Tigers let the South West Area Rugby Men (SWARM) get away for an early try on Saturday, March 10th in a home match at Broomfield County Commons.  A beautiful sunny day greeted a couple hundred fans, players and coaches.  The gritty Tigers gave all they had against the team based out of Chatfield, Dakota Ridge and Columbine High Schools, as  SWARM  took the second league match from Tigers RFC by a score of 26-5.  The Tigers are now  5-4 overall, and 0-2 in league play against Division I Rugby Colorado opponents.

The Tiger’s captain, Jeff Madigan brought the Tigers to within 2 points at 7-5 on the last play of the first half.  In the thrilling first period, SWARM had opened the match with a rambling set of rucks at the four minute mark, led by their comparatively larger pack of forwards.  But, Madigan, scrumhalf Jamison Escobar, and flyhalf Ben Onaindia willed the very young Tigers Rugby Football Club back into the game with convincing effort, spurned by repeated quick taps on penalties and aggressive running by Greg Bridges and Reilly Hauptman.  Tommy Spitzer’s lineout play, and strong support by 8th grade locks, Xavier Charboneau-Martinez and Matt Lloyd seemed to inspire the back line and other forwards that it was still worth it late into their second league match of the year.

As is the Tigers tradition, winners of three Rugby Colorado Team Sportsmanship Awards since 2004, the match began under the beautiful blue skies in Broomfield with an inspiring rendition of our national anthem, sung by players and coaches to an American flag that had been dedicated to the Tigers RFC, and flown over Iraq in a reconnaissance mission in 2010.   In the end, Assistant Head Coach Nick Samaras assured his team that this  game was a winnable one, and Head Coach Paul O’Brian encouraged his boys to shake it off, and to go enjoy the rest of the beautiful weekend.

The Tigers Boys HS  side includes John Beattie, RC Branham, Greg Bridges, Xavier Charboneau-Martinez, Devon Connor, Weston Dinsmore, Jamison Escobar, Nicholas Gougouris, Travis Grenier, Reilly Hauptman, Patrick Heneghan, Francis Kailey, Matt Lloyd, Josiah Loving, Jeff Madigan, Bryan McDonald, Brian Mikolajczak, Ben Onaindia, Dominic Pena, Tommy Spitzer, Noah Steeves, Alex Sutton and Devin Weeks.  the player hail from Holy Family, Broomfield, Legacy, Peak to Peak  and Ralston Valley High Schools and Westlake Middle School and the Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School.

The Tigers are now 5-4, after losing to Aurora Saracens on March 7th by a score of 33-10.  Reilly Hauptman and Ben Onaindia accounted for the Togers scoring in the season opener, also played at Broomfield County Commons Park, located at 13th Street and Sheridan Boulevard (13200 Sheridan).  The 8th, 9th and 10th grade Tigers teamed with Regis Jesuit HS, losing to Cherry Creek, and a combined SWARM and Boulder team.  The Tigers had opened their season with four wins in against the Northside Vikings and the Brighton Thunderhawks at Trailwinds Park.

In the coming week, the Tigers RFC will attend the second of seven Freshmen/Sophomore Festivals on Monday, hosted by Boulder.  On Wedneday (3/14/12), they travel to play the nationally ranked Colorado Springs Grizzlies HS side.  Next Saturday the Tigers host the 2012 Spring Fling tournament, where they will play 5 different 18 minute matches against Platte Canyon and Conifer (PAC), SWARM, Denver East HS, Aurora Saracens, Ponderosa HS, and the Brighton Thunderhawks.

For more information about the Tigers HS team, call Coach Paul O’Brian at (303) 506-8110.  The Tigers practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Aspen Creek Park in the Broadlands West area on Mountain meadow Drive and Sheridan Boulevard, Broomfield, Colorado.

Aspen Creek Park in Broadlands West is the practice field in March, April and May for Tigers Rugby Football Club.

Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursday at 3:15 – 5:00 pm, and Saturdays at 10:00 am – noon.

Map Link for Aspen Creek Park in Broadlands West

Our HS side HOME matches are played at Broomfield County Commons Park

Tigers Rugby HS Side HOME SCHEDULE:
March 7th (next Wednedsday)  - Aurora Saracens – Kickoff at 5:00 pm
March 10th (next Saturday) – SWARM- Kickoff at 11:00 am
March 28th  (Wednesday) – Fort Collins- Kickoff at 5:00 pm
April 4th (Wednesday) – Denver East

The full HS Side schedule is:
Mon 3/5/2012 Freshmen/Sophomore #1 6:00 pm Regis Jesuit Stadium
Wed 3/7/2012 5:00pm Aurora
Sat 3/10/2012 11:00am SWARM
Mon 3/5/2012 Freshmen/Sophomore 6:00 pm Regis Jesuit Stadium
Mon 3/12/2012 Freshmen/Sophomore #2 at Boulder
Wed 3/14/2012 5:00pm Colorado Springs
Sat 3/17/2012 9:00 – 3:00 pm Spring Fling Tournament at NW Open Spaces
Mon 3/19/2012 Freshmen/Sophomore #3 at Chaparral
Wed 3/21/2012 5:00pm at Regis Jesuit HS
Wed 3/28/2011 5:00 pm Ft. Collins
Mon 4/2/2012 4:30 pm Freshmen/Sophomore #4 at NW Open Spaces
Wed 4/4/2012 5:00pm East
Sat 4/7/2011 12:00 noon at Boulder
Mon 4/9/2012 4:30 pm Freshmen/Sophomore#5 at Cherry Creek
Wed 4/18/2012 5:00pm at Cherry Creek
Sat 4/21/2012 11:00am at Chaparral
Mon 4/23/2012 4:30 pm Freshmen/Sophomore #6 at Ft. Collins
Sat 4/28/2012 4:30 pm Division I Playoffs
Mon 4/30/2012 4:30 pm Freshmen/Sophomore #7 at Littleton
Sat 5/5/2012 10:00 am Division I Semifinals at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Wed 5/9/2012 State Championship Matches at Infinity Park

Tigers Rugby will practice on Saturday, 2/25/2012, at Broomfield County Commons Park – 13200 Sheridan Blvd. - starting 10:00 am.

