HR faithful raise your voices

HR parents and players, this is your team!

When the score passes 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 points, have the courage to raise your voice, "hey coaches enough is enough".

When the invitation comes next year to the St George Rugby tournament, and the import players are not in place because it is so early in the season, raise your voice, ............... "we want to participate and build a comradeship with the other teams and players."

When somebody suggests that the team should do the Haka a second time as an exclamation point, because your winning by 40 points, raise your voice, "this is not an appropriate use of the Haka."

My reply to an email from a former HR player

Thank you for your email. You are obviously a man of integrity. Thank you for taking the time to read my research and reach out to me.

Let know one, including myself ever take away or diminish the value and joy of your experiences. You have discovered the true meaning of sport as it transcends the score board to that feeling of brotherhood that the world in general sorely lacks. And you have felt the true spirit and mana of the Haka. Good for you!

When the opportunity arises continue to share your experiences and opinions with others. It is this type of honest communication and charity that brings people together.

I have tried to improve the tone of my blog over time. Less confrontational and more focused on win win solutions such as the self imposed limit of two import players on the field at any one time and other rugby related content such as Crossfit.

In the end all of these issues boil down to issues of the heart. I sense that you have discovered this as well.

I look forward to meeting you one day. If you are ever in St George please give me a call.

Kia Kaha

Your brother in spirit

Ra Puriri

435-817-6555

Why did I start this blog?

Four issues motivated me to start this blog:

1. The annual pounding and running up the scores on our local teams. Yes 100 to 0 was the score of a real game. Nothing justifies such outrageous scores.
2. Little to no recognition given to the import players from New Zealand. Quietly brought in, kept apart and away from the press and other players and quietly sent home at the end of the season. We know nothing, they just show up on our doorstep every year. A now busted myth.
   
3. Paul Lasike, unstoppable in the national championship game last year against United, but does not receive the most valuable player award.
4. The movie Forever Strong and it's use of my cultures Haka and Kia Kaha. The story, the record, the aura and shine is dulled quite a bit by the truth. Go and see the movie. After the movie this blog will be here to offer those who choose to read, "the rest of the story."

I will continue to add valuable rugby related contact as well.

Good News

I heard the first round of games were very competitive compared to years past. HR's A squad soundly beat the first year Lowland Club by 40 points, but Lowland did score. United A soundly beat Highland B. If someone can post all of the scores, that would be great. If this first round of play and the quality of rugby we saw at the tournament in St George is any indication of what is coming up for the rest of the season, we are in for a great and competitive season. Watch out for our two local St George teams. Although both are very new, I believe they will give every team a run for the money.

HR challenge 2009

Have more confidence in your local players. A self imposed limit of two import players on the field at anyone time gives them a strong vote of confidence. They will step up and fill the gap sooner than you think. Give them a chance!

This will never happen with 4-6 imports on the field. Like a crutch, each year your dependence on the import players grows because the local boys never get the chance to be really tested.

If not then I encourage the local union to put such a rule in place as soon as possible, under an anonymous coaches vote. I am confident that it will pass. This will immediately level the field for your own teams and protect your boys from these ridiculous, discouraging and unsportsmanlike scores of 50, 60, 70 and 100 to zero.

You do not need the blessing or permission of USA Rugby or the Pacific Coast to make such a change. Take the destiny of Utah rugby into your own hands and away from the stifling control of HR.

Do what others have been unwilling and unable to do. All it takes is KIA KAHA.

HR now a U-19 Club

5.1 Club Eligibility

a) Club must be based on a state- or nationally-accredited school that issues High School Graduation Diplomas.

b) Club must be represented by a Roster that is limited to: players that are registered students at the High School upon which the Club is based, plus players that have graduated from that High School, plus up to a maximum of five (5) special exemption players in 2009, three (3) special exemption players in 2010 and two (2) special exemption players thereafter.

c) Special exemption players are students that do not have an otherwise available high school contact rugby program, and are either home-schooled students in the Club high school district, or are students from high schools in districts that are contiguous to, or overlapping, the club district.

It appears that recent changes in the USA rugby rules now exclude HR from The National High School Club Championships. They are not based on a nationally accredited school that issues High School graduation diplomas and cannot meet the single school student guidelines.

HR will only be able to measure itself against the best U-19 clubs. Missing the opportunity to play many of the very teams in the country.

Rather than tighten up the import player guidelines, USA Rugby now allows U-19 teams such as HR to have 5 non resident and non student players. This gives a rubber stamp to a class separation of those teams with the money and contacts to import players from other countries, 2% of the teams, while the remaining teams look to their local players exclusively.

USA rugby has also ignored their own 2005 report complied by Ed Hughes, by omission, and is now condoning and encouraging the illegal and planned practice of non resident players overstaying their visas to play in the National Championships. Education, staying in school and the visa laws are not a part of the U-19 formula.

This is PROGRESS??

Perhaps someones conscience will be rattled when one of these young men is arrested, deported and not permitted to return to this country for 10 years. A moral dilemma indeed. Who makes such decisions and why?

The logic, fairness and moral rationale is beyond me?

St George Rugby Tournamnent

An excellent tournament was held this weekend in St George Utah. Six teams from Utah and one from Arizona enjoyed almost perfect weather and playing conditions. Most impressive was the numbers of young men on each squad, 50 to 90 in some cases, the fact that everyone had an opportunity to play and the parental support. Support from the Utah Rugby Union and the National Guard was very visible and appreciated.

Unfortunately our friends at HR declined the invitation to attend, because their import players have not yet arrived from down under. Sadly, another missed opportunity for their local players.

The two local teams, the St George Knights and the Snow Canyon High School Rugby Club have planted a good seed here. These two 2nd and 1st year teams were very competitive.

A few weeks ago a HR coach commented at a union meeting, "that without Highland rugby would die in Utah". This tournament proved that uninformed statement to be completely false. Rugby is alive and well and will continue to thrive in Utah with or without HR participation.

