The Yale University Rugby Football Club

News

Vandersloot Among Ivy League Points Leaders

Fullback Ryan Vandersloot '11 is among the points leaders for the 2009 inaugural Ivy League Championship Series. Vandersloot amassed the sixth most points among all Ivy League teams this year, scoring 60 points on the strength of 3 tries, 16 conversions, and 6 penalties. Click here to see the full list, along with a list of all of Yale's try scorers from this season.

Yale Rugby Balls Available at Yale-Harvard

Yale Rugby will be selling custom Yale Rugby match balls at this weekend's Yale-Harvard match. The balls, made by leading rugby supplier Godek Rugby, are 100% match quality, size 5 balls, emblazoned with the Yale Rugby and Ivy League Rugby logos. Click here to view the design of the balls. The balls will be available at the field for purchase for $50. If you are interested in buying a ball, even if you cannot attend the match, please contact supplies manager Philip Constantinou.

Yale Drops Friendly to UConn

Yale took on UConn at home this past Saturday, November 7th, dropping a close contest 24-23 after leading 13-3 early. Click here to read a full match report.

Important Information - Parking on Yale-Harvard Weekend

All fans who wish to attend the Yale Harvard match on Saturday, November 21st will need to secure parking passes. These passes are expected to sold out soon, and thus need to be purchased ahead of time. Purchasing can be done online or over the phone. Please click here for more information on purchasing parking passes for the event. It should be a great match, and an enjoyable football game afterwards. We hope to see you all there!

Yale takes on UConn 11/7, Harvard 11/21

Although Yale's regular season is over, the team still has two matches upcoming. Yale is set to host UConn in a rematch of a preseason scrimmage that ended as a 22-22 tie. The game will be held on Nov. 7 at 12 PM at the Yale Pitch. This match is in preparation for The Game against Harvard. The A side match against Harvard will kick off on Saturday morning, November 21st, at 9 AM. The first XV contest will be followed by a brief B side match, with play concluding in time for spectators to attend the football game. The matches will take place on Clint Frank Field, the Yale JV Football pitch. If you wish to attend on Saturday, you must obtain parking passes. The passes will likely sell out, so be sure to secure them ahead of time. Click here for information about how to secure parking passes for The Game.

Ivy League Regular Season Match Reports Updated

The match reports for the remainer of the Ivy League regular season matches have been posted. Click on the "Schedules / Results" tab on the left side of the page to access the match reports.

Yale to Take On Harvard TODAY at Home, 1 PM

Yale resumes its storied rivalry with Harvard today at the Yale Rugby fields at 1 PM. Aside from the typical significance accompanying any Yale-Harvard match, today's match has significant playoff implications as well. A Yale bonus point win (achieved by scoring more than four tries) will secure 2nd place for the Elis heading into the Ivy League Playoffs, leading to a home playoff game against Harvard on October 24th. A Harvard victory would send Yale into 4th place, setting up a trip to Dartmouth next weekend. We encourage all Yale Rugby supporters to come watch what will surely be a hard-fought and competitive match. As always, if you are outside of the area, be sure to follow our Twitter page for live scoring updates from the match.

Yale to Take On Columbia, Cornell This Weekend

Yale has a huge weekend coming up as they hope to right the ship after dropping their last two contests after starting 2-0. The team has a great shot to bounce back with two home games, taking on Columbia on Saturday, October 10th at 2 PM and Cornell on Sunday, October 11th at 11 AM. Since it is Yale's Parent's Weekend, the team will be holding a reception for parents (as well as players from both teams) following the Columbia game at Anna Liffey's. If you can't make the game, be sure to follow the action on Yale Rugby's Twitter feed, which can be accessed here.

Yale drops first game of the season after a tough match against Dartmouth

The Yale Rugby Team suffered its first defeat of the season against a strong Dartmouth side. The men from Yale started slow and allowed Dartmouth to get an early lead in the first half. The Elis showed heart in the second half by scoring a try off a long run by captain Pat Madden and Matt Lacasse. The Dartmouth side proved to be too much for Yale this weekend. Final Score: Dartmouth 62 - Yale 8. Click here for a detailed match report of the Dartmouth game.

