See "2008 SEASON" for current schedules and results.  See individual club link on left for club specific information.

Arizona U-19 Select Side for 2008 see "2008 Season" for information.

Arizona Youth Rugby Foundation AYRF
The AYRF is a 501c3 Non-Profit atheltic Corporation whose purpose is to foster and develop amateur youth rugby competition.  

Interested New Players
Select one of the clubs nearest to your area from the clubs listed on the left.  Click on the club and you should find contact information.  If you find no contact information try any another club until you establish contact and request for contact information to the club nearest to you.  All players welcome.

2007 Representative Side-Rocky Mountain Challenge June 16th & 17th
Arizona sent 27 players to participate in this highly competitive tournament.  Arizona did not win any matches this year while playing games against Eastern Rockies, Southern California, Rio Grande and Eastern Rockies Lions.  One of the highlights was seven U-17 Arizona players joined up with Heart of America to play in the U-17 Division finals losing in a close match to Texas.

Many thanks to all players, coaches and parents for another successfull campaign.

On-going Activity
Touch Rugby for all teams; 9:00 AM Sunday morning and 6:00 Wednesday evening @ Chaparral Park (Hayden & Jackrabbit)

The boys did well splitting their four matches.  
Results:
Arizona 10 - Manatoba, Canada 20
Arizona 20 - Eastern Rockies B 10
Arizona  0 - Heart of America 29
Arizona 17 - Rio Grande 5

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Manager:    JB Schonwald 602-570-3319  Coach: Brad Filgas 602-373-5757

For information on the tournament go to this website.   www.RMU19C.com

Coach Brad Filgas and company are very proud of our youth's accomplishments as the trip greatly benefitted our youth program and Arizona's representation in American Youth Rugby.

1st Match  Defending 2004 champion and 2005 runnerup Texas, narrowly defeated the talented Arizona side in a come from behind fashion 32-24.

2nd Match  A big and strong Pacific Northwest side defeated the dejected (after losing to Texas)Arizona side 31-19.

3rd Match  The talented Arizona side really showed their talent in a steller showing, defeating the Heart of America All Stars 45-5.

4th Match  Once again the talented Arizona side cemented their right of passage to participate in this premier tournament with a crushing defeat of Great Plains 43-3.

2005 All State Team
Alex Babuca        Tucson Barbarians     Lock-#8     11
Andrew Blankendaal        Mesquite Wildcats     Fullback     12
Danny Batten        Mesquite Wildcats     Eight     11
Deb Nelson        Mesquite Wildcats     Prop     12
Gabriel Quevedo        Westview Knights     Center-wing     12
Greg Fuller        Mesquite Wildcats     Scrumhalf     12
Justin Suell        Tempe Demons     Prop     12
Kevin Harrison        Tucson Barbarians     Prop     12
Kyle Knutson        Tucson Barbarians     Back     12
Larry (Ethan) Milton        Westview Knights     Scrum-half     10
Lisiate Feinga        Mesa Knights     Prop     12
Mark Carney        Westview Knights     Fly-half     12
McKay Carling        Mesa Knights     Center     13
Parker Howell        Scottsdale Wolves     Scrumhalf     11
Phil Perry        Tempe Demons     Lock     12
Rene Olmos        Tucson Barbarians     Flanker     13
Ryan Thompson        Tempe Demons     Center     11
Stephen Jones        Mesquite Wildcats     Lock     11
Tainui Berryman        Mesa Knights     Flyhalf/center     12
Taufa Pulotu        Mesquite Wildcats     Wing     11
Tyler Milner        Scottsdale Wolves     Flyhalf     12
Vili Kula        Tempe Demons     Center-outside     12