Hyde Rugby - Kia Kaha

Hyde Rugby - A New World

A great example of the positive influence that rugby can have on the lives of young men, their families and communities. In the most difficult of environments, rugby is playing a role in empowering these young men to be masters and not victims of their circumstances. They are slaying the dragons of mediocrity in pursuit of their potential, being the best that they can be.

The game, spirit and comradeship of rugby along with kind and caring coaches, teachers and parents at Hyde Charter School, remind us all of why we love this game.

It is far beyond the score board and winning. It is all about the "mighty change", family, brotherly love, teamwork, unity, courage, hope, service and integrity.

Kia Kaha

Crossfit

See this site for some excellent advice about what it means to be fit and healthy. Not for the mirror muscle crowd. Something here for everyone.

The Crossfit Prescription:

The CrossFit prescription is “constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement.” Functional movements are universal motor recruitment patterns; they are performed in a wave of contraction from core to extremity; and they are compound movements—i.e., they are multi-joint. They are natural, effective, and efficient locomotors of body and external objects. But no aspect of functional movements is more important than their capacity to move large loads over long distances, and to do so quickly.

Level the playing field for your team

Coaches ... if your interested in leveling the playing field for your team, to avoid a 50,60,70 or 100 points to (?) drubbing by the HR machine, please consider this collective and unified pre game line of questions.

1. Do you have any import players from New Zealand on your team this year?
2. May we see their exchange student visas and insurance cards?
3. May we have the name and phone number of the school that they are attending full time?
4. Have they paid tuition?
   
5. Will they be returning to New Zealand at the end of the season?
6. In the interest of fairness and good sportsmanship, will you limit the number of these players on the field to one or two at any one time?

Hyde-DC Rugby Players Focus of Special Fox Sports Documentary

Hyde-DC Rugby Players Focus of Special Fox Sports Documentary

Half-Hour Show Airs Nationwide During Black History Month

[Washington, DC, February 8, 2009] – The rugby team at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School of DC is the subject of a special Fox Sports News (FSN) Documentary airing nationwide throughout February, Black History Month.

Entitled Hyde Rugby: A New World, the half-hour documentary is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor, Terrence Howard, and chronicles “the extraordinary efforts and determination of students at a D.C. charter school.”

Fox Sports producers interviewed Hyde-DC student-athletes and alumni, parents, school administrators, teachers and coaches over a two-month period. Camera crews filmed school rugby scrimmages and games, attended classroom sessions, and visited athletes’ homes, churches and other community venues.

FSN is the nation’s leading provider of local sports. Its regional networks and affiliated networks reach more than 80 million homes across the U.S.

“This is fantastic exposure for the entire Hyde community,” said Dr. JoAnn “Doc” Cason, head of school at Hyde-DC. “We’re so proud of our rugby players! Athletics reinforces important Hyde concepts, like Courage, Concern, Curiosity, Integrity and Leadership.”

The Hyde-DC documentary is airing in the Washington, DC area on ComCast SportsNet channels. To find local show times and stations, visit http://comcastsportsnet.tv/pages/main and enter your zip code. If you have Fox Sports packages please check with your service provider.

“Hyde emphasizes character development. Rugby provides our students with the perfect opportunity to develop and test their strength of character,” said Tal Bayer, Hyde-DC’s head rugby coach and director of development.

Fox Sports is the latest national media to give positive attention to the “Pride of Hyde” for its noteworthy accomplishments, on and off the playing field.

· The New York Times featured a story last November about Hyde’s team, entitled The Unlikely Scrum. Reporter Will Bardenwerper described how rugby is “breaking down barriers and opening up new possibilities for this all-African-American high school team.”

· Hyde-DC Alumni P.J. Komongnan, a top-notch rugby player hoping to turn professional, was profiled by the Associated Press during a recent trip to the UK to promote Ultimate Rugby Sevens.

· CBS Evening News filmed interviews with Hyde-DC rugby players and coaches for a segment that is scheduled to air this winter.

# # #

Located in NE Washington, Hyde Leadership Public Charter School of DC (www.hydedc.org) is a college-preparatory school (PreK-12) that combines character education and family renewal with an intense academic program. It opened in 1999 as one of the District’s first charter schools, and today serves more than 700 students from throughout the city. Each year, 100% of Hyde-DC’s graduating seniors are accepted to four-year colleges.

Utah Board of Education Letter - 2005

There have been several downloads of the memo from the Utah Board of Education attorney Carol Lear in 2005. Be sure to also download Ed Hughes USA Rugby report on Highland done in May of 2005.

Put these letters side by side and connect the dots. Remember that Ed's report was done a few days before nationals by telephone. He was given the phone numbers of the Granite School District and others to call in Utah.

Ed was told, on the phone, that the import players had paid their tuition at Olympus High School.
They did not pay any tuition because they were kicked out of Olympus High School for masquerading as pretend students, one month before nationals. See the letter, under downloads from the attorney at the State Board of Education.

The USA Rugby report also clearly establishes the fact that the import players were not in the country as exchange students.

...from Ed's report

"The first issue is that each of these young men is presently in the country
illegally. All of these men have overstayed their tourist visas and, upon
leaving the United States to return home, if they aren't deported first, these
boys/men will not be permitted to return. "

Here is the USA Rugby rule from 2005

f) No more than four non-resident (as defined in the National Club Championships section above) exchange students may play for a club.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED???

Hyde Rugby - More than winning

The Unlikely Scrum

Hyde Charter School Rugby Video

For the love of the game, brotherhood and building character.

A great story about an inner city high school rugby program in Washington DC.

Lessons for all of us to learn.

Kia Kaha! Hyde Rugby!

Willie Stewart also played rugby with one arm

Saw this awesome 20 minute documentary at the Red Rock film festival in St George. "Armed for the Challenge" is inspirational and thought provoking. Read more about the man! Willie Stewart.
You have to see this when it comes to your town.

