Men's Rugby Club at NCSU

NC State Rugby Participates in STEM Night

admin — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:05:02 +0000

Last Thursday (1/17), the NC State rugby team participated in a NC State Family STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Night at York Elementary School in Raleigh. The Family STEM nights are a great community program designed to get younger kids interested in the science and engineering fields.

The NC State Rugby team has made it a tradition to help out with these events, participating in several nights throughout the year. The players go with the STEM night coordinators to a local elementary school and run a station at the event. The events range from construction of a support from toothpicks and marshmallows (structural design) to making the most efficient aluminum- foil boat to hold marbles (Archimedes’ principle). The stations serve as a fun way to teach the kids some basic engineering or science principles. The players always have an awesome time teaching the kids, and it serves as a great team-builder for the guys.

NCSU Rugby Helps Outfit Needy Rugby Club in Tonga

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:36:39 +0000

Over the next couple weeks NC State Rugby will be collecting used or new rugby supplies to donate to a youth rugby club in Nuku Alofa, Tonga. As many rugby fans may know, rugby is huge in the island nation of Tonga and is considered the national sport. NC State Rugby will be raising money and collecting usable rugby gear that many of these kids can’t afford. If you’d like to help out by donating any money or sending used (but still usable) rugby gear, please contact Bryan Maxwell at 704 819 0460 or bmmaxwel@ncsu.edu. We will be sending these supplies out in May and any help you could provide for this worthy cause would be appreciated. NC State Rugby fully believes in supporting and spreading the sport of rugby, local and internationally.

NC State vs. Clemson moved to Friday night

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:12:15 +0000

The NC State vs. Clemson game, scheduled for Saturday, March 3rd, will kickoff at 8pm on Friday the 2nd. The game will take place in Clemson, SC.

Wolpack moves to 2-2-1 following ACRL season opener

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:07:59 +0000

NC State and VA Tech kicked off their ACRL seasons on a sunny but cool and windy day. NC State came into the match 2-1-1 with VA Tech starting 1-0. NC State began with the wind at their backs and controlled possession for much of the first half. NC State used tight rucking and ball control to move the ball close to the VT try line several times but were unable to touch it down on multiple occasions. VT put up strong goal line stands defending their try zone 4-5 times while capitalizing on turn overs and stolen ball to score 2 tries at the 36 and 40 minute marks. NC State was challenged to stop VT’s slashing running style while VT capitalized on several missed tackles. NC State was awarded a penalty try at the close of the half for what appeared to be a professional foul on the VA Tech forwards during a hard fought goal line stand. Brian Maxwell converted and the half ended with VT up 10-7.

In the second half VT scored a quick converted try in the 42nd minute to put NC State into a deeper hole at 17-7. After some back and forth ball possession in both halves, NC State flanker Craig Maxwell scored a try in the 50th minute while brother Bryan converted to bring NC State within 3 points, 17-14. The game continued in a hard fought back and forth match with the score remaining 17-14 until the 75 minute when VT score converted try. VT added another converted try in the 81st minute. The final score was 31-14 VT.

VT coach Andy Richards remarked “We knew we’d be in for a hard fought match, NC State always plays us tough, never giving up.” NC State coach Jim Latham said of VT Tech, “This was a well coached squad that presented a size mismatch in key areas, the locks and the centers. We were unable score in the first half on the goal line when presented with the opportunity. VT created turnovers at critical times to stop our momentum and they scored twice with successful long breaks while slashing through our defense. Hats off to them!”

Viewers of the match remarked that the game was enjoyable to watch being clean, hard fought and played with good flow and structure. It appeared to be “Maxwell Day” for NC State with brothers Bryan and Craig Maxwell accounting for all points. Parents Paul and Ruth Maxwell flew in from Houston, TX for the weekend and Paul help set up the pitch with his sons.

NC State Drops First Game to UNCW

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:54:48 +0000

In a disappointing first match of the season, NC State lost a tough match 12-25 against the UNCW Clamdiggers. The first half started off strong with the Wolfpack two strong tries. Prop Abe Harman tore a ball out of the bottom of the ruck on the UNCW goal line and dove over the ruck, touching the ball down to give the Wolfpack its first points of the game. Outside center Bryan Maxwell failed to convert, giving State a 5-0 lead. Shortly after, thanks to some shifty running by freshman flyhalf Brandon Alvey, the Wolfpack dotted down another try under the posts with a successful conversion giving a 12-0 lead to the Wolfpack. Following the two early tries, however, State failed to reach the try zone with the ball for the remainder of the match. A barrage of penalties against State set up several quick tap opportunities that UNCW took advantage of. On top of this well kicked conversions and two successful penalty kicks by UNCW scrum half Graham Joseph helped the UNCW squad pull off a victory on the day against the A-side. The B-side entertained a strong victory later in the afternoon with a multitude of tries. For those of you who aren’t acquainted with the B-side former season’s results, they finished undefeated not only in the ACRL but in pre-conference matches; so far, the B-side looks strong and poised to do the same.