General
USA Rugby is responsible for the structure of the high school competitions.
Territories are responsible for determining the clubs that participate in these
competitions.
In addition to meeting all of the General Eligibility Regulations the following
eligibility regulations apply for any match that leads to the National High School
Championships.
The conduct of all Clubs and individuals must be in accordance with all local,
state and federal laws, and exemplify the highest standards of behavior.
Player Eligibility
a) Players must be 18 years or younger as of September 1 of each respective year.
b) Players must be enrolled in high school full time or be enrolled full time in an
equivalent program leading to a GED.
c) To participate in any match that in any way leads to any National High School
Championship, players must have been enrolled full time in high school or enrolled
full time in an equivalent program leading to a GED at the beginning of the current
competitive season. The dates of the respective competitive seasons are on Page 4 of
the General Regulations. If a player leaves school before graduation or receipt of
their GED they are ineligible to play.
Note: If graduation occurs during the competitive season but prior to the National
Championship, the player is eligible.
d) Players who qualify to play high school rugby, but choose to play, full-time or
occasionally, with a college or club side during a competitive season may not
participate in high school rugby during that competitive season.
e) No more than four GED-enrolled students may play for a club.
f) No more than four non-resident (as defined in the National Club Championships
section above) exchange students may play for a club.
g) The student-athlete must possess medical insurance coverage of $100,000 or more
and/or the maximum amount available through school offered insurance programs.
h) A student has four years of high school eligibility that commences on the date of
his/her enrollment in ninth grade.
i) A player must be enrolled prior to the start of the competitive season. A player may
not change teams within the local area union without the permission of the Local
Area Union High School Chairman. In the event there is no Local Area Union High
School Chairman, the Local Area Union President can grant a waiver.
Note: Strong consideration should be given to any negative effect that the players
departure from the existing team would have on the existing team.
Exception: A player whose family is relocated during the competitive season may
apply for a waiver to the USA Eligibility Committee. If a waiver is granted, a
player must have played in two games in the competitive season to be eligible for
any playoffs.
j) Each player shall meet and remain in compliance with all amateur standards.
k) A player must have played two (2) matches with a team during the season leading
to the National Championship be eligible to play with that team at the National
Championship.
Player Certification Process
To register at local area union, territorial union and national championship events,
each player must submit the following documentation to establish student eligibility. The
original documentation must be provided for review by the High School Registration
Official. Players not able to provide documentation as outlined below will not be eligible
to compete.
a) Current photo I.D. Card such as a drivers license or passport, and
b) Proof of enrollment in the current Club and Individual Participant Program, and
c) Current medical insurance enrollment card.
Team Certification Process
At registration for local area union, territorial union, and national championship
events, each club must submit the following items:
a) The High School Registrar or applicable School Official shall verify individual
student-athlete enrollment in High School (using either the High School Team or
Individual Eligibility Forms) , and
b) Team Participation Agreement. (form found on the USA Rugby website)
c) High School Club Eligibility Form (signed by LAU and TU Rep verifying good
standing)

October 10, 2002 Colorado Springs, Colo. - USA Rugby announced today that the Boys' U19 National Team Head Coach has been selected. Jen Crawford, Selection Committee Chair and International Athlete VP, made public the appointment of Salty Thompson as the overwhelming pick of the Selection Committee.
As Thompson begins his term, his first duty will be to select a staff and prepare for the Winter Elite Training Camp to be held in Dallas Tex. on December 26-31.
"I was delighted to learn of my appointment. I really enjoyed working with the team at the summer camp in Minnesota," Thompson said. "I look forward to furthering the teams development and preparing them for international competition."
Selection for the U19 Boys' National Team has been through the identification of players at the 2002 High School National Championships, U19 LAU Tournaments, USA Rugby Player Development Camps and Coaches Nominations. Forty-eight players attended the summer Elite Training Camp in Winona, Minn., where Thompson was a staff coach.
In addition to the current selection avenues, Thompson wants to expand the U19 Boys' National Team player identification process through an expanded coaches network. He would also like to expand the LAU & TU U19 activities with hopes of creating a U19 ITT tournament.
"Tournaments such as the U19 LAU tournament in Denver, are great steps forward to bringing the best U19 players to the forefront." Thompson said. "The more of these types of events the better and we will make every effort to have scouts at these events."
Following the Winter Elite Training Camp, Thompson will focus on building and preparing the squad for the 2003 iRB FIRA/AER World Junior Champions in Paris, France. The team will be the 4th seed in Pool B when it takes the field on April 9-19, 2003.
Salty brings a strong international and domestic resume to the team. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he played for Regent House, Ards and Ulster at U19 and junior levels. In the late 1970s Salty played rugby at Loughborough, his alma mater, for guru Jim Greenwood. This golden era for the English university produced current England coaches Clive Woodward, Ged Glynn, and Simon Hardy.
Thompson has been resident of the U.S. since 1986. He is the former Southern California territorial coach for the senior men, in both 15s and 7s and served as the fitness coach with the Men's National Team in 1997 on the Welsh Tour. Thompson is also a guest coach for the Atlantis 7s, taking the prestigious team to Spain and the Cayman Islands.
He is currently an iRB & USA Rugby Level III coach, a USA Rugby coaching instructor for the Coaching Accreditation Program and a Lead Instructor for the Player Development Camps.
Professionally, Thompson is the Physical Education Department Chair at Westview High School in Avondale, Ariz. In addition, he is head coach of the rugby, boys' soccer and the varsity cross country teams.
"I really appreciate the hard work and progress made by the former under 19 coaches and feel honored to help further the program" Thompson concluded.