Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rugby. Show all posts

Rugby in Seattle

Friday, April 20, 2018

Seattle has a new professional sports team - the Seattle Seawolves - and the sport is rugby.

Rugby union (there are two different codes for rugby) has been popular in England since it started in 1839. It has been described as "football without the helmet and pads." Players run with the football-shaped ball. They cannot be blocked but are tackled. The ball can only be passed laterally or backwards. Wikipedia has an article on the sport which includes the rules.

Games will be broadcast locally and nationally. (See schedule)

The ownership group is led by Seattle-based entrepreneurs Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner. The club was formed in 2017 and is a founding member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The inaugural season kicks off Sunday, April 22, 2018 and the team’s home games will be played at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.

The Sunday game against the San Diego Legion has already sold out its 3,500 seats. The 1,800 season tickets have also sold out.

Besides Seattle and San Diego, the other MLR teams are from Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Glendale, Colorado, and Utah. A New York team is planning to join next year.


Read more...

Shorecrest student to represent USA in Rugby All-American squad

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Will Brennan named to All-American rugby squad

Seattle’s #17 nationally-ranked high school rugby team — The Seattle Rugby Club Vikings — today announced three players recognized for national and international representation.

The Vikings, the defending Washington State High School Champions, placed Will Brennan, a Shorecrest HS junior, in the USA Rugby High School All-American (HSAA) squad. The HSAA represents America in international competition, and serves as the basis for Olympic development for 2020. 

In addition, Finlay Bruce, a 6’5” junior at Bishop Blanchet was selected for the player pool for the USA vs. France match in April 2015. 

Finally Connor Miller, a Bishop Blanchet senior, has been selected with Bruce to play for the Washington State All-Star team – The Loggers – for the Las Vegas Invitational, February 11-13, 2015. The tournament, a centerpiece for America’s fastest-growing sport, includes the top players in the USA and Canada’s World Cup development program.  

The Seattle Rugby Club Vikings, featuring players from Seattle metro-area schools, is competing in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences. With athletes grouped in age brackets U9-U19, Seattle won a record three Washington state championship in 2014, and has begun to see its players represent the USA in international competition.

Contact The Seattle Vikings for more information. 


Read more...

Seattle Vikings win Washington State High School Rugby championship

Monday, May 19, 2014

Seattle Vikings win state championship

The Seattle Vikings, ranked #12 nationally by Rugby Magazine, battled perennial Washington high school powerhouse and 13th-ranked Liberty Patriots to win a tough 17-9 victory Sunday for the Rugby Washington Division I HS Boys Championship Sunday in Ferndale, Wash.

The victory was the first-ever 15s state championship for the Vikings and marked only the second time Seattle has beaten Liberty in U19 league play – both this season.

Matt Brennan in a 2013 game
Seattle was led by USA High School All-American 7s player Matt Brennan (Shorecrest High School), who scored a crucial go-ahead try midway through the second half on a crash from center off of a five-meter Seattle scrum.  Brennan was also awarded man of the match.

The game was a very evenly-matched struggle for much of the first half, with both teams trading phases of possession but unable to cross the tryline.  Liberty managed to use a combination of kiwi flyhalf Michael Thompson’s foot and line breaks to camp inside Seattle’s 22-meter line, resulting in two Thompson penalties in the first quarter to make the score 6-0.  Near the end of the half, sustained pressure by Seattle’s forwards and flyhalf Will Brennan’s tactical kicking resulted in hooker Philip Hartsell slipping across the goal line after a lineout drive from five meters out, 6-5.

Liberty opened up the scoring in the second half, with Thompson hitting his third penalty kick, making the score 9-5.  Seattle’s forwards, however, began to take control and although Liberty was able to garner some serious chances at scoring, it was all Seattle in the final 20 minutes.

Matt Brennan knifed across the line after a long period inside Liberty’s 22, including a try by Will Brennan that was called back as referee Tony Maphosa gave a Liberty yellow card.  That gave Seattle the lead, 10-9.

With 10 minutes remaining, Seattle fullback Michael Doquilo finished the scoring with a well worked 50-meter try from wide ball movement that gave him space down the sideline.  Will Brennan kicked a crucial conversion to extend the margin to eight points, 17-9.

Liberty furiously attempted to close the gap, but was repelled from the tryline multiple times.

“This was really an amazing game and a very special season for this team,” said coach Steve Brennan. “ The core of this team went to school together and have played rugby together for more than four years and to finish their senior year with a state championship is the best script one could write. And to win over Liberty, with such tremendous talent and outstanding coaching, is really impressive. Liberty played very hard and very well; this game could have gone either way.”

Seattle made it to the final by defeating the Eastside Lions, 29-17, in one semi-final, while Liberty easily defeated Chuckanut in the other semfinal, 48-10.


Read more...

Vikings Defeat Chuckanut: March Up National Rankings

Friday, April 25, 2014

Vikings center, and USA All-American Matt Brennan
goes "super hero" to score.
Brennan is a senior at Shorecrest.

The nationally-ranked Seattle Vikings Rugby high school rugby club retained its unbeaten streak, defeating nationally-ranked Chuckanut (Bellingham) by a score of 32-18 on Saturday, April 19th at Seattle's Magnuson Park. 

Last week, The Vikings were ranked the #12 high school club in the nation by Rugby Magazine, and will seek to improve their standing with the win over the #13-ranked team from Bellingham. 

