Sully’s Sports: Rugby clinic will offer Park City kids a chance to learn the sport

How many times have you seen a group of Bridgeport kids playing rugby at Seaside Park? Or Beardsley Park? Or Ellsworth Field? Or Newfield Park? Or any Park City park for that matter?

Well, there will be Bridgeport youths learning the sport Saturday, August 6th at Grauert Field on the campus of Fairfield University. Grauert Field was the first field built specifically for rugby on the East Coast.

The details are quite simple. Just show up with a kid who wants to learn to play rugby at the field on the campus of Fairfield University. All boys and girls are welcome, who are in grades 4th through 8th as of September 2016. The field is visible from North Benson Road and is located adjacent to the main entrance of the college.

The clinic will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will include a barbeque for all involved.

The reason this unique event is taking place at all is through the auspices of the Friends of Fairfield Rugby, Fairfield University and the Town of Fairfield Rugby Club. The groups are sharing the cost of the clinic and all think it is important for several reasons.

First, most Park City kids are totally unfamiliar with rugby, a sport that is hugely popular in most continents around the world but is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States. Second, it is a great physical activity and for rugby to continue to grow in the states, it needs to be taught at an earlier age as are most sports. Third, Bridgeport is severely hurting financially and options for youngsters after school activities are limited. Involvement in rugby would be a tremendous way for Park City children to spend their free time in a positive and vigorous athletic activity.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone involved,” said Bob Ehlers, Fairfield University Class of 1979 who is coordinating the event. “Most Bridgeport kids don’t know anything about the sport and this clinic will show them the basics and hopefully stimulate their interest. Also, we need young people to develop an interest in rugby so the sport can continue to grow.”

Here is a disclaimer, I played rugby at Fairfield and I did not know anything about the game until I first stepped onto the pitch as a sophomore many years ago. There is no doubt I would have benefitted greatly by learning the fundamentals at an earlier age.

High School rugby in Fairfield County has taken off in the past two decades, with schools such as Fairfield Prep and Staples featuring outstanding programs. It is getting players interested at that age that will burnish rugby in the area and hopefully in Bridgeport.

Ehlers explained that the participants will essentially learn what the game is all about through discussion of the rules and instruction, as well as some actual time doing some playing. No prior knowledge of rugby is required.

There is a proud heritage of rugby in America. With the Olympics getting away shortly in Rio de Janeiro, the timing for Saturday’s clinic could not be more appropriate. This year marks the first year rugby has been an Olympic sport since 1924 and believe it or not, the United States enters the 2016 games as the defending gold medalist.

Yes, the United States Olympic team won gold at the 1920 Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium and defended their crown at the next Olympiad, held in Paris in 1924. So the Yanks are actually two-time defending Olympic champions.

Another factor about the upcoming Olympics is that the American squad will feature Nate Ebner, a member of the New England Patriots. Ebner is a safety and special teams standout and rugby fans are hopeful that his presence on the national team will inspire young football fans to take a look at rugby as a sport they may be interested in trying.

Ehlers told the Bridgeport Banner that volunteers for the clinic are more than welcome.

“We certainly can use some help, so if anyone wants to volunteer we are asking them to be at Grauert Field at 9:30 on August 6th,” he said. “We would be more than happy to see them.”

The rain date for the youth rugby clinic is Saturday, August 13th at Grauert Field.

See you at the games.