HS Rugby Showcase to be Held at Freedom Bowl Series
HS Rugby Showcase to be Held at Freedom Bowl Series
A group of Midwest high school-age rugby players are going to provide a rugby showcase during the largest high school football bowl series in the nation.
The Freedom Bowl is a series of bowl games run by a group called Spire Football; the games are held in Atlanta, Ga., and Canton, Ohio. Many of the teams that participate are highly-ranked HS football teams that can't afford to travel. The Freedom Bowl Series pays for their travel and their experience. In addition, the events raise awareness and support for veterans and wounded warriors and their families. Coaches and players get to meet many of these heroes during the weekend.
In a first for the Freedom Bowl, at two of the games this year a group of players from Spire Rugby Indiana and school teas in Ohio will combine for two 10-minute Rugby 7s games during halftime.
Dave Snyder has spearheaded this idea and got enthusiastic help from Dan Arbeznik (Head Coach at St. Ignatius in Cleveland, Ohio) to make it a reality.
"Dan has been great in helping me get this showcase to happen and beyond the event," said Snyder. "It's all about creating camaraderie between our programs. All the participants will spend the whole day together and play each other on a level that truly represents the culture of the game."
The games will be shown on FloSports>>
This will be called the Spire Rugby Freedom Bowl Canton Rugby Championship and will be held Saturday, August 27 at Tom Benson Stadium Hall of Fame Stadium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. The rugby games will be played at 5PM and 8:30PM.
While not playing the rugby players and fans will get a VIP section to watch all of the games. There is a bit of a rugby connection in the football games, too, as St. Edward HS out of Cleveland, Ohio,and Central Catholic out of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Christian Brothers out of St. Louis, Mo. will play football at the event, and all have rugby programs as well.
"My hope is to create an interest in the football community in rugby so more young men will spill over and play both sports," said Snyder. "American rugby will become more dominant as more students add rugby into their extracurricular activities."
The Freedom Bowl Series also is played in the Atlanta area and the plan is to expand the rugby showcase to that site as well.
"I am really excited about the possibilities," said Snyder.
There is a possibility of developing a stronger relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Spire Football, and rugby exhibitions around the country. But this is an intriguing first step.
