by Mark Smiley | Aug 24, 2018 | Glendale City News
Glendale Team Will Be Bigger And Better Starting This Fall
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale Raptors Head Coach David Williams, right, answers questions in a post match interview with Nate Kreckman, left, up in the VIP Raptors Club after a Major League Rugby victory at Infinity Park. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Following a statistically impressive but ultimately disappointing conclusion to their inaugural Major League Rugby debut season, the Glendale Raptors have all hands on deck for 2019. As an exhibition schedule and official preseason loom ever nearer, Raptors Head Coach David Williams explains how hard his side is working to make sure the MLR Championship Shield comes to Glendale next year.
After a short July break, the Raptors are back to regular season training levels. With a focus on what Williams puts simply as “building bigger, better, more powerful bodies,” the squad is hitting the gym five days a week. Off-season preparation is focused on individual development, skills improvement, and patterns. With a reasonable timeframe to get into shape before league play starts, the Raptors should be able to integrate new talent onto the squad and prepare the players being called up to the USA Eagles side for the national team’s four-game November tour.
Long characterized by veteran players, the Raptors are not short on opportunities to recruit new talent. Infinity Park hosted a camp for the Collegiate All-Americans in mid-August, an event that saw nearly one hundred of the best college-level rugby players in the country come to compete. Split divisionally, East and West, the group was pared to the top selections, later playing against the Raptors MLR side. Glendale Head Coach Williams explains that the camp is a recruitment tool: “It doesn’t just give us a shot at early pre-season play, it also allows our coaching staff and the rest of the MLR coaches a chance to see the next generation of talent in action.” Outside of U.S. potentials, international signings within the league point to the talent that MLR is attracting, and add further value and legitimacy to American professional rugby.
Asked about signings to look for in the off-season, Williams, who is notoriously tight-lipped about both players he’s courting and game day strategy, was reluctant to divulge specifics, but said with a laugh that more than half of his job as Raptors Head Coach is recruitment. “I’m looking all the time. Seeing which players are off contract, speaking to agents, keeping connections around the world. We are always building our squad to be bigger and better for next year. A lot of players contact us. This is an environment where they can improve and prosper and they understand that.”
Camps and relationships are an important aspect of making sure Williams is able to continue to attract fresh faces, but Glendale has another leg up on most of the competition: the Raptors Academy. A European-style feeder system for young players to mature for professional or divisional play, the Academy has already produced one impressive MLR player: the Raptors’ break out player Mika Kruse. Entering professional play at 19 years of age, Kruse was a regular on highlight reels throughout the inaugural season. Williams has nothing but praise for the young player: “He is definitely someone fans need to look for next year. He is a rising star in U.S. Rugby without a shadow of a doubt. How he plays, how he prepares, how he trains, his skills: it’s awesome. Simple as that. He’s only going to grow.” Asked about the evolving Academy programming, Williams is reflective: “It’s an interesting proposition,” he said. “The Academy is a long-term solution for supplying the Raptors with ongoing talent. We always want to build a bigger player base. The Academy does that and provides an opportunity for players to train professionally and develop their game. We’re one of the few clubs that have an Academy program and is developing these younger players.”
Outside of developing new players, the Raptors are, of course, training their exceptionally talented existing squad. Back on a regular season training regimen, the team is exploring nutrition and mental conditioning in addition to their rigorous physical preparation. With a full time mental skills coach, and continued education on nutrition, Glendale is building what promises to be a 2019 powerhouse. Williams says that education is key to making his team the best next season: “The boys do a huge amount of work in the gym and on the pitch, but there’s more to the game. The more education on prep and recovery we have, the better players we have at the end of the day.”
Glendale remains an MLR favorite going into 2019. Rugby-specific facilities and top-tier talent set the team apart from the crowd, but the Raptors have something to prove in their second professional season. Statistics won’t cut it this year for Williams, or for the rest of the squad: they want to bring home the big win. Though the inaugural season is just behind them, preparations are underway for the team to leave their stamp on Major League Rugby, beginning with fall exhibitions. As Williams succinctly puts it: “The standard has to improve year on year. That will happen in 2019.”
19 year-old Mika Kruse of the Glendale Raptors evades a Utah Warrior tackler
as he makes his mark on the inaugural season of Major League Rugby.
Photos by Seth McConnell
by Mark Smiley | Jul 20, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Eat. Drink. Think. Win.
Photo by Justin Purdy Local youth enjoy a rugby day with Glendale Rugby at Infinity Park during their summer YMCA camp.