Happy New Year

Thanks for taking the time

Equal Time

Highland rugby sets the standard

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 22, 2006 by Dirk Facer Deseret Morning News

Highland's rugby teams earn results

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 18, 2004 by Jay Hinton Deseret Morning News

Highland Rugby
Utah High School Rugby Powerhouse
by Wes Clark & Larry Gelwix


Their team Goal: "To do our best" in rugby, life
From (LDS) Church News, week ending 5 September 1998

The "Good Samaritan" he smoked and drank beer

Some have asked, given the absolute dominance of HR for 20 years, why very few of their players end up playing at a club to national team level? I would propose two ideas for your consideration.

1. One rumor has it that HR players are warned to avoid club play because most of these guys, on club teams, smoke and drink beer. I guess the warped thinking is that, they should not be associating with these "types" of people. This kind of moral hypocrisy is a cancer in our society. It implies that one's outward appearance is a reflection of the inner spirit, heart and soul. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember the story of the "Good Samaritan". Who walked by with their noses in the air, and who stopped to help. Many non smokers and drinkers only put on the Sunday face on Sunday.
   
2. The Kiwi import players have and continue to handicap the skills and development of local players who might otherwise develop into exceptional rugby players. A program that annually increases it's reliance on import players from 2 to 4 to 6 in 2008, sends a clear message that local talent, collectively is in obvious steady decline. Do the math.
   

For the love of the game

This is a very good article in the New York Times called:

"Open Membership - Rapid rise of college club teams creates a whole new level of success."

Not about rugby specifically, but the principles apply.

... “Nobody competes for the money or the fame because there are no scholarships and not a lot of attention. The kids have to do all the work to make their club function. They do it because they love their sport, and I’ll tell you what, we don’t have the prima donnas you see at the higher levels of college athletics.”

No ideal is as good as a fact. - Cabot

It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where truth is not at the bottom nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep out and betray herself one time or another. - Tillotson

Words without actions are the assassins of idealism. - Herbert Hoover

Reply to comments ...

Thanks for the comments.

Mary, sorry it's not refreshingly different. If you take the time to read all of my posts, I have made several creative suggestions to change the dynamics of this conversation.

Why am I the only advocate for your local players, getting more time on the field.

If you really care about building character, integrity and not just winning, then champion my suggested voluntary limit of one import player from NZ on the field at a time for 2009.

Why not put one of the Kiwi boys on six different teams next season. That would be amazing! Think of what that would do for rugby in Utah.

You change the dynamics by making an intelligent choice for fairness and the response will be so refreshing it will make you smile.

You may lose a few more games but your team will be much the better for it in the long run. HR will still have an amazing program that positively impacts the lives of many.

In response to your comment about BYU and other teams doing the Haka. None of these teams have a 20 year history of under the radar and cloaked recruiting of foreign import players.

The Haka is about respect, honor and integrity.

HR's claim of, "we know nothing" turns out to be a gross misrepresentation! Notice how the HR rhetoric has now changed from we know nothing to justification and pointing fingers at others. A HR parent's honest admission about providing room and board for a young man from NZ, as part of a cultural exchange speaks for itself.

Thanks for the mention of the United Rugby program.

They are an example of:

• what can be accomplished in 5 years with no import players from New Zealand.
  
• how local talent and parents when given the chance can collaborate, blossom and rise to any challenge.
• losing on the field and yet winning off the field.
  

HR - who gave you the approval to use the Haka?

A question from "kiwi" in New Zealand

Ra, that coach made a statement that kaumatua went over from NZ to Utah.
So can you tell me who were those so called kaumatua ?
Were they Mormon ?
Were they Ngati Toa ?

This is a fair question.

What is the name of the person who gave you the approval to use the Haka & Kia Kaha in your movie?

Please stop using the Haka and Kia Kaha in your schemes.

HR has little respect for the Maori culture or the young men from New Zealand, other than as means to a very selfish end.

Collateral Damage - Gut Check

We all share a portion of responsibility for what has happened at the Woodland Hills Schools.

Do you have to see bleeding bodies lying on the side of the road before something clicks in your heart and in your head that something is terribly wrong, and that you should stop to help? When is enough, enough? Open your eyes people and connect the dots?

Like the story of the Good Samaritan, we all to some degree have been like the Levite and the Priest, just walking by, turning our heads, closing our eyes and our mouths and not lifting a finger to help.

Unlike the story of the Good Samaritan some stood and watched as the traveler was beaten and robbed and did nothing. Some have known for a long time that this stretch of road was not safe yet they have pointed travelers in this direction without a second thought.

Now the lone traveler laying on the side of the road is not alone. The road is now littered with young people with Asperger Syndrome and their families. They have been kicked in the head and beaten down by people in pursuit of the almighty WIN!!! It appears that some of their tuition money was used to fuel this train wreck, and now their school has been closed.

Another unseen casualty is Don, a senior, who's father played for the Samoan national team. An exceptionally gifted rugby player who played for West Valley last year an then was recruited to play for Highland in 2008. He was as talented as some of the boys from New Zealand, yet he never stepped on to the field at the National Championship game. Why?

HR didn't want him playing against them, yes he is that good, so they recruited him to play for them. With the six kiwi boys making up most of the back line and the coaches relative playing half back, Don's position, he gets the shaft and sits on the bench the entire game.

To add insult to injury, the coaches relative playing halfback was selected by HR to receive the MVP.

Don and the kiwi boys disappear into the mist of anonymity. Thrown under the bus in the name of integrity, honesty, honor, sportsmanship, saving face and their perverted and twisted interpretation of Kia Kaha.

Such are the tragic results of HR's blind and ego driven attempts at sports engineering.


Past being nice and polite:

• Does it make your stomach turn HR?
• Look in the mirror, it's Gut Check time
  
• Does your conscience ping, pang, clang just a little?
• Blood on your hands is a good metaphor for what has happened
• Open your eyes, look at your hands and take some responsibility
  
• There is only one way to wash it off, and that is to do the right thing
  
• Wall Streets unchecked attempt at financial engineering and vodoo economics has pushed our country into a long and deep recession, and hurt millions.
  
• HR's unchecked attempt at sports engineering using cloaked recruiting has failed miserably and continues to hurt many, such as our friends who were attending the Woodland Hills School and Don.

