That's right folks ......its time again for the GREAT FREDERICK SANTA CRAWL!!!!!!!!!

Last year's event was a tremendous success. Thirty-plus Santa's rocked the night away in true Christmas fashion..................do you have enough Christmas spirit to be Mr. Big. How about Mrs. Big. Maybe an elf or reindeer is your speed. If so...then this night is for you!!!!!!!

When: Saturday December 11th, 2004
Where: The fine city bars of Frederick, MD
Details: Santa's Endless Crawling will begin @ the Canal Bar (49 S. Market St. 301.620.9898) @ 7:00 pm. For a $5.00 donation upon arrival, each and every Santa will receive entrance to all of our touring stops as well as varied drink specials from each of Fredericks fine establishments. All proceeds will benefit the Frederick Soup Kitchen. (Fun and helping.....what more do you want?) For those inclined there will be a pre-Crawl warm-up at the home of Magnum Santa (715 N. Market St.) beginning @ 5:00 pm. How Can I Be Santa: Just close your eyes and think of Christmas past. Dream of the joy of the holiday season......then drive yourself over to the Target/Wal-Mart nearest to you and buy yourself a suit. Give yourself the gift that keeps on giving.......It's Christmas Baby.......You know you wanna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please contact the manager Cam Dunlop by e-mail (camdun@earthlink.net) if you are interested. If you cannot make it this weekend but intend on trying out, I suggest that you e-mail Cam and let him know.

The coaches will be Cam and Gerry Macdonald (forwards) along with head coach Bernie Hogan from Washington.

Good luck to everyone that tries out.

Julian

Directions to Gravelly Point Park from Frederick (1 hour and 15 minutes):

• Take I-270 south to I-495 west (towards Virginia)
• Just after you cross the Potomac river on the American Legion Bridge bear right onto the GW Parkway towards Washington DC
• Just stay on the parkway and follow directions to National airport
• About 1 mile before the airport you will pass Gravelly Point Park on your left
• You will have to go into the airport (right exit) and do a U-turn
• Come back on the GW Parkway for about a mile and turn left into the small parking lot
• The rugby pitch runs right beside the river.
You can also use this NOVA link (as this is where NOVA plays their home matches).

For additional information about the All-Star schedule, see the next story below.

The player selection trials in each of the three LAUs, Eastern Pennsylvania (EPRU), Virginia (VRU) and Potomac (PRU) will begin in October. Frederick is a member of the PRU. All players are encouraged to go to the trials (usually on Sundays) and participate in the program. Last year, the MARFU moved to the top tier with a strong performance at the All-Star tournament and now their goal is to win the national title.

Last year was also the first year that the players did not have to spend their own money and this year it will be the same thanks to financial support from MARFU. In reality this money comes partly from your club dues as each rugby club pays MARFU dues of around $1,000 per year – just another reason to participate, you are paying for somebody to go to Florida, it may as well be you!

Peter Steinberg will coach the EPRU; Chris Porter will head the VRU, while Bernie Hogan (Washington head coach), Gerry MacDonald (Eagle prop and Potomac Athletic Club forwards coach) and Cam Dunlap (PAC) will most likely coach the PRU. Lance French, currently coaching at Frederick RFC, will join as head coach of the combined MARFU team headed to Florida in December.

The three Unions will play each other in regulation matches on the last two weekends in October with the goal of announcing the MARFU All-Star team before the New Zealand Ambassador’s match. Every year, the New Zealand Embassy recruits Kiwi’s from all over the USA to play the MARFU, and until last year, the kiwis had never lost.

Following the New Zealand Ambassadors match, the MARFU will head north to play the Northeast Rugby Territory in New Jersey, while the last scheduled event for the MARFU, prior to the All-Star weekend, is still to be determined.

MARFU schedule:
Oct 10 - PRU, VRU, EPRU (training)
Oct 17 - PRU, VRU, EPRU (training)
Oct 24 - MARFU matches (PRU, VRU, EPRU)
Oct 31 - MARFU matches (PRU, VRU, EPRU)
Nov 6 - MARFU training
Nov 7 - NZ Ambassador's Shield match
Nov 13 - MARFU v NERU (Monmouth)
Nov 20 - MARFU camp
Dec 2/5 – ITT (Orlando, FL)

I will keep you updated as I receive information from Rob.

