Tigers Rugby is actively recruiting 13-18 year old boys.  Size, strength and speed are abundant in the rugby recruits seen since practice began in December for the spring season, but there is plenty of room for everyone in this club. Tigers Rugby Football Club begins our 7th campaign, with Arvada, Westminster and Broomfield high school (U-19 and U-16) players, and an adult team. The high school age boys rugby club competes in Colorado Youth Rugby, one of the country’s most successful State Based Model Organizations. Adults (U-23 & Alumni Social Side) also play under the auspices of the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union, Western RFU, and USA Rugby.

We anticipate the forthcoming season as a Colorado Youth Rugby Division I team with veterans Patrick O’Connor, Albert Whitemore, Jake Gossman, Alec Walters, Walker Prieb, Jake Boselli, Oliver Smith, Sam Quinn and Rob Nees from Holy Family HS.  From Pomona HS, Warren Wood, Daijon Tyler and Nick Allen also return to the Tigers backline support.  Ralston Valley HS returns Luke & Ryan Rockwood, Mitchell and Braden Thunell; and Daniel Sargeant brings his skills back from Early College HS.   In preseason workouts, the Tigers have seen 34 players report already.  New players from Arvada and Broomfield that have been on hand to learn the fastest growing sport in the USA, include Matt McLean, Charlie Elwood, Michael Figundo, Dany Fiorino, Tyler Hsin, Robert Kaniecki, Eric & Esau Robles, Marcus Pattilugam, Anthony Puglise and King Medlin.  Jimmy Higden, AJ Shannon, Christian Wallis, and Matt Dominguez-Robinson just recently joined us from Pomona, as did Peter Loving from Ralston Valley. Early College …

Markus Harvey represents a broad base of unique life interests. Markus was a decorated student athlete at Holy Family High School, an All State Honorable Mention as a football player, and a member of the 2005 2A State Championship Football team. Harvey has also dabbled in business, since the age of 14, with the web site ToxicSports.com. He is currently a Freshman student-athlete at Western State College of Colorado.

As a four year starter with Tigers Rugby Football Club, Markus scored more tries than any other player in our history and was a two time Best Forward award winner. He led Tigers Rugby Football Club as a two year captain and ranks second on the Tigers’ all time scoring list, behind another legend, fly half and place kicker, Sam Glynn.

We asked Markus a few questions about the battle.

What have you learned from being involved in athletics at Western State?
In order to succeed in college athletics, you must be willing to dedicate a good amount of time into trying to be perfect at everything you do, whether it be in the weight room, the classroom, or the film room.

What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced as a student athlete?
At times it can be very difficult to find the proper balance between leisure,  football, and academics, especially in the college environment where one has all the freedom they can imagine.

What have you learned about yourself in Gunnison?
I …