Highlanders Rugby Club of Chapel Hill, NC USA

 

 

Rugby is one of the world's greatest and most popular team sports.  The game is fun to play and watch, with its combination of physical intensity, speed, strength, fitness, courage, skill, strategy, and teamwork.  Of equal importance is the culture of great sportsmanship that characterizes rugby's reputation.  From lowly beginners to upper echelons of professional and international levels, the game is played and supported in an unbiased, good natured fashion.  Examples of this sporting culture pervade the sport. 

 

Rugby players are usually on good terms with team members of opposing teams and this camaraderie is promoted at all levels via the "3rd Half", when the two teams socialize after a match.  Trouble between opposing fans is extremely rare.  It is uncommon for a rugby player to fake an injury or a foul in order to gain a penalty.  In an era of intense competition, the sport has a remarkable record regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs.  An extensive testing program before and during the 2007 Rugby World Cup resulted in NO positive results.

 

USA Rugby, Carolina Youth Rugby, and the Highlanders Rugby Club are committed to perserving and promoting this desirable culture of sportsmanship.  USA Rugby has partnered with an organization called the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) to help achieve this goal.  Following recommendations of the PCA for youth rugby, the Highlanders appoint a parent to as the club "Culture Keeper".  The ethos of this role is simple, to spread the passion for the sport of rugby and help to keep it the great sport that it is.  Working from  the sidelines, the culture keeper promotes good "sporting" behavior in parents and players.

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Chuck Paterno

Tom Kepler

Susan Frost

Dawn Blanchard

David O'Reilly

 

Fields - Jeep Morrison and Edward Marshall

Fundraising - Carolyn Slade

Yearbook - Kristen Stamper, Jane Marshall, Emily Prins, Debbie Jepson, Carolyn Mackman, Rachel Jordan

 

 

-ONLY the captain may speak to the referee

-Profanity during match play is forbidden

-Matches last 70 minutes (35 minute halves)

-The ball can ONLY be passed backwards

-15 players per side

-Players play BOTH offense & defense

-No huddles, no timeouts, no downs - just open play like basketball & soccer

-EVERY player can run and score the ball

-There a 8 forwards and 7 backs on each side

-Forwards form the scrum & lineouts

-Backs are primarily open field runners

-A "try" = 5 points, similar to a football touchdown

-Conversion kicks = 2 points, similar to a football extra point

-Penalty kicks = 3 points, similar to football field goals

-Tacklers MUST wrap & engage below the shoulders, no shoulder tackling