Broomfield County Commons Park <map>

HS players: If you want a free hoodie, you MUST attend practice, pay your $150 fee, and submit (or have already submitted) both completed Registration Forms.

The link to our forms is found at the top of this page or click these links:

Tigers Rugby Consent Form

HS Side USA Rugby Form

Call us if  you have questions at (303) 506-8110.

Tigers Rugby hosted the Brighton Thunderhawks and the Northside Vikings to a round robin of scrimmages at Trailwinds Park.  Each team played four periods on a sunny cool morning on fields cleared with plows by the  City of Thornton.

The Tigers played 4 periods (two against each) and came away undefeated, although  the Vikings were up to the challenge. A late try by the Tigers’ Alec Walters decided the contest.  The Vikings beat the Thunderhawks in the first, but the start  up team from Brighton came back to tie the Vikings in the final stanza.

Walters,  Westin Dinnsmore, and Jeff Madigan scored two tries each, while Ben Onaindia, Jamison Escobar and Josiah Loving each score one apiece for Tigers RFC.   Onaindia missed a conversion, but Alec Walters went 7 for 7 including a long one from the left sideline to provide a decisive edge to the Tigers’ effort.

Tigers Rugby Cold Weather Policy:

The ninth season of the Tigers Rugby Football Club got off to a fun-filled first week with as many as 27 players a session.  Broomfield County Commons Park is the venue for practices is January and February.  Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:15 pm, and Saturdays at 10:00 am are the start times.  Growing numbers were evident each day, and support from as many as 11 coaches provided expanded learning opportunities for the young Tigers.

Tigers Rugby is actively recruiting 13-18 year old boys.  There is plenty of room for everyone in this club.  Tigers Rugby Football Club begins our 9th campaign, with Arvada, Westminster and Broomfield high school, 8-10th grade players, and  adult teams. The high school age boys rugby club competes in Rugby Colorado (formerly Colorado Youth Rugby), one of the country’s most successful State Based Model Organizations. Adults (Tigers Rugby Alumni) also play under the auspices of the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union, Western RFU, and USA Rugby.

Tigers RFC looks forward to the spring with great enthusiasm. As Rugby enjoys increased popularity in the North Suburban area, Tigers Rugby is enjoying growth for the 9th consecutive year. This one organized club, featuring players from 5 or more schools, promotes a growing local interest and support. The team is well respected and took home league Sportsmanship Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Tigers draw their players from Legacy, Ralston Valley, Standley Lake, and Holy Family High Schools. A yearly match against Regis Jesuit High School is a celebration culminated by the Colorado Catholic HS Boys Rugby Cup, presented to the winner – which in 2011 was our Tigers.  Above all else, having fun is our intention. Our method of teaching sportsmanship, skills and strategy- in a well-controlled environment helps in the presentation of an organized Tigers Rugby game plan.

Nick Samaras, Assistant Head Coach, offers critical training for the historically quick and powerful Tigers Rugby running backs. Players receive instruction and support from 11 assistant coaches. Club founder Paul O’Brian, was the Rugby Colorado Division I Coach of the Year in 2011, and the Division II Coach of the Year in 2005.  He leads the coaching staff of Nick Samaras, Dylan Lewis, Mike & Matt O’Brian, Jim Twiford, Juan Sarti, Jonathan Castillo, Ben Wright, Jake and Jeff Gossman, and Artur Gonzales. Coaches are certified by USA Rugby, the national governing body, to coach high school and youth-aged players, including background checks. Fitness is inherent to our training method, and essential to rugby players. Tigers Rugby Coaches thoroughly enjoy the conditioning and skills demonstrated by their boys after just a few shorts lessons. Though confusing to spectators at first, players adopt the laws of the game rapidly and are quick to grow attached by the world’s second most popular game.

Tigers Rugby strives to exceed expectations of parents and administrators concerned with the welfare and education of young players. The positive aspects of rugby: camaraderie, fitness, discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork and mutual respect, builds self-esteem and character among our athletes. The skills developed, including ball handling, running, vision, tackling, pursuit angles, speed and strength development, punting and place kicking are applicable to other sports.

Tigers’ Board of Directors provides the opportunity for players to experience parliamentary rule in the presentation of By-laws to govern the organization, mentoring in the design of a working constitution, election of officers, and the establishment of a sound mission.

To play rugby this spring, call Coach Paul O’Brian at (303) 506-8110.

Sign up for Tigers Rugby today!

Go to the links below to download the paperwork, fill it out, and bring it to practice or a match.

Tigers Rugby Consent Form

HS Side USA Rugby Form

Adult USA Rugby Form

Call (303) 506-8110 RIGHT NOW! if you have any questions.