Cody Kuxmann is a Referee at the London Society Of Rugby Football Union Referees, while studying International Relations at Richmond, The American International University in London. He lives in Richmond Upon Thames but hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
CHICAGO, IL – Summer is definitely here – at lease according to the mercury, and with that comes summer team training and… Rugby League. So, keeping in tune with the times, I reffed my first Rugby League game last Sunday… in America! This match was primarily Rugby Union players playing a new sport, but it got me thinking about how American players – from either code – can keep up their Summer Training.
Most clubs seem to have a summer shutdown – they have practice but it is often just one big game of touch. Some clubs go about summer as a 7s team, but there don’t seem to be too many serious teams out there.
So why not get your local league to have a great social division of 7s, while having the proceeds benefit a charity? Even starting touch competitions at a competitive tournaments will to get the average Everyday Joe to come out and play. Even if you only get a few more people to play, it’s still growing the game. Make it Co-Ed and have even have the significant others play; get everyone involved.
For those clubs who are working on something more of a rugby training fitness experience, they could play Rugby League. Purist protestations aside, it takes 13 players to have a full team and they do play League in the summer. League would be a great opportunity for some clubs. It’s a sport based on Rugby and has a higher fitness level, so it would be a great way to continue developing ball handling and fitness. Think about it.
How has your team prepared for summer/fall?
