Colorado Regional Rugby Report - Fall 2023

Fall, 2023

Colorado Regional Rugby Report

Brighton Youth Rugby at Air Force Academy

Contents Brighton Youth Rugby Association is Tiki Rugby: Carving the Niche, pp. 3-5 Rocky Mountain Rugby: Men’s and Women’s XVs, pp. 6-8 College Play: National Collegiate Rugby and American College Rugby, pp. 9-11 High School 7s: pp. 13-15 Try League Rugby: providing for the Best Possible Rugby Start, p. 16 Transitions: Denver East, p. 17 Women’s Premier League: Colorado Gray Wolves 2023 Champs, p 19 Utah Warriors: our Region’s Pro Club, p. 20 Rugby Round the World: 2023 RWC, Gallagher Premiership, Top 14, United Rugby Championship, EPCR Champions and Challenge Cups, pp. 23-25 Upcoming Pro Rugby 2024: Major League Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific, p. 25 Back Pages: Daktari’s Cypher, Rugby Crossword, Rugby the Onion, pp. 26-28

Kudos for input/facilitation of this publication go to: Dea Allen, Damon Balcerak, Rich Cortez, Rich Etzkorn, Anthony Fisher, Steve Gore, Lin Hill, Jeff McEntee, and Kyle Parker for providing input and assistance in compiling the information within these pages.

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Colorado Regional Rugby Report (CR3) posts four times per year beginning in 2024: pre-spring; post-spring; pre-fall; and postfall. inquiries: mailto:grecorugby@gmail.com

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Brighton Youth Rugby Association “Carving the Rugby Niche” all images credit: BYRA

One might have thought that starting a rugby program at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic a poor choice of beginnings.

Not so for Damon Balcerak and Jeff McEntee, founders of Brighton Youth Rugby Association (BYRA), for this gifted pair of stalwarts set in motion in their locale at that time a force of rugby that exists today as a successful, burgeoning, ongoing project and one that is critical to the growth of the sport in our region and will undoubtedly resonate someday in the not too distant future, at the loftiest levels in United States Rugby.

lineout won

BYRA will celebrate its fifth year in operation next month as the most recent member of Rugby Colorado, the governing body for the sport’s youth and high school organization and competition. Balcerak and McEntee collaborated to put together the youth rugby group, themed Hawaiian with the moniker “Tiki” as mascot. They chose Tiki as their talisman because, “It was fun and unique and creative. We have a Hawaiian theme and the Tiki is a warrior mascot that blends in with that theme,” informs Balcerak.

Messrs. Balcerak and McEntee, as the impetus behind BYRA, believe that the key elements of Tiki thus far are: “Giving back to our community, teaching rugby to a large diverse group of kids, and making sure kids and families have fun and want to come back or bring in more friends.” And they’ve done just that in creating the form that now totals “roughly 80, right now,” players aged from youth-to-high school, both boys and girls.

BYRA founders: Jeff McEntee (l) and Damon Balcerak (r)

Though BYRA has yet to hit the road and travel out of state as a club, “close to 10 of our players in the past year have been selected by USA West (an invitational representative side) to go to Tropical 7’s in Tampa in March/April (2 years in a row) and also NAI (North American Invitational) 7’s in Salt Lake in July,” says Balcerak, attesting to the association’s support of one of rugby’s greatest aspects providing lifelong friends and memories: The Tour.

Forces of Reckoning Balcerak and McEntee act as co-pilots, sharing tasks and completing those actions with an expediency that has resulted in a rock-solid foundation. Damon reckons that he and Jeff each input, “15-20 hours a week in heavy lift times, maybe a few hours a week in low demand times. Likely averages to 10 hours a week year-round, (but that it) fluctuates depending on season.” The continuity and consistency with which they apply themselves to their rugby work has resulted in a wellfunctioning rugby machine, one that is dynamic.

Field Magistrate, Chris Brewer, sets the scrum: Tiki put

The workload, “ebbs and flows,” Balcerak reports, “but it’s likely WAY more hours now… but we also have a ton more board members and coaches helping with that, so (we input) about the same time maybe as originally for me and Jeff, even though more aggregate hours now.”

