In our country, true teams rarely exist . . . social barriers and personal ambitions have reduced athletes to dissolute cliques or individuals thrown together for mutual profit . . . Yet these rugby players, with their muddied, cracked bodies, are strugg

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Youth Rugby and its establishment in Central
Washington
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In our country, true teams rarely exist . . .
social barriers and personal ambitions have
reduced athletes to dissolute cliques or
individuals thrown together for mutual profit . .
. Yet these rugby players, with their muddied,
cracked bodies, are struggling to hold onto a
sense of humanity that we in America have lost
and are unlikely to regain. The game may only be
to move a ball forward on a dirt field, but the
task can be accomplished with an unshackled joy
and its memories will be a permanent delight. The
women and men who play on that rugby field are
more alive than too many of us will ever be. The
foolish emptiness we think we perceive in their
existence is only our own. Victor Cahn 1895
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Rugby through history

• Common belief is that rugby was born in 1823 when
  William Webb Ellis "with fine disregard for the
  rules of football as played in his time at Rugby
  school, first took the ball in his arms and ran
  with it.
• Rugby has risen in stature since that time and is
  competitively played in 120 countries world wide.
  Well established as the 2nd most popular team
  sport world wide.
• Rugby was a medal sport in the Olympic Games as
  early as 1900, with the most recent appearances
  in 1920 and 1924
• The same nation took the gold Medal in both the
  20 and 24 Olympics
• Any Guesses ???

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USA 1920 1924 Olympic Gold Medalists Rugby

• Who will lead the team onto the field to
  represent our nation in future Olympic Games?

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October 9, 2009Rugby added to the 2016 Olympic
Games in Rio !!(sorry, no more baseball)
USA to Retain the
Gold!!
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The Youth Rugby Players of Today, will be leading
our nations team in 2016

• The National Sporting Goods Manufacturers
  Association (SGMA) 2010 survey came out late last
  week. According the report, rugby is now the
  fastest growing sport in the United States.
• High School Rugby is highly organized with over
  36,000 registered players, featuring regional and
  national championships.
• Only 5.8 of High School Football Athletes
  continue to play in college. Rugby is an
  outstanding alternative for a collegiate sport,
  the best rugby players nationally began playing
  in High School.
• Rugby is played in most colleges CWU Mens and
  WSU Womens Rugby Clubs are continually ranked in
  the top 10 of Division 1 schools.

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Youth Rugby Comes to Yakima

• Conceptualized in late 2008
• Awarded a competitive grant through the National
  Guard to outfit the team.
• Yakima competes with the other 35 teams in Wa
  Youth Rugby
• Head Coach Jonathan Douglas, leads a group of
  talented, dedicated student athletes to a winning
  1st season in 2009

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2010 Griffins Undefeated Division Champs!!

• Eight ambitious returning players Outscore
  opponents 157-48
• Players ages14-19 worked hard for 5 months on the
  hunt for a State Championship
• Griffins finished 3rd Statewide, behind two
  nationally ranked teams
• 3 of our Yakima players picked for the Loggers
  Representative side (22 players in NW)
• A first year Yakima Player chosen as Great NW
  All Tournament and awaits play in the US pool
• Griffins compete through July in Subway
  Washington State Games. Placing 3rd.
• Yakima community catch Griffin Fever, as a new
  great spectator sport. Hundreds line the
  sidelines and Franklin Park is the Place to Be
  on a Saturday Afternoon!

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Griffins 2011 and Beyond

• Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation awarded 501c3
  status as a charitable corp.
• 2011 will field a U-16 team in conjunction with
  our current U-19 side
• U14 and Girls Teams not far behind!
• Goals continue to be the same Develop Strong
  Character and sense of Sportsmanship and
  Community with Rugby as a Vehicle

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How we Measure Success

• Rugby has touched the lives of over 50 young men
  in the Yakima Valley These lads have a bright
  future far beyond Rugby
• We have blended athletes from 7 local schools,
  some arch rivalries molded them into a team and
  built a tradition of winning.
• Nearly 90 of Griffin Alumni have gone on to
  college Including 3 that never considered
  further education prior to playing rugby.
• Nationally, 95 of high school athletes never
  play college ball, over 70 of our graduated
  Griffins are playing college rugby.
• Comments such as, Ive never had coaches care
  about my personal life until now. This is the
  ultimate team sport, these are my best friends.

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How Can I Help Support Yakima Youth Rugby?
Consider This
2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will have a
television audience of over 4 billion (Superbowl
2010 viewership 105 Million) Rugby is a Great
Wave to Ride!!
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Yakima Youth Rugby Foundation

• Griffins Rugby receives no monetary support from
  schools.
• Player Dues in 2010 50. (Including 57 worth of
  shorts, socks, and extras)
• Unpaid coaches, they pay for own travel and
  clinics
• Our goal is to make rugby accessible to all,
  regardless of financial ability.
• Remarkable support from a few local businesses.
• A 501c3 Sole support for youth rugby in Yakima.
• Various sponsorship opportunities for unique
  exposure.

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Envision Your Logo Here! Help Up change Lives!

• More Info
• www.GriffinsRugby.org
• info_at_griffinsrugby.org