Flag Rugby Tournament Returns to Chester

The 13th American Flag Rugby Youth Festival sponsored by the Morris Rugby Corporation is coming to Black River Fields in Chester this Saturday at 9 a.m..

Rugby Sevens will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and interest in the sport is growing exponentially. 

The Morris Rugby Program has also been the start of many Collegiate Division One Rugby players. Graduates of the program are playing at, Kutztown, Ohio State, Penn State and the University of University of Delaware. Casper Huizenga  played on the National U 20 eagles teams and Jake Feury played on the the High School All American 7’s team this past year. Both are graduates of the Morris Youth Rugby Program.

Participants will be from the 10 Morris Rugby Sponsored teams, Denville Dawgs, Montville Wanderers, Long Valley Wolfpack, Parsippany Panthers, Black River Renegades, Byram Bruins, Mine Hill Tigers and the newest clubs Tri- Town and Ridgewood.

American Flag Rugby was developed by Morris Rugby. In this non-contact game, kids play a version of sevens rugby where the defense removes the ball carrier’s Velcro flag instead of creating a tackle situation. The game is co-ed in four age groups ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade.

The game develops as the players’ skill levels increase. The youngest groups focus more on fun and rugby concepts. The groups progress to passing and flat defense and move on to a ruck-like simulation for the oldest group. All age groups have a slow introduction to scrums and line outs and convert tries using drop kicks.

The festival atmosphere will be maintained on Saturday with healthy food choices available for the ruggers and families. Healthy snacks will be available throughout the day to encourage socialization and friendship among the players, coaches and spectators off the pitch.

Referees all are teens who have aged out of the Morris Youth Rugby Program.

Morris Rugby is a 501-3c organization founded in Morris County 33 years ago. They sponsor teams at every level. Men’s, women’s, masters, U 19 boys & girls, U 13 & U 15 boys and the American Flag Rugby Program for children 5 – 14 years.

For more information on the Morris Rugby Corporation go to the website or contact KJ Feury the PR coordinator for Morris Rugby at kjfeury@optonline.net or cell 973 632 1864.