Glendale will once again host its annual Trivia Night on Friday, July 27, at Infinity Park Event Center benefiting scores of local youth and providing an evening of enjoyment for participants in the process. Featuring a silent auction, trivia, prizes, food, and drink, the event will help a good cause through good fun. Glendale’s YMCA and Glendale Youth Rugby Foundation are partnering to benefit the young people of the community, raising money to support sport and fitness programming, and to promote youth rugby in the Front Range and greater Colorado.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver manages the Glendale Sports Center facilities, housed at Infinity Park, but day-to-day operations are overseen by Executive Director Nicole Limoges. With over a decade of experience with the YMCA, and four years at Glendale Sports Center, Limoges knows the ins and outs of putting on a meaningful, memorable event well. With the help of city staff and volunteers, this year’s Trivia Night promises not only to be an amusing, entertaining evening, but also one that once again benefits Colorado’s kids.
Glendale’s annual Trivia Night was born from a Missouri tradition. Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce member Mike Boese brought the idea with him from St. Louis — a metropolis that hosts scores of charity trivia events every year. Boese quickly became a Glendale stalwart after relocating to Colorado years ago, not only joining the Chamber of Commerce but also finding himself on the YMCA Board of Directors. In a unique position to help, the financial advisor turned to his Midwestern background and Trivia Night was born.
Partnering with Glendale Youth Rugby and the City of Glendale, YMCA Director Limoges notes that the event continues to expand: “We partnered to benefit both non-profits, and we’ve grown in size, sponsors, and proceeds each year.”
Glendale’s own Barret O’Brien, who owns and operates O’Brien Rugby, is the Executive Director of the Glendale Youth Rugby Foundation. Aside from providing professional custom printing services for Glendale’s numerous professional, club, and youth-level rugby clubs, O’Brien is also a vocal advocate for growing the sport across the nation.
Asked about the YMCA Trivia Night at Infinity Park Event Center, he’s understandably complimentary: “The support we receive from both the city and the YMCA is immeasurable. With the proceeds from last year’s Trivia Night, we were able to sponsor multiple young rugby applicants for summer rugby camps and tournaments. We couldn’t be more grateful to all the participants and staff.” As a side note, O’Brien is also quick to point out that he and his teammates are the reigning champions of Glendale’s Trivia Night, a distinction he no doubt hopes to carry on after this year’s event. Exceptional facilities, participants, and organizers will ensure that regardless who is crowned, the real winners will be the YMCA and Glendale Youth Rugby.
All proceeds generated from Glendale’s Trivia Night are split between the YMCA and Glendale’s Youth Rugby Foundation. Sponsorships, ticket sales, donations and the silent auction all contribute to the overall contributions to both organizations — a boon not just for the enjoyment of event participants but for the beneficiaries as well. For 2018, premier sponsors include insurance and financial services group Country Financial, Credit Union of Colorado, and standout Colorado caterer Biscuits and Berries. A ticket to Trivia Night includes dinner, drinks, 10 rounds of trivia, and the silent auction. With Infinity Park Event Center’s 8,600 square foot International Ballroom as the backdrop, attendees can dine, drink, and bid — not to mention the main event: trivia. The incredible atmosphere generated by the Infinity Park space adds nicely to the event, showcasing the venue’s second-to-none audio-visual production capabilities.
More information, tickets and sponsorships can be found online at infinityparkat glendale.com/trivianight.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 28, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer on behalf of Infinity Park
For the first time, Glendale’s Bruises & Brews Beerfest will expand to two days: August 24 and 25, 2018. Photo by Travis Prior
Since its creation more than a decade ago, Glendale’s Infinity Park has been the epicenter of rugby in the United States, establishing its rugby programming during that time as a friend and champion of local businesses. For the inaugural season of professional rugby in the U.S., the Glendale Raptors have featured local brewers at each home game, and will also host the annual Bruises and Brews beer festival in August — taking place over two days this year for the first time in the event’s history. As Major League Rugby’s exciting first season winds to a close, rugby fans and beer enthusiasts can look forward to the two-day festival — a perfect pairing with the annual RugbyTown 7s tournament. Hearing from two featured brewers demonstrates what makes the hard-hitting sport and cold, local suds such good bedfellows.
