Fwd: CSOB History
William Gregg
COLORADO OL' POKES
History 1990 to 2011
The Colorado Senior Old Boys Rugby Football Club (Colorado Ol' Pokes) was formed by a group of long time rugby mates from many Colorado Rugby clubs in January of 1990. The club was founded by players that were 40 years and older who wanted to continue playing the sport they love but a less strenuous match to prevent a longer recuperation period. The Team CSOB (Colorado Ol' Pokes) got its name from Brian Fitzgerald while at a bar having a drink. (How appropriate) The team colors are Royal Purple and Old Gold chosen by Fred Alexander. The reasons for choosing these colors are the Colorado's purple mountains majesty and the Colorado Golden Sunrise. Fred (Denver Barbarian), Cliff Kimble (Mile High), and Dave Lennon (Aspen) while talking over a beer after practice one day started talking about establishing rules for the club. It was decided that the club did not want to "rob players" from the players respective clubs so it was decided that when the Ol' Pokes played a club side that the players on the team were to play for their respective club. This way a player could play for the Ol' Pokes but still be associated with his original team. The Ol' Pokes usually play ten to twelve matches a year starting with the traditional Purple & Gold match in March and finishing the season usually with the Aspen Ruggerfest in September.
The first official match of the club was at Colorado School of Mines football practice field in March of 1990 between the Purple & the Gold sides of the team. Colored poker chips were used to select the sides. Two of the poker chips had a "C" on them and the person who drew that chip was the captain for that match. On the first kick off Bud Bilanich had the Team's first "knock-on" and he still brag's about it today. The first try for the Ol' Pokes was scored by Bruce "Herk" Koranski and he also still brags about it. After the match the team went to Woodys Pizza Parlor in Golden, Colorado for beer and pizza maintaining the long Rugby tradition of buying your opposite number a beer after the match.
The first out-of-town match was a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1992 to play the old boy's team from Santa Fe. Another first was in the summer of 1994 when the CSOB first "Dad & Lad" Rugby match was played where Dad's and their son's were able to play a rugby match together. Earnie Alexander and a long time friend Ruth Parker bought purple and gold T-shirts and hand lettered the event name on the T-shirts and gave each participant the "jersey". The rules were simple: Dad's can tackle Dad's, Lad's can tackle Lad's, Lad's can tackle Dad's but Dad's can't tackle Lad's. The whole object of the match was to give Dad's and their Son's a chance to experience the world of Rugby together. A family picnic always proceeded the Rugby match under the direction of John Grummel's cooking expertise. Bob Miller was the first Dad to have his Daughter play in the match and we modified the name of the match to "Dad, Lad and Lassie" Rugby Match.
The team has come along way since that first match with 35 players to a solid roster of 100 plus players and social members from all over the globe. The current active and social roster has members from Japan, Canada, England, and Australia as well as players not only from Colorado but also from Kansas, Georgia, California, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Pennsylvania and New York. These members usually travel with the team to the World Golden Oldies Rugby Festivals and various other tournaments.
The team has been a participant officially since the start of the Senior Division at Aspen's Ruggerfest. Before the official introduction of an old boys division at Aspen Ruggerfest, the Ol' Pokes used to go to Aspen in the early nineties for Ruggerfest and play "a pick up match or two" with other old boy teams at the Aspen High School Football field. The Ol' Pokes first entrance into the official "Senior Division" at Ruggerfest was in 2004 when Aspen introduced the 50's Division. CSOB's lost to Virginia Cardinals in the preliminaries but beat Florida Old Boys and by the fact that they had more points than Florida advanced to the finals. Colorado won the first 50's Division over the Virginia Cardinals by a score of 7 to 5. Colorado has been in all of the senior division matches since and in 2009 Aspen introduced a 55's Division bracket which Florida Old Boys and Virginia Cardinals played for the title. The Ol' Pokes for the first time were not in the finals.
