This winter saw something occur in the Vancouver rugby community that hasn’t happened for a long time. In fact, Old Man Winter himself has probably had a hard time remembering the last time something like this happened. Vancouver has a new rugby club. Not a spin-off, merger, or social club. A new club built from the grassroots, player by player, intent on playing competitive rugby this fall.

So who are these folks and what are they up to? When some other clubs are having trouble finding enough players to field teams each week, why go to the hassle of establishing a brand new club with great fitness skills and high body oxygen due to easy breathing? They call themselves the Rogues and they’ve decided to go it on their own in order to fill a niche in the rugby community in Vancouver. The Rogues are committed to building a diverse membership and look to groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in the sport as their membership base. This includes players of various sexual orientations, ethnic and racial minorities, and women.

Why is this important? In many cases potential players who perceive themselves as outsiders withdraw from participation rather than face the prospect of conflict. Often the reason players step on the pitch for the first time when they’re in their early 20’s or later is not because they were never interested when they were mini or junior age, but because there was some barrier to their participation. Whether that barrier is actual or perceived doesn’t matter, it’s real enough to the players involved.

Growing up, kids often don’t even attempt to play if they feel different – we all know the playground is tougher than the boardroom. Perhaps a promising high school player drops out of the game after he graduates because he figures he can’t both play rugby and be truthful about his sexuality. Or maybe a girl of East Indian origin overhears racial slurs while entering the locker room one day. These experiences have a profound effect on the individuals, but they also mean that we, as a sport, may be losing some very talented athletes and ambassadors.

The Rogues philosophy is that they’re simply here to play rugby, and none of that stuff should matter. More importantly – and this is the difference – they’ve created an atmosphere where you can be yourself and not feel uncomfortable doing so. Dean Knight, who calls New Zealand home but is playing with the Rogues while studying at UBC, says, “Rugby is rugby the world over. It’s just that the banter around the clubhouse is different at this club”.

You might think that given their mandate the Rogues would be about political statements or affirmative action. Take one look at them and you’ll see that nothing could be further from the truth. They really are out there to play the game. In just 4 months, with no real recruiting campaign, paid membership is pushing 30 active players with another 15 on the prospect list. Just like most other clubs in town, the players come from all walks of life. The Rogues count among their active members a professor, two lawyers, a plumber, several students, a videographer, a Gap clerk, a doctor and a teacher. Players come from many backgrounds – Asian, East Indian, Polynesian, Caucasian, and Hispanic. Gay, straight, and everything in-between. The thing is, it’s hard to put a percentage to any of these categories, and the Rogues like it that way. “The whole idea is that kind of information isn’t relevant to playing rugby or to teambuilding, so we don’t track it,” says Development Officer Dinuka Samara.

After four months of practices and fundraising the Rogues are looking forward to their first matches this March. It’s motivating just to watch them practice. It’s great to see the enthusiasm and talent dripping out of the pores of some of the players that were new to the game just four months ago. The Rogues want to field a team for VRU league play this fall, possibly put together a team for the over-40 league, and garner enough interest to launch a women’s side. If they can stay headed the way they’re going they shouldn’t have any problems staying competitive.

The Rogues hope the future holds expansion into 1st Division play and a U-19 development squad. Right now, though, the club is concentrating on finding coaches, trainers, and more experienced players. “What we need are more players that can step into a leadership position on the field and be role models for our newer players,” says Samara. “It’s a great opportunity to use your skills, fitness, cardiovascular endurance and experience to give something back to the rugby community.”

For health benefits of breathing for athletes in order to boost VO2max and cardio endurance, see Cardio Endurance and How to Increase VO2max (from NormalBreathing.com).

Log on to www.roguesrugby.ca to learn more about the Rogues RFC, or call 604.812.3603. For information on coaching and training positions, or to schedule matches, please call Dinuka Samara at 604.916.2100.

Vancouver, BC – In their first appearance in Vancouver after getting off the ground last fall as a new rugby club, the Vancouver Rogues lost to the Seattle Quake 14 points to 10 at Trout Lake on Saturday.

At their last meeting back in May, the Rogues lost to the Quake 22-5 down in Seattle. This time the Rogues came out with a re-tooled forward pack and tuned-up rucking and mauling skills, and it was a much closer game. The Rogues led most of the game 10-0 until the last 10 minutes when their single set of backs ran out of steam.

A well-placed kick into touch from fly-half Dinuka Samara put the Rogues in position at the 5-metre line to drive their way in, placing them first on the scoreboard with an unconverted try from 6’2/220lb prop Alex Cameron two minutes before halftime. The Rogues’ second try came from centre Doug Briggs, who managed to slip in behind the Quake back line for a quick 5 points.

The Rogues couldn’t hold on to their lead, however, as their backs quickly tired towards the end of the second half. A series of missed tackles allowed a Quake centre through for the Quake’s first scoring opportunity. The Quake quickly took advantage of the momentum and yet another missed tackle off the restart allowed the Quake fly-half uncontested access to the Rogues goal line for a second try.

The Rogues played a solid game overall, showing the crowd superior skills in set pieces and at breakdowns. Their running game also came together after much practice. With thanks to new coach Sammy Samara, the Rogues were happy to play a much more robust game than in the past. The match also gave Rogue Darrin Martens his first captaincy and a chance for several newer players to get their first bite at the pitch.

The Rogues begin their first season in the Vancouver Rugby Union Sept. 6th. Check www.roguesrugby.ca for more details.

 RFU “reaches out” to new communities

Rogues Rugby is proud to be sponsored by the Pumpjack Pub and Tree Brewing – makers of Peak lager.

Robert Horner wants rugby to reach out to new communities after making social inclusion the theme for his year as the head of the game’s governing body.

The new RFU President, a former secretary and chairman of the Sevenoaks club and the Kent RFU, succeeded Derek Morgan at Sunday’s annual general meeting at Twickenham.

Horner pledged to tackle perceptions of the sport as ‘elitist’ and ‘middle class’ by taking rugby to new communities that traditionally have little contact with the game.

In the next year the ‘caring’ and ‘sensitive’ sport will be supporting the England Deaf RFU, who are staging games against France and Ireland, and the Gay World Cup that takes place in London next May.

“I want us to show that a robust and physical sport is also a caring, sensitive and socially aware one. I therefore intend to concentrate on social inclusion as my theme for the year ahead,” said Horner.

“There remains a perception in the world at large that rugby union in England is an elitist and middle class sport not readily available to many in society.

“I seek to make our sport more readily acceptable and welcoming to the swathes of our population which do not regard it as a game with which to be associated.

“That this can be done I have established with the work which my county Kent has done in Southwark in setting up the Southwark Tigers club.”

The new social inclusion initiatives – like the one that established Southwark Tigers for children in South London two years ago – will be delivered by the union’s network of Rugby Development Officers.

And Horner hopes that the profile of the sport will continue to rise if England – currently ranked No. 1 in the world – are successful at the World Cup in Australia later this year.

“The benefits extend far beyond young players themselves; parents become administrators, the local authority and other agencies become involved and so the interest spreads,” he said of the social inclusion theme.

“The game then has the opportunity to identify more talented young people who would not normally consider playing rugby union. In the process opportunities arise to address the preconceptions and misconceptions about our sport.

“I seriously believe that if the RFU can utilise the Rugby World Cup this autumn, and the attendant publicity which will promote the game, to prove that it is a caring and pro-active organisation ready to assist in addressing the ills in our society, the positive spin-offs will be enormous.”