"The worst thing about getting to my age is having to listen to
the advice from the young ones."
----- Andy Capp
SLO County Rugby...
For more than twenty years San Luis Obispo County has been home to as many as three highly competitive rugby teams.
- San Luis Obispo Rugby Club, representing the Central Coast since 1975, provides a post-collegiate rugby experience for many of the county's athletes while qualifying for the Southern California Rugby Union Playoffs on a regular basis.
- Cal Poly Rugby Club competes against PAC-10 schools at the University level and consistently represents the school in the Pacific Coast Championships.
- Los Robles Rugby Club is a merit program at the CYA facility in Paso Robles, providing a competitive outlet for the young men there.
Why Youth Rugby?
Presently there is no organized rugby for boys and girls under 18 who do not attend the aforementioned institutions. Into this void steps members of the San Luis Obispo Rugby Club, who would like to give back to a game which has given them many occasions for friendly, albeit fierce, competition. Our goal is to present this wonderful sport in a safe and fun environment with minimal financial obligation to parents and players.
Advantages of rugby that will compliment other sports and activities include achieving a high level of physical fitness, passing and kicking skills, leadership, teamwork, camaraderie, travel, and potential educational and job opportunities. It has been said that once you have played a rugby match, everything else is easy. Rugby, a sport played world-wide, has provided many players with numerous friendships and business contacts around the globe.
The Future of Youth Rugby!
A county wide rugby program: From Dream to Reality--One goal is to see the various areas of the county form youth programs. There is a natural sense of rivalry among different localitites of the Central Coast that would provide for interesting competition. In addition to the North County team, there are future plans to set up quality programs in Morro Bay-Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, and Arroyo Grande-Pismo Beach. The Central Coast Athletic Club has expressed interest in forming an All-Star team to compete against other high school aged programs form San Jose or the Los Angeles areas. Perhaps a few years down the road, the High School National Champion could be a team formed on the Central Coast. Hey, but for now let's just run around a little this summer, have some fun, exercise, and see what happens.
About the Coach...
Paul Cappellano is presently an educator and coach at the high school level. He has been involved in rugby since 1983. He began his playing career as an undergraduate at Boston College. As Captain, he lead BC to the finals of the New England Collegiate Championships in 1987. He has served as a player-coach for Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA '89-90) and has played on sectional All-Star teams while a member of the Albany Knickerbockers ('85-91). Currently he plays for the SLORFC, and is publicity officer and sevens coach for the club. You may have read his articles in Rugby Magazine or the Telegram-Tribune. Please don't hold that against him.
Exiles ||
Fifteens ||
Sevens
Tri-Tip ||
Distribution ||
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