Tour summary:
USCS 16 Amsterdam 7
USCS 31 Scottish Army Selects 0
USCS 7 Prague National Team 16
USCS 7 Germany Bad Wurttemberg State Team 29
USCS 18 French Military National side 41

We leave this morning to play the British Army select side in the north of Germany. The weather has been great and the beer is even better! Will drop you another line later. -Rob

Information: Four rooms reserved under Jeff Carrington.

SEA ESTA IV:
3101 Highway One
Dewey Beach, DE. 19971
(302) 227-5882

Directions to Hotel
(150 miles, 2.5 to 3 hours – depending on traffic)

• Take I-70 East towards Baltimore.
• Take Exit 87A Rt-29 South to Columbia/Washington.
• Take Exit 22 MD-100E to Glen Burnie, go SE.
• Take Exit 13A-B I-97 to Annapolis.
• Take Rt-50 east towards Annapolis/Bay Bridge.
• Keep on Rt-50 after the bridge (need to bear right to stay on Rt-50 and avoid Rt-301).
• Turn left on Rt-404.
• Stay on Rt-404/Rt-9 through Bridgeville and Georgetown (follow directions to Rehoboth and Lewes/Cape May Ferry).
• Turn right on Rt-1 (Coastal Hwy).
• Hotel is 6 miles in Dewey Beach (on right).

Directions to Tournament:

• Take Rt-1 to Rt-9.
• Take Rt-9 north towards Lewes/Cape Henlopen Ferry.
• Pass the ferry terminal and you will run into Cape Henlopen State Park.




Tentative Divisions
Premier Division: Baltimore, MD Frederick, MD Maryland Exiles, MD PAC, DC Pittsburgh, PA Saint Louis Hornets, MO Schuylkill River, PA Washington, DC	Open Division: Doylestown, PA Happy Valley, PA Lancaster, PA Old Gold, MA Rocky Gorge, MD Second City, PA Severn River, MD Wilmington, DE
Social Division: CRABBS, MD North Bay, MD Salisbury Old Boys, MD Salisbury University, MD South Jersey, NJ U. of Delaware, DE U. of Delaware Alumni, DE West Chester, PA	Over-35: Rockaway, PA SLOBS, VA Wilmington, DE

If you want to go or are thinking of going, or have any questions about these "work outs" call Ed Shafer his number is 301-473-7576 or e-mail Wilki at dave@macroltd.com

Summer Dates
Date	Function
July 4 (Sun)	Baker Park Beer Tent
17 (Sat)	Mount Rugby Clinic
31 (Sat)	Golf Tournament & Pig Roast @ Al’s
TBA	Cricket match
Aug 21/22	Atlantic Cup Tourn.

Please mark these dates on your calendar and commit to the upcoming season. You have the chance to achieve something special – but it takes focus and sacrifice. It is essential that we have all of our players available this fall in order to get a good seed going into the spring play-offs. The schedule is a good one – the only long away trip is to Norfolk – plan on going down Friday afternoon like we did for the play-offs. When the schedule is confirmed (sometime in June) the web page will be updated.

The Atlantic Cup is our traditional kick-off to the season – make sure that you attend (we will be in D1 again).

Fall 2004 Season
Date	Opposition	H/A
Aug 21/22	Atlantic Cup Tourn.	A
28	Media	A
Sep 4 11 18 25 Oct 2 9 16 23 30 Nov 6 13 20/21	Matrix (8 matches and 2 BYES - order not yet known) Rocky Gorge-H Raleigh-H Norfolk-A Richmond-H Severn River-A Roanoke-H Washington Irish-A Western Suburbs-A
20/21	PRU Tourn. @ R. Gorge	A

You can follow these links to the two jersey options being considered:

• Rugby TeamWear Jersey
• Ruggers.com Jersey

You are invited to join us for this weekend of excellent rugby and camaraderie. The team roster will be limited to 25 players. Roster spots are reserved upon receipt of an $85.00 fee, which will cover the team entry fee and a tournament jersey. To date 12 players have committed, leaving 13 openings.

