We are getting back a few email address as unknown if you are not getting our emails or know of anyone who is not please go to website http://www.aspenrugby.com/newsletter.html and get them to complete the small form.

July 4^th – We are again planning to have a float in the parade following with some great rugby at

 Wagner Stadium.  We would like to get as many players, supporters, kids, girl friends, wives, grandparents whom ever we can muster to come support the boys.

10 am  –  Meeting at Main and 1st  / to help decorate the float and have BBQ and a few drinks before the parade starts.

Following the parade at Wagner Stadium

Aspen Junior Gents Vrs  SFGG U15s touring side (Coached by Gary Williams)

Gentlemen of Aspen Vrs Tulsa 15’s

Possible Gentlemen of Aspen Vrs Tulsa 7’s

There will be a Bar along with Burger and Hot dogs for Sale.  We will also have limited merchandise for sale.

Hope to see you all there.

Saturday June 13th Party   :  Organized by Sigs and was a great success.   Thanks to  Salty and Parker for a great venue and to Lance, Roddy and all the others that helped. There was a hangi for our Kai and a great turnout. 

By, Kai Beech

Special to Aspen Daily News

The Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club advanced to the USA Rugby Men’s Club Championship semifinals as it racked up a pair of convincing wins this past weekend in Austin, Texas.
In the opening round against the Provo, Utah Steelers, the Gents used a smothering defense and came away with a 25-5 win.

Aspen wing Andre Nichols broke a scoreless stalemate 15 minutes into the second half with a 30-meter try. Moments later, teammate Mike Hurley capitalized on a Steelers turnover and scored out wide–putting the Gents up 10-0.

“I think we showed a fair amount of composure. Early on there was no opportunities either way, but we didn’t force the issue,” said Aspen coach Freddy Waititi. “We showed patience, played solid defense and once we scored, we scored almost immediate again. That was what really hurt (Provo).”

In the 68th minute, Aspen flyhalf Isaac Mbereko penetrated Provo’s defensive line with a fake pass in which he unloaded to teammate Merritt Johnson who in turn found the gap and dotted down a try untouched. On the Gents’ ensuing offensive possession, scrumhalf Greg Tarpey capitalized on a long Aspen maul and snuck around the breakdown for the team’s final score as time expired.

Aspen kicker Spencer Scott, the reigning Ruggerfest MVP, made 1-of-4 conversions and a penalty kick.
Despite the quick-scoring offense and lopsided score, Waititi said it was Aspen’s consistent defensive pressure that made the difference.

“It was the defense that frustrated (Provo),” Waititi said. “The times they attacked us there was no way through. We just keep knocking them over. Our defense was what won it.”
The Gents carried their strong defensive mind set into the next round against Los Angeles Rugby Club, defeating the Southern California team 15-7 in a mud bowl of a match.
Aspen’s offense found the tryzone much earlier in this match as Mbereko plowed through several would-be defenders and scored a try 20 minutes into the first half.

Will Martin added a try 10 minutes later, giving the Gents a 10-0 heading into halftime.
On the second-half kickoff, center Brian Dalrymple flattened the L.A. ball carrier causing a turnover. Aspen’s Johnson recovered the ball, chip kicked the it over the L.A. defense and recovered it in the tryzone for 15-0 advantage. L.A. mounted a comeback late in the match but it was not enough as the Aspen defense remained strong and held on for the win.

“We made some big tackles late in the game,” Waititi said of L.A. match. “Our offense played off our defense. We were able to cause some turnovers and put some phases together that resulted in solid attacks.”

With win, Aspen to advances to the national semifinals for the first time in six years where it will face the Atlanta Renegades at Glendale’s Infiniti Park on Saturday, May 30 with at 4 p.m.
Waititi credits this season’s success to the blue-collar work ethic of the players.

