LIVE TOUGH, LIVE HARD, LIVE RUGBY!!!
Welcome to the home of the Black and Blue,
the Fort Wayne Rugby Football Club.

The AGM will be held at Thirsty Camel at 5:30 on Friday, November 14. The agenda will be a bit more expanded than years past, nevertheless, I would anticipate the AGM going for about the same time. I realize this may not fit everyones schedule, but a day and time has to be selected and this will be the day and tume.

If you wish to recommend an amendment, new business, or wish to run for office please email me...and only me.

If you wish to make an amendment to our bylaws, please put it in writing.

Similarly, please put your new business and candicacy in writing. You will be permitted to nominate a designated or nuetral party proxy to present your candicacy or idea. There is expected to be a couple more leadership opportunities, including serving as a Trustee of the club or to run an informal committee.

Just let me know guys. I will release the Agenda on the 13th.

Please also remember that you must have paid your membership dues to have any voting power. 

Matt Doss

The Fort Wayne Black and Blue (#1 Northern Conf) advance to the semi-final round of the Midwest Rugby Union after a difficult win at McMillan Park against the Rockford Ravens Rugby Club (#2 CARFU). Despite a home pitch advantage, the Black and Blue had to fight back from a 15-0 deficit to defeat the visiting team, 20-15. The Ravens were seeded #2 from the Chicago Area Rugby Football Union.

The Fort Wayne RFC will host the Lexington Blackstones (#1 seed, Southern Division) this Saturday at McMillan Park at 1:00 pm. The victor advances to the Midwest Rugby Union final four next April. The Midwest Rugby Union champion will vie for a National Championship title late May of next year.

The last time the Fort Wayne Rugby Football Club won the Northern League, gas cost just over a dollar a gallon and Bill Clinton was still in his first term. This time, the Black and Blue are looking to add a page in a legendary history that began in 1969 of the by returning to the playoffs as a top Seed in the Midwest Rugby League.

Despite playing undermanned for most of the season, the Fort Wayne RFC collected its first Midwest Rugby Union Northern League Title since 1996, going undefeated against its Michigan opponents. With that title they have earned the right to compete in the Midwest Playoffs as the #1 seed from the Eastern Conference. Their undefeated record in Union play also has earned them home field advantage for the first and second round of the playoffs.

The Midwest Playoffs are the first step towards playing for the National Title. The playoffs are structured so that the first two rounds take place in the fall and the Midwest Championship and Nationals take place the following spring.

The Black and Blue were defeated in the first round appearance last year against the Lake County (Ill.) Gladiators, but the ruggers from the summit city bounced back under the coaching of Joe DiFlippo and the leadership of their Captain Bryan Harshbarger and Club President Matthew Doss.

Fort Wayne’s first round opponent will be the Ravens, from Rockford, Illinois who are the #2 seed coming out of the Midwest's Central North League. Like most cash-strapped rugby clubs in the US, the Rockford ruggers will have to drive themselves to Fort Wayne for the 5 hour journey and then contend with a host of Fort Wayne family, fans and supporters rooting against them. If the Black and Blue defeat Ravens, they will face the winner of Lexington, KY v. Erie, PA.

Fort Wayne has played several nail-bitters throughout the fall season including 3 come from behind victories in each of its road games. The Black and Blue will try to set the tempo of the match early with its aggressive defense and quick offense. The Fort Wayne pack of forwards has overpowered opposing scrums and lineouts all season, with the speed to run with its backs. The back line has developed into a skilled and quick unit, able to deliver thunderous tackles.

The match between Fort Wayne and Rockford is set for a 1:00pm kick-off on Saturday October 25th and will be played at McMillan Park. Admission is free.

And where would we be without our Old Boys!!!

Everyone needs to go to USA Rugby's website and get CIPP'ed!!!  It is a requirement to play with the club.

The website address is https://membership.usarugby.org/

The Fall 2008 match and practice schedules are now posted!

