NYRC Women Appoint Ryan Dunnett and Heidi Rubenstein to Coaching Staff

Contact:
Rosie Miesner
(845) 807-1153

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY, September 3, 2009—After an extensive search, the women of New York Rugby Club (NYRC) have appointed Ryan Dunnett to the head coaching position and Heidi Rubenstein to assistant coach. This announcement precedes the kickoff of USA Rugby’s inaugural Women’s Premier League, to begin this Labor Day weekend. Dunnett hails from New Zealand and joins NYRC from Canada, where he most recently coached the Calgary Canucks. He is an IRB Level 3 Coach with experience throughout New Zealand, the United States, Holland, Australia, England, and Canada. He has worked with teams of all levels, including professionals in the Super 12 and National Provincial Championship, representative sides for men and women, men’s and women’s club teams, and youth rugby programs.

Rubenstein joined NYRC as a player in 2001. Since then, she has contributed to the club on the field as a senior side flanker and team leader, and off the field as a speed, agility, and conditioning coach. Originally from Michigan, Rubenstein played with Chesapeake WRFC and the Austin Valkyries before moving to New York. NYRC captain Rebecca Brafman feels that the combination of Dunnett and Rubenstein will provide NYRC with a great springboard into the competition. “We look forward to the new ideas and patterns of play that Ryan will bring to the club, while

Heidi’s experience as a veteran player will keep us grounded in the traditions that make us NYRC.” NYRC President Hedwig Aerts also expressed her enthusiasm. “I believe Ryan and Heidi are going to be a fantastic coaching team for us in our upcoming season. We also would never have come this far if Annie Collier and Lisa Lake, veteran players and also our U19 coaches, had not stepped so ably into the role of interim coaches last spring and this summer. It’s exciting to have such great coaches for all our teams on the Club!”

The New York Rugby Club is the top women’s team in the New York City area. Rooted in Gotham City Women’s Rugby Club, which voted to join the New York Rugby Football Club, Inc. in 1997, the team has appeared in the last ten USA Rugby National DI Club Championship Tournaments and has finished in the top three since 2002. Based on this outstanding history of excellence, the NYRC Women were selected to compete in the inaugural USA Rugby Women’s Premier League. NYRC faces rival Beantown on Sunday, September 6, 2009 for their first Premiership match.

For more insight into Ryan make sure to read the WPL Spotlight on his coaching style here.