Next seasons 6 recruits from New Zealand have already been selected. They are waiting for HR or one of their benefactors, alumni or parents to send them the airline tickets. We will let you know as soon as we know.

As the World Turns

Some additional and interesting connections between the now defunct USC Elite Sports Academy formerly the Woodland Hills School in Murray, and HR.

The football & rugby coach at USC was Larry Wilson. Larry Wilson has been for years and still is an assistant coach at HR.

The Kiwi import players were registered as students at the very same school for 2008. Do you think HR knew or was this another amazing coincidence? Could be, considering HR claims to have no foreknowledge of how they get here from New Zealand in the first place.

All of the parents who paid tuition for their children with Asperger Syndrome are wondering why the football coach was being paid a very nice salary, more than the teachers, and why their money was spent on busing the football team around the country and to Canada to play football games. Reportedly over $100,000.00. It all fits, very sad situation but given the players what would you expect. True to form. If I was a parent I would be cracking a few coconuts, so to speak.

USC Sports Acadamy has folded

Before it was purchased by Bob Jones the Woodland Hills School provided valuable services and education to students with Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism.

Then it's focused was changed to an elite sports academy, sound familiar?

The Kiwi import rugby players were registered at this school for the 2008 season.

Many similarities to the HR program of getting the best football players in the valley and combining them with "elite" import players from other states.

Their efforts to apply this non sustainable philosophy to football, rugby and basketball have crashed and burned. Yes they had a rugby program.

The biggest losers are the youth with Asperger Syndrome and their families.

What is the connection between Bob Jones and Larry Gilwex?

USC sports acadamy and rugby.

USC Sports Acadamy article in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read the comments. Another sad case of the invisible collateral damage from selfish business ventures.

Below are two of the comments from the newspaper article:

"Woodland Hills has changed a lot since I graduated there. It is true Woodland Hills is a school for special needs as well as an alternative school. (When I went there we didn't have sports teams. We'd be lucky enough to have 70 students in the whole school) As opposed to 300+ that were enrolled last year. In my opinion the financial problems began to happen when Mr Bob Jones decided to try and turn this school in to a sports academy. When you pay the football coaches 70,000 a year... there's bound to be money issues. As far as his claims that Woodland Hills was in trouble to begin with. More like they lived within there means. What about all your expensive field trips Mr Jones? Why not mention that out of state football program you had going where you bus the football team around US and Canada"

"Perhaps some of you will remember this school by its more recent incarnation as Utah Southern Community High School - aka the all sports high school. The school that was going to recruit top athletes from all over the world to give them a direct link to college sport scholarships... for a hefty fee. My guess is that the owner and administration (former principal) are responsible for the rapid fall. What the article didn't say is that this WAS Woodland Hills School. It WAS focused on students with Asperger's Disease. Yeah, it was in trouble when Bob bought it, but when they alienated much of the student body by changing the focus to sports it greased the skids. Hate to say it, but I told you it would happen."

Moral Relativity

Lester thanks for the comments. Your right, it is just a movie and it is much different than real life. Your absolutely right.

The truth of the matter is that the movie, "based on a true story", and the real life story are moral contradictions.

Kicking a player off the team because he cheated on a test at school verses recruiting players from New Zealand every year and sneaking them into the public school system.

If the coaches applied the same rules to themselves, that they proudly apply to the players, there would be no coaches on the team.

"We are building young men with integrity, honesty, character, teamwork and a strict honor code".

Then we close the office door to take a call about the 6 import players coming from New Zealand in 2009. You can't have one flavor of integrity for players and another flavor for the coaching staff.

Another interesting happening, if someone can verify this it would be appreciated.

Ten players from Highland and ten players from United tried out for the BYU rugby squad.

Six players from United made the squad including a freshman starting on the A team as a lock.

One player from Highland made the team, and he was one of the boys from New Zealand.

The skills of the local HR players have been capped in a sense, because they sit on the bench when the going gets tough. Like muscles that are rarely used, they will not be as nimble, strong or flexible as those that get regular exercise. Losing is an essential element of moving down the path from good to great.

For the sake of winning and maintaining the big image these young men struggle when they leave Highland and try to move to the collegiate or club level play. Shameful and sad. These young men deserve better. This is the invisible yet real collateral damage that no one likes to talk about. It is the result of this train wreck policy of winning at any cost.

I also heard through the grapevine that the private school in Herraman that the kiwi boys "attended" this year 2008, the USC Sports Academy has closed it doors. If this is true it will be interesting to see which school they show up in next year. Is there a connection between Bob Jones the owner of the now defunct school and Larry Gelwix?

Will HR now change their strategy and recruit players on J1 exchange student visas so they can legally attend the Utah public schools? This means a real one year commitment to school and much higher costs. If money is not an issue and they want to keep up the big scores, the big win stats, and the big image, then this may be their only option. We will see.

The movie is out and now we know!

Would you make a movie about:

• Green Bay Packers and leave out the contribution of ....... Brett Farr?
• New England Patriots and forget about ....... Tom Brady?
• Tour de France and not mention ......... Lance Armstrong?
• Modern day golfing legends and forget ..... Tiger Woods?

Forever Strong does a perfect job of making sure that nobody knows any of the details related to the annual contribution of the invisible recruits from New Zealand. Five stars!!

But we used your haka your culture your Kia Kaha and your national sport to make our movie.

These great young men deserve better, than an untitled picture in the credits at the end of the movie. So much for integrity and character building.

Religion saves the main character in the movie, but where is the religion in leaving out the most important people and contributors to this so called true story.

Gratitude, recognition, appreciation, telling the whole story, and not just the part that is easy to tell, honesty and integrity seemed to be forgotten religious values in respect to the boys from the land of the long white cloud.

If the invisible import players from NZ are legitimate and on the up and up, then why leave them completely out of the movie. It would have helped the script writer and production, nicely tie in the Haka, Kia Kaha and the Maori connection.

The coach would have had to share some of the limelight with the boys from NZ.........can not have that can we!!

To tell the whole story would mean admitting that it was a lot more than just good coaching that created such a dominating team. it really was just as much about winning at any cost.