In 2009 Colorado Ol' Pokes played in both the 50's and 55's brackets at the 42nd annual Aspen Ruggerfest. The 50's side played four matches and lost all four matches on Thursday. However, on Friday the team got all its ducks in a row and won the 55's Division by defeating Florida 27 to 12, Virginia 19 to 0. During the warm-ups for one of the preliminary matches Jim Opperman and Greg Landry were comparing their "open heart surgery cases" prior to the match. The Team's first "yellow card" at Ruggerfest came when Prop Bill Gregg punched Prop Mike Monaco in the Virginia match. The Ol' Pokes played Florida Old Boys on Sunday again in the finals and beat them 8 to 0 to win the first IRB sanctioned 55 year old rugby match in the world. Jeff Calhoun, Captain, scored the first points on a 20-meter penalty kick after about 10 minutes in the first period. The only try came with 5 minutes left in the match. MVP Bob "Bobo" Lesnansky (second row) took the ball about ten meters out and drove to the one-meter line and was stopped by a very strong defense of the Florida scrum. Bobo slipped the ball to Prop Mike Monaco (who had played with Virginia in earlier matches) slipped between the gap and scored. The Team players were presented "Championship beer mugs" at the Season Ending/Season Beginning Party in January.
The first international invite for a match on foreign ground came from our long time mates from Alice Springs, Australia prior to the 1999 World Golden Oldies in Adelaide, Australia. Captain Fred Alexander was presented a "key" to the city, for the team, from the Lord Mayor prior to the match under the lights in the local Rugby stadium. The Dingo's threw a great "Barbie" after the match including Kangaroo, Emu and other Australian goodies along with a never-ending mug of local beer. The Ol' Pokes retired to their local host residences after the party to rest up for the next days activities. The next day, in a school bus driven by "George", a Dingo, the team was given a tour of a local "cattle station". A "Barbie with Tucker", a camel ride as well as lessons on how to throw a boomerang by a Park Ranger for the local government park Stumpy Adams also a Dingo. After three days the Team took the Oriental Express railroad from Alice Springs to Adelaide and in good rugby tradition drank all the beer in two lounge cars dry during the 23-hour train ride. The Ol' Pokes have traveled not only to the World Golden Oldies Rugby Festivals but also to many places in the US and Canada. The Team was a participant in the "Old Southwest Rugby Tournament" in Phoenix, Arizona for many years. After being part of the Vancouver World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival the team has made several trips back to Vancouver to play the Vancouver Evergreens.
In 2003 the team went to the small town of Kensington, Kansas, where Cliff used to live, and played the Des Moines, Iowa old boys club in what was the first Rugby match played in Kensington. The town went all out for the Ol' Pokes allowing the teams to play in the football stadium where Jim Nelon and Bruce Koranski were the color commentators for the match. After the match a B-B-Q for both teams and the local young Ruggers was held at the local American Legion Hall sponsored by the local Lions Club. The Ol' Pokes have been back to Kensington a couple of more times since and played a local pick-up team made up of South Africans who work in the area for some of the local farmers. This match was in honor of our first death of a team member, Gregg Carver who had helped to get the Des Moines rugby team (which he had played for) to come to Kensington for its first rugby match. The tournament was able to collect $1,000.00 to establish a Trust Fund for Gregg's two girls' College Funds. A formal presentation of a framed poster with Gregg's picture on it advertising the Kensington "Middle of America Rugby Festival" and the check was presented to Gregg's wife and daughters by Fred & Earnie at half time in front of the local new rugby supporters. The CSOB's also had a Mini Rugby Training Camp to teach the local area athletics the game of Rugby. The Coaches for the training session had a sevens match after the Mini Camp prior to the main featured Rugby match. The Coaches were: Cliff Kimble, Bruce Koranski, Jim Nelon, Greg Chvatal, Bill Baer, Bill Gregg, Wint Winter (a State Senator from Kansas and CSOB team member), Steve Snyder, Chris Olson, John Oberly and John Lawson.
