by Mark Smiley | May 27, 2016 | Glendale City News
by Marco Cummings
GLENDALE, CO – AUGUST 14: Raptors vs Stars Rugby during the Serevi RugbyTown 7s tournament at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on August 14, 2015. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
With back-to-back Pacific Rugby Premiership (PRP) Championships now in hand for the Glendale Raptors, the focus shifts to the summer rugby season and a different version of a game which Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon has called “the world’s community sport.”
Summer’s arrival also marks a new season on the rugby calendar, with the focus shifting from the Rugby 15s game of the PRP to Rugby 7s. Like 3v3 basketball or soccer, or the seven-on-seven scrimmage version of American football, Rugby 7s is a fast paced, high scoring version of the game tailored to delight spectators. This year, Rugby 7s will be placed in the world spotlight, making its debut as the newest competitive sport at this year’s Rio De Janeiro Summer Olympics.
The sport’s presence on the global stage is an exciting prospect for rugby’s growth on the local level in places like Glendale, a city which dubs itself as RugbyTown, USA.
“Sevens will be in the Olympics and it is also a major springtime competition on university campuses and places rugby out in front of the public,” explained Glendale Director of Rugby Mark Bullock. “This can lead to curiosity in 7s and, ultimately, an interest in 15s. At the lower level, it can be used as an introduction to the game due to the fact there are less players involved on the pitch at one time. At the upper level, it is a highly skilled endeavor and if we play quality sevens it can be added to recruiting players who may also play 15s.”
Growth and development will continue to be the key focus for Glendale heading into this year’s 7s season. Toward the end of the Raptors’ PRP campaign, the team was affected by the loss of some of its top players to the recently established Professional Rugby Organization (PRO) league. Play of the PRO league will continue throughout the summer, meaning Glendale’s 7s side will also be affected.
“Obviously this season, we will not have guys like Chad London, Hanco Germishuys and all of the other guys in the PRO League,” Glendale Raptors head coach Andre Snyman said of the upcoming 7s campaign. “Those guys will be committed until the end of July, so it’s going to be a different situation.”
Snyman acknowledged the new challenges his team faces in re-establishing itself, but was likewise excited at the prospect of the player development aspect they present.
“It’s going to be a different situation. We will be competitive, but it will be more of a development side than PRP level side,” he continued. “We have to really focus this summer on developing players; taking them to these tournaments so they can experience the next level.”
GLENDALE, CO – AUGUST 14: Raptors vs Stars Rugby during the Serevi RugbyTown 7s tournament at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on August 14, 2015. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
With the experience gained this summer, the Raptors head coach is not only looking for diamonds in the rough, he’s looking to polish them into players that could contribute to Glendale defending its PRP title come Spring 2017.
“It will definitely be a good tool to prepare for the PRP season in 2017,” Snyman explained. “Last summer, Johnny Ryberg came out of the 7s mold. During the last couple of games in the PRP season this year, he stepped up and did really well. Hopefully this summer we can pick up one or two players for next season in the PRP. It will be an opportunity for players to showcase their skill and for me to groom them.”
He’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that. The Raptors will be competing in five different 7s tournaments this summer, beginning with a trip to San Diego on June 18 at a qualifying tournament hosted by Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC).
The following weekend, Glendale will participate at the Denver Tournament hosted at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
Glendale will then open July with a trip to Kansas City, Missouri, on July 9 for another qualifying tournament.
Later that month, Glendale will take its travels north of the border, participating in the Magnificent 7s tournament in Canada on July 24.
The Raptors 7s season will conclude with arguably what has become the pinnacle of Rugby 7s tournaments in North America. For the fifth year, Serevi RugbyTown Sevens will make its return to Infinity Park (Aug. 26-28) with 20 teams competing (including one representing each branch of the U.S. military) over the course of 70 matches for a $10,000 winner take all purse. In addition to the expanded format, this year’s edition of SRS will also feature a college level tournament.
It’s a spectacle which will be sure to delight both participants and fans once more.
“We’re excited,” Snyman said. “This year is going to be bigger than the previous years. It’s going to be big and there are some quality teams that have committed already. We’re all looking forward to it.”
Rugby 7s is a game which requires players to close faster, hit harder and dig deeper; and it will all be on display in Glendale this summer.
by Mark Smiley | Apr 25, 2016 | Glendale City News
GLENDALE, CO – APRIL 9: Glendale Raptors vs Santa Monica at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on April 9, 2016. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
by Kurt Woock
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
While winter means skiing for many Coloradans, for the the Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy (GRRA) it means more rugby, just like spring, summer, and autumn. The first months of 2016 have been filled with teaching and learning across the Denver metro area.