A-Side Points Scorers : Abe Harman (try, 5); Brandon Alvey (try, 5); Bryan Maxwell (conversion, 2)

NCSU 7s Team Finishes Strong at Inaugural National 7s Tournament

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:48:31 +0000

On December 17 and 18th, NCSURFC did something it never had up to this point in club history: competed in a national collegiate 7s championship tournament. In the first ever USA National Collegiate 7s Championship the Wolfpack didn’t achieve the results it wanted to, but finished at a strong 13th place overall in a tournament of 24 of the best collegiate 7s squads in the country. The matches began early on Saturday against an aggressive Western Washington squad to placed 2nd in their qualifying tournament on the west coast. NC State fell into bad habits of dropping the first game of the day and fell behind late in the match to start the day off 0-1. The following match versus University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee was a different story entirely. NC State came on the field looking to make up for the early morning match and it certainly did, crushing the opposition 35 – 5. NC State was very please with this performance, however the squad needed a loss by Western Washington and to defeat St. Mary’s, a team picked to take the title in pre-tournament talk, to compete for the cup on Saturday. NC State came out hard against a very skilled St. Mary’s team. A string of tries scored by St. Mary’s early in the game made victory seem overwhelming for NC State. However, two tries scored late in the second half put NC State within 3 points of St. Mary’s with only a minute to go. Unfortunately, the short time was to St. Mary’s favor and NC State finished the day 1-2. On Sunday, NC State was set to compete against Wisconsin, a team who tied tournament champions Life University on Friday. NC State failed to finish again, however, after a late game-winning try by David McAlister was called held-up by the sir.

Point Scorers for the tournament were as follows:

Dominick Goldston – 20 points

Brandon Alvey – 13 points

Bryan Maxwell – 11 points

Brandon Mosiman – 10 points

Greg Hesler – 10 points

David McAlister – 5 points

Wolfpack Rugby Cleans Horse Stalls for Fundraiser

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:01:41 +0000

In order to help raise money for the regular 15s season and the upcoming financial dilemma of two National Tournaments, NC State Rugby has turned to cleaning out horse stalls at the fairgrounds to help raise money. A friend of the club has generously offered to pay per stall for the cleanout of the bedding. Wolfpack Rugby has worked every Sunday for over a month now, working large horse shows such as several of the one’s taking place during the State Fair. With over $3000 raised so far, it has been one of the most lucrative fundraisers for the NCSURFC yet.

Says Senior David McAlister, “It’s not the most glorious job, or the most desirable, but the club needs money and we’re doing what we can to get there.”

And again, a reminder that NC State will be playing in the upcoming 2012 CRC Invitational Rugby Tournament in Philadelphia. The tournament will be broadcasted live on ESPN and NBC. If you’d like to help buy a ticket now for a discounted price and help Wolfpack Rugby sell the mandatory 300 tickets to the event, click the link below and purchase your tickets now!

http://usasevenscrc.com/tickets/ncstate

Tickets Now Available for 2012 CRC Tournament in June

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:34:17 +0000

NC State will be competing in the upcoming 2012 CRC Tournament being held in Philadelphia June 2-3. To participate in this invitational event, the NCSURFC is being required to sell 300 tickets to the event to help promote the tournament. Last year several teams had their invitation rescinded when they were unable to deliver on ticket sales.

If you would like to purchase a ticket for this event please do so and help support Wolfpack Rugby. This would be the first ever nationally televised event NC State Rugby has competed in. Up until January 31, 2012 tickets are being offered discounted at $35 for a two-day ticket to the event. If you can make it to this tournament and would like to purchase a ticket now, you can go to the NC State Ticket Sales website at http://usasevenscrc.com/tickets/ncstate and purchase your ticket. We need all the help we can get so if you, family, friends, and old NC State Ruggers would like to come out to see us please do so.

Let’s go Wolfpack!