Interested parties should contact Dave “Wilky” Wilkinson as soon as possible at (dave@macroltd.com)

What we need to know:
• Are You Going?
• Where are you staying?
• How are you getting there?

Seven hotel rooms in Saranac have been reserved. There is a 3 night minimum stay required so the rooms have been reserved for Friday 8/7 through Sunday 8/9; the cost is $100 per night - assuming 2 players per room, that works out to $150 per player for the weekend. If you are interested in this trip, you need commit in the next few weeks.

CAN-AM RUGBY TOURNAMENT
• THE LARGEST tournament in America 2004 will be the 30th tournament
• Field limited to 100 teams in six divisions
• 12 fields utilized in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid
• Lake Placid was the site of the 1980 winter Olympics
• Championship matches typically played in front of 3,000 fans

2003 Championship Match Results:
• Club Division: Old Blue 8, Albany 3
• B Division: Long Island 15, Brockport 5
• Over-35 Division: PAC 25, Atlantic Shillelagh 15
• Over-40 Division: Myths & Legends 21, Albany 0
• Over-45 Division: Blackthorn 29, Colorado 7

Average temperatures in August:
• Saranac, NY: high of 78°, low of 57° 
• Washington, D.C. high of 88°, low of 71°

Also, we need help in a few areas:

1. We need at least 8 coaching assistants to help run the camp.  Please notify Steve Schleupner (steven_schleupner@ml.com) if you are interested in helping.
2. This is a charitable offering we're doing to give back to the community and we will work to get newspaper exposure for the club.  If you would like to make a donation, even if it's as small as $5, please see Pete Ireland or myself.  The more money we can raise the better.
3. We need a few more - at least 3 - T-shirt sponsors.  If you think your company would be willing to help, it's only $100 for sponsorship.
4. Please forward this information to old boys, rugby lovers and friends with local clubs.

For this year’s clinic we will have Kevin Fraser as a guest coach to run a scrum session – then referee the Frederick v Mount Saint Mary’s scrimmage sessions. Kevin is a great friend of the club and can give us some real insights to forward play - an area that we need to improve ahead of the fall campaign.

The clinic will run from 10:30am to 2:00pm and round out with a social at the Ott House (a pub in Emmitsburg). Everyone is encouraged to attend – this will be a good work out and a lot of fun.

Outline for the Mount clinic:

• 10:30am – 11:00am: League
• 11:00am – 12:30pm: Coaching sessions
• 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Scrimmage sessions


Directions to Mount Saint Mary’s (about 25 minutes north of Frederick):

• Take Rt-15 north to Emmitsburg
• Turn left into Mount Saint Mary’s main campus
• The pitch is on your immediate right
• Please park in the parking lots adjacent to the pitch (don’t park on the grass)

Rentschler Stadium To Host USA vs. France Match, July 3
USA Rugby has announced that the highly anticipated USA/France international fixture will be hosted at Rentschler Field the new 40,000 seat home of the University of Connecticut's Division I football team, in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday July 3. Kick-off is set for 1:00pm local time.

The powerful French National Rugby Team is the reigning 2004 European champion, and has not lost a match to the Eagles since the founding of USA Rugby in 1976. The Eagles last played France on Oct. 31, 2003 in competition at the 2003 World Cup in Australia, when France defeated the Eagles, 41-14.

Head Coach Tom Billups says the Eagles have a healthy respect for the strength of the French team, and are anticipating this match as one of their most difficult of the 2004 competition season.

“There are no cracks in the French team due to their professional domestic competition,” said Billups. “They are very well-coached, physically and mentally prepared, and they benefit from regular participation in the strongest of international competition. They play the game with courage and elements of the unexpected, yet their team is founded in the ability to perform the basics very well.

“That said, our American boys are absolutely up for the challenge,” said Billups. “Our build up to the French test will include participating in the Super Cup and Churchill Cup. The Super Cup, held this year in Tokyo, gives us the opportunity to play against the Canadians and either the Russians or host Japan. The Churchill Cup, played only a few weeks before the French test, will see us play against the New Zealand Maori, and either England or Canada.”

