Rebellion, Rhode Island Organizations Bring Rugby League To Teens

Notice: A non well formed numeric value encountered in /var/www/usarl/wire/core/Database.php on line 107

The Rhode Island Rebellion has had a busy offseason with its continued effort to give back to the community. Having teamed up with Providence’s Institute for Non-Violence, RIR is now entering its fourth week of an eight-week program in which over twenty kids from the institute are undergoing rugby training headed by the Rhode Island Rebellion staff.

The Rebellion has also announced its plans to create a work re-entry program for those in the training school. The program would hire between four and six participants for the season, providing them with the opportunity to assist in areas such as public relations, marketing, player and manager interviews and game set-up. To help raise money to reach their goal of $6,000, the Rebellion will hold a fundraiser in which its CEO Lawrence Almagno will have his head and beard shaved at the halftime of the Rugby 9’s championship game on May 19th. Additionally, the North American Match Officials Association (NAMOA) will run a modified refereeing course and a youth coaching course. This will be part of the participant’s required community service and would teach them the skills required to assist adult coaches with the middle school program.

The institute located in Providence, RI, hopes to expand their organization using the USARL & AYRLA as a starting point to spread their message across various east coast cities. Their non-violence courses and practices will be reflected into the rugby coaching and refereeing clinics.

The Rhode Island Rebellion will continue its partnership with the Providence After School Alliance (PASA). This includes the extension of the two teams from both the Esek Hopkins and Roger Williams middle schools. Registration will be open for Middle School level students ages 11 through 14 and will begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting the third week of May.

RIR will extend its efforts to high school students as well. Running separate from the team’s association with PASA, this program for teens ages 14 through 18 will be run under the AYRLA and funded by the Rebellion. The registration period will begin on March 30th and run until April 13th. Piggy-backing on the middle program, the high school program will share both the playing field as well as other resources. Hendricken High School, the alma mater of RIR’s Almagno, will also participate and has agreed to take part in a Rugby 9’s tournament with the other teams.

The outlook for the summer is also bright, as Almagno hopes to partner again with PASA to run 4 – 6 middle school programs from July 9th through August 3rd.

For more information, please visit Rhode Island Rebellion’s website, http://www.rebellion-rugby.com, and check for updates at www.USARL.com