Yale Begins Ivy League Competition 2-0

Yale Rugby put forth an encouraging start to the inaugural Ivy League Rugby Football Union season, posting commanding victories against Princeton and Penn. The weekend aggregate score of 65-24 reflects the superb play of the Elis on the weekend. Click here for a detailed match report of the Princeton game, and click here for a recount of the game against Penn.

Yale Set to Kick Off Ivy League Against Princeton, Penn

Yale Rugby is ready to kick off the inaugural Ivy League season this weekend. The season will begin with a doubleheader, with the Bulldogs traveling to Princeton for a 1 PM match on Saturday, and heading to Penn for a 11 AM match on Sunday. The men of Yale have been training hard, with three scrimmages under their belts already this preseason. Click here for directions to Princeton's pitch, and click here for directions to UPenn's pitch. The Bulldogs are hungry to start the Ivy League off right, but Princeton and Penn will certainly not go down without a fight. We hope to see you at the games this weekend!

Read Up on the New USA Rugby Guidelines

Stay up to date on the game by checking out these new documents from USA Rugby. Check out both the New USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines and the USA Rugby Referee Guidelines

Follow Yale Rugby on Twitter!

In an attempt to keep alumni and fans up to speed with information about Yale Rugby, the club has created a Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/YaleRugby. If you use Twitter, be sure to follow Yale Rugby to receive the latest information on the team's progress, including live match scores!

New Game Footage Uploaded to YouTube Channel

Yale Rugby has added significant new content to its YouTube channel page. Footage of the team's Fall 2008 win against Norwich, along with film of Spring 2009 matches against SCSU, Brown, and Harvard (the latter two during the Ivy League Tournament). Head over to http://www.youtube.com/YaleRFC or click the "Match Videos" tab on the left side of this page to view the new game film.

Greenwich HS Wins 2009 Connecticut State Rugby Championship at Yale

On May 9th, Greenwich High School won its second consecutive high school rugby championship with a convincing 24-3 win over Fairfield Prep, alma mater of Yale coaches Jan Pikul and John Broker. The tournament proved to be a success for all teams involved, as well as Yale Rugby. The tournament represented yet another example of Yale Rugby's commitment to the community, and especially the rugby community. Click here for a full story contributed by Yale Rugby assistant coach John Broker.

Yale to Host 2009 Connecticut High School Rugby Championships May 9th

Yale Rugby has continued to demonstrate its commitment to serving the local community (and especially the rugby community) by hosting the 2009 Connecticut High School Rugby Championships on Saturday, May 9th. The finest high school rugby teams in the state will be convening in New Haven to decide the state crown. Sides from Branford High, Cheshire High, Fairfield High, Fairfield Prep, Greenwich High, Madison High, Simsbury High, and Staples-Westport High will all be competing. The games begin at 9 AM and the championship match will kick off at 2:20 PM, so come on down to the Yale Rugby fields to see some championship rugby action!

Yale Takes Fourth in 2009 Ivy League Rugby Tournament

Yale has improved on its 2008 effort by two places, placing fourth in the 2009 Ivy League Tournament. Click here for match reports for the weekend's games.

Yale to Host Alumni Weekend this Saturday, April 18th

All Yale Rugby alums are invited to this weekend's Third Annual Yale Rugby Alumni Weekend. The festivities will start on Friday night, as many alums are planning on getting in early and convening at Anna Liffey's on Temple St. for food, drink, and socializing. The games on Saturday will begin at noon with Yale's B side taking on visiting Colgate RFC. Up next will be the "Nasty Old Boys" (Yale Rugby's older alumni) playing a freshman / sophomore Yale squad. The headlining match, which should kick off around 3 PM, will feature Yale's First XV against a side of recent alums, captained by '08 captain and All-American Sean Walbridge. The matches will be followed by a cocktail hour and dinner at the Yale Golf Course.

