NEWS UPDATE - 09/15/09 

Swine Flu side-lines the Haze

As the virus swept through Campus, so it swept through the team, side-lining ten players and forcing the Haze to withdraw from the Vanderbilt Fall Rugby Tournament over the September 18 � 20 weekend. Most players quickly returned to training although the effects are taking longer to shake-off.

Does The Homecoming Alumni Game Have A Future?

The 2007 inaugural Homecoming rugby match between the Alumni Rugby Old Boys and the Haze was a huge success with the promise of the Homecoming match-up becoming one of every season�s most anticipated games. It also promised to be a great fund raising opportunity from both the Old Boys and spectators alike. Unfortunately, the promises were immediately broken when last year (2008) only five alumni turned up to play, even though several others were on campus worshipping handles instead of the rugby pitch. The rookie Haze players made up the missing numbers so the game could at least take place. At the time of posting, there has been no Alumni player acknowledgement of the match, slated for Saturday, October 10, except for some of the Class of �08. Apart from the loss of what should be a great occasion and a boost to the Club�s always meager coffers, 2009 will be a double-whammy if the match is not competitive or even fails to happen because this year�s Purple Haze is one of the best and most talented in the club�s history. The club is currently attempting to get alumni player confirmation before resorting to cancelling the match and finding more suitable and competitive opponents.

Haze Bids a Warm Welcome to Our Rugby Freshmen, Rookies and Converts

Sewanee Rugby records the best ever freshman intake of high school-experienced players. We warmly welcome Sam Grenfell-Dexter and Paul Choi who both played together at the Rift Valley High School in Kenya; Will Oberle, who made his mark in a successful three year career in Seattle (WA), and Frank Hand, a four year veteran from Father Ryan High School in Nashville, TN. Additionally, we have the benefit of several soccer converts including Ian Hazelhoff from Birmingham, AL, Justin Hoffman from Greenwich, CT, Alex Nichols of Baltimore, MD, Mick Sheedy from Boise, ID (who also doubles as our EMT)  and Justin Riopelle from Curtis Bay, MD. Former Sewanee Socceroo Sam Koebley, who tested the rugby waters with Haze last semester, has made his move permanent, giving up the "wonderful" game for the real game. The same has happened to senior Zac Smith of Long Lake, MN, who quit Sewanee Football for a better sporting thrill with the Haze. Also back is senior Grant Cooper of Cookeville, TN, who spent last spring semester studying in Cairns, Australia. Finally, a special welcome to our rookie rugby virgins; Matt Swann from Fayetteville, TN, Joe Clarke of Huntsville, AL and Danny Speake - we're not sure where he's from! All joining our returning players and boosting the playing roster to thirty-seven.

Sewanee Start Hot as we Knock-Off the Crimson Tide

The Haze take the Main Event 19 to 7, and the four-match season warm-up against the University of Alabama by a total of 29 points to 24.

In match 1 - the Main Event - both teams pitched their best starting 15 against each other, with Bama also fielding a couple of seasoned alumni  players. Tries from Luke Armistead, Jeb Bryan, a debut try from freshman Paul Choi and two conversion kicks from captain Lawrence Coffey sealed the victory for Sewanee.

Game 2 saw Bama add more seasoned reinforcements to their line-up while Sewanee introduced several rookies. Bama took this game 0 to 12.

Games 3 and 4 saw more Sewanee rookies take the field and despite Bama throwing way over-age alumni players into the fray, the Haze won game 3 by 10 to 0 thanks to tries by Matt Von Lunen and Will King, and narrowly lost the final game 0 to 5. The rookie Hazers were the outstanding players of the day, alongside the senior squad's back line defense of Joseph Schulte, Tristan Viana, and Luke Armistead.