U14, U16 and U19 Teams
Note that all contact teams in So. Cal are open to any boy (or girl) under 19, 16, 14, 12, 10 etc.
years old on September 1, no matter what school they attend. These are
clubs not officially affiliated with the school, even though many of the
players attend one particular School.
Poway Spartan Army
Rugby is the football played in the rest of the world. It is a fun, fast-paced game that will challenge your courage, intelligence, endurance and football skills.
For the 2008 season, the North County Rugby Club Inc. is expanding into Poway with two boys full-contact (tackle) teams in the Under-12 and Under-14 age divisions.
Age-division eligibility is determined by the player's age on Sept. 1, 2007. Thus, if you were age 10 or 11 on Sept. 1, you are a U-12; if you were 12 or 13 on Sept. 1, you are a U-14.
The Poway Spartan Army will play a full Southern California Youth Rugby schedule of nine matches starting on Feb. 2 and concluding April 19. The U-14 league championship tournament, pitting the first- and second-place teams from the SCYR North and South divisions, takes place Feb. 28-29.
U-12 rugby is introductory. Therefore, there is no league championship or SCYR tournament for U-12. But there are at least two tournaments that offer championships.
Better still, the Spartan Army U-12 will play two exhibition matches on the field at Petco Park on Saturday, Feb. 9, before the kickoff of the International Rugby Board's USA Sevens Tournament. Sixteen national teams from around the world, including the United States, will play a two-day tournament on Feb. 9-10 at Petco Park.
All NCRC youth rugby players will be eligible for discounted tickets to attend this exciting event, which will be seen on TV around the world.
On that same February weekend, the U-14 will play in the San Diego Invitational, also an exhibition tournament. It will take place at Robb Field in Mission Bay Park.
The Spartan Army will travel to away matches in Orange and Los Angeles Counties and host matches on its home pitch at Starridge Park in Poway. Afterward, as is rugby tradition worldwide, we will treat our opponents to food and refreshments.
Before the league season starts, Spartan army teams will practice three days a week -- Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Starridge Park has no lights, so practices will be from after school till dusk.
In January there will be pre-season scrimmages, also on Saturdays. Once league starts, the Spartan Army will practice Tuesdays and Thursday. NCRC has access to Starridge Park on Wednesdays if needed.
The U-14 will play 40-minute matches (20 minute halves and a 5-minute halftime, 20-5-20) with 12 players on a side. Under-12 will play 24-minute matches (12-5-12) and have 10 players on a side.
In rugby, when a player is substituted for he generally cannot return to the field. Therefore, players play offense and defense; all players can and do carry the ball; and all players can score.
The North County Rugby Club is committed to making youth rugby a fun experience. Anyone who registers and comes to practice is guaranteed playing time.
Often, SCYR teams will play two matches per age group. In rugby speak, that is an A and a B game. Especially in the U-12 division, NCRC uses this practice to ensure that players get the most of their rugby experience without stigma.
The USA Rugby certified head coaches for the Spartan Army are Ven Griva and Dave Warczakowski.
Griva is coaching his fourth season of SCYR youth rugby, and has been a youth sports coach for seventeen years. Warczakowski will be coaching his third season of SCYR youth rugby in 2008 and was a player with the NCRC men's side, the Gurkhas, for 10 seasons.