The next passing of a CSOB was Chris Shipley (Boulder) and has become a tradition with the Team. The CSOB's played Boulder in Chris honor. T-shirts were made up with Chris's name on them and sold to the players. The next passing was that of Rick Carlson (Barbarian) with T-shirts and a match has been played in Rick's honor yearly since. The "Rick Carlson Cup" is now played each summer at the Elizabeth Gaelic Festival in Elizabeth, Colorado and is the featured sports event between the Barbo's and the CSOB's of the Festival.
The first "President's Award" in 2006 was awarded to Scrummie Bob Cvancara and it was a cowboy "bull dogger". The first back to get the "President's Award" was presented to Gary Baum and it was a "cowboy roper". These awards are for club members who have helped the CSOB RFC by their actions and leadership both on and off the pitch. In 2005 the first "Mr. Ol' Poke" was presented to Dave Ocken for his unselfish leadership and enormous energy to help in making the CSOB RFC the Club that it is today. Following Dave with their leadership and energy, Andy Jelonkiewicz (06), Greg Chvatal (07), Jeff Calhoun (08), Bruce Serby (09) and John Grummel (10). Awards for MVP Players (Scrum & Backs) at the season ending party in Aspen each year were given "Boot" plaques for their leadership and play during the season for the 35's, 45's & 50's. The Ol' Pokes in 2005 were one of the first old boys team to enter three sides in Aspen Ruggerfest Senior Division a 35, 45. & 50 year old sides. The CSOB entered three sides for two years. The Ol' Pokes now has a 40's side, 50's and 60's side and could put a decent 65-year-old side on the pitch when the occasion pops up.
In February of 2010 the Ol' Pokes teamed up with the Florida Old Boys to win the "55 Division" of the Ft Lauderdale, Florida Ruggerfest. The combined teams were successful in defeating their long time archrival the Virginia Cardinals in the finals bringing home another trophy. The teams oldest rival is Vail Rugby Club along with the Washington Poltroons where the Ol' Pokes have been going to enjoy the weekend in the Colorado Mountains in August since 1991.
The first International team to come to Colorado to play the Ol' Pokes were the XXXX's Rugby Club from Brisbane, Australia in the summer of 2000. Earnie Alexander picked up the XXXX team from the airport in the "Hooter Scooter" furnished by Hooters Restaurant and the Ol' Pokes had a welcoming party at the local Hooters Restaurant. The Ol' Pokes, in typical Rugby fashion "billeted" the XXXX's and after the rugby match had a swell party for the XXXX visitor's at Fred's condo's party room. The Ol' Pokes played the XXXX's again, the Golden Oldies host team, in the last match of the 2004 World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in Ballymore Rugby Stadium under the lights and as is tradition the match wound up in a tie. The Tour to Brisbane also was the start of The CSOB's Kangaroo Court, a traditional "on tour" Rugby event, under the direction of His Honor "Da Judge" Gordon Leask and his "evil" bailiff Brian "the enforcer" Fitzgerald. None other than Stumpy and Lyn Adams of the Alice Springs Dingo's Rugby Club contributed the format for this fun event to the Club. Since the Kangaroo Courts introduction to the CSOB's the court has been a great source of fun and another chance to party with the tour mates and their other half.
The second international team to come to Colorado was in 2004 that was another international opponent from Christchurch Golden Oldies Rugby Festival the Alice Springs Dingo's made a stop in Colorado on their way to another World Golden Oldies. The second half of the match the player's intermixed and the match wound up in a draw. Again with tradition the CSOB's billeted the team and another great evening party took place at the local Hooters. The local Hooters Restaurant owner, Brian Weston, has been a long time supporter of the CSOB's and other local Rugby teams in Colorado.
