PROMOTION
Preston Gordon has been advanced to C1 in recognition of some good late-season games, particularly playoff games in D3 and high school. Congratulations!
RUGBY WEEKEND
The High School Grizzly Shield will be played this Saturday and Sunday in Palo Alto, with games at Stanford’s Steuber Family Rugby Stadium and across El Camino at Palo Alto HS.
You’ve heard about rugby in Hawaii, America’s Polynesian Nation. Look at it this way: even though Polynesians make up only about 10% of Hawaii’s population, that’s more than the population of Tonga and almost as many as Samoa.
Now our game is being organized in the 50th State and starting to grow in the youth divisions.
Well, now’s your chance to see a rugby team of players primarily from the high school that has produced the most NFL players, Kahuku. They will be taking on all-star teams from Arizona, the Sac Valley, Oregon, Utah, SoCal, the Redwood Empire and the ever-present ‘Wanderers’.
The fixtures will be refereed by promising C2 referees from around the PCRFU.
Assistant Referees are welcome, as well as peer coaches, for these games. We’ll start at 8:30 AM on Saturday, and likewise an early start on Sunday to allow attendance at the USA – Ireland match in nearby Santa Clara. Let us know if you can help out.
Speaking of which: see you there?
GOLDEN GATE AND EAST PALO ALTO
The best wishes of the Northern California rugby community will be flying east, to Glendale, Colo., this weekend, where Saturday will find SFGG in the super league final and EPA in the D2 semi-final.
We looked in vain for cheap up-and-back fares, wanting to be at Buck Shaw for Sunday’s Test.
Sometimes we’ve felt like our presence jinxed favorite teams; let us hope our absence guarantees them victories!
JUNE 13 BANQUET: SEVENTY FOR DINNER
Now that we’ve overflowed the room we had initially reserved, which would only seat fifty, we can welcome as many more as wish to join us (well, up to a hundred).
Bjorn Stumer reports that we are up to seventy, and counting. Don’t miss out!
Pelican Society Banquet and USA Rugby Referee Hall of Fame Induction
Scott Seafood, Walnut Creek
Saturday, June 13, 6 PM for 7 PM
Society members: free. Guests: $50.
Reply to: bstumer@comcast.net
AAU*
The TIP event that Aruna Ranaweera has been selected to attend at Stellenbosch, South Africa, stands for Talent Identification Program.
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/medias/FIRA-AER_Education__Training_2009.pdf
*Acronyms Are Us
KUDOS
Eric Rauscher and Mike King refereed at the Scottish Games two weeks ago:
Gentlemen,
I would like to say thank you for your help in making our rugby program successful at the 2009 Livermore Scottish Games.
You maintained complete control of the games, brought professionalism, and were very adaptable to our “ever changing” schedule.
The directors of the games were very impressed with our program....thanks to both of you!
Three cheers to the Pelican Refs!
Ken Burnthorn
Pleasanton Cavaliers RFC
JIM CRENSHAW’S CAREER JUST GOT LONGER
Heck, not just Jim’s:
http://vimeo.com/1803735
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
Penelope Pelica and your faithful scribe spent the Memorial Day weekend at Disneyland with a passel of grandchildren.
The lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel offers this fine non-animated specimen.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
