Article Contributed on: 9/9/2009 9:17:08 PM
Saturday, August 29th was the 2009 Fall Season kick-off day for High School Girls Rugby. Rugby-O-Rama was hosted by Ranch Rugby at Mountain Vista High School under the Colorado Youth Rugby (CYR) League. CYR is the premier youth rugby league in Colorado and one of the few leagues in the Nation to obtain State Based Rugby Organization (SBRO) status and recognition. This year, CYR celebrates 25 years of youth rugby.
Rugby-O-Rama is a season opener unique to rugby. A tournament based on round-robin play, similar to other sports; however, unique in that everyone shows up and tournament sides (teams) are created with players from multiple league teams. Veteran players as well as brand new players from different teams all come together on the pitch (field) to engage in extreme physical competition that is only superseded by the friendships and bonds created.
Rugby is an all inclusive, fast paced, non-stop, team sport which is player led. Rugby-O-Rama is the opportunity for leadership, friendship, self and peer appreciation to all manifest through athletic competition. On this day, high school girls from the following CYR teams all came together: Ft. Collins, Douglas County, Los Alamos (New Mexico), Ranch Rugby, Glendale, and Chaparral. Select Side players, seniors, freshmen, siblings of prior and current CYR players, out of state players, and so on were all one big CYR side at Rugby-O-Rama.
For some, this event was one more day of rugby. For others, it was a beginning of "one more day of rugby", a kind of welcoming to the community. The rugby community runs far and wide, yet is very tight and accepting. The community is full of stories and experiences that last a lifetime. Rugby-O-Rama was one of those days that will last a lifetime. Some of the girls who played together on this day, may be competing against each other in the State Championship match on November 7th. Some will play together again in college. Now, familiar faces both on the pitch and on the sidelines will continue to cross paths and share and build stories and experiences.