HR .... please extend your hospitality beyond just providing room & board for these young men from NZ every year.

Take some of the money from the movie, that they helped you earn, and pay for their air fares next season. It's the least you can do, in light of their overwhelming contribution to your many national championships.

What would Jesus do?

"Forever Strong" & Recruiting

Forever Strong comes out next week. I encourage everyone to go and see it.

There will be no mention of the of the huuuuge... contribution made by the import players from New Zealand.

No pictures, scenes, interviews, no action shots..........just silence.

Sorry...P4 said there are a few pictures in the credits....I stand corrected

But no mention at all in the script.

No actors playing these unstoppable and amazing athletes.

Half of the movie should be about.........."the amazing kiwi boys, pay their own way to Utah every year to help HR win 15 national championships"

Huge because there would be no movie or story to tell without their annual trek to the USA to play for Highland.

They are the....

• yeast in the bread
• the chocolate chips in the chocolate chip cookies
• the hub in the center of the wheel
• the invisible and forgotten warriors on the front line
• .... save a picture in the credits for (P4) and the rest of the HR crew to ease their consciences.

Thank you Kiwi boys from New Zealand...

Sorry we forgot to include your critical contribution in the movie, but see you next season mate!!

Read them both and make up your own mind...

USA Rugby Report on HR....2005













Utah State Office of Education Memo 2005......closing the guest pass loophole for "pretend students" at Utah public schools.

Kiwi import players are over stayers....Ed is correct

This is the last paragraph copied and pasted from the USA Rugby Report 2005......next post the report is in full...

........"I leave it to USA Rugby's Eligibility and Competitions Committees to determine the issue, but I strongly recommend that, current/valid immigration status should be required for participation in any level of USA Rugby and, especially at the High School level where some boys may be naive enough to damage their futures by ignoring the United States Immigration Laws."

Respectfully Submitted,

Edward J. Hughes, Jr.
President, METNYRFU
Director, NRU
Director, USARFU
Chairman, USARFU Disciplinary Committee

USA Rugby Report 2005...in full

A very good report and recommendations........thank you Ed Hughes

Issues have been raised by various parties regarding the eligibility of certain foreign members of the Highland High School Rugby team. At the request of the the USA Rugby Game Development Officer, the chair of the USA Rugby Disciplinary Committee, in conjunction with the USA Rugby Eligibility Committee, conducted an extensive investigation as to whether Highland had violated any USA Rugby regulations and guidelines or Utah State Law with regard to the recruiting and particpation of foreign players and as to the eligibility of four particular members of the Highlands HS team who are citizens of New Zealand.

The findings of the undersigned are that, while there does appear to be a pattern of behavior that is strongly indicative of recruiting of specific non-resident alien, high school age, players by the Highland High School rugby coach, neither the Highland coach, nor any of the players in question, have, in any way, violated either Utah State Law or the existing Eligibility and Disciplinary Regulations of USA Rugby.

As the undersigned has no education in the laws of the State of Utah, I contacted and was educated, advised and assisted by Carol Lear, Esq., Assistant General Counsel for the Utah State Board of Education. Ms. Lear had previously dealt with similar accusations made against past players of the Highlands HS club. Ms. Lear explained that Utah does, under certain circumstances, permit foreign children to attend Utah State public High Schools. Basically, the rules regarding such participation in public education focus on two issues: 1) The parent or court appointed guardian of any minor must reside in the State of Utah and, 2)The student's tuition must be paid to the State of Utah by either the government or by the individual student.

In the instant case, all of the four young men in question are 18 years old. Therefore, there is no issue with regard to the parent of legal guardian as the boys in question are no longer minors. With regard to the issue of tuition, I telephoned the Granite School District in Utah and confirmed that these boys have all paid their own tuition to the State of Utah and, therefore, Utah is not footing the bill for the public education of a foreign national.

The remaining issues as to eligibility are satisfied by the fact that, as per the Principal of Olympic High School, all four of the boys from New Zealand are only 18 and enrolled as full time students as of this past September in Olympic HS, taking a full course load of 6 classes out of 8 periods. Further Olympic has no team, so these boys/men are free to play for the Highlands club.

While these boys are eligible to play, there are some very serious issues that USA Rugby needs to address in changing the existing rules to avoid the type of recruiting and potential exploitation of young foreign men that can easily occur if things remain status quo. The first issue is that each of these young men is presently in the country illegally. All of these men have overstayed their tourist visas and, upon leaving the United States to return home, if they aren't deported first, these boys/men will not be permitted to return. Neither the Utah school system, nor the USARFU Eligibility Regulations place any restriction based on immigration status. While public policy may prevent Utah from prohibiting illegal aliens from getting a public education, USARFU faces no such public policy dilemma.

The second issue deals with what restrictions should USA Rugby place on recruiting of foreign High School Students. The visa/immigration issues may be all that need to be addressed, but it is a bit unusual that particular HS programs seem to aquire the same number of students from the same countries year in and year out and still they deny that their is any active recruiting going on. While I don't disbelieve the coaches who tell me that they do not actively recruit these gentlemen, I find it an awfully amazing coincidence that not only has this coach managed to have the same number of boys from New Zealand fall in his lap every year, but they all seem to opt to attend Olympic High and, it just so happens that the same coach has had himself empowered with power of attorney for each of these lucky men.

I leave it to USA Rugby's Eligibility and Competitions Committees to determine the issue, but I strongly recommend that, current/valid immigration status should be required for participation in any level of USA Rugby and, especially at the High School level where some boys may be naive enough to damage their futures by ignoring the United States Immigration Laws.

Respectfully Submitted,

Edward J. Hughes, Jr.
President, METNYRFU
Director, NRU
Director, USARFU
Chairman, USARFU Disciplinary Committee

Our friend from South Africa

To HR......Please stop pointing the finger at our friend Dayle Bobo from South Africa. A fine young man with a great human interest story and my choice for MVP at Nationals.