The pair’s efforts complement one another as Balcerak explains, “we have always divided as we go, and it’s worked well.

We both do a little of everything when it comes to marketing, coaching, advertising and recruiting. The only non-shared tasks I can think of are that Jeff does jersey and ball orders each year - and does it like a champ - and I am the one that turns in rosters and waivers for game day to Rugby Colorado.” It’s a system that has produced a smoothly functioning entity that provides for their community an activity that instills in its participants an ability to demonstrate sportsmanship. The manner in which they do that is by modeling respect: toward teammates, opponents, instructors, officials and spectators at every event and competition. In doing so, BYRA generates and promulgates within the individual a sense of self-worth and positive, ethical values that is empowerment in a very righteous way!

As a short-term goal, the Tikis are searching for, “a dedicated HS girls coach, and enough girls and boys for the 15s teams in HS such that we don’t have to ‘borrow’ on game day.” With the middle schoolers outgoing and into the secondary school ranks, the numbers deficit will correct itself one might think, but the lack of a high school girls coach is crucial. Anyone out there who thinks they may be able to assist Tiki girl’s high school instructing, can followup via this link.

Moving forward, Balcerak figures he’d like, “within three years to have a succession plan in place for who the next regime of leadership is going to be since Jeff and I won’t be around forever.” He reckons in the future, “I’d like to see BYRA as a long-term organization that stands the test of time and continues to grow on the principles we founded it on. Would be

nice to see youth and high school teams continue to bring in more families who want to help and love the sport, all while having competitive teams that can compete well at a tournament level.”

Balcerak says the best thing about working with Rugby Colorado is connecting with Rugby Colorado’s Finance and Technical Minister Caryl Bredehoeft as, “she is helpful and cares a lot.” Also for the attention of Miranda Penny at RC who, “works tirelessly to manage the scheduling for all of Rugby Colorado events with accuracy and precision.” However, he does feel that player safety rules can be better abided by and also “training and consistency for the youth ref program.”

One of the best things for Balcerak is, “All of the new families and even competitors on gameday that say, ‘You guys have the best/most awesome uniforms and rugby balls we’ve ever seen. ” Online BYRA will be moving to a split HS/Youth format, but for the present, all things Tiki rugby are displayed and dispersed at BYRA Rugby website and on the club’s Facebook page. stepping inside

As to the critical aspect of recruitment on the club structure front, Balcerak says it’s not a one-person feat, “It’s the turtle on a pole phenomenon - it didn’t get there by itself, it had a lot of help. And it won’t move on from there without a lot of help also. It takes a village, week after week, year after year!” With that attitude, Balcerak and McEntee have established strong roots that, in turn, have produced a bountiful harvest.

post-match happy time

Balcerak adds: “I continue to be amazed by the rugby subculture, and we explain this to new families, but it takes seeing and being in the sport for a year or so to totally ‘get it.’ There is no other sport where athletes and families compete against one another, but really are one big family supporting one another at the same time. The scholar-athletes in this sport don’t just have friends and team mates on the team they play for - but friends and teammates from other towns and teams as well.”

When asked if he’d like to recognize any individuals for their assistance in making Brighton Youth Rugby Association the vibrant and vital club that it is today, Balcerak responds, “Yes - whole families, not just individual people – the Smiths, Backstroms, McEntees, Ostranders, Patricks, Geckas, Gallaghers, Kohlhoffs, Bakers, (also) Annette Hagewiesche and Kevin Gorell, as well as Carleen Watts and Travis Haines at City of Brighton, and Big Choice Brewing in Brighton, who’ve been a supporter since our inception! for their integral contributions to the BYRA program.” In addition, Damon would like to express appreciation to Fort Collins Hammers for their, “over all support and invaluable advice in the development of our program.”

already a CLASSIC

Contact BYRA:

Girls

Boys

Club

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Men’s Brackets* MD1/D2 – a hybrid group, the champions of which go to the USARugby D1 SuperRegional (SR) in May 2024, while the runners-up will compete in the D2 SR then.