A Colorado native, Dave Meira of Boggy Draw Brewery started brewing beer in 1989. The warm, woodsy ambience of his Sheridan taproom is almost as welcoming as the rich, smooth flavor of his Groundhog Mountain Milk Stout. Built by Meira himself, a carpenter by trade, the outdoor-themed bar is named for an area in southwest Colorado’s San Juan National Forest, a place where he grew up hunting. The featured brewer at the Raptors home opener, a victory over Austin Elite Rugby, Meira’s passion for rugby is plainly equal to his passion for beer. Opened in July 2015, Boggy’s somewhat sparse décor includes a number of rugby balls and jerseys. With 16 beers typically on tap, Meira is slowly working toward expansion, though his bread and butter remains the Sheridan taproom.
Playing rugby himself in the late ’80s, Meira admits today’s professional league is another animal altogether: “It was a different game back then,” he chuckles. “Today’s game is a lot faster and a lot more fluid. Back then if you could still stand up you kept playing.” When his son was in high school, Meira learned of the rugby programming at Infinity Park and both got involved. While his son played, Meira volunteered as an assistant coach. Asked about the comparison between the sport and brewing, he notes that the two share a common mentality: “Rugby is very fraternal, and the brewing scene at our level is like that too. They’re both close-knit communities.” That fraternity ensures Colorado brewers and American rugby will continue to grow together.
Just south of Mile High Stadium, Strange Craft Beer Company was born from disaster. Owner Tim Myers had been home brewing for eight years when the Great Recession cost him his IT job. Rather than wade through unpromising employment prospects, he took the plunge and founded Strange, the first nanobrewery in Denver. Asked about the distinction, Myers explains that craft brewers are typically described in terms of size: “There are multinationals, regional brewers, packaging breweries, brewpubs, and more,” he says. “Smaller brewers are microbreweries: we’re the next size down. We celebrate our smallness, focusing on selling pints across the bar in our tasting room.” Myers experimented with nearly 65 beer recipes last year — the most in Strange’s history.
The featured brewer for the Raptors May 13 win over San Diego Legion, Strange Craft embodies how craft brewing is facilitating the burgeoning American rugby scene. Myers explains: “I always think of rugby as an English sport, and it seems like any time I’ve gone to a rugby event there has been Bass or Harp or Guinness on tap,” he says. “Those were the original craft beers in the 1970s and ’80s in the U.S. If you wanted something different tasting, that’s what you drank. I think that plays really well with bringing rugby to America. That craft beer heritage and the U.S. brewing scene work well toward Americanizing rugby.”
Myers’ sentiment succinctly explains Glendale’s brewer-friendly mentality. Pairing the athletic spectacle of the niche sport and its uniquely community-centric ethos, with the creativity, camaraderie, and local-focus of craft brewing is a no-brainer. Embracing the grassroots nature of rugby, Colorado’s craft brewers are finding themselves on the ground floor of a rapidly growing sport, and enjoying the successful inaugural season of Major League Rugby in the process. As craft brewing continues to grow, so too will Glendale’s presence as the center of American rugby. Drop by Infinity Park to check out the professional rugby action — and have a pint while you’re at it.
by Mark Smiley | May 25, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
GLENDALE, CO – MAY 21: Saint Marys vs Lindenwood during the USA Rugby College 7’s National Championships at Infinity Park on May 21, 2017 in Glendale, Colorado. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
GLENDALE, CO – JUNE 3: Life West vs Raleigh at Infinity Park on June 3, 2017 in Glendale, Colorado. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Tournament play has long been a staple at Infinity Park, the Glendale venue hosting some of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the country. Known as RugbyTown USA, Glendale has been a hotbed of national rugby activity for more than a decade. Starting in mid-May, tournaments returned again to the nation’s first rugby-specific stadium, kicking off with the USA Rugby Collegiate 7s National Championships. June 2-3 will see the USA Rugby Club National Championship competition, and August 24-26 Infinity Park’s signature annual event will again be in Glendale: RugbyTown 7s.
An increasingly popular rugby discipline, participation in Sevens play skyrocketed following the 2009 announcement of its return to the 2016 Olympic Games. A variant of rugby union play, Rugby Sevens is a faster-paced version of the sport, with smaller teams and considerably shorter game duration. Instead of the usual 15-player teams playing 40-minute halves, Rugby Sevens features seven players to a team and seven minute halves. The abbreviated game play places an emphasis on conditioning and endurance, and means that an entire tournament can be played over the course of a weekend.
In mid-May, Infinity Park hosted the USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens National Championships for the second year running. Founded in 2011, the tournament has consistently drawn the nation’s best young talent, producing competition at the highest level. 2018 saw the return of reigning Division I Men’s and Women’s sides from Lindenwood University, traveling from St. Louis, Missouri, to compete. Friday, May 18, through Sunday, May 20, 2018, more than 40 teams from colleges across the nation
GLENDALE, CO – AUGUST 27: Ramblin Jesters vs Fiji (Savu Water) during RugbyTown 7’s at Infinity Park on August 27, 2017 in Glendale, Colorado. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
gathered to vie for National titles in Men’s and Women’s Division I and II play. With teams from Arkansas to Arizona, California to North Carolina, it was truly a national gathering.
June 2-3 will see the next round of tournament action at Infinity Park, as the 2018 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Club National Championships come to town. Featuring club finals for Women’s Division I and II, as well as for Men’s Division I, II, and III teams, the tournament will decide the top amateur rugby talent in the United States. The USA Rugby Club structure divides the nation into two conferences: East and West. Within each conference are four distinct competitive regions (Pacific North, Pacific South, Frontier, and Red River in the West, and Atlantic North, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southern in the East). The winners of each region advances to the semifinals, which took place May 19-20. The winners of those matches move on to compete at Infinity Park in June.
Every year, summer rugby in Glendale concludes with a bang: Infinity Park’s signature annual event, the RugbyTown 7s (RT7s) Tournament. Attracting scores of teams from every corner of the globe, as well as representative teams from every branch of the U.S. Military, RT7s provides Glendale spectators a taste of rugby’s universal appeal and expansive international presence. Last year’s tournament attracted thousands over three days of play, and with the emergence of professional rugby in 2018 stoking the U.S. fan base, promises to be larger still this August. Alongside the fast-paced competition, attendees will get to enjoy Glendale’s Bruises and Brews Beer Festival, a recent tradition that pairs Colorado’s craft brewers and distillers with the sport of rugby.
Augmenting the already exciting professional debut of the Glendale Raptors, tournaments at Infinity Park offer rugby fans another outlet for exploring the sport — enjoying top-tier play at the collegiate, club, and international level. In addition to the tournaments scheduled this year, fans can look forward to the Major League Rugby semi-finals, a double-header that will take place at Infinity Park on June 30. Long the epicenter of rugby in the United States, Glendale’s professional, club, and tournament play means that in 2018, more than ever before, the city is truly RugbyTown USA.
by Mark Smiley | Apr 27, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale Raptors Lock Ben Landry powers through the Austin Elite defense as he aims to score a try with back row player Connor Cook in support. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Under cloudy skies and with intermittent rain and snow, the Glendale Raptors hosted Austin Elite Rugby at Infinity Park for both teams’ inaugural professional match on Saturday. The typically fickle spring weather in Colorado didn’t dampen the spirits of either team, with both displaying the high-level competition and poise that will be a mainstay of professional rugby in the United States. With temps in the high 30s throughout the first half, the inaugural season of professional rugby got underway. The season-opening game of the week, Saturday’s match was broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
The Raptors Fan Zone, a tailgate-style party that begins two hours before kickoff, was also full and swinging despite the weather. The first thousand fans through the doors even received a free gift. Those in attendance had to split their time between a number of popular activities: the young and young-at-heart had their faces painted and got temporary Raptors tattoos, as well as enjoying trying their hand at the rugby toss game.
Fans of all ages looked on in wonder at the real birds of prey brought by special guests HawkQuest to further the Raptor-themed activities, interacting with eagles, hawks, and owls at close range. A highlight of their visit was the outstretched and nearly six-foot wingspan of a mature bald eagle, spread gracefully during the National Anthem. A professional photo booth also meant that fans could memorialize the historic day.
A young rugby supporter enjoyed face painting during the pre-game Fan Zone at Infinity Park before kick off of Major League Rugby between the Glendale Raptors and Austin Elite. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Boggy Draw Brewery’s tent was a popular stop as well, fans enjoying the local craft suds while washing down empanadas from Lazo Foods and wraps from the California Wrap Runner food truck. With the Raptors official sports performance partner Arcanum on scene to share their unique product line, and DJ RIPM spinning tunes, the excitement for kickoff began to build.
In the opening moments of the match two Raptors players were shaken up, a portent of the hard, aggressive play that would characterize the day. Austin was issued a yellow card 10 minutes in, but the Glendale side was unable to capitalize on the advantage. The Texas side drew first blood, touching down for five points 14 minutes in, and converting to take an early 7-0 lead: the points would prove the only ones Austin would put up in the opening half. Raptors flyhalf Will Magie converted a penalty attempt 21 minutes in to cut into the Austin lead. Plenty of penalties were seen throughout the day, as the two teams felt out their debut on the professional stage. Austin made its own penalty attempt at 30 minutes in, but was unable to convert.