• Born in South Africa
• Has lived in the USA for 3 years
• Played for United for 3 years
  
• Has attended American Fork High School since the 10th grade
• Is a USA citizen
• Rescued by a loving aunt from an orphanage in South Africa
• Will be a great contributor to any college team and has the skills and heart to play for the Eagles
• Keep an eye on this great young man

Comment from Justin Barney....thank you

I undertake to comment on these matters without enthusiasm. Rather than comment indirectly without revealing my name, I feel it is important to state my name along with the facts of which I am aware. Reading the previous blogs has dredged up unpleasant memories of my experiences dealing with rugby eligibility issues in Utah high school rugby. The comments I make today are regarding the 2001 high school rugby season.

In 2001 I was serving as head coach of a high school rugby club. Another local club was trying to get established that year. The coach of this other club contacted me sometime after the beginning of the season to inform me that several foreign players were coming to Salt Lake to play rugby for Highland Rugby. He felt that these players should not be allowed to play for Highland. The eligibility rules in place at the time included the following requirements:
1) Players must be enrolled in high school full time;
2) Players must have been enrolled full time in high school at the beginning of the competitive season; and
3) A player must be enrolled prior to the start of the competitive season.
These rules were part of the eligibility rules for USA Rugby and were not seen as redundant but each emphasized various nuances in the rules.

An investigation revealed the following facts:
1) Highland Rugby played their first match of the season on March 19 against Skyline Rugby.
2) Four foreign players arrived in the USA after that first match on or about March 21.
3) These players enrolled at Highland High School sometime in late March, after the first match and more than two months after the commencement of the school semester.
4) When informed of the circumstances, SLC School District determined that the players did not meet district requirements for enrollment and the players were "unenrolled".
5) The players enrolled at a private school sometime in late April.
6) I spoke with an official of the private school who confirmed that the players were enrolled. When I asked if they attended classes, he responded, "Of course not. The school year is over in a few weeks."

In spite of my appeals and with full knowledge of the situation, USA Rugby allowed these foreign players to participate in the national championships that year. In my opinion, there were clear violations of the eligibility rules in 2001 and it was done with the complicity of USA Rugby. Why have a requirement that players be enrolled full time and wink at enrollment with no intention of attending classes? Why require that the players be enrolled prior to the competitive season and disregard the common meaning of words? Why pretend that rugby players are students when they are not eligible to attend public schools and their enrollment at a private school is mere pretense?

There is a great deal of intense feelings surrounding rugby in Utah. Towards the close of the 2001 season, one of our club players approached me. He asked what I had done to so anger the Highland Rugby Club. He said that a friend of his was student at Cottonwood High School. His friend did not play rugby but knew a Cottonwood High student who was a member of Highland Rugby. The friend said that it was a good thing that our team had already played Highland Rugby that season because otherwise our players were in danger of suffering the repercussions of my actions which had resulted in their teammates being “kicked out of school.”

Highland Rugby has accomplished some amazing things. They raise the level of competition for our local clubs. But their dominance has also stymied the growth of rugby in Utah. Many times I was advised to get in line and follow the example of Highland to build the competitiveness of our club. Unfortunately, when I attempted to do so, I determined that it was impossible to do what Highland was doing while providing full disclosure to our school district and to USA Rugby.

Justin Barney

August 20, 2008 11:56 AM

Point by point

It has been difficult for HR supporters to understand how I can support and admire the young men in their program and at the same time take strong issue with the import players being on the field while local boys sit on the bench.

In the next few posts I will try to be less long winded and focus on one point per post in an effort to summarize what we have learned over the past few months.

The intent of this post is to reaffirm my admiration for the hard work that each young man on the HR squad puts forward at practice and on the field. Especially those who have quietly and without complaining, sat on the bench while watching the kiwi boys on the field.

My issues are not with you, but with the well planned and coordinated annual scheme that has siphoned away countless opportunities over the years for local HR player growth and development. You have a preferential right to be on the field over the boys from New Zealand. This supersedes winning. " Its not whether you win or lose but how you play the game"

"Import players are necessary for the growth and development of local players and skills" HR

If this statement was true, after 18 years there would be fewer kiwi boys on the field and more local boys in the big games such as nationals. This would be the natural and long term organic result of a sound and grounded coaching philosophy.

But exactly the opposite has happened. HR is more dependent on the import players than ever before. In 2008 (SIX) kiwis on the main HR squad. More than in any previous year.

The kiwi boys definitely raise the level of play when they are on the field and they help to get the big WWW's, trophies and the titles. But this has come at a sad and unnecassary price. The statistics clearly reveal that the overall level of combined local HR talent has suffered. Too much leaning on the boys from down under.

With only one or two kiwi boys on the field at a time:

• HR would still be one of the top teams in the country
• but not the dominating 50 -100 point unstoppable machine
  
• local HR talent would thrive and grow
• Utah would have more high schools teams than any other state in the country.
  

Material list for goal posts

Coach Larry D in Los Angeles called about a material list for the PVC goal posts. This is for one goal post so double this for a set of two:

• 40ft of 3" PVC DWV pipe
• 2 -3" Santees
• 2-3" fernco couplings
• 2- 3x1-1/2" fernco couplings
• 20ft of 1-1/2' PVC DWY pipe

Measurements

• 3" uprights - 9ft 8.5 inches long
  
• glue the 3 inch santee or fitting on top of this piece
• then cut a 3" x 3ft piece to glue in the top of the santee
• place the 3x1-1/2 rubber fernco coupling on top of this piece
• cut a 10ft piece of 1-1/2 pipe to slide down inside the 3" pipe.
• cut a 6 inch piece of 3" pipe and glue into the side of the fitting
• connect one of the 3" rubber fernco coupling here.
• cross bar is approx 16ft 10 inches long and is attached to the rubber couplings on each 3" upright.
  
• pound two 6ft steel fence posts into the ground
• stand the goal posts up and set infront of the steel posts
• use two or three long bungee cords to fasten the PVC pipe to the fence posts. Wrap high and low. Bungee cords with plastic hooks.
  