Club Won Lost Drawn Table Points 4 0 0 19 Haggis** Barbarians**

2

1

0

11

Waterdogs

1

2

0

7

Boulder

0

4

0

3

Club Grizzlies***

Won 4

Lost 0

Drawn 0

Table Points 20

Highlanders

3

2

0

16

Rams

2

2

0

10

Harlequins

2

4

0

19

Barbarians

1

3

1

8

Flamingos

0

2

1

2

MD3

*

mind you, these tables, which can be found on the Rugby Xplorer site, rely on the individual clubs to enter current, accurate data. If you see an error, it is recommended that you encourage whoever it is on your club tasked with updating your club’s status on Rugby Xplorer to do just that.

**

Park City Haggis, after a convincing, 61 – 26, victory over visiting Denver Barbarians at Salt Lake City in mid-November, goes on to represent the Rocky Mountain Region at the SuperRegional beginning of May in USA Rugby’s top division (D1), while the Barbarians will embark on their USA Rugby Division 2 (D2) title defense the same weekend. ***

Colorado Springs Grizzlies will represent the union at the Division 3 (D3) SuperRegional there and then.

Kudos

Women’s Brackets

image: Vipers D1

WD1 Club Utah Vipers D1 Black Ice D1 Colorado Gray Wolves D1

Won

Lost

Drawn

Table Points

2

0

0

10

1

1

0

5

0

2

0

0

Won

Lost

Drawn

Table Points

2

1

0

11

2

1

0

10

2

1

0

9

0

3

0

0

WD2 Club Boulder Babes Denver Black Ice D2 Salt City Slugs D2 Cold Front Coyotes

The women’s divisional competition runs through April 20, thus the women’s representative will not be determined until that date.

College Scene There are two (actually three, but two of that trio are set to combine in 2024, so two) college rugby conferences in the U.S. administering our game: College Rugby Association of America, with just under 200 men’s and women’s clubs in divisions D1-A and D1-AA (men’s) and D1-Elite, D1 and D2 (women); and National Collegiate Rugby, which administers more than 600 clubs nationwide across seven divisions: D1, D1-AA, D2 and Small College (men); and D1, D2 and Small College (women).

National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) - Men NCR evolved from National Small College Rugby Organization and currently serves more than 600 clubs in the U.S. Rugby Nation. The final league tables in men’s Division II and Small College for clubs in our region, High Peaks, are below:

NCR Men’s and Women’s Championship Semifinal and Finals action takes place at the home of Major League Rugby Houston SaberCats, Aveva Stadium beginning Saturday, December 2, and runs through Sunday, December 10: You can watch the action LIVE on The Rugby Network

Women

Men D1: 6pm (5pm MT), 12.9; D1-AA: 2pm (1pm MT), 12.9; D2: 2pm (1pm MT), 12.10; Small College: 12pm (11am MT), 12.10

D1: 6pm (5pm MT), 12.2 – Notre Dame College v University of Michigan D2: 2pm (1pm MT),12.3; Small College: 12pm (11am MT), 12.3

nal Collegiate Rugby Championships to air on The Rugby Network Latest programming addition for OTT platform owned by Major League Rugby expands coverage of collegiate rugby

DALLAS – The Rugby Network (TRN), an over-the-top (OTT) platform owned by Major League Rugby (MLR), has announced a deal to exclusively broadcast both the men’s and women’s championships from National Collegiate Rugby in the U.S. and Canada.

You can watch the action LIVE on The Rugby Network

Regis University v University of Denver -11.14.23@RegisUniversity

On an ideal rugbyday, sunny with temps in low 60s and a mild, vagrant breeze, Regis University and University of Denver XVs squared off at the Regis Turf Fields for an NCR league match. Eleven trys later on, the travelers counted 36 – 27 victory in the lively encounter.

