Welcome to the home of the Danville Oaks Rugby in the beautiful setting of Danville, California.  The Oaks have a mission to introduce and grow the sport of rugby in the Tri-Valley area. With this effort, special attention is given to building youth to young adults with life lessons of teamwork, challenge, and positive reinforcement. The "Danville Oaks Rugby Football Assoc"  is a California non profit 501C3 Corporation an a member of USA Rugby

ARTICLES / PICTURES AND ROSTERS CAN BE FOUND UNDER"TEAMs" FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE AGE GROUPS

Thanks for all that came out to this years first open house and registration day. We will continue to have Nov 21st open touch for all registered and non registered players (bring a friend) from 2-3:30pm at Diablo Vista Middle School Football field. Please all returning players get your registrations in and refer a friend for the gear referral system. NOTE given the times, Registration (not including U8) can be paid in 2 payments now and at 02/01/2010. This should allow for easier registration around christmas and families with multiple players.

Next Open House and registration day is 9:00am to 1:00pm at Sycamore Valley Park in Danville Saturday Dec 5th (Holbrook and Tassajara). First Practice is  10:00 am that day for returning and new players. Come on out -give it a try -if you have any questions call Rob Harrison 925-413-5697.

With a terrific base of players from last year, this year we will grow larger again. For this growth and to have others share in the fun the players and coaches had last year. Danville Rugby is launching a new Incentive program. If you are a returning player and you bring a friend along that joins you will get the pick of a hooded sweat top or sweat pants, if 2 friends sign up you get both. If you have both already we may be able to move this 2 new products to be announced. If you are new and bring a friend or 2 the same will apply. Please put on the registration form who you were referred by, (please no cross referrals). So get them out and get gear.

Registration for the up coming year is now open. All registration will go through "sportability" for on line registration, uniform ordering and Oaks gear. This allows for greater control and ease in the process.Fees U8 $125, All other groups $225. NOTE given the times Registration (not including U8) can be paid in 2 payments now and at 02/01/2010. This should allow for easier registration around christmas and families with multiple players.

One of the Key Factors in any sports and especially youth sports situation is to have playable fields to conduct practice and games; no fields = no play. Danville Oaks Rugby with the support of Mustang Soccer, The Athenian School and the City of Danville were able to have state of the art facilities available to them to facilitate the season. To take this further Danville Oaks Rugby has been accepted as a member in the "Sports Alliance" in Danville which helps to anchor the field resources needed to have a solid program today and into the future. Being a memebr in the Sports Alliance allows Danville Rugby like other members to work with the city to secure the necessary field time required before the fields open to the public for rental. So at this point with 2 practices yet to be established (Dec 9/16) we are able to provide a practice schedule(see handouts) for the entire season and we are awaiting league scheduling so we can then schedule game. This is again is a key step for Danville Oaks Rugby and Rugby in the community. http://www.ci.danville.ca.us/default.asp?serviceID1=620&Frame=L1

The Oaks Rugby Program consists of 6 playing groups boys and girls. The Varsity squad is made up of primarily Senior and Junior H.S. players. They will play in the Bay Area Conference silver division. The Frosh-Soph team is Freshmen and Sophmores in high school. U-14 is primarily for 7th and 8th graders (can not be in highschool), U-12 is primarily for 5th, and 6th graders, U-10 and U-8 (touch only) are for elementary school children. These six groups will typically practice and play their games on the same days. We plan to prepare players in the techniques and strategies of playing the game of Rugby with the objective of building a solid, fun, competitive base to propel young athletes in all of their current and future endeavors. 

Rugby starts training Dec 5th and will run through early April with a break for the Holidays in December.

General Principles and Features

• Provides children with a safe and enjoyable introduction to the skills and tactical principles of the game of Rugby Union.
• Allow young players to be introduced to skills at a pace appropriate for their ages and physical development.
• The essential feature of Rugby within the program is one of enjoyment. Irrespective of size, body shape or ability, players are given the opportunity to reach their potential in a caring, fun and safe environment.
• Games provide the basic skills and understanding of set plays through the modified Scrum, Maul and Lineout situations.
• The desirable qualities of rugby -- sportsmanship and fair play -- are positively rewarded, with reduced emphasis on competition.
• At all times safety is a paramount consideration. The Laws of each level of the program have been specifically designed to foster a safe environment for both male and female players, while they learn relevant skills.

Parents, with your support and that of Oaks Rugby, we hope that in a very short period of time you will see your child's coordination, confidence, self-esteem and social skills improve immensely. This will help to provide a good foundation of health, fitness and motor skills for future years.

Varsity -Frosh/Soph

Danville's high school program will play in the Bay Area Conference league of Northern California's Silver Division and the Frosh Soph Group.  They will play two 40 minute halves on a regulation size field with Rugby Union rules. 

 U-14's

The U-14 program is primarily for the 7th  and 8th graders. Players must be under 14 years old as of September 1, 2009. They will play on a regulation size field for two 30-minute halves using a number 5 ball. There will be unlimited substitution during the games with 15 players on a side. This is full tackle rugby with 8 man scrums, contested lineouts and conversion kicks after a try is scored.

U-12's

The U-12 program is for 5th and 6th graders. Players must be under 12 years old as of September 1, 2009. They will play on roughly half of a regulation size field for two 25-minute halves using a number 4 ball. The coaches will referee the games and may be on the playing field during the match. This promotes safety and allows the coaches to instruct the players in the fundamentals of the game. There will be unlimited substitution during games with 7 to 10 players on a side. This will be tackle rugby, with uncontested scrums, contested lineouts and no conversion kicks after a try is scored.

U-10's

The U-10 program is for elementry school athletes. Players can be no more than nine years old as of September 1, 2009, although we may make exceptions for smaller or less experienced players. They will play on roughly one quarter of a regulation size field for two 10-minute halves using a number 3 ball. The coaches will referee the games and may be on the playing field during the match. This promotes safety and allows the coaches to instruct the players in the fundamentals of the game. There will be unlimited substitution during games with 7 players on a side. This will be tackle rugby with uncontested  scrums, uncontested lineouts and no conversion kicks after a try is scored.

U-8's

The U-8 program is touch rugby intended to teach the game to the next generation of potential ruggers.  Two hand touch is intended to teach safe tackling techniques for the player's future.  The coaches will referee the games and may be on the playing field during the match. This promotes safety and allows the coaches to instruct the players in the fundamentals of the game. There will be unlimited substitution during games with 5 to 7 players on a side.