BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video 2009!

Since last semester, I have been planning with a friend, Ben Thompson, to make a promotional highlight video for the men's rugby team. Ben has experience in making videos and advertisements and actually won a competition for a 30-second promotional piece about the football team that was to air on television. The team staff were so impressed with his work that they subsequently hired him to do additional graphics for the team. In previous discussions with him, I recruited his help in filming and producing an independent highlight film for the BYU Rugby team. He is quite excited to do so and today confirmed that he and a friend of his are fully committed to create this film.

The plan is simply to cover all of the home games, and then create a high quality video using the acquired game film. Ben not only knows what this undertaking entails, but he also has the necessary equipment to do so in a professional manner... basically, this won't be any old, spotty film taken from a stop-start camcorder. Rather, Ben has camera cranes and other professional tools to do all filming in High Definition, and, thereafter, all the necessary computer programs to do precision editing. The product will be quite amazing, my friends, I assure you.

With this video, the team will then have an effective marketing tool, easily reproducible and distributable. Players, coaches, friends, and fans everywhere will be able to purchase a DVD copy to see the success of the team on a scale never-before-realized. Publicly, the video will be posted on this blog and other media outlets, such as youtube.com. The exposure and attraction that this video will generate will significantly boost all current efforts to reach a higher level of respect and support for the BYU Men's Rugby team.

As the plan is to produce this video independent of the team staff and any team funds, a set price of $20.00 for a DVD copy of the film or $50.00 for a copy in Blu-ray will aid in covering production costs. While Ben would usually charge upwards of $40.00 per hour to work on such a project, he has agreed to lower his fees due to his high level of personal excitement and desire; these given prices per copy will attempt to cover his fees.

However, I personally feel that extra means should be provided to compensate him in this effort, regardless of his good will and charitable attitude. I would be pleased if any of you, my friends, similarly assisted in compensating Ben's efforts. All funds will go directly to Ben to pay for the needed film and materials as well as for the extensive hours required in editing.

And after all is said and done, we will be privileged to witness the intensity of the BYU Men's Rugby team in action like never before...

Please email me if you would like to receive the first ever, high quality BYU Men's Rugby Highlight Video; my email address is listed as the first comment if you click the "Comments" link below.

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AmericanRugbyNews.com's "Game of the Week"

I was just looking for some news or coverage of the game tonight against UC Davis, and I stumbled upon this article:

Game of the Week: UCD and BYU
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"Crouch, touch, pause... ENGAGE!"

My friends, the 2008-2009 season has finally arrived; the anxiously awaited debut of the Cougar Club has come! This Thursday, the BYU Men face off against UC Davis and later against Stanford at the infamous Steuber Rugby Stadium on Saturday. The Cougars' performance in these two tests looks to set a solid platform for the rest of the season and later, the Collegiate National Championship Tournament.

This past Saturday morning, I had occasion to catch a glimpse of the team during warm ups and drills before the classic Blue & White scrimmage. Although I had to leave before the scrimmage started, nevertheless I was pleased to see that all the players maintained a good sense of order and unity. Additionally, I observed that the majority of the players, though not above average in terms of height, nevertheless boasted substantial size and strength. I was further excited to see many new players in the crowd, most of which already looked convincing in ball-handling and decision-making situations.

Of course, the BYU Men's Rugby team roster still boasts a solid group of returning starters. On the field, I saw several familiar faces in returning captain Steve St. Pierre, fullback Sam Thorley, the dynamic South African duo of Dylan Lubbe and Shaun Davies, forward Ra Lawrence, talented backs Vito Qaqa, Apenisa Malani, and Dan Paul, fullback Nate Maughan, big prop Mike Su'a and experienced back Manti Su'a, and the dominating Viliami Vimahi (Pila). While this season will see some of these players starting at new positions (in some cases, more ideal than those previous), nevertheless all Cougar fans can rest assured that they will bring the same energy and presence as before... and this year, with a more experienced secondary in close support.

2008 - 2009 Schedule

2008 - 2009 Roster

From here on out, I will post any thoughts and observations throughout the course of each match this season, as well as any extra information gathered from coaches, players, and fans. Feel free to submit comments at the end of any post with suggestions, thoughts, and opinions.


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Another unexpected milestone reached

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to assist BYU's structural engineer, and architect, in the drafting of plans and details for a new stadium at South Field. The new bleachers, ticket office, and main entry were primarily intended for the benefit of the increasingly popular BYU Women's Soccer program. There was talk that the Men's Soccer and Lacrosse teams might also be able to use the new facility once in a while, but I never heard anything official...


Today, an article posted on the BYU Men's Rugby website stated that, "the BYU rugby program announced today the team would be moving to the newly renovated South Field for the upcoming 2009 season."

http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/?u=BYURUGBY&s=htosports&t=c

I am quite pleased at this news... at the prospect of a legitimate site, in look, feel, and scale, for the BYU Rugby team. Actually, I am still in disbelief, but perhaps it was providence since BYU Rugby's biggest fan helped in the drafting of the plans.

Regardless of the truth, there is no doubt that the BYU Men's Rugby team deserves this privilege. I have always talked up BYU Rugby to my work colleagues, and I recall telling them that some day there would be a rugby stadium at BYU.

Be careful what you wish for, right?

Well folks, no more portable bleachers at Helaman Field; the new stadium boasts permanent seating for over 2,000 people, every seat and bench of which has back support and is positioned to allow a good view. And with an awesome new entrance and grandstand in BYU blue, what a sweet backdrop for fans and players alike to enjoy the dynamic sport of rugby, the game of the gods!

That's not all... according to the article, "some of BYU's 2009 home games will be broadcast on BYU Television which is broadcast into over 48 million homes via satellite ... and internet streaming." Wow! When it rains, it really pours!

I can only continue to express my thanks to the coaching staff for their efforts to build the image and presence of BYU Men's Rugby and to the players for their consistent effort to excel and build upon the program's growing national and international reputation. More appropriately, I bend my knees and head in gratitude to God. I mean no sarcasm nor self-righteousness in this statement; rather, having been involved in rugby on the high school and collegiate levels, I know that any player or coach anywhere in the nation would feel overwhelmed if given the opportunity to have a real stadium and real television exposure for his or her program. 'Tis a great blessing indeed... and with it grow my hopes for this upcoming season. Go Cougars!!!

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