It's not too late to sign up! Come down for good food, good rugby, and good company. Guests are also encouraged to purchase an official "Alumni Weekend" t-shirt at Yale Rugby's online store, which you can find by googling "scrumbot yale rugby". If you are interested in attending, please email Ralph Bosch for more information.

Princeton match Cancelled Due to Weather

Saturday, April 11th's match against Princeton was cancelled due to heavy rains and standing water on Yale's pitch. The men of Yale were eager to begin play, but the University's Facilities Department forbade them from using the fields due to the potential hazard and the damage that would have been done to the pitch. Equally dismayed were the men of Princeton, who had driven down all the way from New Jersey, and the Elis, who were eager to reclaim the coveted Koranda Cup. If the two teams happen to meet in the Ivy League Tournament, the cup will be contested, but otherwise it will remain in Princeton's hands until the next meeting.

Yale vs Princeton, Saturday April 11th.

Yale will take on Princeton in a battle for the Koranda cup. Come out and support the team to victory. The A side match will start at 1PM followed by the B side immediately after.

Yale to Host First Day of Ivy League Rugby Tournament

After the Columbia Rugby Club ran into some scheduling conflicts, Yale Rugby has stepped up and agreed to host the first day of the 2009 Ivy League Rugby Tournament on their home pitch on April 25th. The first day will feature 8 matches, with play beginning at 10:30 AM. Click here to download some more information about the tournament, including a bracket for the first day of play.

Yale Falls to Middlebury, Defeats Crosstown Rival SCSU

Yale Rugby kicked off its Spring season with matches against Middlebury and Southern Connecticut State. After dropping a frustrating game to Middlebury, Yale rallied to score a big win against local rivals SCSU. Click here to view the Middlebury match report, and click here to view the SCSU match report.

Get Your Gear for Alumni Weekend 2009!

Yale Rugby has partnered with our online store at Scrumbot to bring you official gear for this year's Alumni Weekend, which will take place on April 18th, 2009. The Scrumbot store will feature polo shirts and t-shirts featuring the Yale Rugby logo, as well as commemorative "Alumni Weekend 2009" embroidery. The gear will certainly be the official uniform of those planning to come to the event, so make sure to pick up your gear to avoid certain ostracizing and name-calling. To access the gear, go to the Scrumbot website (just google "scrumbot" to find it) and select Yale University RFC from the dropdown "Select Club" menu in the top left corner.

Yale Rugby's 3rd Annual Alumni Weekend will take place April 18th, 2009 and will feature 3 matches. The slate will kick off with the Yale B-side taking on visiting Colgate University. Then, Yale's freshmen and sophomores will take on a group of older alums. The feature match will consist of Yale's current A side taking on a group of recent alums, skippered by recent All-American Sean Walbridge '08 and former team president Sherman Wang '07. Following the matches, the group will convene at the Yale Golf Course for dinner, stories, and songs. If you are interested in attending Alumni Weekend, please contact Ralph Bosch.

Yale Players Volunteer at Special Olympics of Connecticut.

Yale takes on Middlebury

Yale will kick off its spring season on Saturday, March 28th against Division II powerhouse Middlebury at home. The A side match will begin at 1 PM, followed by B-side action at around 3 PM. Be sure to stop by and see some great rugby.

Advertise Your Business at the Ivy League Tournament and Help Yale Rugby

The Ivy League Tournament has announced an opportunity for businesses to advertise in the programs that will be distributed at this year's tournament. The system should benefit not only your business but Yale Rugby as well, as the club will receive two thirds of all advertising money generated by the team. The program should be a great way to advertise to a group of young, active, intelligent students who share your love for rugby. Sponsorship opportunities are available for as little as $25, so even small businesses can get involved. Click here for a description of what each level of sponsorship entails.

If you are interested in advertising in this year's Ivy League Tournament programs, please fill out this form, making sure to designate Yale as your team to receive the sponsorship money. Completed forms, as well as any questions about the advertising process, can be directed to ads@ivyrugby.com. The form and art design for the ads must be submitted by April 8th, so don't delay in helping both your company and Yale Rugby succeed.

