Category: Practices

Fall Season is Upon Us

As the leaves on trees are just barely starting to change color, the WWRFC is getting ready for the start of our 2017 fall season.

Practices will start on Monday August 7 at 5:45pm at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex in Cottage Grove, Wis. As usual, practices will take place every Monday and Wednesday night until the end of the fall season. See our Practices page for more info. As always, practices are open to anyone new to our team or our sport; new players are always welcome!

The first week of practice will include a team meeting at the end of training on Wednesday August 9. All new and current players should plan to attend!

We’ll finish off the first week of practice by competing at Wisconsin Rugby Club’s annual Stuart Daily Memorial 10s Tournament in Cottage Grove on August 12. We’re looking forward to this fun opportunity to brush off the dust from the summer and get ready for our fall season!

Speaking of games, our fall will consist of home-and-away games against our Midwest Division 1 competition: Chicago Women, Detroit Women, and Minnesota Valkyries. The season will end with the Midwest Championship in early November. In addition, we’ll have several friendlies this fall, including home matches against Ocononomowoc and Denver Black Ice, as well as our annual alumni game on August 26. Check out our Schedule page for full match details, including times and locations. We hope to see tons of fans at our games!

And last but now least, the WWRFC is happy to announce our new head coach! Justin O’Connor will be joining us this fall to helm the club. Originally from Wales, Justin has been coaching for 10 years, from the U16 level up to seniors. We’re excited by the experience and enthusiasm for the sport that Justin will be bringing us and cannot wait to start practicing with him. If you see him at any of our games or socials, give him a friendly Wisconsin welcome!

Head Coach Wanted – Compensation Available

The Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team is currently seeking a head coach starting in August 2016. We have been back-to-back National Finalists in Division 2 the last 2 years, including winning the National Championship in 2015. In the fall we will begin Division 1 league play in the Midwest, making us the only Division 1 team in Wisconsin.

• We are looking for someone who is able to help our club continue to grow and develop at the D1 level and help our players advance competitively.

• No previous coaching experience is required, but is valued.

• Level 200 coaching certification is required, the team will pay for your USA Rugby coaching certification course if needed.

• Minimum attendance at 1 practice a week and most games on Saturdays (Ideally, 2 practices per week and all games).

• Coaching roles include planning and leading team practices in season, developing overall team strategy and game plans, working with team leaders to select game-day rosters and providing feedback to players to help them develop their skills.

• Compensation includes payment of match related travel and a stipend.

• Other details of position are negotiable with team leadership.

Our 2016-2017 competitive schedule runs from late August to late October and March to early June and will include games against teams in Chicago, Twin Cities and Detroit. We practice twice a week on Monday and Wednesday at the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex from 5:45 pm-7:45 pm.

We return a hard-working roster with lots of potential looking to prove ourselves at the Division 1 level.

Interested applicants should email the team at ww_rfc@yahoo.com with contact information, rugby history, and why you’re interested.

Please help our team climb to the next level.

Wisconsin Head Coach Bob Jafferis To Retire

Our team is sad to announce the official retirement of our head coach, Robert “Wee Bob” Jafferis, now that our spring 15s season has come to an end. Wisconsin Women’s Rugby is thankful for these past four years and we appreciate all of Coach Bob’s time, energy, and the love of rugby he shared with our club.

Coach Bob has led our rugby team to a series of history-making wins. Under Bob’s coaching, the Wisconsin Women qualified for back-to-back USA Rugby national championships, winning the national title in 2015 and finishing second overall in the nation a few weeks ago. Additionally, the team qualified to four straight Midwest Final Fours, competing in the Midwest Championship match for three of those four years and winning the regional title twice in 2015 and 2016. In Midwest women’s regular-season league play, the team finished no less than second overall each year, turning in two undefeated seasons in both 2013-2014 and 2015-2016.

Coach Bob also reminds us every day that we play because we love this game and that we’re on this team to have fun. He amuses us with hilarious rugby stories and teaches us international rugby skills along with the dark and subtle arts of the front row. Bob is a strong supporter of the game for women of all ages. Through his generous efforts, our club started our first-ever financial endowment fund to grow the long-term future success of this club and provide opportunities for future teammates.

Our team would be remiss if we did not also thank Bob’s wife Marsha. Thank you Marsha for letting Bob be our coach and for being a fan of our team.

If you see Coach Bob sometime this summer, please join us in giving him a hug, a handshake, and a job well done. Three cheers for Coach Bob. We’ll miss you!

*****

The Wisconsin Women will be looking for a new head coach starting immediately. Please look for our official team job posting out soon and please contact us if you or someone you know is interested.
Thank you!

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Fall Team Practices Kick Off Today!

Lily Khadempour tackling a Detroit player at the Firehouse 7s, 2012.

With an eye on a trip to the USA Rugby Division II National Championships in November, the Wisconsin Women kick off their Fall 2012 team practices today.

Practices will be held every Monday and Thursday night. See our event schedule for more details.

Wisconsin finished second overall in the Midwest Division II women’s conference, just one win shy of qualifying for a trip to nationals in 2011.

The team’s 2012 goals include winning the Midwest Division II Championship and traveling to Florida, Nov. 9-11, for this year’s National Championship tournament.

Wisconsin prop Nadia Riese leading a scrum versus the Chicago Women.

The team is also happy to announce two new team captains.

Fullback Lily Khadempour will be the Backs Captain and Prop Nadia Riese will be the Forwards Captain this fall.

Congratulations Lily and Nadia!

Fall 2010 Team Practices Have Started!

The Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team kicked off Fall 2010 team practices on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

The team will hold practices every Tuesday and Thursday night from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. at Yahara Rugby Field (aka “The Dump”) on Madison’s east side.

Practices will run through mid-November as the team progesses through Midwest Division I league play and national playoffs.

New players are welcome to attend any practice. All players should dress appropriate to the weather and getting sweaty/dirty. Please bring a mouthguard, water and bug spray if the mosquitos are biting.

Questions? Call team president Nadia at 608-770-9898.