 AGM: EVERYONE MUST ATTEND!!! We thought we'd try something different this year; we're going to hold the AGM at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 19th at the Fox and Hound. This decision was made to hopefully get more of you to attend without killing half of your weekend! We will stick to a strict 2 hour time limit, finish up and have a few brews and catch the MNF game. Please make every effort to attend, we will discuss the future of Fort Wayne Rugby and elect (or re-elect) your officers. BE THERE!!!!

Winter Tournament: The Dome is holding the First Annual Indoor 7's at the Dome this year on December 1st and hopefully 2nd (depending on participation). This will be a full field 7's tourney inside the Dome. Keep your eye on the website for more details as they become available.

Fort Wayne RFC, Congratulations on the season boys! We all had a taste of what hard work and a commitment to the team can do for us in a short period of time. Our tough spring schedule gave us a hint of the level we'd need to play at in the fall, and we rose to the occasion. That being said, we all have a lot of work to do this off-season to keep Fort Wayne Rugby rolling in the right direction. This off-season, we need to continue on the path that your VP Chuck Geyer started last off-season, that being a rigorous conditioning program. Watch for an e-mail and the website to for when we will begin off-season training.

As for the Dome, I am in the process of working with them about putting up a set of new posts, but we'll need help paying for them. Anyone interested in donating to the "post fund", please let me know ASAP. We will also be collecting funds at the AGM and Leather Ball.

Again, great job this season, and I look forward to next year where we can continue to grow and come together as a team.

Cheers,

Jeremy Steele President, Fort Wayne RFC

FWRFC, Gentlemen,a few closing comments on this season. First Congrats ,a lot of hard work and commitment went into this fall, practice, conditioning ,traveling and all the extra stuff that needs to happen happened. Playoffs , new players, a new attitude...

As your Coach: we are a smarter playing team, less penalties, less sin bins, cleaner play but more physical. A lot of players played different positions and adapted well. We know what to do with the ball and how to retain possession. We are better at where to be in loose play. The best thing is we are better teammates, no more in fighting, no arguing on or off field. A "Club" this is what I am most proud of.

What we need to improve on, #1 Improve ourselves, can you be faster, can you be stronger, better passer, better kicker. If possible do it. # 2 Set pieces it might help if you make it to Thursday practices so we have the positions in place. This takes repetition, We have improved, but we can get a lot better. # 3 Communication , Talk on the field to your team players. #4 Retain possession, into contact, before contact, and after contact. ( we were much better, I don't think Chuck led the league in first downs this year. good job Chuck. and Puckie didn't swallow the ball every time, Improving our eating habits are a must.)

I'll help in spring as much as I can. Remember the buddy system on attacking and defending. and remember its a team of fifteen, not fifteen on a team. The number on your back is for the referee to write down when you have sinned, and the chicks to tell the police the next day,

Administrators, Get organized, feed assignments to the club. Like a Telephone List, a new and improved E-Mail list, Check to get Cipps, Game balls, tees, Med kit. If we are going to play at the Dome we need Goal Posts and those ditches have to get at least cleared of brush, how about a bridge so we don't have to walk a mile to take a dump. we can't afford the balls. Every one will help just ask.

As an old boy and a "Black and Blue" I see a good future for the club. Tradition is important, almost forty years. So let's make some improvements. Singing you guys suck. Fundraising and sponsors it costs money to be great. Three Rivers, what will keep this a great summer venue, One day? Two day. How many teams, can teams bring a high school side. Old Boys ? get the point, The Annual General Meeting is our next event so show up and put in your two cents or maybe just a penny for your thoughts.

True Black n Blue Joe D.

Gentlemen get out to practice! We only have one more before our match this Saturday against the Lake County Gladiators in Gurnee, IL. The match will be at 1:00pm IL time (Remember they are one hour behind us). Their pitch is located at the following address:

36630 Hutchins Rd.

Gurnee, IL 60031

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Click on the banner above and make a purchase, and 5% of your total will come back to the team!!!  This is an easy way to give back to the club, so get some new gear today!!!