Ridgewood Youth Rugby Helps Break World Record

CHESTER—With temperatures reaching over 100 degrees, rugby teams from throughout North Jersey helped break the record for most youth groups playing rugby at once.

Parents walked to and fro with kids of all ages. With bottles of water passing from hand to hand, and balls similar in shape to an American football, the day was a day of fun.  

The fun began as the teams from Montville and Ridgewood took part in the Morris American Flag Rugby Tournament, which is the largest "touch/mini/tag" rugby tournament in the world. 

According to a press release from the Morris Rugby Corp., last year's event made it to the Guinness World Record with 832 players. But during the July 24 event at the Black River Fields in Chester, tournament organizer Tom Grego confirmed that 950 families were in attendance at the event.

"This is awesome," Grego said. 

According to Dennis Gibson, president of the tournament, next year over 1,000 participants are expected.

"This is the eighth year we have had this event here, and we are very proud," Gibson said. 

According to the Morris Rugby, "The game develops as the players' skill levels increase. The youngest groups focus more on fun and rugby concepts. The groups progress to passing and flat defense and move on to a ruck-like simulation for the oldest group. All age groups have a slow introduction to scrums and line outs and convert tries using drop kicks."

Each of the groups falls into four categories. 

According to event spokesperson K.J. Feury, the four groups are Owls, for kids in kindergarten to first grade' Falcons, participants in second and third grade; Hawks, which are grades four through six; and Eagles for students in seventh, eighth and ninth grade. 

 "This is just so much fun to be part of,"  Fuery said and explained that since the flag rugby tournament was still in its infancy. 

"Right now, we are still a growing league, but we strive to have a laid back environment as we play," said Guery. 

Craig Chapman, who serves as president of the Morris Rugby league said that the inclusive nature of the sport.

"Both boys and girls are able to play this," Chapman said. "Since there is no official winner at this tournament, we can focus in on the fun and the love of the game." 

Chapman said that he is expecting the sport to grow.

"If you go to the American Flag Rugby website, we offer resources on how to start a flag rugby team in your community," Chapman said. 

Members of the Montville Wanderers were glad to have started a rugby team. According to its website, "Montville Wanderers play in the Morris Youth rugby league and invite kids from kindergarten through the ninth grade to join in this exciting and fast moving sport." 

Bryan Fucetola, the coach of the Owl-aged kids team, said he was excited to see the kids play.

"They are so much fun to watch," Fucetola said. "The kids have a fun time and it is such a great experience for them." 

Katie Gorski, a 5-year-old, said she enjoyed playing. 

"I liked kicking," she said.

Her teammate, Colin Loftens, also 5-years old, said he enjoyed practicing with his teammates. 

"I love playing the sharks and minnows," Loftens said. 

Fucetola said "sharks and minnows" was a practice routine the kids enjoy playing. 

"They really do have fun with it," Fucetola said.

From the Ridgewood Rays, their coach, Ed Simpson, said the players on his team were glad to participate in the event.

"We brought down 50 kids of various ages playing," Simpson said. "We had two teams in the hawks division, one in the eagle division, one in the falcon division and one in the owls division, and with each team having eight to ten kids." 

According to the Ridgewood Ray's site, this is a "noncontact game, kids play a version of sevens where the defense removes the ball carrier's Velcro flag instead of creating a tackle situation. The game is co-ed in four age groups ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade."

Simpson explained the Rays will hold practice once a week. 

"We practice every Thursday night," Simpson said. "They players really have fun and just enjoy themselves."

For more information, visit the American Flag Rugby website.