The Vikings, led by High School All-American Matt Brennan, a senior at Shorecrest, resume their regular season campaign on Saturday, April 26. The Vikings face another national contender, Liberty of Kent, WA, last week's national #14 ranked team, as both clubs seek to climb the national rankings and secure a Championship.

The Seattle Vikings, featuring players from Seattle metro-area high schools, is competing in one of the nation's most competitive conferences, and has begun to see its players represent the USA in international competition.  

More information about The Seattle Vikings here.


Read more...

Three Shorecrest students trying out for All-American Rugby - registration open for new and returning players

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Michael Doquilo of Shorecrest
Photo courtesy Seattle Vikings rugby


Registration for Seattle Vikings rugby for boys and girls ages 7 to 18 is now open with practices starting in January at Magnuson Park. Rugby offers a unique opportunity for kids in Seattle. In existence since 1987, the Vikings coaching staff includes 10+ volunteer coaches and a dedicated athletic trainer, offering both a sense of teamwork and community, as well as unique opportunities to for youth to stay fit.

The Vikings are coming off a successful year in 2013 where they played matches against local teams but also toured Ireland and Wales in April. Interested athletes from across Seattle are invited to join the program; each year nearly 1/3 of players are new to the sport.

“We really want to connect with kids in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park about the sport of rugby,” said Craig Wicks, Director of Coaching, Seattle Vikings RFC (Rugby Football Club). “We see a real opportunity for rugby to grow here as a fun sport that celebrates diversity and fair play, and brings a real sense of community to players and their families.”

Players also have the opportunity to compete at a very high level. This month four current Vikings, Matt Brennan (Shorecrest High School), Michael Doquilo (Shorecrest High School), Will Brennan (Shorecrest High School) and Finlay Bruce (Blanchet High School) will try out for the USA High School All American team with the opportunity to travel to the UK and abroad competing against some of the best youth teams in the world. In late January the Vikings will also have 6 players representing the Washington state all-star team for the Las Vegas Sevens, featuring competition from the US and abroad.

Matt and Will Brennen of Shorecrest will try out for
the USA All American Team
Photo courtesy Seattle Vikings
The Vikings have programs for boys and girls aged 7-18. Practice for the new season starts January 11, 2014 and runs until May. It is held at a first-class rugby field in Magnuson Park that was dedicated in 2009. The team competes against players from Bellevue, Bellingham, Olympia, Kent and other local cities.

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports for youth in the US, and will be included in the Olympics in 2016. Seattle Vikings players have represented local area all-star teams as well as representing the United States in international competition. To learn more about their spring rugby season, email for more details or go to their website.


Read more...

Shorecrest student selected for national rugby team

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Shoreline High School's Matt Brennan of the Seattle Vikings Rugby Club
runs to another score in the 2012 Washington State Rugby Championships.
(Copyright – Seattle Vikings 2013, provided with permission to all media.)

Matt Brennan of Lake Forest Park is one of eight Washington high school students selected to represent the United States in international competition.

He will be a member of the USA Rugby High School All-Americans (HSAA), among 24 players selected from 120 elite athletes.

Brennan attends Shorecrest and plays for the Seattle Vikings Rugby Club.

Brennan will play for the HSAAs in the International Elite Division of the Las Vegas Invitational 7s Tournament Feb. 8-9 in Las Vegas, Nev. One HSAA team will be selected from this competition to play in the Rosslyn Park 7s in London, England from March 18-22, 2103 - as well as the HSAA tour to face the Argentina and Uruguay national teams in July, 2013.

Shoreline High School's Matt Brennan of the Seattle Vikings Rugby Club
runs to another score in the 2012 Washington State Rugby Championships.
(Copyright – Seattle Vikings 2013, provided with permission to all media.)

The eight players made their way to the national team trials through their participation in the Washington State Loggers, the regional high-performance program for select club players in the U17 and U19 age groups. In addition to being top rugby players, Brennan, Lamositele and Nault were each selected high school All-Conference football players 2012, attesting to the continued rise of popularity and competitiveness in high school rugby in the Northwest. 


Steve Brennan, head coach of the Washington Loggers boys 7s program, said "We're extremely proud of the performance from these eight young men. As they've stepped-up to the level of international competition, the mental pressure and physical demands placed on young players is tremendous. To have two players from Seattle selected to wear the USA jersey is a testament to the work that's been put-in by these young men, their clubs, coaches and families." 

The selection of Brennan and Vasukilakeba to the national team trials caps-off a big year for the Seattle Vikings, as the club won the 2012 Washington State 7s Championships in both the U17 and U19 age groups. The players resume training with the Seattle Vikings in February, as the club prepares for its regular spring season, before touring to play in Ireland and Wales in April.



Read more...

Seattle Vikings Rugby - ages 7 to 18 registration now open

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Seattle Vikings rugby team

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the US for boys and girls and will be included in the Olympics in 2016. 

The Seattle Vikings have been operating in Seattle for over 20 years and introduce kids in Seattle to rugby every year.
  • Practice starts in January season runs to May
  • Opportunities for boys and girls ages 7 to 18
  • Dedicated coaching staff including athletic trainer
  • First-class facilities at Magnuson Park
  • New players to rugby are always welcome

Email for more information. 



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP