For Immediate Release

College Rugby

July 8, 2021

Poughkeepsie, NY

Tri-State Conference and the Fall 2021 Season

Following a Zoom Meeting in late June there was a consensus that many teams would be very much in a rebuilding phase in the Fall following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hope is that Conference play resumes in the Fall of 2021 but a good number of teams have indicated that squad numbers could be very low. In addition since there been less physical activity and no rugby experienced gained over the last 16 months that teams will struggle to fulfill games.

It is imperative that teams COMMUNICATE in the first 3 days of the week prior to the scheduled game. Actually person to person phone calls should be made so that everyone is on the same page. (Send an e-mail and it might not be read in time or by the right person!) The Tri-State website has cell phone numbers for you to use.

Coaches and team leaders were all in agreement that if we do play in the Fall that the schedule should be followed and results counted toward divisional standings. But in the true spirit of the game it was felt that accommodation be made for those programs with low numbers. In the event of teams having fewer that 15 to play a game teams should opt for the highest number of participants available. 14 v 14, 13 v 13, 12 v 12 etc… in these situations a reduction in the number of forwards at set piece would be permissible but teams should match numbers in the scrum. If necessary substitutes may be used and then return to play if agreed upon prior to kick-off and the referee is informed.

Game examples: If Team A has only 10 players and Team B has 20 players a game of 10s, 12s 13s, 14s or 15s could be played. Teams should agree prior to kick-off the parameters. Team B could loan players to Team A.

It was further discussed that teams need to communicate details to their assigned referee each week with a view that the official is not blindsided by a 12 v 12 game for example.

If necessary when the Conference convenes in August, prior to the season, 3 or 4 teams may be scheduled at the same venue thus allowing full games. A big onus will be on the coaches of each team to reach a consensus as to the number of game participants. Our sport has always been a participatory sport and we need to do all we can to get players on the field playing.

Any questions should be directed to Tony Brown, 845-380-9052 or email tobrown@vassar.edu

For Immediate Release

College Rugby

Saturday May 8, 2021

The Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference is pleased to announce the addition of HomeLight as an official sponsor of the Conference.

HomeLight is a real estate referral company that utilizes the Internet as a marketing medium with the use of real estate technology.

For Immediate Release

College Rugby

Poughkeepsie, NY

Monday March 1st, 2021

Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference Defers to Member Schools

Following a Zoom meeting last night, Sunday February 28th, 2021, of the Tri-State Rugby Conference membership the Conference decided not to sanction any championship events this spring on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each school representative briefly outlined their situation with regard to participation and practicing and it was clear that any kind of competitive season was not viable.

The majority of the teams are practicing with varying conditions applied (masks, social distancing and sanitation of equipment) and in most instances the hope is that intra-squad games can be played.

Importantly, the Conference did state that it would review this decision at the end of the month and if the situation allows for games to be played, i.e. lower infection rates, more vaccination coverage and accepted protocols employed by member institutions, then member schools could work with their Club Sport Directors and school administrations and set up games.

It could be that an in-state schools with similar protocols might be willing to allow the students to play a game. The risk of infection seems to be more likely as a result of gatherings of people in confined spaces for periods of time and not through the playing of rugby itself.

A recent study, admittedly of Rugby League not Union, addresses this issue – see link

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/02/10/bjsports-2020-103714

The Tri-State Conference will publish the Fall 2021 Schedules in the next 10 days and is very optimistic that by September 2021 championship play will resume.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Tony Brown

tobrown@vassar.edu

(845) 380-9052

Tri-State Rugby Conference, Inc.
Director
http://www.tristaterugby.com

Please review the USA Rugby Return to Play Guidelines for the Fall of 2020 by clicking on the link below:

USAR-R2P

Congratulations to the following students for being selected to the All-Conference Teams

Tri-State All-Conference Team

Women

2019-20

First Team Selections:

