Las Vegas Invitational Tournament (LVI)
Feb. 10 2011 (Field #3 330pm)
The Nursery Field located outside of the Sam Boyd Stadium was filled with rugby players from around the nation and world. All types of accent, color, sizes came to Las Vegas to participate in the most exciting game call rugby and to watch 16 International teams compete to who is king of Las Vegas 7s. The Las Vegas Rugby Academy (Jr. Blackjacks) players were also part of the crowd. A feeling of excitement and butterfly filled the air. Each player from the academy looked ready to what was awaiting them on the rugby pitch. The Jr. Blackjacks’ opponent was Edina Rugby Club from Minnesota and was entering their 13 year as a club. Before the match I had a brief meeting and introduction with the Edina Coaching staff. Edina club had a lot of experience players and been playing rugby for a lot longer than all of the LVRA players. I was concern with the size and age of the Edina rugby players compares to his LVRA players (average age is 13 and the oldest player was 16yrs old). After a quick meeting with the parents of the LVRA and all feeling fine with the kids playing, the coaches got the players dressed and ready to go.
The Jr. Blackjacks did their team warm up and split into forward and backs. Jr. Blackjacks captain Isaac K. lost the coin toss and Edina chose to receive the ball. I believe I was more nervous then players. But with a prayer and a loud “Vegas Rugby” the butterfly flew away and I was ready to see some rugby action. The kickoff was good with some good chase from the forwards. I was amazed at how the Jr. Blackjacks kept tackling and kept their defensive system strong. Each player calling “Ruck, Guard, Post” and point to who had what man. The Edina used their size to attack the smaller forwards. But to my surprise as well as Edina, the Jr. Blackjacks forwards reply back with hard hitting tackles and held their own. After 15 minutes of playing defense, Edina scored a try beating us out wide after failing to beat us in the middle. I was proud of how well the players played and how well they respond to every breakdown and no matter what the score was, they kept fighting. Edina found that the only way they were going to beat the Jr. Blackjacks was go wide and use their speed cause the Jr. Blackjacks defensive system in the middle was solid. This was a great improvement for the players as the week before they had a hard time defending. They score did not reflect how well the players played. This moment was one of my fondest and beats any other feeling I had in my rugby experience to see how much the players played with their hearts. At every breakdown we competed, at every scrum we pushed and every lineout we fought. Edina coaching staff and players had nothing but positive feedback. The head coach of Edina said he was shocked at how well the kids tackled and organized they were around the breakdown, in a few years the Jr. Blackjacks will be a team to reckon with.
No words can express the feeling I had after the game and how proud I was with each player and how they played with their hearts. Playing with heart cannot be taught or learn, that something you have to find by yourself and the Jr. Blackjacks had heart that day. After the game I got a lot of good comments from players, coaches, former international and international players who saw the kids play. They were amazed to see 12 years old compete against 17-18 years old. As a reward for the kids, Fox was there to interview Mele and get the kids on the 10pm news. It was awesome to see the kids on the news and I know they were on cloud nine when they saw it as well. I look forward for more games and training to enhance the player’s skills and hopefully see all compete in professional, elite and maybe International level. Rugby, we dare you to TRY!!
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