Here's a Crazy Thought

Let's have a post about rugby!

Our beloved union, the Potomac Rugby Union has posted the Fall 2008 Matrix schedule. Read more for KJ's take on the schedule.


We start off with a friendly against Rappahanock who took us to the limit in last Fall's playoffs. These guys are no joke and could easily start our season off with an "L" if we don't come ready to play.

Next up is Chambersburg. Yes, we laid an 80 point beatdown on these guys last year. But this is a team that has a little history and supports two youth sides, so they aren't to be taken lightly. As we're all aware, with a little help from a couple of Old Boys and a young speedster outside anything can happen in a Third Division game. My advice: don't sleep on Chambersburg, especially since we're traveling up there.

Last Fall The Renegades notched wins against Happy Valley, Chambersburg, Pax River, and USUHS. In fact, in the last two years the 'Gades have beaten every team in our division except for us, Western Suburbs, and North Bay. Think about it.

September 27, 2008. Save the date, pack a lunch, and get ready to strap it on. Happy Valley will be coming down to DC looking to avenge last year's loss when we clinched our playoff spot on their home field. The Barbarians showed some class and hosted us in fine style after the match last Fall, even going so far as to hook us up with a live showing of the RWC Finals.

USUHS has been down and out the last few years, but this is a team that constantly gets new recruits and will almost certainly put up more of a fight than they did last year.

A relative newcomer to the PRU, Warrenton has wasted no time in establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. These guys had us on the ropes early in last year's game and if there was a game we deserved to lose last Fall, it was this one. I'm guessing the Marauders are still pissed about letting that game get away from them and will be looking for some payback on their homefield.

We haven't played Winchester in a while and I don't know much about their current team, but historically they've played us tough. However, a quick check of last year's standings [Author's Note: Zut Alors! The PRU website is good for something.] shows that while they had a 1-4 record in matrix play, Winchester only had a point differential of -20 and actually scored more tries than they gave up. A little more research shows that the only team that really blew Winchester out was Rappahanock, a playoff team. This is an away game, we'll need to travel strong to get out the mountains of VA with a win.

We close the season hosting our good friends from North Bay. If either club has lost a game or two before we meet this could easily become a de facto playoff game.

From the Field,

KJ