The United States Rugby Football Foundation has provided rugby balls to over 500 teams and schools in the past six years. Now we are looking to help the individual player by providing a rugby ball to each of the 30,000 youth and high school players that are playing the game in the US. And we are going to try to accomplish that without asking for any money from anyone. All we are asking from you is your daily VOTE in September. If we are fortunate enough to win the $250,000, every cent of that award will be used towards the purchase of 30,000 rugby balls. You can also Text* 102647 to Pepsi (73774). *Standard text messaging rates apply.

Plano Rugby has a new home field, Las Colinas Polo Club at 600 E. Royal Lane, Irving TX. They have requested a Barbarian style (mixed players from other teams) exhibition match for their new sponsor and pitch starting at 5:30, Sunday June 27. The Mavericks, being fine gentlemen and supporters of rugby, have graciously offered players for this event. It is strictly voluntary and should be lots of fun. We already have several committed and are looking for more. All are welcome, just communicate your intentions to Mr. Kelly and show up at 4:30 to the polo grounds.

This complex is 24 acres of beautifully manicured natural grass, which will be able to host on multiple fields for future events, including the NTX 7s Series Tournaments on both July 10 & 24.

Schedule of events for this Sunday, June 27th:

1. 4:30 pm - Arrive at Las Colinas Polo Club
2. 5:15pm - Play exhibition 15s match for the Polo Club Patrons
3. Immediately following rugby match there will be an Australian horse acrobatic team performing.
4. Immediately following the Australian horse acrobatic team the Las Colinas Polo Club will take to the field for their polo match.
5. All family members are encouraged to come.
6. It is BYO, tailgating is allowed, concessions & wet bar are available.

There are partial scholarships for Rugby out there!

Tthe United States Rugby Football Foundation is pleased to announce the third year of the Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Program. Last fall, the USRFF awarded seven $1,000 Kevin Higgins College Scholarships to deserving high school seniors who went on to play rugby in college. This year, the USRFF will once again provide up to 10 Higgins Scholarships. These independent scholarships are open to all graduating high school rugby players in the US who will be pursuing their rugby career while continuing their education at the collegiate level. (read more...)

Last year Ryan Bachman of Alliance won one of the scholarships. (read about Ryan...)

There are a few important schedule changes!!

The game this Saturday 3/6 against Plano has been switched to play Jesuit at 9:30 AM at Glencoe Park in Dallas . That's right! A morning game! Be at the field at 8:15 AM. You'll have the rest of the day to do the chores your Mom has for you.

Our Alliance game on 3/27 has been moved to Lake Highlands Park, Dallas with a time yet to be set. It will be a tournament style format where we play teams from the Austin area too.

See you at practice Thursday and then bright and early Saturday morning.

The tentative Maverick High School Schedule has been posted.
Please be advised that it is NOT finalized. We will fill in a few more dates and set the starting times shortly.

For those who weren't at practice last night tomorrow's match against Alliance has been cancelled due to a scheduling and numbers issue. Next up is a home match on February 9th at 12:00PM against Panther City (Fort Worth). Need to get everyone's paperwork turned in and minimum portion ($30) of dues no later than Thursday, February 7th.

There have only been a handful of players who have turned in the paperwork required to participate in the 2008 season which is scheduled to start in earnest this Saturday, February 2nd. If we do not have enough players registered we will not be able to play this weekend. We have about 17-18 boys who have been out over the past few weeks so the numbers are there to be a viable team when all are available.

We need a minimum of $30 of the $100 registration fee to insure all players are CIPP'd with USA Rugby. The various leagues haven't enforced this like they should in the past but will be doing so this year per the note below from the TRU.

Check the Registration link for more details including forms and fax number.

Note from Texas Rugby Union
The TRU, as per USA Rugby regulations, requires that in any game [friendly; social, alumni or league] that being is refereed by a qualified referee has to be CIPP registered with USA Rugby. This means that every player must be CIPP enrolled to take the field. That doesn't mean the forms were mailed, promised, invoiced or getting around to it - it means enrolled and on the USA CIPP listing.

Effective Friday February 1st 2008, the TRU and TYRA will be checking the USA Rugby CIPP rosters of each Texas club. In the event that any club has less than 15 players CIPP registered at midday on Friday of each week, the TRU, TYRA and STRR have agreed that the referee assigned to that game [which was planned to be played over that weekend which includes Friday evening] will be re-assigned and the game cancelled. The offending club will also face additional sanctions.