TICKET INFORMATION

Midfield - $42
Field Level, along the Touchline and between the Ten-Meter Lines...Chair-back Seats...Reserved Seats...Superb View of Entire Pitch...Easy Access to Concessions

Touchline - $32
Field Level, along the Touchline, Ten-Meter Lines to Corners...Reserved Seats...Great View of Pitch

Corners - $27
Field Level Corners...General Admission...Good View of Pitch

Youth - $15
Corners Only...Under 12

If you will be able to help, send an email to organizer Chuck Bare (chbare@adelphia.net) with the approximate times you will be available.  The beer tent will run all afternoon and evening – until the fireworks at 9:00pm. As in years past, we need more help from 6:00 to 9:00 PM than earlier in the day.  Those of you in law enforcement will be especially valuable checking ID’s at the gate.

The trip will take around 4 hours – getting us up there around noon. If you have friends meeting us up there, directions are below.

Directions to North Jersey Rugby Pitch
(Orange Park, Orange, NJ)

• Take Rt. 15 North to Rt. 581 East (in south Harrisburg)
• Follow signs to Rt. 83 North Take Rt. 83N to Rt. 81N Follow Rt. 81N for 10-12 miles
• Get onto Rt. 78 East towards Allentown (DO NOT follow 81N to Hazleton!) Take Rt. 78 into NJ
• Exit onto Garden State Parkway north (exit 52) and go to exit 145
• Follow signs to I-280 west, towards the Oranges (don’t actually get onto I-280 west)
• Then take the exit toward Clinton St./East Orange
• Follow ramp straight onto Freeway Drive West
• Make a left onto S. Harrison Street
• Make a right onto Central Avenue
• Make a left onto Oakwood Avenue
• The field is in the park on the right


**If you accidentally get onto I-280 West follow directions below:


• Take 280 East to Exit 11 – Center Street/Orange.
• Turn slight right onto Capuchin Way
• Turn right onto S. Center Street
• Turn sharp left onto Central Avenue
• Turn right onto Oakwood - field and park will be on your right – there is parking along the street.

*** I want players in Norfolk Friday afternoon/evening. It is too far to drive on Saturday for a play-off match. Hotel information is posted below. ***

Directions to Lafayette Park from Frederick

• Take I-95 south (towards Richmond)
• At Richmond, take the I-295 south exit (84A), on the left (towards Rocky Mt. NC)
• Take the I-64 east exit (28A) into Norfolk
• Go to exit 276 for Granby Street/I-564/Terminal Blvd (Third exit AFTER the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel). On the exit, bear to the left to get on to Granby Street.
• Stay on Granby Street for a few miles. You will pass the Wards Corner Shopping Center, Granby High School, and DePaul Hospital. Cross the Granby Street Bridge. Bear to the left to stay on Granby Street.
• After the bridge, go to the 2nd light and turn left. This is 38th and Granby Street.
• Lafayette Park is on your right, park beside the tennis courts.

Directions to Radisson Norfolk from Frederick

• Take I-95 south (towards Richmond)
• At Richmond, take the I-295 south exit (84A), on the left (towards Rocky Mt. NC)
• Take the I-64 east exit (28A) into Norfolk
• Go to exit 276 for Granby Street/I-564/Terminal Blvd (Third exit AFTER the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel). On the exit, bear to the left towards VA-165/Little Creek Road to merge onto US-460W (4.5 miles)
• Turn slight right onto Monticello Avenue; hotel is on the left 700 Monticello Avenue, Norfolk (757) 489-4509

Directions to Lafayette Park from Radisson Norfolk

• Take Monticello Avenue back to US-460E/N
• Turn right onto Virginia Beach Boulevard
• Turn left onto Church Street for 2 miles
• Lafayette Park is on the right, turn right onto 38th Street then right again into the park

Hotel Information:
Radisson Norfolk
700 Monticello Avenue,
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Telephone: (757) 627 5555
Six rooms reserved under Frederick Rugby or Reading
Rate is $69 per room (not including taxes)

Please be at the tournament pitch before 11:00am. The drive will take about 3 hours from Frederick, if you would like to carpool please be at 7th Street before 8:00am.

