In their Women's Rugby debut, the Philippines National Women's 7s team won the Bowl Championship at the IRB Asian Championships in China.  Jackie Finlan and Rosie Rough, both of the Village Lions, were integral members of this inaugural team, being named captains of the squad and scoring multiple tries in the country's success.  Rough both scored the first ever try for the Philippines National Women's Team, but was named MVP of the tournament.

The team dropped their first two games to top-ranked China and Hong Kong before winning 4 in a row defeating India (17-0), Korea (33-0), Laos (40-0) and Malaysia (20-0).

*Finlan standing 5th from R behind flag, Rough bottom L kneeling.

Sports Illustrated Online recently featured a great article on Xavier High School's national championship.  Here's a link and the article:

Staten Island’s high school athletes have seen a fair share of championships over the years, ranging from intersectional, city and Archdiocesan crowns, just to name a few.

Not many, if any at all, can say they’re national champions. Unless, of course, your name is Dominic DeFalco or Steven Ruta.

Seniors DeFalco and Ruta recently played pivotal roles in helping Xavier HS of Manhattan win the USA Rugby National High School Championship last month. The Knights (15-1), in fact, avenged their only loss of the season when they defeated Gonzaga High School of Washington, D.C., 32-10 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City.

The national championship was Xavier’s fourth overall and second in the last four seasons. In addition, the Knights have also won 11 consecutive Northeast regional titles.

Not bad for a team that didn’t have a field to call its own and practiced at various places, including Miller Field in New Dorp and Randall’s Island.

“It’s unreal. You just feel like you’re on top of the world (after winning a national championship),” said DeFalco, an Annadale resident. “We felt like we had a good chance to win it this season. We got robbed (of a championship) as juniors and we came back with a vengeance this season.”

“Honestly, it feels amazing,” added Ruta, who lives on Todt Hill. “To say you won (a national championship)  –  it’s a huge accomplishment.

“You don’t hear many people saying they’ve won a national championship.”

Ironically, the 18-year-old DeFalco and 17-year-old Ruta only started playing rugby in recent years. DeFalco played for the first time as a freshman and was joined by Ruta a year later.

“I had no idea what I was doing when I joined. I was lost,” admitted Ruta. “But the coaching (at Xavier) is real good and eventually, I picked it up, (thanks to the coaching staff).”

DeFalco and Ruta, who were recently honored with their teammates during halftime of the United States national rugby team’s match at Red Bulls stadium, credit coach Mike Tolkin for Xavier’s overall success.

“Coach is the defensive coordinator for the (U.S.) national team,” said DeFalco of Tolkin, who is assisted by Joseph Sweeney and Greg Norris at Xavier. “We learned from someone who has a lot of experience.”

And learn they did.

During the 2010 season, Ruta, a right wing, led the Knights with 17 tries (tries are the equivalent of touchdowns in football; they’re worth five points each) while outside center DeFalco finished with 11 tries.

“Seeing the field is important. You must keep moving and have good endurance,” said Ruta on the keys to his success. “Taking gaps at full speed is also important.”

DeFalco and Ruta will both continue their rugby careers at the collegiate level on partial athletic scholarships. DeFalco will attend Penn St. and Ruta St. Joseph’s of Philadelphia in the fall.

“I’m really looking forward to it  –  I’d love to help Penn St. win a national championship,” said DeFalco.

Rugby Sevens, a variation of traditional rugby where seven players are used instead of 15, is now recognized as an Olympic sport. It will be introduced in London in 2012 and become official in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Both DeFalco and Ruta are hoping to be apart of the U.S. National team six years from now.

“If I’m able to (play in the Olympics), I’d love to,” said Ruta. “But right now, my main goal is to start as a freshman on varsity at St. Joseph’s.

“I’m hoping I can pull it off.”

Tony Brown gave us this moving update on Krissa's status:

Sunset in Rapid
June 21, 2010

It's Monday evening in Rapid City, SD and Krissa went to have her stitches out only to learn that she'll need to wait until Thursday! She is quite literally engulfed by her family!  Mom, Dad, older sister Kendra who has opened her home to all, her 20 month old niece Libby who is of energizer bunny quality, Kendra's husband Trevor, number 2 sister Kayla, and younger sister Kiana. One can't but be swept up in the relaxed atmosphere, casual jokes, and at all times love and care. Only a few would recognise that there is evil genius present as well! These girls are just what the doctor ordered and between now and Wednesday when Krissa will be seen at the rehabilitation center she could not want for better care.

The encouraging signs are that Krissa has had improvement with less numbness in her hands. She still has tingling in her left hand and there is numbness just below her ribs and down her sides. She said that when she stands up she feels like she is going to fall over as she can't feel the muscles there!

She is still on medication for pain and low blood pressure. Last Friday, she was feeling a little groggy and so the hospital switched the medication with interesting effects. Krissa was no longer groggy, rather she announced to her sister Kendra on the phone that she wanted everyone of the family on the phone for a family reunion bar-b-que! The giggling started and there were references to bed-pans and building castles with her physical therapy silly putty! Paul McCartney take note, you have the sequel to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!"

Tonight it was pizza for dinner and when handed a can of Dr. Pepper soda Krissa clasped the can and started to pull the tab to open it. This process went on for a couple of minutes with both cheers and laughter accompany the effort. She rested a couple of times and laughed at her attempts, then with a little adjustment and the almighty thumb digit to the fore the can popped open!

It was a stark reminder of the recovery work ahead, but here at home she is in a good place for this huge challenge.

Please, please pass along the news of her situation so that the network of support continues to grow. We don't know yet the full extent of the medical expenses that the family will have to bear but it is  likely to be substantial.

Thank you again and again to the people who have already sent donations. More news to follow later this week.

Tony Brown
Men's & Women's Rugby Coach
Senior Lecturer Physical Education, Vassar College
http://www.vassarathletics.com
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RUGBY IMPORTS & RUGBY MANUFACTURER GILBERT HELP KRISSA

June 11th, 2010 Vassar sophomore, Krissa-Marie Wiechmann, was injured playing for the Northeast Rugby Union Women's Under 23 Select side. At a scrum on the engagement she was struck on the neck and immediately was incapacitated. Her C6-C7 vertebrae were severly damaged and pressure was on her spinal cord due to the displacement. After surgery, Krissa spent the 2 days in intensive care and she is now battling to regain feeling, movement, and strength in her extremities.