• wrap with padding to protect players from injury.
• call me if you have any questions 435-817-6555
• find a plumber to help you
• he will know where to get a santee and fernco couplings
  

Never say Never

Have received only one comment.

• "HR has never broken any rules"
• lots of pointing the finger at this and that and beating around the bush
• "other teams have brought in foreign coaches or have a player from South Africa"
  
• we get no respect...
• "the school district caved in under the pressure"
  
• But no specific answers to any of the questions
• we shall therefore continue, that these assumptions are accurate
• no response to why having two import players on the field at anyone time is unfair
• the forum is public, open and we invite anyone in the know to respond point by point to the questions in previous posts.

It obviously is very very difficult for the HR faithful to wrap their minds around the fact that rules have been broken.

The Utah Board of Education did not cave in under pressure in 2005. It reviewed new information and responded based on principle, the law and what was best for the Utah tax payers. Thus their decision to not allow these young men to attend Utah public schools.

The Board's decision also clarified the mystery around visas and the paying of tuition.

• No tuition was payed for years
• Most of the visas were only visitors visas and not the required J1 exchange student visas.

You can try to spin this many different ways but at the end of the day the facts remain the same.

An independent third party, The Utah Board of Education, looked at this situation and shut the practice down.

Never say Never.

Time to change the rules

We have established that many HR supporters are reading the blog and we appreciate those who have helped clarify some of the myths surrounding the import players from New Zealand. This has been an eye opening education for all of us including many HR supporters.

Let me say again, that my intent is not to be adversarial. I am interested in bringing the facts to the light of day and providing more opportunities for local HR players to grow and develop. I ask for your support to limit the number of kiwi import players from NZ to two on the field at any one time.

With help from HR comments we have established the following as being facts:

• The annual migration of rugby players from New Zealand to the HR rugby club is well planned and coordinated
• HR families provide room and board for these players
  
• These young men enter the country on visitors visas and not the required, J1 exchange student visas.
• 98% return home immediately at the end of the season
• They were banned from attending the Utah Public School system in 2005
• They were banned from attending Highland High School prior to 2005 (I had nothing to do with this)
  
• Little to no tuition was paid to the Utah High Schools that hosted these players prior to the 2005 closing of the "guest pass loophole."
  

Time to fill in the missing pieces.

The following are assumptions, yet we shall assume them to be facts after two weeks.

This is adequate time for the HR coaching staff to respond. From this time forward, no response shall be considered a confirmation that the assumptions are indeed correct.

For too many years we have all stood on one leg while HR took the 5th. The questions and the medium to respond are open, public and easily accessible. Silence, a religious experience, or "we have know idea how they get here" are now proven to be unacceptable and inaccurate.

Like an iceberg, most of it lies submerged, unseen from the surface. In time integrity will expose that portion to the light of day.

• HR directly or indirectly helps to facilitate the travel arrangements for the import players from NZ.
• HR directly or indirectly pays for some of the travel costs.
• Most of the families in NZ do not have the means to pay the thousands of dollars for travel and tuition.
• More than 50% of the costs to bring these young men to Utah are paid for by people in the USA not NZ.
• No tuition was paid to the Utah private schools who's names appear on the USA Rugby eligibility paperwork in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
• The people in NZ who make all of these arrangements are acting as agents, directly or indirectly for HR.
• The sons of some of the agents in NZ have played for HR.
  
• The HR coaching staff is aware of all of all of these details.
  

Comment from Mark "eRugby News" July 2008

"HR's kiwi players GRADUATED CCNZ November 2007, and arrived in SLC in time to play the HR season, playoffs with NorCal, and Nationals.

They have since departed. USA Rugby cannot continue to endorse the participation of GRADUATE players within its event(s), without losing face. HR's representation that all rostered players are each US HS-enrolled (9th to 12th grade)is clearly false for the 3 kiwi GRADS who played the nationals.
Stop the rort! Enforce the present eligibility rules. Only USA Rugby received and verified certification of eligibility from the teams for the nationals. If found that the 3 HR players named above were ineligible ccnz GRADUATES, USA Rugby must follow its own precedent post-event & move to disqualify HR (as: Hayward 1997)."

Well said Mark!

HR families provide room and board

Comment from (P4) .........................."As one who hosted one of the 'Kiwis', other than welcoming him into our home for a genuine cultural experience for both him and my family, we provided nothing more than room and board. A small price to pay for a great young man from Auckland, (not Church College) to influence for good."

"With regards to your 3 month time frame...this particular young man played for Highland last 2 years and has been here in the states on a student visa since last September. He had a dream of playing high school football (american). Unfortunately, you assisted the school districts in making that dream difficult to achieve, to bad for him. However, I am sure that you will gain some satisfaction. Good for you!!"
..................................................................................................

The UHSAA (Utah High School Athletic Association) defines "nothing more than room and board" as being part of a recruiting process, not a cultural experience.

• Are you also paying the $10,000.00 annual school tuition as part of this cultural exchange?
• Please check his visa
• Most likely is a visitors visa, not a (J1) Exchange Student visa.
  
• An exchange student visa means he is registered and attending a public high school school as part of a certified exchange student program.
  
• You did not mention the other five boys from New Zealand that have since returned home.
  
• We will assume that five other HR families provided room and board as well.
  
• How is all of this planned and coordinated without the knowledge of the HR coaching staff?
• At least we have established the fact that months before each season starts, "someone" is coordinating the partnering of six HR families with six import rugby players from New Zealand.
  

Would you feel as warm and fuzzy if you were doing this for five amazing basketball players from Russia or soccer players from Brazil? Until the UHSAA finds out, shuts the practice down, sends the boys home and suspends the high school from any participation in these sports for a period of time. Thus are the consequences of such a myopic "cultural exchange."

The ends do not justify the means. Also interesting how this so called cultural experience or annual religious Mecca has been limited exclusively to "rugby players only." No tennis, soccer or baseball players. No young women. How discriminating, yet so convenient or lucky for HR.

• Are HR families also subsidizing the plane tickets?
• Why do the kiwi boys deserve to play more than your own son or son's.
  
• Your missing the point!
  