NC State RFC Receives Invite to CCI 7’s in Philadelphia

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:08:45 +0000

Well, after handedly winning the ACI 7’s tournament in Greensboro, NC for two years in a row, NC State has been officially invited to the CCI 7’s tournament in Philadelphia over the summer of 2012. For those of you who are not familiar with the tournament, the tournament invites 16 of the best collegiate 7s teams from around the country to compete in a weekend long tournament. For the last two years the tournament has been covered collaboratively by Universal Sports, Versus, and NBC. Last year’s tournament was one by a very surprising Dartmouth squad who took the championship against Army. The NC State squad has been practicing all summer long and will be continuing to hold 7s practice on Wednesday nights at 5:00 over at the Centennial Campus location. Currently the roster is still open for individuals to be selected from the upcoming tournament.

As part of the invite to the CCI 7s tournament, USA 7s Rugby is asking each team to sell a minimum of 300 tickets for the event. The tournament is stressing the importance of selling these tickets in order to be eligible for the tournament. Last year several teams were not invited to the tournament for failing to deliver on ticket sales. NCSURFC is asking for any individuals who would be willing to help us out to buy tickets through the club for the tournament. Tickets are being sold with a steep discount till early January for $33 for a two-day pass to the tournament. Any alumni, friends, players, family, and supporters of the club are urged to help our club out if possible by purchasing tickets through our club for the event. Online ticket sales are not yet available, however if you are interested in coming up and supporting the Wolfpack, or known anyone who would be, please contact the President of the club Bryan Maxwell at bmmaxwel@ncsu.edu. Be sure to check back on our home page for further updates on this tournament and the USA National 7s tournament NC State will be travelling to in December.

Let’s go Wolfpack!

Wolfpack wins ACI 7’s Tournament Second Year in a Row

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:22:15 +0000

North Carolina State won its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Invitational 7s Championships Sunday in Greensboro, NC, defeating Virginia 24-17 in the tournament final. The Wolfpack jumped out to a 24-5 lead to start the game, and Virginia roared back with 12 unanswered second-half points only to see their comeback bid fall short.

Dominick Goldstein scored two tries for the Wolfpack in the final, rounding out a high-octane weekend performance during which he bagged two hat-tricks in seven games.

Flyhalf Bryan Maxwell, who also dotted down in the final, was awarded tournament MVP.

“Bryan contributed not only as a playmaker, driving the play in, he also helped calm things down,” remarked NC State coach Jim Latham, who said his team was complimented by opposing coaches for having good patience on offense. “Brian’s a senior, he’s a heady player.”

Playing all 98 minutes for the Wolfpack on the weekend was captain and hooker Matt Pace.

“You look at him, he could play 10 more games tomorrow,” gushed Latham. “This guy is unreal. He’s a neat player. He’s a flanker for 7s and a hooker for 15s. He’s a ball hawk.”

NC State won six matches in a row to end the ACI, but started on a cellar-low note, falling 28-7 to Virginia Tech in the tournament’s opening match on Saturday.

“To their credit, it should have been a lot worse. We didn’t play well at all, and they took advantage of every single mistake we made, and we made a bunch,” Latham said of Virginia Tech. “The guys were really down, but we rebounded quickly and just came back.

“They knew they could play better. They won last year, and I think it’s really the preparation. These guys have worked all summer — we’re doing 15s practice Tuesday and Thursday, we’re doing 7s practice Monday and Wednesday. These guys are holding individual 7am fitness training sessions for the backs. I don’t know that the attendance is that great, but the club leadership is doing these things.”

NC State downed a talented Maryland 22-14 in one semifinal, and Virginia needed extra time to oust Florida State 19-14 in the other. The semifinals were the third games of the day for both the Terps and Seminoles, as they finished in the bottom four of pool play and upset North Carolina and Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals, respectively.

As champs of the ACI, the Wolfpack have punched their ticket to the inaugural USA Rugby 7s collegiate national championship in December. The venue is still undecided. Miami (OH) and Wisconsin have also qualified, having won the Midwest and Big Ten tournaments, respectively.

Two more qualifiers will be decided Saturday, when the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby and Independence conferences crown their champs.

On top of qualifying for the inaugural USA Rugby 7s collegiate national championship, the Wolfpack has also been invited to the CRC 7’s in Philadelphia next summer. For those of you who aren’t aware, the CRC 7’s has been nationally televised the past two years on NBC, so be looking for the NC State Wolfpack over the next year.

“We’re just going to stay focused on the team goals of making the club stronger. It sounds a little altruistic and even hokey, but we want to help these guys develop into fine young men, if you will.

“The coaching staff and the guys, we’re all about Wolfpack rugby, and we all want to share that passion we have for Wolfpack rugby with these kids. We’re going to focus on those things, and sometimes things don’t go your way.”