New Orleans vs. Houston Rugby in the Finn McCool's Rugby Cup
What: The Finn McCool's Rugby Cup, hosted by the New Orleans Rugby Football Club and sponsored by Finn McCool's Irish Pub
When: Saturday, Nov. 22, games begin 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., after-party at 7 p.m.
Where: Games at Gretna City Park, 1130 Gretna Blvd., Gretna; after-party at Finn McCool's Irish Pub, 3700 Banks St., New Orleans, 504-486-9080
Cost: free admission
The New Orleans Rugby Football Club welcomes the Houston Athletic Rugby Club to town this coming Saturday, Nov. 22, for the second annual Finn McCool's Rugby Cup.
The Finn McCool's Rugby Cup was created last year to highlight the rapid growth of rugby in New Orleans, which now includes nationally-recognized high school teams, college teams and both men's and women's club teams. This Saturday, the New Orleans Rugby Football Club men's team will face the Houston Athletic Rugby Club for a regional showdown at Gretna City Park.
Bombers Recap
Written by Trip McCormick
The New Orleans Rugby Club opened its traveling season this past weekend by taking a leisurely 10-hour drive to St. Louis for a an early season friendly against Bombers RFC.
It was a full day of rugby under warm but pleasant conditions for an October Saturday. The Bombers Old Boys raised the curtain in a fierce contest against an undermanned but game New Orleans Old Boy side. While the Bombers got the better of the scoreboard, New Orleans’ Vieux Garcons took heart in a well-fought match. New Orleans Old Boy President Gary Giepert cited an important and much celebrated statistic: “Everybody walked off the field under their own power.” Next up, the Bombers’ “White” side put on an impressive second-half display to overcome the St. Louis Hornets in a division 2 league match.
Finally, as the sun began to set and the lights warmed up above a truly impressive venue provided by the Bombers, New Orleans took the field for kickoff against the Bombers’ “Black” side. With only sixteen players, each of the starting fifteen geared up for an 80-minute battle. On the sideline was promising rookie Chase Donaldson, and double-duty old boys Geoff Ormsby, Gary Giepert and Tim Falcon. From the kickoff, there was no doubt that the match would be a physical encounter throughout. Buoyed by a fired-up Old Boys contingent, New Orleans stood strong against a powerful and hard-charging Bombers pack. Pressure defense yielded New Orleans an opportunity at goal early in the half, but flyhalf Ricky DeCastro pulled the attempt just left. Keeping the ball in the Bombers’ end for most of the first half, strong support and precision off-loading eventually paid off as prop Matt Upton charged through the fringe of a ruck and deftly dished to center Jeff Reuther who finished for the score.
The Bombers came back with renewed determination, keeping the ball tight and putting their mobile and hard-running number 8 loose on a couple of long rumbles. The New Orleans defense bent but did not break, and was eventually able to relieve pressure off the boot of DeCastro. Once in the Bombers’ end, another series of half-breaks and offloads saw Reuther break free and pop the ball to Tony “Front Reaux” Breaux, putting the hooker away for New Orleans’ second try. Inside center Jeff Ahlmeyer was good for the conversion to make it 12-0 New Orleans.
The Bombers, while a bit taken aback by New Orleans’ early ascension,....
NORFC beat ULL 48-12 on Saturday. Next up... St. Louis Bombers in St. Louis
The NORFC will meet at 12 noon on Friday at Lakeview Harbor on Harrison ( across the street from Parlays) to eat lunch , sort out rides and leave for St Louis.
Current News
Thursday, September 18th
Fall Practice continues, 7 p.m., Gretna Pitch New players welcome
CIPP
Everyone must complete CIPP registration online through USA Rugby by Sept. 25. Everyone has to do this to play this season. It costs $35 for individuals, and it's easy to do online. Use this link:
A season that officially began on the road in Little Rock back in January came to a close this past weekend with the New Orleans Rugby Football Club participating in the USA Rugby Sweet 16 championships in Austin, Texas.
Though no one knew it at the time of that long, slogging road up to a frozen Arkansas pitch, the season would prove an unforgettable one for New Orleans rugby – one that saw impressive achievements on the field, new recognition in the community and exposure to a higher level of national competition.
New Orleans would end its regular season with an undefeated 8-0 record, earn the title of Deep South division champions and snag a ticket to the national playoffs.
"This team is on the way up," says head coach Jerry Malina. "While we didn't get the results we were after this weekend, we did gain experience competing at the national playoff level and that will be invaluable as we prepare for next season."
After earning the No. 13 seed for the Sweet 16 playoff round, New Orleans faced No. 4-ranked Tulsa, the champion of the West division. The first half saw many New Orleans errors, which Tulsa was quick and able to exploit on their way to building a 37-0 lead at halftime. New Orleans regrouped in the second half and scored two tries, but it was not enough to overcome Tulsa's dominant lead. The match ended at 47-14.
In the consolation round the following day, New Orleans faced the South Side Anchors from Boston, the No. 12 seed and champion of its Northeast division. New Orleans again found itself in a hole, allowing 21 unanswered points before landing a successful try. The team brought the game within three points, training Boston 24 to 21 late in the game. But South Shore put it away with two more tries, and New Orleans gave up a 38-21 loss to end the playoffs.
-Ian McNulty
Kangaroo Court
Tuesday, 17 June 2008 01:20
NORFC Kangaroo Court
The Short Explanation: The accused will choose his/her own representation, face "The Prosecutor," be judged by his/her peers, and ultimately either walk away unpunished or pay the penalty invoked by "The Judge." Submit your charges now!
Introduction Perhaps it is because Laws and not Rules govern the Rugby Football Union; perhaps it is because we believe in Justice and Fair Play, or maybe it is just because we love to give our friends a hard time.
