February 12, 2016
Red River & Gold Cup Implications: Austin Blacks – Dallas Reds
Logos: Rugby Gold Cup Championship & USA Club Rugby
Doug Coil
Saturday the Austin Blacks play the Dallas Reds. Both are among the best club sides in the united States. They met in last year’s Men’s Division 1 Club Semifinals and was won by the Austin Blacks. The match will impact both the Red River Division 1 Rugby competition, as well as the Rugby Gold Cup.
The Rugby Gold Cup features the Austin Blacks 2015 runners-up in the USA Men’s Club Championship and Red River Division 1 Champion, the Dallas Reds, 2015 Red River second place and National Club Semifinalist, Midwest Club Rugby Champions the Kansas City Blues and runners-up Metropolis Rugby Club.
The Rugby Gold Cup is in its initial year of competition. It is a competition between the top two clubs from the Mid-West and the Red River Division 1 Club competitions. The League matches between the teams will also count toward Rugby Gold Cup standings.
On October 17, 2015 Kansas City Blues lost 13-33 to Metropolis. A return match on April 23rd has Metropolis hosting the Kansas City Blues.
On February 13th the Austin Blacks host the Dallas Reds and the return match is on April 30th.
The first weekend of Rugby Gold Cup matches were held in Kansas City on November 13 and 15, 2015. Results are as follows:
- Metropolis 24-25 Dallas Reds (N13)
- Kansas City Blues 26-30 Austin Blacks (N13)
- Kansas City Blues 24-20 Dallas Reds (N15)
- Metropolis 19-27 Austin Blacks (N15)
On March 11th and 13th the competition resumes in Texas
- Austin Blacks Kansas City Blues – M11
- Dallas Reds Metropolis -M11
- Austin Blacks Metropolis – M13
- Dallas Reds Kansas City Blues – M13
At this point, the Austin Blacks are 2-0, Dallas Reds are 1-1, Kansas City Blues are 1-2, and Metropolis is 1-2 in Gold Cup standings.
Alex Solomon, USA Rugby, talked with the coaches mentioned in this article. The Gold Cup serves as a high performance opportunity for many USA Club rugby players.
Austin Blacks Head Coach Tane Jericevich who indicated that “the two victories in the Gold Cup meant a lot. We had a large number of players unavailable, but still managed to come away with the two wins. This showed the depth we have, which is very important with a longer season this year.”
Last May, the Austin Blacks and the Dallas Reds played each other at San Francisco Golden Gate’s Treasure Island in the USA Rugby Club National playoffs. The Austin Blacks won a close Semifinal match 19-15 and then the Blacks lost 44-39 in the National Championship Final to the New York Athletic Club after having a 21-0 lead.
Dallas Reds coach Rhys Ball said “we have put last year’s loss behind us, and the boys are focused on this season.That being said, it is hard not to remember it.”