The Fan Zone wasn’t the only place jumping for the Raptors home opener. The team’s VIP area was completely sold out, packed with longtime fans, members of the Raptors owners group, and anyone looking for Infinity Park’s royal treatment. The Raptors media room was also full, the season opener for Major League Rugby having attracted local and regional news personnel by the dozens, including longtime Denver news anchor and local celebrity Tom Green. The team’s new mascot, Rudi the Raptor, seemed to pop up all o
Glendale Raptors back row player John Quill takes the ball into contact against Austin Elite during opening day for Major League Rugby on April 21, 2018 at Infinity Park. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
ver Infinity Park on Saturday: dancing in the stands, giving high fives, patrolling the Fan Zone, and posing for photos. The O’Brien Rugby Shopping Maul was also packed to the rafters, with official Raptors merchandise flying off the shelves and into the waiting arms of excited fans, new and old.
Glendale responded to the initial Austin try in the 32nd minute, with a try of their own by back row Connor Cook — the conversion after by Will Magie seeming to give the Colorado squad new life. Rallying powerfully late in the first half, Raptor back row John Quill found the try zone at 37 minutes, converted again by Will Magie to increase the Glendale lead. Raptors Head Coach David Williams noted that the team seemed to gain momentum as the game progressed: “Once we gained some pressure through multi-phase attack and created opportunities, we did well. We let ourselves down a bit in the first half, giving Austin the ball back in easy territory.” Playing into injury time, veteran Raptors lock Ben Landry touched down for more points in the 41st minute. Magie went into the break perfect on kick attempts, giving the Raptors a 24-7 advantage at the break.
Official Raptors sponsors attended the game en masse, enjoying the atmosphere of the team’s professional debut. Official credit union Westerra had representatives on site, encouraging fans to open a Raptors VISA card the next time they stop by a branch, as were ambassadors for the team’s official hotel, Hampton Inn & Suites. Not just in the Fan Zone, Arcanum Sports Performance stayed on to watch the Raptors do battle with Austin as well, informing curious fans about their line of products. One of the team’s newest sponsor partners, historied distiller Tullamore Dew, hosted a tasting station where VIPs could sample their blended Irish whiskey.
The Raptors looked in form entering the second half, with fullback Maximo de Achaval touching down a try four minutes in. Magie converted to put the team up 31-7. Glendale’s Harley Davidson, who plays both winger and fullback, found the try zone again at 47 minutes, and with the successful conversion, further extended the Raptors lead. A minute later, the Raptors would lose Ben Landry for the remainder of the match, as he was red carded for a dangerous tackle. Austin capitalized on the penalty, finding the try zone at 52 minutes and converting to cut into the Glendale lead. The Texas team would put more points up at 59 minutes, converting to bring the match within striking distance.
A missed penalty kick by Will Magie in the 64th minute kept things even, and a flurry of penalties in the minutes that followed saw Austin again knocking on the door. The rough and tumble match again came to a head 72 minutes in, when Raptor Connor Cook was red carded for a tackle the ref deemed too dangerous. A yellow card on Raptor prop Kelepi Fifita just two minutes later would further Austin’s numbers advantage, meaning the Glendale side would finish the match three men down. Austin touched down for five in the 75th minute, but missed the conversion, bringing the score to 38-26 in Glendale’s favor. With time quickly running out, the Raptors secured victory off the foot of Will Magie. Burning precious seconds, Magie converted a penalty attempt to push the
The Glendale Raptors secure possession at a lineout in front of their home crowd at Infinity Park against Austin Elite Rugby during the opening Major League Rugby match. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Raptors advantage to 41-26 in the 80th minute, sealing the team’s first professional win.
Raptors Assistant Coach Ted Browner was happy with the victory: “It was great to get the win. Austin brought the physicality and that was a great wake up call for us. We’re all excited about the remaining season.”
Raptors Head Coach David Williams was also glad to secure the early season win, though acknowledged that conditions were not ideal: “Weather was an issue and both teams had to play to the conditions,” he said. “Once we stuck to our game plan and forced Austin to kick the ball back to us, we gained some momentum and turned it into points.” John Quill was named Man of the Match, the veteran back row man looking composed in his first professional Major League Rugby match. A longtime Raptor, Quill holds 25 USA Eagles caps. The Raptors second game of the regular season will see the team on the road, traveling to Seattle to take on the Seawolves in a sold-out Starfire Stadium on April 28 at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time. The match will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Throughout the inaugural MLR season, CBSSN will broadcast the game of the week, with AT&T Sports or Cox Communications broadcasting non-game of the week matches along with ESPN+. Check out the complete regular season schedule, and purchase tickets to the rest of the home matches at Infinity Park. Be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 1, 2018 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth and his coaching resume is a handsome one.
