Passing Raleigh Rugby on to the New Generation – Guest Blog by Tommy Myatt

I was standing on the pitch last Thursday night along with Kent Jeffries (aka “Lumpy”).We were both watching our sons practice rugby for the Raleigh Rattlesnakes. Lumpy and I played together on the first Raleigh team back in ’81 that Jim and Charles Frazelle put together.

Anyway, I spoke to Kent about our first days of Raleigh Rugby. I do remember a friend of mine telling me to go down to the Player’s Retreat on Hillsborough Street for an impromptu meeting regarding recruitment of players for the new Raleigh Rugby club and to get an interview with Jim Kellenberger. I walked in saw a young man wearing one of those English looking beanie caps whilst others in his group were whirling darts. The Interview went like this. Jim to me- “Do you have wheels?”. Me to Jim- “ I reckon”. Jim to me – “Good, practice starts next Tuesday”. That was it. I am not sure how he recruited Lumpy.

In those days our matches were held behind the old Westinghouse building on US 1 on mainly flat ground with very little grass and assorted geological wonders (rocks) scattered around the pitch. Good times. The discussion went on about playing on those fields, the early days of the club, trying to get the number to field a full side, traveling, parties, etc. But I digress.

The human interest piece might be such: I asked Kent at that practice, “Did you ever think that almost 30 years later that our children would be playing this sport on a pitch owned by Raleigh Rugby (with grass no doubt) and that we would be coaching them?” Then it dawned on me. Wait, Kent Jeffries twin sons are playing, Frank Milchuck’ son and soon to be sons are playing, John Kellerman who is also coaching has a son playing with us, Rick McBride who has coached the Rattlesnakes and now coaches the Vipers has a son playing and of course, I have a son who is playing. Have to mention Philip Davies (aka “Paddio”) who used to cook for Raleigh Rugby has a son playing. I have no doubt that all four of Milchuck’ sons will play when they become age appropriate.

So if there is a human interest story here at all, I think it a strong testament that past players not only encourage their sons to play this sport, but are also coaching them as well. I say this because so often I hear from parents that will not allow their boys and now young women to play the sport of “rugby” for fear of it being too “rough”. Fact is, we see more injuries in court volleyball. We are teaching safe play and we all know of no other sport that requires the “team” approach the way that rugby does. It certainly builds character, fellowship and I might add a great way to stay fit.

But in searching for any kind of potential human interest I see several angles of approach and the aforesaid above being one of them. Another might be the early days and progression of the club citing examples of early struggles and how we now boast youth rugby teams. The fact that we run our own club and maintain well kept pitches and facilities (where other clubs have floundered), provides fertile ground for expanding the youth programs. How the sport will continue to grow and become more popular in the US because of youth rugby. Youth rugby will most definitely lift the skill levels for future adult players by virtue of the added experience alone.

We have so many people that contribute to this great endeavor for no profit whatsoever other than the satisfaction of the sport and what it has to offer. No one is bought off with $$ or big contracts here. There is no follow the money trail. For anyone that has ever had anything to do with the sport of rugby, be it, fan, player, coach, referee, administrator, it really gets into your blood and it is hard to walk away. Just ask our board members, our players and our coaches and coaches with sons that they are passing the sport to.

I am sure we will have more stories to tell as the season progresses, but we do want to present something to promote Raleigh Youth Rugby going forward. By the way, our numbers are continuing to grow and we may have enough players to field a full U15 (15 years of age and under) side this season.

Respectfully and just thinking out loud,
Tommy Myatt
Raleigh Rattlesnakes U19/U15 Rugby