Rugby is Latest Sport to Take Beaumont by Storm

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of the Beaumont Bombers Youth Rugby Club:

What is Rugby?

Rugby is a safe, fun and fast-paced sport that builds confidence, camaraderie, tenacity and athletic skill. Rugby matches are quite exciting watch. Breaks in play are scarce and there are no time outs. The goal of Rugby is to move the ball forward, by passing it backward, into the opponent’s try zone. Forward passes are not legal and the ball must be passed backward once the ball carrier is tackled. But unlike other sports, like American football, there is no blocking allowed and the ball must be placed down in the try zone before the score is counted. Sportsmanship is emphasized and expected, not only from the players and coaches, but from spectators as well. You won’t hear coaches arguing with referees and you will likely hear fans cheering as loudly for a great play from an opposing team as they will their own. Matches can be tough and physical, but each match ends with a handshake and the day ends with hospitality of food and beverages provided by the host team.

Beaumont’s Rugby Team

The Beaumont Bombers Youth Rugby Club and the Beaumont Bluehawks Rugby Club recently hosted a rugby tournament on their home pitch at the Beaumont Sports Park. This all day tournament featured the following youth teams: Santa Clarita Tigers, Pasadena Pythons, Granada Hills Rising Eagles, Empire (Colton) Silverbacks and the men’s team, Eagle Rock Athletic Club. The Bombers participate in the Southern California Youth Rugby league. The Bluehawks are a part of the Southern California Rugby Football Union.

The Bombers U8 team plays touch rugby. This division is intended to develop rugby skills before they begin playing in contact matches. They had 2 matches on the day, both vs. Pasadena. The matches were well played, by enthusiastic and energetic athletes. In rugby, sportsmanship is paramount, so each match ended with a cheer for the other team and a team handshake line.

The U10 Bombers also played 2 matches, vs. Pasadena and Granada Hills. These matches are full contact and are played in 20 minute halves, with a short break in between. Teamwork, passing and tackling are stressed at this level and the first-rate coaching showed, with both teams putting on an excellent exhibition of skill, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The U12 Bombers played two matches, both against Granada Hills. These matches are also 20 minute halves. With very little stoppage in play, their conditioning was evident against two tough opponents. At this level, the hitting is a little harder, and the passing and tackling is crisper. Each match featured Bomber players who showed off their athleticism for the home crowd. The matches were tightly contested and in the end, all teams gained valuable experience from their matches.

The U14 Bombers played one hard-hitting match against Empire. The Empire team was physically larger, but the Bombers used their speed and conditioning to their advantage throughout the match. Skill and athleticism is more evident at the U14 level with Bomber players exhibiting serious speed, excellent passing and jarring tackling. Sportsmanship was also evident here, with Bomber players slowing down on a breakaway to pass the ball to a teammate in the try zone to get him his first try of the season! The U14 Bombers ran past Empire, digging deep to overcome the size difference between the teams.

The nightcap featured the Bluehawks men’s team against Eagle Rock. To illustrate the long standing popularity of Rugby, Eagle Rock Athletic Club is the oldest Rugby Club in Southern California, having been formed in 1937.The match proved to be a physical match-up. Both the Bluehawk men and Eagle Rock used steady tackling to keep themselves competitive and the crowd entertained. The game ended with Beaumont scoring the last try of the day to finalize the score and to show the heart of a champion.

As part of hosting the tournament, the Bombers provided the other youth teams a feed of pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs, catered by the Kafe Royale of Calimesa. The Bluehawks team hosted Eagle Rock at a local lodge for food and beverages as well.

New Players Sought

The Bombers traveled to a tournament this weekend in Duarte, hosted by the Pasadena Rugby Football Club.

The Bombers and Bluehawks are actively recruiting new members, and invite boys and girls, ages 8-18, and men 18+, to come and be part of a sport that is taking over not only our country, but the world! We want you to come learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, self discipline, communication skills and to start training now for a sport new in your community and one that is rapidly growing. Rugby is once again an Olympics sport and college scholarships are available. Rugby teaches tradition and the culture of a sport you will enjoy playing for a life time.

For more information, contact Coach Kalani at (951) 514-6041 or email bmt.bombers@yahoo.com.

Practices are held on Tuesday and Thursday, 6-8pm, at the Beaumont Sports Park and players can be signed up before practice.