DU grounded in the early goings from a quickly-tapped penalty inside the host 22; two smashing, pick-and-go phases on and it was 7-nil visitors after two minutes of action. Regis got theirs from an attack that was enabled by a slick step inside, a fend and 20-meter streak to goal: 7-5 DU in the 10th. Travelers got three further trys, none converted, then Regis replied with their own unconverted pair of touch downs and it was 22-15 in favor of the guests at referee Chris Brewer’s whistle, sending lads to the sheds for hydration and instruction.

Regis drew level at 22s, seven minutes into the second stanza after a fine display of broken-field evasion and power by their fullback, but Denver replied in kind just shy of the hour mark and 29-22 then. Regis returned for touch down at ’69; 29-27 yet for DU. And visitors would have the final shout before time to record the important road win.

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USRF College Grants

Applications for the grants, which provide funding for high school startups were released in mid-November and the United States Rugby Foundation will be considering submissions through January 19, 2024.

2023 High School 7s Championship Finals Rugby Colorado High School 7s finals took place at Highlands Ranch HS and four trophies were earned in the Girls Tiers 1 & 2, and the Boys Tiers 1 & 2.

Tier 1 HS Boys Final Valor Eagles 24 – 0 Denver East Angels East’s inability to fluidly exit the 22 enabled a brace of converted Valor trys.

Tier 1 HS Girls Final

FC Hammers 39 – 5 Lumberjackies

Close in the early goings with each side touching down and Fort Collins in the lead at 7-5 before Hammers pulled away.

Tier 2 Boys Final

Valor Eagles 15 – 12 Denver North

The closest final, needing an Eagles touch down near time for the result.

Tier 2 Girls Final

Vista 24 – 5 FC Hammers

The Fort grounded first, but Valor responded with a trio of trys for a 17-5 midpoint advantage, and then a fourth in the second stanza for the record.

Wild West at the High School 7s

North Vikings defender is only just able to snare the shirt of the Valor winger looking to turn the corner

Tackle done, Viking looks to turnover...

…North arrive first at breakdown, yet not in unison (con. next)…

…a pair of Valor Eagles hit the breakdown together...

…resulting in a turn-back-over and the winning score at the end of the day

TRY League Rugby – the future of the American game

Try League is an introductory, lowkey competition that stresses core values of respect, fair play, inclusion and fun!

played from spring through the fall at Rugby Jamborees for ages 5-12

where the key element is a dedicated and savvy group who instruct experientially

Colorado Rugby Transitions

Bill Baer, one of the longest-serving Rugby Colorado high school coaches, is stepping down from his position as Denver East High Angels (DEHA) head coach. Baer, a familiar face on the youth and high school scene, has piloted the successful East program since last century. His steady guidance has had a generational impact: Michael Hughes, on Baer’s coaching staff, has a 14-years old who will play at East beginning next spring. Baer’s consistent, knowledgeable effort has set many a scholar-athlete on a true life path with the sport providing players a structure within which to develop ethical moral standards and an even-handed values system, as well as providing the pathway for advancement to Collegiate and National rugby prominence. “It has been my honor to serve as coach and general manager of East HS Boys Rugby for 30 years,” informs the man who has enabled East’s rugby XV to reach State Finals 23 of the 30 years he has coached.

Coach Levek

Denver East alum, Zach Levek, will take over coaching, while another DEHA graduate, Steve Gore, is to assume General Manager spot in the premier educational institution’s sports program. However, Baer is not going away from East completely, he’ll be on hand to support the Angels community from his vast treasury of experiential knowledge as he embraces the role of Senior Director of Denver East Rugby.

Cheers, Bill!

East GM Gore

Rugby Against Racism “Racism is not acceptable in rugby, in sport, or in the world we live in.” #rugbyagainstracism

Though Gray Wolves were runnersup on the competition chart with a record of eight wins and three losses, the Colorado women’s XV bested table-topping Berkeley All Blues, undefeated at 11 wins with a draw, 29 – 24, down the Kettle at Infinity Park in the Centennial State for the league championship.

2023 Final Table

The USA Women’s Premier League competition will resume in spring 2024.

