Rugby Newsletter - Actual Rugby is on the Way!

[David Codell]

River,

After a long layoff we are actually looking at some real rugby in the near future. Our schedule for this spring is:

4/24 Baltimore Chesapeake - Mid Atlantic D1 & D3

5/1 Rocky Gorge - Mid Atlantic D1 & D3

5/8 Mystic River - Atlantic Premiership D1 & D2

5/15 Pittsburg Harlequins- Mid Atlantic D1 & D3

5/22 Pittsburg Forge - Midwest D1 & D2

Every match is against a D1 club and is a doubleheader and our opponents represent 3 of the 7 GUs that play D1 rugby across the country so it is a great representation of our level of play and just an overall excellent schedule against some of the East Coast's top teams.

If you feel safe to do so please make yourself available for as many of these matches as possible and stay in communication with Pat and Coach Jamie. We train Tuesdays 8PM at Lindley Playground (799 W. Duncannon) and Thursdays 8PM at Cruz (5th and Jefferson) so let's keep the turnout high and step onto the field each week prepared to win.

As many of you know, I'm currently also the President of the EPRU and we've put together a Strength and Conditioning team full of really great trainers. I have attached all of the programs that we have released so far to this email so that everyone can train and get in shape in a manner appropriate for where you're at physical and for what equipment you have access to. Here is a link to the EPRU YouTube playlist for anyone who would like to workout alongside Sean Gormley in the bodyweight and plyo routines (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2jDVShnzRULlwK7bDewizIzBZbtKnDkN)

In other news, my friend Simon Barratt from the Narberth Otters is helping the Temple Women's Rugby Club in their search for coaching. Simon is copied on this email so please reach out to him directly if you are able to lend a hand.

There is a free online discussion with Robert Paylor coming up on April 28 so please sign up here (bit.ly/EPRUPaylor) Robert is an extremely inspirational individual who was told that he had been paralyzed in a rugby match and that he would never walk again or regain much use of his hands. He set a goal of walking again and is now able to walk for a short period of time unassisted and he is able to use his hands well enough to write with a pen. I've been impressed with him in our conversations and I think you'll enjoy hearing what he has to say.

Lastly, Narberth is looking ahead to the summer (Rob Deluca is copied on this email) and needs some flag rugby coaches. The schedule would be one weeknight per week with tournaments from approx 10AM-12PM on Sunday June 20/27 and July 11/18/25 so really less than a month and a half commitment to help these kids out. Please let me and Rob know if you are interested.

Thank you for reading, I miss you all very much and look forward to getting back out there with you guys. Keep representing our club well, I'm proud of you guys!

Codell