Jenna Anderson is the youth rugby coordinator for the Raptors. When talking with her, her enthusiasm about the benefits rugby holds for positive youth development is unmistakable. One quick glance at her calendar, and one quickly sees the extent of her dedication to sharing all the programming the Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy offers.
One recurring entry is the Raptors In The School program. Jenna, along with coaches and players from the Glendale Raptors teams, travels to schools during the day to teach rugby basics during P.E. classes. “We see as many kids as we can fit in,” she said. “So far, we’ve seen about 1,500 kids since the end of January.” She said some students have had some exposure to rugby, including attending games at Infinity Park, but have not had formal instruction in the rules and proper playing techniques. To that end, students aren’t the only ones learning at these events: P.E. teachers also learn about teaching rugby in their classes in order to bring one of the country’s fastest growing team sports to future classes.
For the first time ever, the GRRA also offered a more immersive school experience for students interested in learning more. Students at University Park Elementary were able to sign up for a six-session, after-school rugby program. Look for this opportunity to appear elsewhere in the future.
Middle school students are of particular importance to the GRRA mission. Learning effective and safe techniques from the ground up is easiest at that age. Anderson said that middle school is also a key time to introduce students to the value of developing skills in multiple sports. She said there is a trend of students choosing to “specialize” in a sport, often before they even reach junior high. This specialization comes at the expense of becoming a well-rounded athlete.
The issue is larger than rugby. Although it might seem logical to assume that a student who devotes 20 hours a week to a particular sport will have a leg up over another student who devotes 10 hours to two different sports, the opposite is actually
Glendale Raptors girls Try On Rugby event on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Infinity Park. Photo by Seth McConnell
more likely. Avoiding specializing too early actually increases the likelihood for success in the sport a student might eventually end up specializing in.
Students who develop skills in more than one sport don’t separate the things they learn in each into silos. Instead, the mental and physical skills they pick up in one sport can be applied to all the others. Think of it as cross pollinating. A football player might become a stronger tackler after learning about tackling in the rugby tradition. A basketball player’s sense of court awareness could develop more deeply after learning how rugby players see the field. The possibilities are endless.
In addition to bringing rugby to schools, the Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy has been busy holding events at Infinity Park. A first-of-its-kind tackling clinic took place in early April. Anderson said the clinic will become a part of GRRA’s regular programming.
Raptors coaches, including head coach Andre Snyman, were on hand to teach safe, effective tackling techniques. Two sessions in total were held, one for 8-11-year-old boys and girls and one for 12-18-year-old boys and girls. Anderson said that the clinic attracted coaches and football players in addition to rugby players.
“It doesn’t matter what sports you play,” she said. “Players learn the original styles of tackling with the shoulder and not your head.” She said rugby tackling skills have been embraced by the Seattle Seahawks, among other organizations. She’s also seen kickboxing, soccer, and cross country athletes benefit in various ways.
While some GRRA programs are meant as introductory or beginner programs, Anderson is quick to point out that GRRA offers an incredible opportunity for those looking to make their mark at the game’s highest levels. Raptors head coach Andre Snyman said the ability to work with the Raptors coaches and have access to the country’s premier rugby facility is a one-of-a-kind opportunity top prep students should seriously consider, and one that many have already taken advantage of. He said that beyond physical development, players will leave with a higher rugby I.Q. At GRRA, they’ll learn what it takes to take their game to the next level.
As winter turns to spring, Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy will continue to offer rugby opportunities of all kinds. April meant the beginning of Try League, for K-9 boys and K-8 girls. Anderson is also excited for the girls-only “try-on rugby event.” It’s a girls rugby clinic for those aged 8 to 18, from beginner to advanced. Participants are encouraged to bring a friend with them to play the sport together.
The programs provided by GRRA continue to give Denver’s youth a positive, encouraging environment in which to grow. Thousands have already taken advantage in 2016. And, as the year continues, more and more families will become part of the Raptors family.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 25, 2016 | Glendale City News
by Marco Cummings
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
GLENDALE, CO – MARCH 12: Raptors vs Belmont Shores at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on March 12, 2016. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Just before the halfway point of their 2016 Pacific Rugby Premiership (PRP) campaign, the Glendale Raptors record remains an unblemished 5-0 in league play. With a handful of dominating performances to start their season, the Raptors’ find themselves on familiar footing atop the PRP table and look poised for a repeat of their championship performance from 2015.