Major League Rugby’s Utah Warriors

The Rocky Mountain Region’s Professional Rugby Franchise Utah Warriors are our regional men’s pro rugby franchise and a charter member of Major League Rugby who have had keen intent, since 2017, on the lofty goal of obtaining the MLR Championship Shield. In the meantime the well-structured and highly-organized club has created a solid foundation for our game and provided for its development from grass roots embodied in its koa spirit, the Warrior Panther.

Warriors finished fifth on the table this year, one win off the playoff pace on a 10-6-0 results record and will look to reach extra time this upcoming 2024 season with the addition of a trio of MLR collegiate rugby draftees: breakaways, Michael Biagi (Brigham Young University) and Abe Turpen (University of Arizona); and lock, Josh Halladay (Trinity Western University).

MLR season runs from February through spring and into summertime. Warriors are in the West Conference of Major League. They were a dynamo in the more powerful of the two EastWest brackets of the competition in ’23, topping eventual MLR champs, Free Jacks, as well as NY Ironworkers, a playoff side.

Warriors home pitch is at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, 30 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport.

Big Choice Brewing and Pizzeria supports Grass Roots Rugby

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Ever Summer

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Rugby Round the Globe 2023 Rugby World Cup

World Rugby’s penultimate men’s 15s competition for the William Webb Ellis Cup in 2023 presented as fine an expression of sport as you’d like: from the soaring effort by Manu Samoa halfback, Jonathan Taumateine; to the critically perfect howitzer unlimbered by South African Springbok pivot, Handre Pollard; to the untimely exit of an heretofore regular quarterfinalist, this four-year cycle’s tournament was as good as it gets.

The much anticipated and long-awaited championship win by one of the Northern Hemisphere heavies, France or Ireland, did not materialize as both those Six Nations went down to the eventual finalists, South Africa and New Zealand resp., in quarterfinal tests. England, whom many had written away in the summer, pushed the now back-to-back RWCwinners to the brink in their semifinal, while in the other semi-final, Argentina Los Pumas proved no match for the All Blacks, who after an opening day bumble v favored France, were clipping along at a counting rate of better than 60-pertest.

And the Grand Final was a major cardiac event, both heart-stopping and heart-breaking. If anyone ever sought to prove the worthiness of an extreme numbers guy, this matchup evinced that to the max with 4-from-4 SA cannoneer, Handre Pollard, against an AB group that left a pair of attempts, one for three and t’other for a deuce - either of which would have won the match - on the deck.

So the moral of this story is, Dad/Mom: when junior wants to stay late after training to work on her/his kicking for goal, be certain to support that effort!

Professional Competitions: ongoing

It may seem a bit topsy-turvy at the moment with the likes of Pau riding high in the French 14, but the gradual return of top players from national duty at 2023 Rugby World Cup should see a degree of realignment in the coming weeks, bearing in mind everyone is off for two weeks in December (8-10 & 15-17) for European Professional Club Rugby Champions and Challenge Cups’ competitions.

Gallagher Premiership (GP, England): action through May 18; 10 clubs compete in home-away fixtures for an 18-match season; top 4 clubs on the table go to semifinals, June 1, then finals at Twickenham on June 8, the RugbyDay; matches broadcast live on The Rugby Network - currently Sale Sharks rule the English roost with only one loss (to Exeter Chiefs, though that was a doozy, 0-43). The Big Fish will need to do some serious swimming to keep ahead of Saracens blades which, after a brace of losses to open the season, have run out a handful of convincing wins.

