The Wildcats have played in some far away locales in 2011 and 2012. They have ventured to Texas, Nevada, and their home away from home Seattle. But this is all about to change this weekend as the Wildcats play host to the University of Washington in a D-1AA match at Alder Recreation Complex (18th and Alder) at 2 PM.

This weekend will mark the first time CWU will not have their attention split on two different formats having completed their last Sevens competition of the year in Las Vegas two weeks ago. Central will now focus all their attention on developing their XV’s program and identifying which players will represent the Wildcats in their 1st D1-A match of the year March 10th vs UC Davis.  For live updates on Saturdays match click here to follow the Wildcats on Facebook.

Press Release: Collegiate Sport Club Office by Macalister Clark

Most people may expect rusty play after a two month break from 7′s competition. Maybe a slow start or missed conversions, but CWU Rugby had different ideas. The Wildcats started the Las Vegas Invitational like they were still at Texas A&M in December.  Central Washington notched 92 points in two pool matches against the University of Indiana and Weber State. In the morning session they stepped on the gas right away and never let up, scoring on their first offensive possession, en route to a 45-0 shelling of the Hoosiers.

In the afternoon session, different team, same story. Central came out of the gates fast and furious, exhausting any chance Weber State thought they might have to corral the Wildcats. Central shut out Weber State, by a score of 47-0. Not only was it the second consecutive shut out for the Wildcats but all 10 players that entered the match scored a try. Head Coach Tony Pacheco “was very encouraged by the way the players are sharing the ball and executing the attack systems.”

Next up for the Cats is Yale University at 9:20 Friday Morning. They will then advance to bracket play Friday afternoon.

For more information about the CRC qualifier and CWU Rugby check out the following links:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CWU-Rugby/224902377590491

http://rugbymag.com

February 6, 2012

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The Central Washington University men’s rugby club, which lost in sudden-death overtime in the title match in USA Rugby’s Sevens national championship tournament last December, returns to action this weekend at the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational (LVI) sevens tournament.

The 32-team Las Vegas field is split into two conferences, which are divided into four, four-team pools. Each squad will play its first two pool games on Thursday and its final pool game on Friday.

“We know the importance of playing well in pool matches,” said CWU head coach Tony Pacheco said. “We need to improve each match so that we peak in the final.”

Central will play Indiana University and Weber State University, on Thursday, and Yale University, on Friday.

“Yale was at the LVI last year but we don’t know much about Indiana or Weber State,” Pacheco acknowledged. “I know we’re considered heavy favorites to win our pool, but we’re not looking past pool play.”

The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday. The semifinals and championship match are scheduled for Saturday at the 36,800-seat Sam Boyd Stadium.

“Our players are comfortable playing on big stages,” Pacheco added. “We’ve been there before and know what it takes to win. It’ll come down to our execution on the field. Hopefully we can stay healthy and win this tournament.”

The Wildcat squad features All-American candidates Tim Stanfill, Vancouver; Patrick Blair, Tacoma; and Andrew Nelson, Kent.

The winner in Las Vegas will be the only team that earns its way into the 16-team USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC). The Wildcats will be looking to punch their tickets for a return trip to the nationally televised event next June in Philadelphia. Central finished fourth at the 2011 CRC.

Media contact: Robert Lowery, CWU Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, loweryr@cwu.edu

Central is looking forward to the kick off their 2nd match of the year as the BYU Cougars come to the Northwest this Thursday. The Wildcats last match vs Oregon State University was canceled due to severe weather throughout the Northwest. This weeks Thursday afternoon match is scheduled to kick off at 1pm at Magnuson Park in Seattle, WA and may need a little help from mother nature.  Fans should keep their fingers crossed that the weather man is correct as it appears the worst of the Winter Storm has passed and if the roads hold up the game should go off without a hitch. Although inclement  weather has made life difficult for the Wildcats the team is still training hard as they look to improve on their performance less than 2 weeks ago against the Thunderbirds.

According to Coach Anthony Pacheco, this week is about taking the next step. “Several guys had a chance to cut their teeth last week against UBC and now it will be important for them to show their ability improve on their last performance.” Central knows this weeks match is important and although they would have enjoyed having 80 additional minutes under their belt before facing the #1 team in the nation now it is about rising to the occasion.

CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS: Current winter weather has caused this weekends match vs Oregon State to be canceled. The match was scheduled to kick off at Noon on January 21st in Corvallis Oregon at Peavy Field located on the corner of 30th & Jefferson.

Directions to Peavy Field From I-5: Take the OR-34 exit (exit #228) into Corvallis.  Stay on OR-34 coming over the bridge into town. Turn left on 4th St proceeding through downtown.  Turn right on Western (noticing Reser Stadium on 26th).  Turn right on 30th bringing you into campus. You will see the rugby field on your left.

Central vs UBC 2012 by Maddie Bolduc

Central lost their opening match of the 2012 rugby season 36-0 saturday against the University of British Columbia at Magnuson Park in Seattle. The Wildcats squandered 2 penalty opportunities and failed to execute on 3 additional occasions inside the Thundersbirds 22 meter line in the 1st half. Meanwhile UBC used the slick conditions to their advantage coming away with a first half lead 12-0. The first score of the game came off a UBC scrum after the CWU Fullback was held up two meters in front of the Wildcat goal line, and the second score came off a broken play chip and run which saw the ball bounce through two sets of Wildcat defenders before UBC dotted down for the try.