Last December nearly 200 athletes, all of them High School All-Americans, traveled to Arizona for USA Rugby’s 2017 Boys High School All-Americans Camp. Joining them was Glendale’s Under-23 team head coach, and professional Glendale Raptors strength and conditioning coach Dave Synnott. Attending in an administrative and coaching capacity, Synnott spent the five-day camp at Casa Grande Sports World interacting with the next generation of rugby talent.
Head Coach Salty Thompson oversees the USA Rugby 15s and 7s High School All-Americans teams and orchestrated the December camp. Athletes invited to the camp must first be named All-Americans, meaning they were likely scouted while playing in one or more of five annual tournaments, known as Regional Cup Tournaments. The largest and most attended Regional Cup Tournament, known as the Rocky Mountain Cup Challenge, takes place in Denver each June. Selection by the All-American scouting network is not the exclusive path to an invite, however, with some participants selected through the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), and others scouted while playing in high-performance rugby events.
All-Americans teams are comprised of players from across the United States, and field both 15s and 7s squads. The December gathering of the best young rugby talent from across the country was the largest in some time, with 184 athletes in attendance alongside more than 30 coaches, trainers, and staff. Players are grouped according to their ages, with the camp fielding Junior Varsity (Under 17) and Varsity (Under 19) teams. Synnott noted that he acted largely as a coach during the camp, and that he worked primarily with the U17 and U18 players.
The focus of the five-day gathering is on individual skill development, involving not only physical training and scrimmaging, but also strength and conditioning work, classroom sessions, and cognitive training. Camp days are full: participants wake before 7 a.m., followed by stretches, breakfast, a classroom session, and then two hours on the training paddock. A coaches’ evaluation precedes lunch, then it’s back to the classrooms for another session before more training or a scrimmage. Following an evening meal, players review the day before a final coaches’ evaluation and more stretching. The lights are out at 10 p.m.
The Boys High School All-Americans sing the national anthem before one of their matches with Canada during the 2017 USA Rugby High School All-American Rugby Camp in Arizona.
Glendale coach Dave Synnott, originally from England, began playing rugby as a youth, representing the East Midlands in Academy level competition. His coaching resume is a handsome one, having worked extensively at the high school level, and winning two U.S. national titles as an assistant coach for a women’s college team. He describes this period of extended success as the time when he fell in love with coaching. Synnott moved to Colorado in April 2017, and endeavored to join the Raptors immediately, “I reached out to Raptors coach Dave Williams and said I’d love to get involved. I started with the men’s D2 team, then Dave let me run some drills with the elite guys, and since then I’ve been doing the skills part for them. They made me head coach of the U23 team in June.” Synnott’s role in Glendale and at the All-Americans camp is significant: he is helping to shape the future of rugby talent in the United States.
Embracing the excitement of international competition, the December camp included matches against two of Canada’s Under 18 teams. Synnott describes the action: “The Canadian teams trained all week, and then we scrimmaged them on the second day and the last day. It’s a way for the boys to get an international taste of the game, and also to get the Americans and the Canadians an extra couple of games in the winter.” The presence of the Canadian competition brought an additional level of excitement for the players, as well as furthered development. Synnott noted that the level of play at the camp was exceptional, “There were definitely some future Eagles at this camp and some future MLR talent as well.” With Glendale’s U23 team poised to act as a true feeder team for the professional Raptors squad, this is high praise.
The Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy Elite Development Program offers a pathway to professional-level competition for players under 23 years of age. Synnott explains the Academy’s strategy moving forward, “We are recruiting the top talent in the country out of high school. We have a good relationship with EIRA (Eagle Impact Rugby Academy), which is run by Salty Thompson, and he will send players our way if they’re not going to college or if he thinks they’ve got a professional prospect. It’s definitely a program that’s building for the future and it could be very handy for the MLR Raptors team.” Although scouting was not permitted at the All-Americans camp, it is clear that Synnott, and Glendale, have their proverbial finger on the pulse of young rugby talent in the country. Building on a history of distinction, it’s clear Raptors programming will continue to be among the strongest in the nation.