Club Won Lost Drawn Table Points Weekend Fixtures: 12.1-12.3 Sale Sharks 6 1 0 27 Saracens 5 2 0 24 Friday, December 1: Exeter Chiefs 5 2 0 23 Harlequins (21) v (27) Sale Bath 4 3 0 22 Saturday: Harlequins 4 3 0 21 Bristol (12) v (11) Gloucester Northampton Saints 4 3 0 21 Bath (22) v (23) Chiefs Leicester Tigers 3 4 0 15 Saracens (24) v (21) Saints Bristol Bears 2 5 0 12 Sunday: Gloucester 2 5 0 11 Leicester (15) v (4) Newcastle Newcastle Falcons 0 7 0 4 Top 14 (T14, France): through June 8, 2024; 14 XVs in home-away fixtures for a 26-game schedule with four playoff weekends: initial knockout round June 14/15; semifinals June 22; and Top 14 Championship Final on June 29, the RugbyDay; matches broadcast live on FloSports app – if Racing 92 are the steady in the French League this season, Section Paloise are diametric opposition with a youthful, rocking, rolling style. Away victories in the competition are like albino peacocks, and 92 and Pau got a brace so far the young season.

Club Won Lost Drawn Table Points Weekend Fixtures: 12.1-12.3 Racing 92 6 2 0 28 Section Paloise 6 2 0 27 Saturday, December 2: Stade Français 5 3 0 23 Toulouse (23) v (27) Pau Toulon 5 3 0 23 Bayonne (15) v (7) Montpellier Castres 5 3 0 23 Castres (23) v (16) Lyon Toulouse 5 3 0 23 La Rochelle(15) v (8) Perpignan Bordeaux Bègles 4 4 0 19 Oyonnax (16) v (19) Bordeaux Bègles Clermont 4 4 0 19 Clermont(15) v (4) Racing 92 Oyonnax 4 4 0 16 Lyon 3 5 0 16 Sunday La Rochelle 3 5 0 15 Stade Français (23) v (23) Toulouse Bayonne 3 5 0 15 Perpignan 2 6 0 8 Montpellier 1 7 0 7 United Rugby Championship (URC, Afro-European): the only competition with clubs from both Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the URC runs through June, 2024, and is a league with 16 clubs in four regional pools, called “Shields”: African Shield; Irish Shield, Welsh Shield and Scots/Italian Shield; the clubs play home-away v their shieldmates, and oneoffs – six home and six away – against the remainder of the field; quarterfinals take place June 7; semis on June 15 and Grand Final June 22, all RugbyDays; matches broadcast live on FloSports app – Glasgow Warriors at current headboys, but only just, as Leinster are hot on their heels with five happies after an opening day loss. Mind the Bulls, placed in third just now, are coming off a respectable 2-from-4 trip to the north, while numbers one and two on the table have yet to

play down under this season; Warriors go at the end of the league schedule, while Leinster are on the trot in SA in April, and the Bulls go again up and over the big hula hoop in March for a brace of fixtures.

Club

Won

Lost

Drawn

Table Points

Glasgow Warriors Leinster Bulls Ulster Edinburgh Benetton Connacht Munster Ospreys Lions Cardiff Stormers Zebre Sharks Dragons Scarlets

5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 4 3 4 4 5 5 5

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

25 24 20 18 18 18 18 18 15 14 14 13 11 7 6 6

the Weekend Friday, December 1: Munster (18) v (25) Glasgow Saturday Bulls (20) v (7) Sharks Cardiff (14) v (6) Scarlets Lions (14) v (6) Dragons Stormers (13) v (11) Zebre Ulster (18) v (18) Edinburgh Benetton (18) v (15) Ospreys Connacht (18) v (24) Leinster

Upcoming Pro Comps

European Professional Club Rugby, Champions and Challenge Cups (Afro-European Tournaments) – this is regarded by many as the premier rugby competition on the planet. The best 8 XVs from Gallagher, Top 14 and URC from the 20222023 standings compete in the Champions Cup Tournament and the next 18 from the English and United leagues work the pill in the Challenge Cup Tournament; the clubs play round-robin style two weekends in December (8-10 & 15-17) and a brace in January (12-14 & 19-21), then 16 clubs from the top of the tables go on to the knockout round, April 5-7; quarters follow on April 12-14; semis take place May 3-5 and Grand Final on May 25, the RugbyDay; matches broadcast live on FloSports app Major League Rugby (USA) matches broadcast live on The Rugby Network look for the 2024 match schedule next week.