The Ol' Pokes have been to the World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival since 1993 when it made its first appearance in Dublin, Ireland under the leadership of Pat "Patty" Quinlan who had been to other World Golden Oldies Rugby Festivals previously. The CSOB Ol' Pokes have also been to: Christchurch, New Zealand (1995), Vancouver, Canada (1997), Adelaide, Australia (1999), Toulouse, France (2000), Brisbane, Australia (2002), San Diego, USA (2004), Wellington, New Zealand (2006), Edinburgh, Scotland (2008), Sydney, Australia (2010). In the 1999 World Golden Oldies the Team joined up with "The Hogs and Hookers" RFC from Iowa and won the "Best Jumper in the Festival" and received an award at the final dinner from Air New Zealand the sponsor of the Festival. The Team also won the "Best Supporter" award in 2010 from Air New Zealand for attending the last ten World Golden Oldies Rugby Festivals. The Ol' Pokes are planning on going to the 19th World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in Fukuoka, Japan in 2012.
The Ol' Pokes have been assisting in the Colorado Under 19 Rugby Tournament " Rocky Mountain Challenge" for the last five years. Bruce Koranski or Jeff Calhoun has been in charge of the Tournament since its start. John Grummel, Bill Baer, Ken Brischke, Bob Cvancara, Kurt Drager, Fred Alexander, Cliff Kimble, Bob Lesnansky as well as many others on the Ol' Pokes are very involved in the continued success of this Youth Rugby Tournament. The CSOB's usually are a featured match at this event to show the "young bucks" that the fire for Rugby doesn't leave when you get older.
Colorado Senior Old Boys Rugby Football Club, Colorado Ol' Pokes celebrated its 20th year in 2009. Fred & Earnie Alexander, President / Founder & Treasurer turned the reins over after twenty years of running the club to Jeff & Debbie Calhoun in January 2010 at the Season Ending / Season Beginning Party at the Breckenridge Brewery (team sponsor). The founding members that were still active after 20 years were given purple and gold wind shirts as a memento of their helping start and support the Club for the twenty years.
Many of the CSOB team members have been and are in positions of authority in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union (ERRFU) since its start. Fred Alexander and Rick Carlson were the head of the ERRFU Discipline Committee for at total of twenty years. Jim Russell and Brian Fitzgerald proceeded Fred & Rick as the head of the Discipline Committee. Bob Lesnansky is currently Treasurer for ERRFU and is a long time referee. John Lawson and Cliff Kimble have been ERRFU referees. Bill Gregg was President of ERRFU, Paul Hoskins Sr. was President of the Denver Barbarians and Jeff Calhoun was Treasurer, Captain & Coach of Queen City. Cliff was the founder of Mile High Rugby Club. Fred is the USA International Representative for the World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival. Barry Van Everan is the current Southwestern Representative for the USA Golden Oldies Rugby Festival and Jim Schneweis the Middle American Representative.
Many of the CSOB team members have been coaches for the various local high school boys and girls teams. Coaches were: Dan O'Leary and Cliff Kimble, Regis High School, Paul Hoskins Sr. and Bill Baer, East High School, Bill Gregg and Gareth Jones Highlands Ranch High School, Jim Nelon, Colorado School of Mines, Rick Kesler, Scarlet Harlots Girls Rugby Club, Peter Shafroth, Denver Highlanders RFC, Greg Chvatal and Bruce Serby, Ft Collins High School, Ken Brischke, Aurora High School.
Several of the CSOB's have been inducted into the "ERRFU Hall of Fame". Members are: Jeff Aldred, Fred Alexander, Bill Baer, Rick Carlson, Greg Chvatal, Bill Gregg, Bob Herrell, Paul Hoskins Sr, Cliff Kimble, Bruce Koranski, Bob Lesnansky, Jim Nelon, Scott Norris, Jim Opperman, Peter Shafroth, Jim Simms and Bill Tomb.
Dan Hall
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2026 12:56 PM
To: csob...@googlegroups.com <csob...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [csobrugby] Fwd: CSOB History
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PATRICK MCNALLY
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PATRICK MCNALLY
On 02/21/2026 10:56 AM MST 'William Gregg' via CSOB Rugby <csob...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
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CSOB President
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