Jane Carino – Montclair State University – Lock – Sophomore

Madison Casillo – SUNY Albany – Outside center – Senior

Bianca Chandler – Stony Brook University – #8 – Junior

Maddie Crump – Vassar College Women – Lock – Senior

Gionna Del Purgatorio – Drew University –  Flyhalf – Senior

Brenda Doctor – Monroe College – Scrum/Flyhalf – Senior

Ange Faison – Monroe College –  #8/Center – Senior

Christina Froelich – Rutgers University – Scrumhalf – Senior

Madison Gibson – Montclair State University – Inside Center – Junior

Kait Gray – Rutgers University – Fullback/Outside Center – Senior

Genesis Guedes – Drew University – Flanker – Senior

Charlotte Guillotine – SUNY New Paltz – Flyhalf/Scrumhalf – Senior

Caisi Hecht – Marist College – Fullback – Senior

Emma Husk – Hofstra University – Fullback – Sophomore

Caroline James – Vassar College – Center – Junior

Hannah Kozan – University of New Haven – Flyhalf – Senior

Zoe Legott – Manhattanville College – Flyhalf – Senior

Mary McGrail – Marist College – #8 – Senior

Kasey Molito – Manhattanville College – Inside Center – Junior

Caitlyn Moustouka – RPI – Fullback – Junior

Allanah Nunez – SUNY Albany – Prop – Senior

Stephanie Ogman – Hofstra University – Inside Center – Senior

Yuzuki Otake – Fordham University – Flanker – Junior

Diandra Phillip – Siena College – Prop – Senior

Sascha Rosin – Stony Brook University – Scrumhalf/Wing – Junior

Sonam Sherpa – Siena College – Fullback/utility – Senior

Mary Sparago – Fordham University – Wing – Junior

Vanessa Tarantino – RPI – Scrumhalf – Senior

Lucy Tartal – University of New Haven – Flanker – Senior

Kate Welzel – Fairfield University – Flyhalf – Senior

Caitlin Wood – Fairfield University – Inside Center – Sophomore

Second Team Selections:

Skylar Abraham – SUNY Albany – Inside Center – Senior

Rachel Abrahamson – Manhattanville College – Hooker – Junior

Ester Adiv – Rutgers University – Lock/#8 – Junior

Tima Alabbas – Drew University – Hooker – Junior

Sarah Anderson – SUNY Albany – Flanker – Sophomore

Alejandra Aquino – Marist College – Flanker – Junior

Charlotte Benoit – Vassar College – Hooker – Senior

Arianna Blanchard – Marist College – Flyhalf – Junior

Ailbhe Cafferky – Stony Brook University – Lock – Junior

Alicia Caruso – Fordham University – Flanker – Senior

Morgan Daley – RPI – Lock – Sophomore

Hannah Fitzsimmons – Siena College – Flanker – Sophomore

Jenny Flori – Monroe College – Winger – Junior

Kate Foley – Fairfield University – Flanker – Senior

Karleigh Groves – Hofstra University – Scrum/Flyhalf – Junior

Cassidy Hammecker – Siena College – Scrumhalf – Junior

Jadyn Hermanns – Montclair State University – Scrumhalf – Sophomore

Halle Hutchinson – Vassar College – #8 – Junior

Nisreen Huzien – Montclair State University – Flanker – Sophomore

Alexa Jimenez – Hofstra University – Hooker – Junior

Chrisanthi Kourouklis – Stony Brook University – Flyhalf – Junior

Ashlee Maravilla – SUNY New Paltz – Wing – Senior

Ashira Mayers – Manhattanville College – Fullback – Junior

Brenna Murphy – Fairfield University – Prop – Senior

Dammy Odumbo – Monroe College – Lock – Senior

Alexa Orosz – RPI – Hooker – 5th Year Senior

Victoria Pietraszkewicz – Rutgers University – Center – Sophomore

Anna Smith – Drew University – Center – Junior

Alexa Tomas – Fordham University – #8 – Senior

Congratulations to the following students for being selected to the All-Conference Teams

Tri-State All-Conference Team

Men

2019-20

First Team Selections:

Christopher Aube – Seton Hall University –  Inside Center –  Junior

Ian Barrett – William Paterson University – Flyhalf – Junior

Steven Beseler – RPI – Hooker – Junior

Kaiel Blake – Monroe College –  Inside center/8 – Senior
Isaiah Bruce – Monroe College – Fullback – Senior