Teddy is looking into hotel accommodation for Saturday night (it will be cheap).

Directions to Porter Cup Tournament (Dorey Park, Richmond, VA)
(160 miles from Frederick, 3 hours)
• Take I-95 south to Richmond
• Do not take the I-295 bypass, just stay on I-95
• Take I-64 east (exit 75)
• Take Laburnum Avenue south (exit 195)
• Go approximately 4 miles, crossing Williamsburg Road, passing the Nabisco Plant on the right
• Turn left onto Darbytown Road and proceed 1 mile
• Entrance to Dorey Park is on the right
• The pitch is to the right as you enter the park

Accommodations
Teddy has booked up 4 rooms on hold at the Best Western Airport Inn under either Frederick Rugby or Thompson. The cost is $61.88 per night, including tax. We have room #’s 242, 244, 246, & 248.

Best Western Airport Inn
5700 Williamsburg Road
Sandston, VA 23150
(804) 222-2780

Directions to the hotel from the Porter Cup Tournament

• Turn left onto Darbytown Road out of Dorey Park and follow for about 1 mile
• Turn right onto South Laburnum Avenue for approximately 2.5 miles
• Turn Right onto Williamsburg Road (Rt-60)
• Best Western is up about a mile on the left

WHAT: Birthday gathering for Bradd Hammond; Buffet provided; Cash bar
WHEN: April, 9 2004, beginning at 6:00pm
WHERE: Bushwaller's

The Pwllheli v New Windsor youth match has been shifted to a new location (New Windsor Middle School) and will now kick-off at 5:00pm (the Marauders just lost their floodlit field).

The Pwllheli vs Frederick match and youth clinic scheduled for tomorrow are both unaffected.

Directions to New Windsor Middle School:

• Take Rt-26 to Libertytown
• Take a left onto Rt-75 and follow to Union Bridge
• Keep right going through Union Bridge to stay on Rt-75
• New Windsor Middle School is 2 miles further on the right

Directions to Bull Run Park (7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA)

• Take I-270 south to I-495 south towards Northern Virginia
• Take Route I-66 west (exit 49) towards Vienna/Manassas/Front Royal
• Go approximately 12 miles to Exit 52 - US Route 29
• Make a right onto Lee Highway/US Route 29 South
• Go approximately 2.1 miles and turn left onto Bull Run Post Office Road (Virginia Route 621). Drive approximately 1 mile (bearing to right when the road forks).
• You will drive over a bridge that crosses I-66.
• After the bridge, make a left onto Bull Run Drive. You will see a sign for the Bull Run Park Shooting Center.
• Follow Bull Run Drive approximately 1.5 miles into the park.
• Vehicle parking is directly past the pitches.

Please do not park in unmarked areas, as your vehicles will be subject to towing.

All of our home matches, except for the May 22 Match to be held at a yet to be determined location, will be played at the Baker Park pitch (Directions). This materializes early on Saturday mornings next to the bell tower and armory in Baker Park. Our sincere thanks go out to the Frederick city sports and recreation department for permitting us access to the park while our future home at Walnut Ridge is being constructed.

Frederick play two matches each Saturday, the A-side (comprised of the more experienced players) kicks off at 1:00pm and the B-side (a mixture of new players and experienced guys who can’t make all the practices) follows at 2:30pm. The post-match social for players, referees and spectators follows at around 4:30pm. Occasionally we will have guest teams play a curtain raiser at 11:30am, please check the schedule for that information. In addition, this season we are hosting a team from Wales and will play them at Baker Park on a Wednesday afternoon – kick-off at 3:00pm. Occasionally due to inclement weather we use a different pitch at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg. Please check in with the website before each match to confirm the venue.

Players are required to be at the pitch, ready to warm-up by 12:00 noon, spectators are very welcome to support the teams and also to enjoy the camaraderie that is rugby in the pub for the post-match social.

Frederick play in black socks and black shorts and green and black jerseys. The club provides match day jerseys, players need to have their own shorts, socks, boots/cleats, mouthguards and any other additional protective equipment. Also, please bring water.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Julian Reading, Head Coach. I look forward to seeing you on the pitch or cheering on the sidelines this season.