“I’m very happy with where the team is at the moment,” Raptors head coach Andre Snyman said following a 63-7 victory over Belmont Shore to open up the team’s slate of home games in March.
It’s been coming together quicker than expected for the Raptor’s gaffer, which has given both the team and the coaching staff confidence as they look to finish the season strong.
“From a coaching standpoint, I think it took us the whole season to try and get the whole team prepared for the Final last season. It took us 10 games to get the guys all on the same page,” Snyman explained. “This season, for some reason, it just feels to us that the team is all on the same page after five games. In terms of chemistry, the environment and the way they’ve trained, it’s been better. That’s great.”
The challenge is maintaining that momentum for the games remaining in the PRP regular season.
“The downside is trying to keep it there and not get complacent,” Snyman explained. “It’s halfway through the season. They can’t switch off and assume it’s going to be a highway cruise to the final.”
But the Raptors have dealt with their fair share of challenges thus far, including a rigorous four-game road tilt to start the seaso
GLENDALE, CO – MARCH 12: Raptors vs Belmont Shores at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on March 12, 2016. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
n.
“Obviously it’s four weeks in a row of travel. It takes its toll on the boys,” Snyman said of the challenge. “It’s tough, but I’m proud of the boys for sticking to it.”
In addition to the rigors of travel, Glendale has had to deal with the challenge of missing some of its best players for the early part of the season. Raptors captain Zach Fenoglio, along with young talents Chad London, Niku Kruger and Hanco Germishuys missed the first four games of the PRP season while taking part in the America’s Rugby Championship with the USA Eagles.
Despite this, the Raptors didn’t miss a beat, winning all four of those matches on the road. It’s been a testament to the depth that Snyman and his staff have built within the club.
“We anticipated it,” he said of the absence of his USA Eagle players. “We had a good idea which players would be a part of it and we trained accordingly. We’ve tried to bring future players into those positions and we’ve been very fortunate to have depth within the club. It’s very good.”
International duty still often comes at a price to the club, however. Fenoglio suffered a neck injury while with the Eagles at last year’s Rugby World Cup. The ailment lingered throughout the start of the season until Fenoglio made his debut in 40 minutes of action against Belmont.
“It was nice to see him back on the field with his leadership and the way he played coming off of an injury,” Snyman said of Fenoglio’s performance in that game. “He looks good. He’s not 100 percent fit but he’s working really hard on that. He played a solid 40 minutes.”
Additionally, the high profile of international rugby has made Glendale’s best players targets for the newly formed Professional Rugby Organization (PRO Rugby).
“Unfortunately we’re going to lose those players with the PRO league. Niku, Chad and Hanco won’t be playing with us,” Snyman said. “We’re in a fortunate position that the players that took their place are the same players that are going to step up and finish the season for us. I’m confident that the players are good enough to keep the momentum moving forward.”
Overcoming adversity is as much a part of rugby as overcoming one’s opponent. If the Raptors’ early returns are any indication of what lies ahead, this year’s team looks to be primed for another run to the final.
“You can’t just run on the field and expect to win. You’ve got to always be prepared for a fight,” Snyman concluded. “We’re just going to focus on the task at hand. We’re going to take things a game at a time and edge our way closer and closer to a position in the final.”
by Mark Smiley | Feb 29, 2016 | Glendale City News
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
Beginning in April 2016, the Glendale Raptors Youth Rugby programs will transition to the new, more comprehensive Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy. Offering a variety of formats suitable for youth interest at all participation levels, the new program will work not only to promote rugby as a challenging, enjoyable means of pursuing personal growth, but will also provide participants a pathway to becoming players at an elite level.
To highlight the transition, Coach of the Glendale Raptors High School team Robin Roberts spoke about one of the most promising young players in rugby, Gemma Ryu. A high school sophomore playing on the Raptors 7s team, Gemma is a standout not only for her on-field performance, but also for her dedication off the field, as well as her discipline as a multi-sport athlete. Coach Roberts describes Ryu as “very dedicated to learning and improving at all levels. She has a very real passion for the sport and wants to play at the highest level she can.” In the fall season of 2015, Gemma led the 7s team in tackles, tries scored, and in creating turnovers.
Gemma’s dedication has not escaped notice. She has been announced as part of the Girls High School All American pool for 2016. To further improve her skills, Gemma is also in the process of trying out for the Flatirons Rugby Academy Team. The elite, performance and development based squad employs rugby to build life experiences and opportunities, whether at the collegiate, national, international, or Olympic level. In the first round of tryouts Gemma was in the top three for the 20 and 40 meter runs, and scored second highest in the Yo-Yo Test, a test designed to determine the physical endurance of athletes. Though teams have yet to be announced, Coach Roberts reports she is on track to make the A-side squad. Additionally, Gemma is participating in a lifting program with the Glendale coach, improving her back squat and nearly doubling her personal best bench press in just four weeks of training.
