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The Rugby Foundation is actively pursuing and/or funding projects that promote its mission to promote rugby for men and women of all ages in Central Texas. We are always looking for ideas and resources to serve our mission.
International Coaching Clinics for Central Texas Rugby Teams.
The Rugby Foundation has awarded a $5000 grant in support of 2+ weeks of international coaching clinics for rugby players and clubs in the central Texas including the Huns RFC, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, St. Edwards University, Stony Point High School, and others. This grant will offset the majority of the anticipated expenses and provide access to over 100 rugby players of all ages and experience levels.
Murray Harley, Pat Richards, and Jeremy Scott are scheduled to arrive from Brisbane, Australlia on October 30th to spend over two weeks in central Texas. The visiting coaches are all Level 3 coaches with experience in natonal and international rugby. They will build on the successful clinic led by Murray Harley in 2006 by observing matches, conducting club trainings, and providing individual consultations for local coaches and individual players.
Proud Supporters of Bloodfest 7s
The Foundation continues to support or help host Austin's Annual Bloodfest 7s Rugby Tournament that attracts over 30 teams to Austin, TX each year to compete at all levels including state and national championships. The tournament helps drive awareness for Austin's Blood & Tissue Center and provides a local and competitive tournament in Central Texas for men and women of all ages and experience levels to enjoy.
Central Texas Youth Rugby Innaugural Season:
The Rugby Foundation awarded a grant to supply Central Texas Youth Rugby (CTYR) with funding for equipment and social events in their innaugural year and look forward to assisting with program in the future.
Nuckle's Crossing Site Development:
An 18 acre parcel of land was located on Southeast Austin bounded roughly by St Elmo road to the North, Nuckols Crossing road to the East and Button Bend to the South. The site included a house, an underground dwelling, and an abondoned swimming pool among other interesting features including ample room for 2 regulation playing pitches, clubhouse, parking, and a playscape. There are approximately 4 acres along a creek with mature trees and possibly a spring. The purchase price for all three parcels was $400,000. The Foundation agreed to help pursue the procurrment and development of the site as a rugby facility.
On March 29, 2006 the Foundation placed earnest money and option period money down on the property.
During the option period it was determined that the development of the site would have been cost prohibitive to development and the option was allowed to expire. The experience provided valuable experience and a better understanding of our requirements for developing a moder rugby facility.
Zilker Park (i.e. The Rock) re-seeding :
Most Central Texas rugby players who played in the 90's recall the "joy" of playing on Zilker's own Rugby Pitch, not-so-affectionately-known as The Rock by those who took its pitch. In 2000 the Rugby Foundation provided material and labor to reseed this field in Austin's Zilker Park in order to provide a safer playing area for rugby games hosted in Austin, TX.
Burnet Middle School sports fields improvements
This included lighting two playing and practice fields, installing an irrigation system and leveling and seeding grass on the fields. In 2003 the Rugby Foundation and the Huns RFC were honored with a Partners in Education award nomination from the Austin Independent School District for their work and dollars improving the playing fields at Burnet Middle School. Burnett Middle School has been a practice home for the Austin Huns RFC, Austin Lonestars RFC, El Azul 7s, as well as the Austin Valkyries Womens RFC. It has addistionally allowed Austin, TX and the Huns RFC host the USA Girls rugby under-19 elite camps in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Development at Burnett Middle School was a collaborative project led by the Austin Huns RFC together with major donors (Viking Fence, Red Rhino Sports). The improved fields have aided the school's sports programs and have been highly utilized by the local soccer association.
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