Super Rugby Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) – 12 clubs compete in a 14-match round robin schedule beginning on the extended weekend of Thursday, February 22 through Saturday, February 24, and running to June 1, the RugbyDay, with each XV getting a bye weekend; top eight clubs make the playoff rounds 1 (quarterfinal knockout) and 2 (semifinal). Finals = June 29.

a topical pain reliever for aching joints

queries

The Back Pages

Daktari’s Cypher ZBI TIUJZDFXGBDE MIZQIIX ZBI QIUGB JXY ZBI IXVUDGB DG MJGIY FX ZTCGZ JXY CXYITGZJXYDXV. ZBIA YFX'Z ZTCGZ CG JXY QI YFX'Z CXYITGZJXY ZBIP. YCYUIA QFFY IXVUDGB THC GISTIZJTA FX JXVUF-QIUGB TIUJZDFXG, 1986.

And here is your hint: P = M; How to Solve: 1. substitute the hint; 2. look for contractions and possessives; 3. look for small words; 4. look at placement and size of words Good Luck!

Solutions to Cypher and Crossword posted on the FB blog

Crossword Across 1. upside down blindside 6. post-training therapy site 8. location of 2031 Rugby World Cup 9. just you wait ___ your Dad/Mom gets home!

10. kicker’s tool 11. all you have to do is ___ 12. group of brumbies in NSW 13. ___, Son of Stone 14. ___ Ice WRFC 17. Will’s river 19. one of two preeminent, summertime mountain rugby festivals whose past attendant clubs hailed from Montana and Wyoming 20. ball in ___ 21. one of the initial three women’s rugby clubs in the world, CU ___ 26. Rugby World Cup melodies 28. breakaways, ___ forwards 30. USARugby’s 2023 Division 2 National Champions

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Down 1. club from this town once went to CowPie as Oak Creek Pistoleros 2. ball on deck at breakdown 3. onfield situation where ball is held, and 3 or more players, not on the same side, are bound 4. Rugby Colorado High School 7s season 5. often last line of defense 6. NZ native, former Colorado Springs Grizzlies (HS) phenomenally successful coach, or son: USA Eagle and Super Rugby Highlanders wing-threequarters 7. highest continuously-played 15s rugby in the world 15. a five eighth 16. don’t forget this!

18. ___ vidi vici

19. Scandinavian motorworks 22. desert in Africa 23. (can be) hot condiment 24. ABs captain or sugar ___ 25. desert in Asia 27. hurry! M.E. 29. long time

The Rugby Oyster 2023 Rugby World Cup Edition

“I don’t appreciate people using the term, ‘Ediot.’ It’s not a real word.”

Former Australian Wallabies head coach Edward, “the Mallet,” Jones has indicated that he believed 2023 RWC was just a staging opportunity for RWC 2027 on “my own” continent. The Tasmanian devil insists that the squad of players whom he chose to subsequently watch 2023 RWC knockouts and final with him would be “well-prepared” for the competition four years hence, “because they’ll be four years older… get it?” he exclaimed breathlessly. The inimitable Jones also informed that he’ll be running for Prime Minister in the interval leading upto 2027 RWC so as, “better to serve the people of my native land.” The estimable foreign diplomat says that he plans an aggressive military campaign against surrounding nations, including Viet Nam, the Philippines, “and probably New Zealand… definitely the Marshall Islands.”

This is a developing story – ed.

RWC Referees Corner Quotes: I give everyone a yellow, and you out there, if you’re reading this, you get a red!

Whattaya talkin' 'bout haircut?

Matti Raynal: “Even I am uncertain why I make some of my calls! – c’est absurde!”

Bbenn O’Keeffe: “I like South Africa in the final… as I’ve liked them in the quarterfinals and semifinals.”

The result of one Barrett’s inattention at film viewing – it seems Jordie fell asleep at a team film viewing and some wag, probably Aaron Smith, popped a bowl over his head and trimmed the first five eighths top. So focused on post- ’23 RWC action is the center that he’s yet to realize his current, Sir Galahad lookalikedness.