Cincinnati. All four teams battled hard and played an excellent weekend of rugby. However the final match was the Warriors vs. Parma Blackhearts. The final score
to the game was Warriors 3, Parma Blackhearts 0. The Warriors thought that they secured a bigger lead by scoring a try in the last remaining minutes of the match. However, the try was over-ruled by the touch judge who ruled the try as being held up. Nevertheless the Warriors were successful in winning the High School Tournament for their third year in a row. Congratulations Warriors! Warrior Rugby (Blue and White) breaks
through the defensive line of Parma Blackheart Rugby.
XURFC News Page 7 of 8
This past year may have been Xavier Rugby’s most successful year both on the field and in the bank. We, the new management, have generated nearly $6000 in the second semester alone. This has secured us a very well deserved $9000 from Club Sports for next year’s budget. But with this new budget comes a lot of responsibility. In order to continue receiving such a large budget, we need to match what the University gives to us in fundraising. This means in this coming year, we need to rake in $9000 via fundraising. I am very glad to say that our apparel line is up and running, and there will be new additions made to the line very shortly. This is just one of the many ways we plan to raise this money. XURFC plans to keep on working the concessions at Basketball games, and we are also planning to sell our old jerseys in hopes of getting
A Final Word from the Treasurer
a new set. Xavier Rugby is also trying to extend its sponsorship past that of the National Guard as we are working on getting sponsorship from U.S. Bank. Finally, there are whispers of possibly putting together an Old Boys golf outing, or even possibly a trip to the Sunshine State. I, on behalf of the team, would like to thank all of those who have made donations to the club, and to those who have made purchases from our apparel line. I would also like to ask that if you have any ideas for fundraising that you shoot them at me. This club has lasted decades, and as we enter both Division II play and our 35th year as a club, now more than ever do we need your support. So come on down and watch us play. You will not be disappointed in our performance, as we will continue to show Ohio how rugby was meant to be played.
- Mark “AJ Soprano” Mangione
Fall 2009 Division II Schedule
September 12 Xavier Vs. Dayton September 26 Xavier Vs. Miami October 3 Xavier @ Kent State October 10 Xavier Vs. Ohio University October 17 Xavier @ University of Cincinnati October 24 Xavier Vs. Old Boys October 31 & November 1 Division II Playoffs (Location: TBD) November 14 & 15 Division II Final Four (Elkhart, IN)