“Aspen used to be the best team money could buy,” he said, referring to the club’s glory days in which it won a record-setting seven Super League championships. “Now we got the misfits from across the States and guys from Vail and Steamboat that no one thought had a chance. They way we’ve had to fight to get through this season…it’s really brought us together. No one can doubt the commit we have. We did this with a bunch of guys willing to work for each other and we earned an opportunity to compete for a national championship.”

We have some photos. Enjoy!

Visit this link: http://www.vastaction.com/vpost/index.php?category=gallery/Rugby&start=0

Feb 21
Denver Barbarians (in Denver)

March 7
Albuquerque (in Albuquerque)

March 8
University of New Mexico (in Albuquerque)

March 28
Denver Highlanders (in Denver)

April 4
Glendale (in Denver)

The Sweet 16 is in Austin, TX and the finals in Glendale, CO. We will post the dates as soon as they are available.

Please remember to pay this year’s dues as soon as possible and email Freddy at coach@AspenRugby.com with your contact information. We need everyone to confirm their availability for the trip to Albuquerque on March 7-8.

If you have photos of the Gents, please email them to Zeke Camusio, info@TheOutsourcingCompany.com. We need a lot more photos on this blog.

It’s been quit a successful three months for the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club as it won the USA Rugby Senior Men’s Club Sevens Championships, the 41st Ruggerfest and defeated its first two Division 1 opponents before heading into its winter break.

Aspen Gentlemen, 7s National Champions

On Aug. 10, in San Francisco, Aspen defeated the Belmont Shore Tigers 26-24 to claim the club’s first national 7’s championship. Aspen prop Jessie Pekala capitalized on a blown lineout and raced 35 yards to score the game’s tying try. Gents’ flyhalf Teddy Omondi converted the winning drop goal with his heel as time expired and teammate Mike Palefau was named the tournament’s MVP.

The championship, however, did not come easily as the drop kick.

“In 7’s there are no short cuts and that level everyone had to commit themselves,” said Aspen 7’s coach Andy Katoa. “I ask a lot of all the players. You’ll get exposed if you’re not fit, experienced or prepared. We trained so hard and did all the extra things that when we got into the games that was the easy part.”

Mike Palefau getting rid of Ben Happapuro

Aspen obviously benefited from Katoa’s meat grinder workout as the club went 6-0 in the tournament defeating OMBAC 26-5, Chicago Griffins 45-7, defending champions Chicago Lions 17-12, Daytona Beach 26-0, and Nova 33-0.

The Gentlemen carried their championship momentum to this year’s Ruggerfest—winning the tournament by defeating rival Denver Barbarians 18-9 in the final.

Aspen won its pool with a 26-10 rout against the Albuquerque Aardvarks and a 10-7 nail bitter over the Barbarians. The Gents’ easily won their semifinal match against the Denver Highlanders 34-17.

In the finals, Aspen’s Merritt Johnson and Simon Dogbe each scored tries and teammate Spencer Scott, who was later named the tournament’s MVP, converted one conversion and to penalty kicks as the Gents’ captured their 18th Ruggerfest title.

Coach Fred Waititi explaining a new drill at Rio Grande Park

“It took more guts than anything,” Aspen 15’s coach Freddy Waititi said of winning Ruggerfest. “Our preparation wasn’t great and we didn’t play as well as could have. But luckily we got our some pretty skilled players and we got by on talent.”

Two weeks later, Aspen opened Division 1 play with a lopsided 76-5 win over Boulder. The Gents’ put down 11 tries in the match, highlighted by Ryan Nichols and Johnson who scored two tries apiece.

In its final match of the year against Glendale, Aspen lock Alec Parker, a former USA Eagle, scored twice and teammates Malakai Tabuvuya and Scott each added tries as the Gentlemen defeated the Raptors 21-24.

With the win, the Gentlemen head into their winter break atop the Division standings with a 2-0 record.
“I think the future promises to be good but the things we’ve done this year count for nothing once we start again,” Aspen 15’s coach Freddy Waititi said. “Our biggest challenge is ahead of us.”

By Kai Beech, Roaring Fork Staff Writer | kai@aspendailynews.com