Mike Cardenas – Vassar College – Prop – Junior

Josh Connelly – Montclair State University – Outside Center – Junior

John Guerriero – William Paterson University – #8 – Junior

Joey Hildebrand – USMMA – Center/Flyhalf – Senior

James Incantalupo – Molloy College – Scrumhalf – Senior

Enrico Licata – SUNY New Paltz – Scrumhalf – Junior

Jake Mayer – Montclair State University – Flyhalf – Senior

Dwight Parker – Molloy College – Outside Center – Senior

Evan Roberts – Vassar College – Scrumhalf – Senior

Steven Roberts – Seton Hall University – Prop – Junior

Tom Roy – SUNY New Paltz – Prop – Senior

John Schneider – Marist College – Prop – Sophomore

David Slade – Marist College – Inside Center – Senior

Jeremy Tabani – Hofstra University – Wing – Senior

Andrew Thompson – Drew University – Scrumhalf – Senior

Cody Waldecker – RPI – Flyhalf – Senior

Aidan Woods – Hofstra University – Outside Center – Junior

George Zimmerman – Drew University – Hooker – Junior

Second Team Selections:

Alexei Alatakis – Marist College – Flanker – Junior

John Barker – William Paterson University – Second Row – Junior

Ron Bonilla – Montclair State University – Hooker – Sophomore

Pat Donelan – RPI – Center – Junior

Dillon Fazliu – William Paterson University – Center – Senior

Brandon Gares – RPI – Prop – Junior

Joseph Gessner – Seton Hall University – Flyhalf – Senior

Ankit Khosla – Vassar College – Lock – Senior

Cole Landolt – Vassar College – Center – Senior

Derrick Littlefield –  USMMA – Hooker – Junior

Conner Louro – Marist College – Flyhalf – Senior

Bryce Mack – SUNY New Paltz – Prop – Junior

Katlego Loyiso Babes Mhlongo – Drew University – Flyhalf – Sophomore

Nick Nunziato – Drew University – Fullback – Sophomore

Erik Pacher – Hofstra University – Lock – Senior

Trever Peacock – Seton Hall University – Hooker – Junior

John Rotchford – Molloy College – Flyhalf – Senior

Enyol Santos – Monroe College – Prop/Hooker – Sophomore

Ryan Scheer – Molloy College – Inside Center – Junior

Elijah Speight – SUNY New Paltz – Prop – Junior

Karl Verastegui – Hofstra University –  #8 –  Junior

Brett Waddell – Monroe College – Lock – Senior

For Immediate Release

College Rugby

Wednesday June 17th, 2020

Tri-State Collegiate Rugby Conference

NY, NJ & CT

Rugby Fall 2020 and Covid-19 – Decision July 31st, 2020

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic in the USA and the devastating impact particularly in the New York metropolitan area, i.e. The Tri-State region of NY, NJ and CT, has cast a shadow on the 2020-21  Rugby season.

As of this date, June 17th, 2020 it seems that every school is in limbo and discussing return to education options that include a wide range of options from on-line only classes to in-person teaching back on campus. I think it is fair to say that all schools will follow Federal, State, Governing Body (USA Rugby/NCAA), Local Health Department and School guidelines. It has been encouraging to see the cooperation between the 3 State Governors and that bodes well for the Tri-State area.

The Tri-State Conference will make a decision on the Fall 2020 Season at the end of July that will take into consideration all of the above mentioned administrative bodies. However, it may help to provide examples of what may happen:

Scenarios

It could be that there are no intercollegiate games and the Fall 2020 season is cancelled;

Travel in buses may be an issue and force cancellation of games;

Some schools may allow teams to practice but not play games;

Some schools may open later and allow competition so schedules would need to be modified;

Some schools may opt to only play opponents in the same State that they know are adhering to guidelines;

There may be a version of a regular season and no postseason.

There are no doubt other scenarios and it could well be that just a few institutions play games with others only practicing while some opt to cancel their club sports programs this Fall.

I would encourage all to wear masks in public, observe social distancing and wash hands regularly. This has worked to contain the spread. Containment will allow our hospitals to cope and with widespread testing and then tracing when cases are discovered we can avoid significant outbreaks.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions and concerns.

“Serving Collegiate Rugby in the NY, NJ and CT area.”

http:wwwtristaterugby.com