BYU Rugby Fanhood Test #1

Hey BYU Rugby fans! There always comes a time when each and every one of us must 'prove our grit' so to speak... Well, that time is now!

Take a moment, and see if you've got enough BYU Rugby fanhood to pass this little test (no cheating allowed!). Post your answers in a reply to this post (without looking at the answers given by others), and the first person to correctly answer all ten questions will receive a "BYU Rugby Super Fan" shirt, compliments of BYU Rugby Forever.


1. Name at least five players on the current BYU Rugby starting lineup.

2. In what year was the BYU Rugby team founded?

3. Name at least one of the BYU Rugby coaches and his nation of origin.

4. Have you donated to the Cougar Rugby Foundation this year?

5. How many National Tournament appearances (at least Sweet 16) has the BYU Rugby team made in the last five years?

6. How many BYU Rugby matches, home or away, have you attended in the last two years?

7. Do you already have your tickets to the upcoming ESPNU Game of the Week against Utah?

8. Name at least three All-Americans and one US Eagle that played for the BYU Rugby team.

9. Have you already donated to the BYU Rugby Highlight Video 2009 effort?

10. Who does the BYU Rugby team play this coming weekend?

If you can confidently and positively answer all these questions, then I congratulate you on being a true BYU Rugby fan of unquestionable fanhood!

If not... well... there's still a chance for you to become converted. Come to a game; check out the BYU Rugby website; or send me a message... everyone can become a BYU Rugby fan!

Now, for those of you who found this test to be too easy... you have my deep respect. I can only ask for your continued support in making BYU the #1 collegiate rugby program in the nation and in converting dozens of fans along the way...

Thank you to all you devoted fans of the BYU Rugby team; may success ever be our goal!

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Expectations exceeded: BYU tops Denver!

Well, I had my doubts, folks... I admit it. Perhaps all the talk about the Barbarians touting former and current USA Eagles got me secretly worried that BYU might get hammered like last year (a 68-12 loss). Yes, I know that last year's mostly-seconds' squad was the best that the BYU Rugby team had to offer due to numerous injured starters... but this year I still feared the strength and experience of the Denver side (you know, what with their 'old man strength' and all that goes with it!).

Reading Coach Wayne Tarawhiti's comments regarding BYU's 32-20 win, however, turned my anxiety into excitement: “We wanted the guys to come out in the first 10 minutes and go full-out... And they did that to their credit. I think we caught these guys [Denver] a little by surprise in the first ten minutes.”

That's how it's done against tough teams... there's something about those first ten or fifteen minutes that can make or break a team's spirit. The same holds true at the start of the second half... but a team already substantially broken in the first half does not easily recover in time (e.g. BYU's first National Championship appearance vs. Cal Berkeley in '06, a sickeningly close, 26-29 loss).

And so I must express a renewed sense of optimism and energy for BYU's 2009 National Championship prospects... after all, our boys just beat a seasoned Super League team with more than one USA Team member on its roster!

But before looking too far into the sunset, the BYU Rugby team must face a most formidable opponent in #5-ranked, arch rival Utah this coming weekend. With the coveted Wasatch Cup on the line, as well as playoff seedings, this match threatens to be the biggest barn-burner of the season!

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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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Turning it up a few notches

So only a few minutes before publishing my previous post, the 2008 roster for the Men's team was posted on the BYU website along with commentary on various transfer players and new recruits. Looks like the team now boasts a sizable roster with much more depth and potential than previously thought. Not that all of my comments were completely overruled by the article, but the BYU team has definitely expanded more so than I perceived.

http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=BYURUGBY&sport=htosports&t=c&p=home&s=htosports

I was especially impressed to see the wide range of freshmen players that already have some quality experience to bring to the table. Perhaps BYU will increase in depth as a program to rival that of Cal Berkeley sooner than expected. I give credit to the coaching staff for their foresight and obvious effort to recruit more widely than I have ever witnessed. In fact, the recruiting efforts of only the last two or three years represented a big advance over previous years; BYU was even able to offer some scholarship assistance to a player or two. Yet, these efforts only resulted in the acquisition of a couple players a year. This year, in terms of recruiting, represents a great milestone for the BYU Men's Rugby team: 8 freshmen recruits, 3 transfer players, and a handful (perhaps two handfuls) of 'walk-ons' from tryouts.

Wow! Just when doubt would try to creep in, BYU recruiting yields dividends above and beyond those of any previous season! And think about the repercussions for recruiting in the future if BYU again debuts in the National Championship match!

No doubts anymore, my friends. Things are on the up for our team... now we must simply wait to witness the new team in action, to witness the beast devouring its prey.

I will add any posts of relevance before that time comes... but until then, kudos to the BYU Men's Rugby team coaches and staff for turning it up a few in anticipation of this upcoming season. The rest of us can breathe easy while your work has only just begun!
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