Yale Breaks from NERFU to Join New Ivy League Rugby Football Union

In an unprecedented move, Yale and the other 7 Ivy League schools will break from their respective unions and form an Ivy League Rugby Football Union for play this upcoming fall. Formation of the union, its playoff structure and its constitution are still in development. The fall league season will consist of seven matches (one against each Ivy rival) played over the course of five weeks. The top two or three seeds from the union will advance on to the Northeast Rugby Union territorial playoffs, with the ultimate goal of earning a spot in the National Collegiate Rugby Sweet Sixteen. The goal of the union is to play high level rugby amongst like-minded schools. The move should also increase university and alumni support and help to build a marketable product to attract outside sponsorship. Check back soon for further details as they develop.

Yale Rugby Cancels Spring 2009 Tour

Due to financial constraints, Yale Rugby has been forced to cancel its 2009 Spring Tour to the Cayman Islands. This does not represent an end to Yale Rugby's touring tradition, but merely an aberration due to the current financial climate. Yale Rugby hopes to renew the tradition next year with yet another international tour.

Yale Rugby Elects New Officers

Yale Rugby has elected new officers to lead the club forward. Center Patrick Madden '10 was elected team captain, and lock Andrew Moir '10 was named team president. Head to the "Roster" section on the website for a complete list of the team's new officers.

Yale Rugby Debuts YouTube Channel

Yale Rugby has developed a YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/YaleRFC, to allow alumni and parents to watch footage of Yale rugby matches. The site will be updated throughout the spring, featuring footage from the Spring's matches. The channel should allow alumni to remain connected to the team, and to allow parents who might not be able to make a game to see their son play.

Seven Yale Ruggers Selected to NERFU All Star Player Pool; Three Named to NERFU South All Star Team

Flanker Andy Beck '09, flyhalf Evan Edwards '09, prop Mike Horrell '10, center Patrick Madden '10, lock Andrew Moir '10, wing Ryan Salinas '09, and flanker Tim Shriver '11 were named to the NERFU All Star Player Pool, putting them in the top 90 of the more than 2,000 collegiate ruggers in New England. Of these seven, three (Madden, Moir, and Shriver) attended the All Stars Selection Camp in Boston on November 15th. After a day of metrics testing and scrimmaging, Madden, Moir and Shriver were all selected to the NERFU South All Star Squad. Click here for a full story about the Selection Camp.

Yale Participates in 2008 Playwright 5K to Benefit CT Jammers Quad Rugby

In what has become an annual tradition, Yale Rugby participated in the Playwright Halloween 5K. The proceeds from the run went to benefit Wallingford's Gaylord Hospital CT Jammers Quad Rugby Club. Click here for pictures and more information about the race.

NRU Overhauls Playoff System; NERFU, Yale Reap Benefit

The Northeast Rugby Union has overhauled the playoff system by which Northeast teams qualify for the national rugby tournament. Recognizing the disparity in talent between the New England Rugby Football Union and the NRU's two other member unions, the Met New York and New York State Rugby Football Unions, the NRU has granted the NERFU greater representation in the regional playoffs. Now, instead of the previous two NERFU teams qualifying for the NRU playoffs, 4 teams will qualify, with the winner of the NERFU advancing directly to the Collegiate National Championships. This change should greatly benefit Yale Rugby's postseason aspirations. For more information about the playoff seedings, check out this article on American Rugby News.

IRB Announces New Experimental Law Variations

The International Rugby Board has developed several changes to the rugby laws in an effort to make the game more fluid and dynamic. The laws affect nearly every aspect of the game, from tactical kicking to scrummaging. A video summary of the new law variations can be seen below:

If the video isn't working for you, a PDF description of the changes can be found here. The new experimental law variations are a boon to Yale Rugby, as they emphasize fast, smart, tactical rugby, something at which Yale excels.

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