Though the power of the Raptors youth programs should not be underestimated, the commitment of athletes like Ryu is beyond compare. Her rugby accomplishments are legion, but the Colorado Academy sophomore is also a member of the school’s swim and track teams, as well as an aspiring triathlete. Outside of sport, she is a member of the school choir and an accomplished pianist. Originally from Chicago, Ryu’s experiences with the landscapes of the Midwest and Colorado have encouraged her to attend a coastal university, though as a sophomore she admits she hasn’t spent much time looking at specific schools. One thing she knows for sure — she wants to attend a college with a great 7s program. Even as a young athlete, Gemma’s outlook on the hard work required to excel is decidedly mature: “One thing I’ve learned from playing for Glendale and being around WPL and PRP champions is that success is never accidental. Seeing how hard all of these players work and all of the time they commit, I know if I want success for my team, I’ll have to do the same.”
Ryu’s success as part of the Glendale Raptors program is phenomenal, but not an anomaly. Two recent graduates, Caitlin Rogers and Grace Chao, have realized considerable achievement in rugby after moving on from the program, highlighting the invaluable foundation the Glendale experience offers.
Rogers, a freshman at Colby University in Maine, is a multi-position player for the school’s Division II rugby team. “In our past season, I became a starting lock, and Colby took third in the NESCRC (New England Small College Rugby Conference). At the end of the season, I was elected Vice President of the Colby Women’s Rugby Football Club, and now we’re practicing for our spring season, which will incorporate both 7s and 15.”
Chao, a former top try scorer and captain of the Glendale squad, attends Harvard University, where she plays alongside another former Glendale High School rugby teammate Maya Learned. Reflecting on her first season of collegiate play and her experience with Coach Roberts and the Raptors, Chao said, “I know for sure I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today without Robin, and this season has helped me realize what an amazing opportunity I had with the program at Glendale.”
Asked to reflect on her experience with the Raptors program, and with the accomplished athletes it has produced, Coach Robin Roberts was full of praise. “These girls all inspire me to work harder and do better to be the best coach I can for them. All I hope is that I somehow make a difference, however slight, in their lives and rugby.” If the success of Gemma Ryu and the Raptors alumni that have preceded her are any indication of the proficiency of the youth rugby programs, the forthcoming Glendale Raptors Rugby Academy, and its participants, will flourish.
by Mark Smiley | Jan 29, 2016 | Glendale City News
by Marco Cummings
An old mountaineer’s proverb says: “Even though you have reached the summit, you haven’t reached your final destination.”
It’s an adage that can be applied to the Glendale Raptors men as they enter the 2016 Pacific Rugby Premiership (PRP) campaign.
League titleholders following their 25-11 home 
win over San Francisco Golden Gate in the PRP Final, the Raptors still have work ahead, with this year’s goal set on pushing for a second-straight league crown.
“Our main goal is to retain the title and just play a brand that’s good enough to see us back at the top,” said Raptors head coach Andre Snyman. “Our second goal is to keep developing the depth of the club and the quality of the players.”
The task of bolstering the club’s depth will be a challenge for Snyman with the team losing several key contributors from last season’s championship run.
Among the key losses are lock Austin Welch and prop Nick Wallace. Welch, a former Santa Rosa Junior College standout will be returning to his home state of California. Wallace will also mak
GLENDALE, CO – MARCH 7: Glendale Raptors vs Denver Barbarians at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on March 7, 2015. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
e the trip west. The bay area native and graduate of St. Mary’s college is rumored to have his sights set on playing club rugby in Australia.
Max Statler retired during the offseason, but the 29-year-old’s status remains up in the air as the rugby bug has begun itching.
“He says he misses the game too much,” Snyman said of Statler.
The club will also be without prop Ben Tarr, who suffered a season ending knee injury last March.
Despite the turnover, the Raptors coach is confident in his roster: “Those are the main guys that we’ve lost but I’m confident we have enough depth to replace them.”
In their place, the Raptors have brought in reinforcements. The team’s most promising new recruit is up and coming USA Eagle scrum-half Niku Kruger. The 24-year-old joins the club after unexpectedly seeing playing time for the Eagles in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“Being new to the team, I have a lot to prove to my new teammates,” Kruger said of the Raptors experience. “My goal is to make the No. 9 jersey mine and not only be a great teammate on the field but off the field, too. I would like to bring all that I have experienced through the World Cup and playing for the Eagles to Glendale and help us improve as a team.”
