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iYRA News

SCRUM PUNCH: Football Players Use Rugby as Competitive Offseason Training

By WES HUETT of the Journal Star Posted Sep 25, 2008 @ 10:22 PM

Never thought the words would spill from the mouth of a football player.

"It’s a lot like soccer," East Peoria junior linebacker and fullback Nate Joseph said. "In how you pursue the ball and fight for the ball ..."

Only with full-on tackling, full use of your hands and scrums that leave bodies bruised and beaton - yet rarely seriously injured.

And bloody noses.

"Those are not fun," Metamora senior Tim Thannum said.

Welcome to rugby, a punishing multi-sport hybrid where a handful of area football players spend a small part of their spring and summers busting their butts and busting heads. Read the full story...

Photo: Courtesy of Joe Goett
Chas Bruess of Metamora leads a charge during a game last spring for the Metamors All Reds. Behind him, left to right, are Randy Bertelson of Washington, Nate Joseph of E. Peoria, Bryan Swords of Metamora, E.Peoria's Josh Dunn and tim Thannum of Metamora.Bruess, Bertleson, Joseph and Thannum play football for their respective schools.

iYRA boys all state team back from tour

The boys All State Tornados are back from their UK Tour and were able to see a few historic sights before their first game against Windsor on July 27. A fantastic match and a defensive battle. Windsor is a U-18 team that had only lost 3 matches as a group since playing together at the U-13 level.
Scores for tour:
Windsor Rugby 5
Tornados 3

Tornados 16
Porthcawl RFC 10

Tornados 59
Supermarine Rugby 0

Gorseinon RFC 22
Tornados 10

As most of these young men head off to college, they have experiences that will last a lifetime and proud memories they will share. Gratitude goes out to all the coaches, parents and expecially the players for making this a successful trip. Photo Album.

Read the full story...

England Rugby Team Mascot

Emmett Ferguson, a tag rugby player from Hinsdale, Illinois, was selected to be the mascot for the England Saxon's Rugby Team at the recent Churchill Cup competition in Chicago. Emmett had been scheduled to play for the Illinois Tag Rugby team against Michigan on the same day but had to miss the game in order to fulfill his mascot duties. Emmett was the good luck mascot for the English team who won the Churchill Cup. Emmett took time after the final to congratulate the English team, who in return autographed Emmett's souvenir English jersey.

iYRA Tornados 2008 Midwest Champions

Congratulations to the iYRA HS Boys Select Side (The Tornados), who won their first Midwest High School All-Star Championship. The Tornados beat Indiana North 45-7 and Indiana North B 30-3. Ohio tied Indiana South 5-5 and as a result, the Tornados won by forfeit of Indiana South. Winger Sam Polzin of New Trier and Vidal Martinez of Plainfield drew interest from the USA National team coaching staff. U-19 Eagle Prop Bobby Mulvaney of St. Ignatius struck 5 of the 6 in conversions in the final match versus Indiana North.

Illinois Youth Rugby Participation at the Churchill Cup

Four youth rugby programs of the Illinois Youth Rugby Association were featured at the Barclays Churchill Cup finals on June 21, 2008 at the Toyota Stadium in Bridgeview Illinois.

RUGBY IN THE NEWS

The following article about the Glen Ellyn Ducks Rugby Club was in their local newspaper. The Ducks are coached by Dan Wiseheart.


Read the full story...

Photo by Bill Ackerman of the My Suburban Life publications.

midwest Girls u-19 selects Jess Rogawski

Jess Rogawski of St. Charles Girls Rugby was selected to play prop for the Midwest Girls U-19 team. Jess is a Senior this year and plays forward for St. Charles, but rotates between prop and flanker. CONGRATULATIONS Jess!

For more about the Midwest Girls U-19 click here.
For the Midwest Girls U-19 Team Roster click here.


Area youth selected for national
u-19 team

St. Ignatius 2007 alumni JACK BRENNAN and St. Ignatius Senior BOBBY MULVANEY were selected to play for the USA National U-19 Team against Canada at the Freedom Cup which was held in February over President's week-end. Jack and Bobby played for the Illinois All State Tornados in 2007. Jack is a Freshman at Dayton University.

Jack Brennan
Bobby Mulvaney

Click here for more information on the National U-19 team.

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