Utah Youth Rugby & Rugby Utah Partner to Host High School Finals & MRC Match

Salt Lake City, UT–Rugby Utah (RU), the USA Rugby recognized state organizing body for men’s rugby, and Utah Youth Rugby (UYR), the USA Rugby recognized youth and high school governing body, announced today that they are partnering to host the Youth and High School State Championship Finals and the Rugby Utah Select XV Major Rugby Championship (MRC) match against the Austin Huns at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT on May 13th.

The partnership will see all UYR championship finals being played at the U of U Soccer Field beginning at 8am on May 13th with the RU Select XV men’s team facing the Austin Huns in a hotly-anticipated MRC friendly at 2pm MT.

Due to the growth and size of the UYR State Championships all other UYR state playoff matches will be hosted across town at the Regional Athletic Center in SLC, UT.

The UYR State Championships is contested by 53 youth and high school teams across 9 divisions over two weekends. All teams play through to the final day, with losing teams in the playoff rounds dropping down to consolation brackets. The Division I Varsity Boys brackets are particularly competitive with 9 nationally ranked teams competing.

In the Multi-School bracket the likes of West Valley Warriors (# 4), Genesis Rugby Club (# 12) and two time National Champion United Rugby Club (# 17) will battle it out for the Utah State Champion honors. The Single School Division boats no less than 4 nationally ranked teams in Snow Canyon HS (# 20), Highland HS (# 21), Herriman HS (#22) and East HS (#28).

“With so many nationally ranked teams in play, it feels like a national championship right here in Utah. There is definitely no easy pathway to the State Title.” said Owen Power, President / Executive Director of Utah Youth Rugby. “Then you add the Rugby Utah Select XV and the Austin Huns to the lineup, it’s no wonder Utah is considered the epicenter of rugby!”

Rugby Utah will close out its 2017 MRC ledger against the Austin Huns, who boast the first professionally set up men’s rugby programs and who have hired Eugene Eloff, Danie de Villiers, and Pedrie Wannenburg as the new Elite/D1 coaching staff.

With a 12-3 record in 2017 the Austin Huns won the D1 Cup in the Red River Conference, a first in the Huns 45-year history, and outscoring the competition by an average of 33 points per game. The team has been led by captain and center Lomani Tongotongo and USA Eagle Hanco Germishuys who works from the flanker position.

The Austin Huns look to compete for their first D1 national championship in Arizona with a battle against Bay Area power San Francisco Golden Gate (SFGG) on May 20th.

“We are excited to showcase our Select XV team in partnership with Utah Youth Rugby,” said Select XV head coach Blake Burdette, “We want to begin showing these young players the pathway and opportunities that lay ahead of them and we’re grateful to have such a great opponent in the Huns to be able to help us put on a good show. We’re looking forward to a fun weekend at all levels of rugby in Utah on the thirteenth!”

All games on the 13th, starting with the Select XV vs. Huns at 2pm, will be streamed live on Rugby Utah’s and Utah Youth Rugby’s Facebook and website pages respectively.

Admission is $5 with advanced purchase online and $7 on day of game. Kids under 12 are free. Veterans and elderly are $5.

For more information please go to www.RugbyUtah.com or www.UtahYouthRugby.org. More news and updates can be found by following both entities on social media.

Utah Youth Rugby Championship Finals Schedule for May 13th at U of U Soccer Field
08.00a: Single School 9/10 Grade Boys Final
09.30a: Multi School 9/10 Grade Boys Final
11.00a: Single School Varsity Boys Division II Final
12.30p: Multi School Varsity Boys Division II Final
04.00p: Single School Varsity Boys Division I Final
05.30p: Varsity Girls Cup Final
07.00p: Multi School Varsity Boys Division I Final

Remaining Rugby Utah Select XV 2017 Schedule
May 13th: 2pm: Austin Huns (U of U Soccer Field, SLC UT)
May 20th: TBD: Utah Collegiate Select XV (Burgess Park, Alpine, UT)
May 27th: TBD: So. Utah All Stars (Regional Athletic Complex, SLC, UT)

About Rugby Utah

Rugby Utah Ventures, LLC (RU) is the official Recognized Geographic Rugby Organization for USA Rugby and is focused on aggregating the strengths of rugby in the state of Utah, from the youth to the elite levels. The goal of RU is to unify rugby within the state through High Performance programs like the Olympic Development Academy and Community programs like the Rugby Business Network, Touch Rugby League and A 2nd Try Foundation. With these programs already producing positive results on and off the pitch the “United State of Rugby” looks to develop the most elite rugby players, coaches and referees and to develop the economic engines necessary to build and strengthen America’s rugby culture. For more information, visit www.rugbyutah.com. #UnitedStateofRugby #yOURteam

UTAH YOUTH RUGBY

Utah Youth Rugby, sanctioned by USA Rugby as a State Based Rugby Organization, was formed in 2010 to promote, serve, advocate, and organize youth rugby in the Great State of Utah. Since then we have grown from a handful of teams to over 130 High School, Youth and Rookie level teams for boys and girls of all ages. Our member clubs compete in 7s and 15s seasons throughout the year. Utah Youth Rugby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit http://www.utahyouthrugby.org