Snyman has also brought in several other players, but training and grading performances in a pre-season “Battle of Champions” between Glendale and the Seattle Saracens, champions of British Columbia Rugby Union (BCRU) will determine whether those recruits are of PRP quality.
Explained Snyman, “We’ve got a few new faces but we’re not sure what their qualities are like. They’ve trained well but haven’t played for us yet so it’s hard to say whether they’re going to have an impact or not.”
However, the coach will receive something more established with the return of veterans like Luke White, Chad London and team captain Zach Fenoglio.
Like Kruger, Fenoglio experienced rugby on the world’s biggest stage with a trip to the World Cup in London, England last fall. He too hopes to translate that experience and bring it back to the club level back at Infinity Park.
“I am very blessed to have had some amazing experiences in my rugby career and my goal has always been to pass my knowledge on to as many people as possible,” Fenoglio said of his World Cup experience. “I look forward to starting another year with Glendale and helping all of us to continue to become the best players we can be.”
Strategies, knowledge of structures and live game experience have been boosted for the pair with exposure to world class competition, but Snyman is focusing on one crucial quality that Kruger, Fenoglio and others bring to the squad.
“They’ve been taking leadership of the training sessions and that’s exactly what I would like to see,” he emphasized. “Guys like Chad London have also been a part of that [USA Eagles] group. Although he didn’t go to the World Cup, [London] is also a leader. We have a good group of senior players with good players around them. I’ve seen some good signs and I’m happy with how the team is training.”
Even with solid leadership in place, winning a second championship and back-to-back titles will be no easy feat, with the opposition locked onto Glendale as its target.
All of the teams provide us with a big game. I think the other coaches will definitely look at our errors from last season and try to analyze us and see how they can beat us,” Snyman said.
“I think it’s going to be tough. There’s no easy game in the PRP anymore. All of the teams are conditioned now and they know what’s at stake.”
by Mark Smiley | Dec 17, 2015 | Glendale City News
by Kurt Woock
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
GLENDALE, CO – NOVEMBER 15: Lady Raptors vs New York Rugby Club during the semi-finals at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on November 15, 2015. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
If a successful season is defined as one in which a team improves from where they started, then the women of the Glendale Raptors didn’t disappoint. If it’s defined as one in which the team’s fan base continues to support the team and grow ever larger, then 2015 was a good year. If to have a successful season a team must bring home a championship trophy, well, the Glendale Raptors did that, too. 2015 was great. And so are the Raptors.
The Raptors began 2015 as the defending Women’s Premier League (WPL) champions. The road to the championship in 2014 went through a game forfeited by the opposing team. Narratives in sports often fall outside the bounds of what teams are capable of controlling, and this was no different. However, teams don’t get to choose their challenges. They just need to overcome them. So, in 2015, the Raptors set out to show the country they’ve earned their spot at the top.
The 2015 regular season finished with the Raptors atop the Blue Conference. The Raptors brought a balanced attack, finishing the season second in the league in point differential. The only loss on their record came on the road at the hands of the Berkeley All Blues, who narrowly beat the Raptors in early October. But, in a moment that encapsulated the entire season, the Raptors rose to the challenge when, a few weeks later, they defeated the Blues in another close game.
The Raptors muscled their way into the championship with a few statement wins. Their opponent in the match was a familiar foe — the Blues. “Based on the last two times these are two pretty even teams,” coach Mark Bullock said before the game. “They’re a heavyweight and we’re a heavyweight.” Bullock said that, in order to win, his team needed to be “physical and relentless.” They were just that. Up 15-5 at the half, the Raptors never looked back, winning the game and the WPL trophy, 26-17. The Raptors were led by the outstanding defensive play of Joanna Kitlinski, who was named MVP.
The championship was the cap to a season that was successful in many respects. Total attendance approached 4,000 in Infinity Park, and the Raptors continued to attract huge crowds online, with more than 25,000 people from more than 90 countries tuning in. Between games, fans followed the t
GLENDALE, CO – NOVEMBER 15: Lady Raptors vs New York Rugby Club during the semi-finals at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on November 15, 2015. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
eam, as the Raptors’ website saw over 72,000 views during the season.
As they continue to build a winning tradition in Glendale, the Raptors have shown they’re not afraid to set the bar high, and they have the dedication and passion needed to reach it. Their fans — and opponents — are taking notice. As the Glendale Raptors set their sights on 2016, eyes from around the world will be watching.
