Youth Rugby and it’s establishment in Central Washington

In our country, true teams rarely exist... social barriers and personal ambitions have reduced athletes to dissolute cliques or individuals thrown together for mutual profit... Yet these rugby players, with their muddied, cracked bodies, are struggling to hold onto a sense of humanity that we in America have lost and are unlikely to regain. The game may only be to move a ball forward on a dirt field, but the task can be accomplished with an unshackled joy and its memories will be a permanent delight. The women and men who play on that rugby field are more alive than too many of us will ever be. The foolish emptiness we think we perceive in their existence is only our own. ~Victor Cahn 1895

Rugby through history Common belief is that rugby was born in 1823 when William Webb Ellis "with fine disregard for the rules of football” as played in his time at Rugby school, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it. Rugby has risen in stature since that time and is competitively played in 120 countries world wide. Well established as the 2 nd most popular team sport world wide. Rugby was a medal sport in the Olympic Games as early as 1900, with the most recent appearances in 1920 and 1924 The same nation took the gold Medal in both the 20 and 24 Olympics Any Guesses ???

USA 1920 & 1924 Olympic Gold Medalists; Rugby Who will lead the team onto the field to represent our nation in future Olympic Games?

October 9, 2009 Rugby added to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio !! (sorry, no more baseball) USA to Retain the Gold!!

The Youth Rugby Players of Today, will be leading our nations team in 2016 The National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) 2010 survey came out late last week. According the report, rugby is now the fastest growing sport in the United States. High School Rugby is highly organized with over 36,000 registered players, featuring regional and national championships. Only 5.8% of High School Football Athletes continue to play in college. Rugby is an outstanding alternative for a collegiate sport, the best rugby players nationally began playing in High School. Rugby is played in most colleges; CWU Mens and WSU Womens Rugby Clubs are continually ranked in the top 10 of Division 1 schools.

Youth Rugby Comes to Yakima Conceptualized in late 2008 Awarded a competitive grant through the National Guard to outfit the team. Yakima competes with the other 35 teams in Wa Youth Rugby Head Coach Jonathan Douglas, leads a group of talented, dedicated student athletes to a winning 1 st season in 2009

2010 Griffins Undefeated Division Champs!! Eight ambitious returning players; Outscore opponents Players ages14-19 worked hard for 5 months on the hunt for a State Championship Griffins finished 3 rd Statewide, behind two nationally ranked teams 3 of our Yakima players picked for the Loggers Representative side (22 players in NW) A first year Yakima Player chosen as ‘Great NW All Tournament’ and awaits play in the US pool Griffins compete through July in Subway Washington State Games. Placing 3 rd. Yakima community catch ‘Griffin Fever’, as a new great spectator sport. Hundreds line the sidelines and Franklin Park is the ‘Place to Be’ on a Saturday Afternoon!

Griffins 2011 and Beyond Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation awarded 501c3 status as a charitable corp will field a U-16 team in conjunction with our current U-19 side U14 and Girls Teams not far behind! Goals continue to be the same; Develop Strong Character and sense of Sportsmanship and Community with Rugby as a Vehicle

How we Measure Success Rugby has touched the lives of over 50 young men in the Yakima Valley; These lads have a bright future far beyond Rugby We have blended athletes from 7 local schools, some arch rivalries; molded them into a team and built a tradition of winning. Nearly 90% of Griffin Alumni have gone on to college; Including 3 that never considered further education prior to playing rugby. Nationally, 95% of high school athletes never play college ball, over 70% of our graduated Griffins are playing college rugby. Comments such as, “I’ve never had coaches care about my personal life until now.” “This is the ultimate team sport, these are my best friends.”

How Can I Help Support Yakima Youth Rugby? 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will have a television audience of over 4 billion (Superbowl 2010 viewership 105 Million) Rugby is a Great Wave to Ride!! Consider This:

Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation Griffins Rugby receives no monetary support from schools. Player Dues in 2010 =$50. (Including $57 worth of shorts, socks, and extras) Unpaid coaches, they pay for own travel and clinics Our goal is to make rugby accessible to all, regardless of financial ability. Remarkable support from a few local businesses. A 501c3; Sole support for youth rugby in Yakima. Various sponsorship opportunities for unique exposure.

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