Two Articles From USA Rugby

USA Rugby Announces its Referee, Touch Judge Appointments

BOULDER, Colo. — USA Rugby’s Sevens Referee Manager Patrick McNally officially announced today the referee and touch judge appointments for the 2008 USA Sevens event in San Diego

As the culmination of the 2007 Sevens Referee Development program, Patrick McNally, in consultation with the Referee and Laws Selection Committee has made the following appointments to the USA Sevens:

Referee: Chris Draper
Touch Judges: Paul Bretz
Chris Henshall
Jem McDowall
Tom Lyons
Dana Teagarden
Aruna Ranaweera
Brad Kleiner
Judah Boulet

Complimenting these officials will be two touch judges each from Rugby Canada and NAWIRA.

The Sevens Referee Development program was instituted to focus on the unique nature of this game, and working with coaches, players and referees to develop and institute standardize good referee practices, and train referees at all levels.

“We worked very hard to connect with all participants of the sevens game, including Al Caravelli the National Sevens Coach, and see real improvement in the approach to refereeing sevens across the country,” said McNally. “All the appointees have performed very well, and have earned their place in San Diego.”

The annual report and other sevens developmental material can be found on the Referees page of the USA Rugby website – www.usarugby.org/goto/referees.

**I put this article up because I know Chris Draper! He has been my FABULOUS training referee for my matches. He is a great referee and I love working with him. Good luck Chris!

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby is hosting a press conference on Monday, December 10, at 3:00 p.m. at the Union League Club of Chicago, to officially announce that the Windy City will host the finals of the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup in June.

The Barclays Churchill Cup is the biggest international rugby tournament in North America and is an alliance tournament between the rugby unions of England, USA and Canada. Six teams will participate in this year’s Barclays Churchill Cup – USA, Canada, England Saxons, Scotland A, Ireland A and a final team to be confirmed shortly. In the USA leg of the Barclays Churchill Cup, the tournament will feature all six international teams in a triple header of final matches at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Speaking on the announcement, Terry Burwell, Tournament Director of the Barclays Churchill Cup said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the sports fans of Chicago to witness six top international rugby teams in action on one day. The Barclays Churchill Cup continues to develop each summer, and we are delighted that Chicago is hosting the finals for the first time.”

Entering its sixth year, the Barclays Churchill Cup, which has been held across Canada, California, and England in the past, will feature its pool play matches in various locations throughout Canada, before teams converge on Chicago for the finals day of the tournament on June 21st.

USA Rugby chose the Toyota Park venue after successfully hosting Ireland’s Munster Rugby Club as a Rugby World Cup warm-up match for its National Team, in late August. That match marked the first international rugby match in Chicago in several years and proved a huge achievement for event organizers.

“Toyota Park and the city of Chicago proved such great hosts for our Munster match that it would have been senseless to go anywhere else,” USA Rugby’s CEO and Director of Rugby Nigel Melville said. “Chicago has a rich sports history, and is rapidly emerging as the nation’s newest hot spot for rugby. USA Rugby is excited for the chance to bring an international rugby tournament of this caliber to the Windy City.”

Toyota Park is home to the Chicago Fire MLS club and is located 17 miles south west of downtown Chicago. Due to the outstanding response in August, USA Rugby is hoping to top 10,000 spectators to the one-day event in June.

For media interested in attending the Barclays Churchill Cup press conference, please contact Sara John at sjohn@usarugby.org for more information.

**Would LOVE to go to this match…maybe it will happen!