• Cultural and religious experience, give me a break.
  
• This may help to ease your conscience and sleep at night.
  
• Lets keep religion out of this completely.
  
• This is simply about winning rugby games!!
  

Did you ever think about the cultural and religious experience related to:

• local boys sitting on the bench most of the time
• being on the other team that was just beaten by 100 points
• a young man from NZ after an incredible season, is quietly sent home, no MVP, no interviews, no pictures or articles in the Deseret News
• nothing...... just used and sent home
• this kind of "influence for good" they do not need

The Utah tax payers thought it was a fine religious and cultural experience to pay for these boys when they were slipped into the public school system for 15 years as "pretend students". They are happy that they were relieved of this burden in 2005. Yes and that makes me feel very good.

(P4)... by the way, many of your own sons dreamed of playing rugby. You and other HR families have have made this dream very difficult for them to achieve, to bad for them. But you won 18 national championships while many sat on the bench. I'm sure you have much satisfaction about your cultural and religious exchanges each season, good for you!!

HR Faithful - "Balance"

95 +% of the good parents and boys of HR have little to know answers to the questions that I have posed. They deserve better. Their boys deserve more playing time, and whether they like it or not I will continue to be a strong advocate for a change in policy. Rugby should follow the same rules that govern the rest of high school sports in Utah.

• Import soccer players from another country would be sent home
• Import basketball players would be sent home
• Import baseball players would be sent home
• I am not advocating that the kiwi rugby players be sent home!
• Let them stay and play if they are following the rules to be here
• Lets have some balance and error on the side of allowing more opportunities for local players to grow and develop
  

Is it that unreasonable to ask that if there are six young men from New Zealand here to play rugby for HR that four of them should be sitting on the bench at all times. If coming to Utah is more of a religious experience for these young men, as some have suggested, then they can sit on the bench and think about religion, while the local boys grow and learn by playing on the field. Long term the HR program will be much the better.

Nitty Gritty Please

Few comments on the Nitty Gritty.

Thanks to the HR faithful, we have established the fact, that the kiwi boys are sent to play for HR each year and then sent home at the end of the season.

Who Pays?

• Who is the wealthy benefactor that pays for their plane tickets?
  
• None of their families can afford to do this.
  
• Who provides room and board while they are in Utah?
  
• Who pays the tuition at the new private school they are attending?
  
• I understand it is over $15,000.00.
  
• With tuition, plane tickets etc, it is costing each boy $20,000.00 for a 3 month rugby experience in Utah.
  
• Six came over this year @ $20,000.00 each = $120,000.00.

Haka with Respect

Over the years I have tried in various kind ways to help Highland understand the sacred nature of the Haka. Falls on deaf years. Do you ever see the All Blacks stand up in the second half and do the Haka, on the sidelines, while pounding another team by 40-0.

No
Never
No rugby team in New Zealand does this
They know better
Highland
Please stop this practice!
Why?

Because this is a desecration and great disrespect for the Haka to be used in this manner. To use it as a way of getting in peoples faces, taunting, rubbing it in, we are the beeeest.........! It insults this great tradition.

Make up your own Highland jig and jig at it all game long, but leave the Haka alone.

Highland continues to clearly demonstrate their ignorance to matters of Maori history and the sacred and special place that the Haka has in the Maori culture.

"The United Way"

Proof
You can build an awesome team
In a very short period of time
Play Highland in the finals
With no kiwi imports
or any polynesian players
lose and win at the same time

simply the facts

Larry Gilwix to Me .............2004

· For those outside of Utah and outside the Mormon faith it is difficult to understand the draw, appeal, and importance of Utah to Mormons around the world. It is not uncommon for Mormons to immigrate here to be close to their faith. Every six months the LDS Church sponsors a two-day world conference that attracts literally hundreds of thousands of people. Who can explain such a thing? Nor is it uncommon that young men and women while in high school or prior to their two-year missionary service to come to Utah as part of what they perceive a religious experience combined with a lot of fun too. I suppose it may be similar to Muslims going to Mecca or Jews to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Consequently, we experience an unusual number of foreign visitors. Few have a rugby background, most do not. Is it fair that Salt Lake City gets such an influx? Fair, yes. Equal, no. The very thought that people, who by and large are from humble circumstances, would pay thousands of dollars in airfare and school tuition simply to pay rugby in America is laughable.

To clear the air on several issues alleged to have been raised by you, let me answer them directly. 1) Does Larry Gelwix and/or Highland Rugby "recruit" players from overseas to come here and play rugby? No. 2) When was the last time Gelwix was in New Zealand? 1996 when Highland was on a 4-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. Trivia question, since Highland won the national championship in 1997 and Gelwix was in NZ in 1996 did Highland have any non-U.S. citizens (including NZ, or otherwise) players in the championship in 1997? No, not a single one. Our 1995 championship win has been called one of the biggest wins ever? Did we have any NZ players that year? No, not a single one. 3) Does Highland always have non-U.S. citizens on its team? No, but we do welcome them if they are here. Your email suggested how wonderful it would be if we won without foreign students. Come and see me, I keep meticulous notes and statistical data and you will see most of our wins have been without non-U.S. citizen students. But I make no apology or secret that when such students are living here and are eligible, we welcome them.

Does Highland pay for players airfares or expenses to come here? No. Not even a penny? No, not even a penny. 8) Is it true that all non-U.S. citizen students must pay tuition, which I understand is about $7,000 a year, to attend Salt Lake schools? Yes, that is my understanding and I know of no exceptions to that.

If you would like the read the entire communication just email me and I will be happy to send it to you

Pretend "Exchange Students"

The import rugby players from New Zealand are not "exchange students" as the USA Rugby rules require.

They enter the country on...

• a 3 month visitors visa's
  
• not on 12 month exchange student visa's.
  

This is why they don't stay to finish school, graduate etc etc. They must leave the country as soon as the rugby season is finished.

MOST PAID LITTLE TO NO TUITION

You and I and all of the the tax payers in Utah were paying their tuition

Another reason they were kicked out of the public school system in Utah