The second half proved challenging for the Wildcats as the replacement of tight head prop Sam Smith put the Central scrum under pressure and reduced the quality of attacking ball. In the loose Central was able to string together multiple phases of attack but at times looked to be to entrepreneurial in their own half and the mistakes cost them. UBC capitalized on the Wildcat mistakes and was able to score 24 unanswered points in the last 30 minutes of match play.

“The upside to playing a quality opponent your first run out is that you have the opportunity to really measure your self and identify your weaknesses” according to CWU Coach Anthony Pacheco. Central was able to try out 5 new players in the forward pack as well as a new half back and a new 10/12 combination. Central will get their next test vs Oregon State University next Saturday at Noon in Corvallis Oregon followed by a mid-week test vs BYU who finished 2nd in the nation last year on January 27th in Seattle at 1:00pm.

The Wildcats 1st XV will kick off against the University of British Columbia at 1:00 pm on Saturday January 14, 2012 at the Magnuson Rugby Field in Seattle, WA. Central and UBC will play two matches with the 2nd XV kicking off immediately after the conclusion of the 1st match. This will be the first run out for the Wildcats 1st XV of the 2011-12 rugby season. Central used the fall season to focus on their Sevens development that took them to the National Championship in College Station on December 17th where they took home a silver medal finishing runners-up to Life College. The Wildcats will now look to capitalize on their fitness and skill development as they turn their focus to 15s with a stiff competition right out of the gate. UBC will bring their full stable of players this weekend that have been playing top rugby in British Columbia throughout the fall. Central will need to assert themselves early and take great care of possession in order to control tempo and put themselves in position for success. You can follow the Wildcats on Facebook throughout the match by clicking here.

Members of Central Washington University (CWU) rugby team are mourning the death of teammate Craig Stafford, who died suddenly on December 31, 2011 at his home in Longview, WA.

According to CWU coach Bob Ford, “Craig was selfless and tremendously hard-working on and off the field. He was a phenomenal young person, everything you would want a young man to be. Craig had a kind heart and cared deeply for his friends and teammates.”  

Team members along with the Central coaching staff will travel Friday, January 6th to attend the funeral service in support of Stafford’s family and friends.

Stafford, a 2007 graduate of Mark Morris High School, recently returned from a three-month study abroad trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for intensive Spanish language study.  Craig was a senior, Law and Justice Major and four-year member of the CWU men’s rugby team.

The Funeral mass and Celebration of Life for Stafford will take place Friday, January 6, at St. Rose Church in Longview, WA at 11am.  Stafford is survived by his parents, Douglas and Kathryn (Burrus) Stafford, a sister and brother-in-law; his paternal and maternal grandparents, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Staffords name be made to St. Vincent DePaul, P.O. Box 2975, Longview, WA 98632, CURE Epilepsy, 223 W. Erie Street, Suite 2 SW, Chicago, IL 60654 or online at www.cureepilepsy.org or  Click Here to support the Central Washington Unviersity – Craig Stafford tribute fund.

On December 14th the Wildcats will board a plane and head to Texas A&M for the 1st ever Collegiate 7s National Championships in College Station. Central will have an opportunity for a team run on Thursday the 15th prior to kicking off the competition on Friday the 16th.  Central will compete in Pool A along with Air Force, Arkansas State, and Arkansas. Pool B will include: Life College, Wisconsin, Cal Poly, & Texas. Pool C will include: St. Mary’s, N.C. State, Western Washington, & Wis. – Milwaukee. Pool D will include: Tennessee, San Diego St., Stony Brook, & Oklahoma. Pool E will include: Kutztown, Florida, UC Davis, & Florida State. Pool F will include: Miami (ohio), Colorado, Texas A&M, & Virginia.

Click here to learn how to watch the Wildcats Live 

Friday Schedule: Central will kick off their 1st match vs. Arkansas at 9:40 am (*Webcast / Central Time), followed by Air Force at 12:40 p.m. (Not Available Via Webcast / Central Time), and Arkansas State at 3:40 p.m (*Webcast / Central Time).  To view the full schedule including knock out rounds please Click Here .

According to Central Coach Anthony Pacheco “This is a great opportunity for our program, the boys have trained hard and are very fit. This competition will certainly test us early and we have to start fast and stay focused on our goals. Sevens is a minute by minute second by second competition and the team is ready.

CWU rugby dispatched both the University of Washington (45-10)  and Washington State University (22-0) in pool play, followed by Eastern Washington University (45-5) in the semi final to see them through to the final of the Northwest Collegiate 7′s National Qualifier. The Wildcats defeated Western Washington in the championship match 29-7 to secure 1 of 24 spots in the USA Rugby 7′s National Championship in December.

The Wildcats had outstanding performances from several players including Tim Stanfill (Senior & Captain), Tanner Barnes (Freshman), Josh Bowers (Sophomore), Patrick Blair (Sophomore), Paul Smith (Junior) and Alex Reher (Sophomore). The Wildcats played a high tempo, high energy brand of rugby showing athleticism and fitness throughout the tournament. CWU Coach Tony Pacheco said “I am proud of the way we played today. We have put in a lot of hard work and it is encouraging to see our athletes respond well, but we are only a few weeks into this season and now the hard work starts.” Central will turn their focus to increasing their level of fitness and will count on the support of strength coach Shane Wittkopp to raise the bar once again prior to the national tournament in December.