Ridge Rugby Newest Addition To New Jersey Rugby

Submitted by Craig Chapman

New Jersey Rugby welcomes the newly-formed Ridge Rugby to its growing league of high school and Under-19 (U19) boys Rugby Union teams.

John Sabel, Ridge Rugby coach, says the team is for high-school age boys living in Bernards Township (Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons), and is a member of USA Rugby (www.usarugby.org) and New Jersey Rugby (www.sbronj.com), one of USA Rugby’s State-Based Rugby Organizations for youth development. “If you are a high school-age male resident residing in Bernards Township, we would be happy to talk to you about joining – no experience required!” Sabel says. “We also welcome adults who would like help out as coaches, assistants and managers.”

Though he’s the coach, Sabel emphasizes that Ridge Rugby started with the drive of two Ridge High School sophomore football players, Stephen Rodgers and Joe Sabel (John’s son). “This team came from the boys themselves, not from adults. This is truly going to be their team, while we do whatever we can to support them.”

Sabel continues: “Stephen, who is Ridge Rugby’s Captain, has played with the Morris Rugby Club’s U15 under Coach Troy Bartley, in addition to putting on the pads for Ridge High School football. Joe plays lineman for Ridge as well, and played Rugby for Morris RFC’s youth program. Stephen decided he wanted to form a team in his home town, so he and Joe got together and began recruiting some of their friends at the high school. Once we saw there was player interest, they contacted me to help with setting up the new team and serving as their head coach.”

The elder Sabel played for nearly 20 years as a front-row/hooker, first with Lafayette College (PA), then with Stamford RFC (CT), Rockland RFC (NY), Morris RFC, and finally Morris Old Boys.

Ridge Rugby’s official New Jersey Rugby league season will run from early March to the end of June. Ridge Rugby will be in Division 2, which includes the Bridgewater Panthers, Monmouth Maulers, Bergen Bruisers, Jersey City PAL, the Cape Storm, and South Jersey. Other teams in New Jersey Rugby include Morris U19, Union U19, Princeton AC U19, West Milford, Delbarton, Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft), St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), St. Augustine Prep (Richland), and Hudson Catholic (Jersey City)

Outdoor practices will begin as soon as weather allows. Matches will be played Sunday mornings, and practices will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. During the winter off-season, there will be indoor Captain’s Practices at locations to be announced. For summer skills-sharpening, Ridge Rugby will be participating in a Rugby Sevens season.

Craig Chapman, New Jersey Rugby’s Youth Development Officer, says, “Rugby awareness is growing across the state, starting with our non-contact flag programs, and across the country with the New Zealand All Blacks visiting Chicago this week to play our national side, the Eagles. Rugby will be back in the summer Olympics in 2016 which will also bring the game to a whole new generation of Americans.”