BLACK AND BLUE AND PROUD!!!
Welcome to the home of the Black and Blue,
the Fort Wayne Rugby Football Club.

The fall schedule has been posted.

Practices begin August 11 at Northwood Middle School, beginning at 6pm.

July 18 (HS on 19th), 2009

Fort Wayne, IN

 VENUE: Concordia Theological Seminary – 6600 North Clinton Street Fort Wayne, IN, 46825 

TIMES: 	Saturday 7/18 - 9 AM to ?, High School:Sunday 7/19 – 12 PM to 3:00 PM. 

  No teams are permitted on the pitches prior to 12 PM on Sunday. 

FORMAT:           Men – Division II and III Teams U-19 - Men Mixed Women 

ENTRY FEE:	Men’s Teams - $250.00                                    

		U-19 individuals and Women - $10 per indiv/$80 team

The Fort Wayne Rugby Football Club is pleased to invite you to the 40^th Annual Three Rivers Rugby Tournament, the longest running summer rugby tournament in the Midwest.  The tournament will be held at the Concordia Theological Seminary!  Tents are available for rental at Bob Mutton (phone number: 260-432-8636).  They will deliver and set the tents up for you at the park.  If you need assistance with tent rental, please let one of us know. 

Double elimination for 1st two round on Saturday, July 18^th. We will be including a U-19 Division again this year  on Sunday July 19th.  We will also be hosting a motley-style Women’s game on Saturday, July 18  and an Old Boys games, July 18. A 40^th Anniversary social/bash will follow the last game on Saturday.        

Late entries are acceptable, but must be accompanied with fee payment.  Preference on team seeding and first game start time determined by when fees are recieved. For questions on the men’s tournament and women’s game, please contact Matthew A. Doss, Tournament Director, at 260-758-2111 (work) or rugbydoss@yahoo.com.  For questions or registration for the U-19 tournament, please contact Randy Harding at 260-402-5315 or flyhalf10@verizon.net.   

Several hotels have agreed to host us, Don Halls Guesthouse (1-800-348-1999, min 15 rooms avail. @ $75 with full breakfast) and the Fort Wayne Marriott (260-484-0411 Ext 323 @ $95). Due to a Basketball tournament, SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. YOU MUST RESERVE NOW!!!!! Maps and other information will be provided after receipt of entry. 

As this has returned to a two day event and because this is our 40^th Anniversary, we will be hosting a social at an offsite location, which should be a bash. 

We are looking forward to seeing you and your team this July in Fort Wayne!

The Fort Wayne Rugby Football Club was founded in 1969 making it the one of the oldest of all sports clubs in Indiana and our states oldest adult rugby team.  We are proud members of the Michigan Rugby Union and the Midwest Regional Rugby Union. Our team, coaches and referees are accredited through the National USA Rugby organization and the International Rugby Board.  Our mission is to continue the growth of an organized non-profit rugby club open all persons regardless of skill levels and experience. We seek to promote these essential values in our community:

o        Sportsmanship

o        Camaraderie

o        A healthy and active lifestyle

o        Nuturing interpersonal relationships and communication

o        Development of leadership skills

o        Giving back to the community through charitable events and volunteerism. 

We had landmark year for Fort Wayne RFC in 2008 with our long awaited return to Men’s Midwest Division III playoffs.

We play nearly every weekend in the Spring and Fall. We also hold an annual two-day tournament in July that is expected draw over 500 participants and spectators as we celerate our 40th Anniversary as a club.

If you’re interested in joining Fort Wayne Rugby Club as a player, supporter, or at least to learn more about our great club and sport, then we invite you to contact us this 2009 season.

This season will be one to remember, on and off the pitch.

The Fort Wayne Black and Blue (#1 Northern Conf) advanced 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/