Blazin' a Trail in International, Club and High School Rugby in Chicago

The Chicago Blaze Rugby Academy & Club is stoking the flame on the fastest burning sport in America. With the announcement this morning of the USA Eagles vs. Australia Wallabies Sept. 5 the second international game within 10 months at Soldier Field, a sell out of 61,500 in the most watched game on U.S. soil Nov. 1st vs. the #1 in the world New Zealand All Blacks, you might saw the flame is Blazin’ bright. This fall is the Rugby World Cup and in 2016 Rugby makes it’s return to the Olymiad in the 7s format of the game.

We host two events this week we would like to invite the general public, our fans, family and past members to at our beautiful property in South Suburban Chicago community of Lemont. Thursday the Chicago Blaze Academy hosts Elmwood Park in our inaugural season’s first playoff match, at 6:30. This Saturday and Sunday the Men’s Club hosts USA Rugby’s Midwest Championships and the inaugural Thaddeus Hupp Memorial Cup. Event link with all details posted at bottom of blog.

The Chicago Blaze Men’s Club has opened the season 9-2. We were 1 -1 at Nashbash, beat University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and went 5-0 at Tournament of Champions to open season 7-1. The TOC Championship was a nail biter with a last second try and conversion for the win over the Chicago Riot 12-10. The Blaze hosted the Silverbacks on 4/18 and traveled to the West Side Condors on 4/25 after being rained out vs. Illinois State and came away with two decisive victories. Tough loss in a friendly this past weekend vs Fox Valley in St. Charles and we look to rebound this Saturday the 16th in the Hupp Cup.

In our inaugural campaign as the Chicago Blaze Rugby Academy we’re entering the playoffs in Rugby Illinois Division 3 with a 4-1 record, after victories of 29-0 over Barrington at home and 63-0 over Elmwood Park on the road. We had a set back at home vs Hope Academy losing 44-5 before rebounding with our third shutout at Wells Academy 46-0. We concluded our regular season with an 88-0 victory over Taft at home on May 1st. The spark that saw the Academy form in Lemont’s Core this winter is entering the playoffs as an inferno that will be hard to contain.

Please come out and support the Blaze Academy Thursday kickoff at 6:30pm and this weekend as the best rugby clubs in the Midwest compete for National Championship qualification.

Upcoming special events, matches and clinics are being scheduled including, Blaze Acacdemy Playoff Match vs Elmwood Park May 14 at 6:30 pm, Thaddeus Hupp Memorial Cup May 16 at 6:30pm, Midwest Championships May 16-17 9am-6pm, Tiger Rugby Camp June 6 9am-5pm and Firehouse 7s July 25 8am-7pm.

2015 Midwest Championships and Thaddeus Hupp Memorial Cup https://www.facebook.com/events/1606321409654046/

Norm Smyth
Academy and Alumni Director
Chicago Blaze Rugby Club
chicagoblazerugby.com