• Cincinnati Wolfhounds
• Air Force
• Atlanta Renegades
• Schuylkill River
• Lockport Rugby Touring Side

Directions to Whittier:

• Take Rt-15 north to Rosemont Avenue
• At the bottom of the ramp turn right (west) away from downtown Frederick and towards Ft. Detrick
• Go for about 3 miles (pass Ft. Detrick) and turn left on Christopher Crossing
• Take your first right (Whittier Drive) and park on the road
• The pitch is on your immediate left (by the pond)

Directions to Linganore High School:

• Take I-70 east towards Baltimore (about 5 miles)
• Take Rt-75 north (exit 62) towards Libertytown (about 3 miles)
• Turn right onto Old Annapolis Road (small sign)
• Linganore High School is on your right (about 200 yards)
• The rugby match will be played on a football field behind the school’s main building

The clinic costs $10, which covers lunch in the college cafeteria. For more information on the clinic please contact Mount Saint Mary’s Head Coach Don Briggs (tepeyac@erols.com).

Directions to Mount Saint Mary’s College:
• Take Rt-15 north to Emmitsburg.
• Turn left into the main College campus.
• Take your first left and follow signs to the gymnasium.
• Use any of the nearby parking areas. (25 minutes from Frederick)

I want this tournament to be inclusive and fun, but I cannot afford to field two squads from 25 players. That will only increase the chance for injury – this season has made this reality very clear.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Savannah Tournament we drive down (9 hours) to Savannah from Frederick. This year, we will be renting a 10-man van and an RV, traveling down on Friday 12th March and returning Sunday 14th March. Stax has booked us rooms in the Hilton in downtown Savannah just one block from River Street. This does make it a bit more expensive than normal. The games are close to downtown Savannah; the party is on River Street.

Hilton Savannah DeSoto
15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Tel: 1-912-232-9000
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SAVDHHF

Here are the basics (per person):

Leave Friday 12th and return on Sunday 14th:
• You will need to take Friday off work.
• Hotel cost (5 per room): $100
• Van rental (10 per van): $60
• Tour jersey: $40
• Grand Total: $200

Please get back with Julian ASAP and let him know if you can make the tour (jreading@erols.com). Please also let Julian know if you will be in the rugby vans and rooms or if you will be traveling and staying independently. All the hotel information is above should you wish to book directly. If you are aiming to play in the A-side this spring you should attend so please sort out your leave and savings.

Although those seeds seem daunting, just remember that in 1998 when Frederick reached the final we were the only MARFU seed, national #14. Although the venues for the Sweet-16 have not been announced, the Final-4 will be in Pittsburgh once again.

Obviously before the nationals there is the small matter of winning our MARFU Elite-8 and Final-4 matches. Although there are a few matches outstanding in the south (to be played in the spring) our fate is basically sealed. We will either play Washington Irish or Norfolk and then the winner of either Washington Irish or Norfolk verses Rocky Gorge. We will not see a division II north team until the MARFU final. To my mind this is a very good schedule ahead of the nationals. All of these teams are playing well and there is no point reaching the nationals on the back of some easy wins. If we are not good enough to progress through the best division II south MARFU teams, we do not belong at the national Sweet-16.

Please see the tournament dates for spring 2004 below. You need to be peaking on April 17th – please gear your training and focus on that date.

Hear Ye .........Hear Ye....... Using the responses I received from everyone, the time and date has been set for this years HOUSE CRAWL. This years Crawl will be:

Saturday February 21st, 2004
Beginning at 715 North Market St., Frederick, MD @ 2:00 PM.

For those of you new to the Crawl or for those that were too drunk to remember last year, here are the details. The Crawl will begin at my house from 2-4 PM. From there we will move through the streets of Frederick visiting the friendly souls who have offered their home to us. Each house will be responsible for one mixed drink of choice, where we will spend about an hour or so.

This is a great opportunity to meet and greet with your fellow teammates and friends, while taking in the local flavor. As always everyone is welcome. Please feel free to invite friends, family, wives, husbands, and random hot chicks. Plan to dress for the weather........nor rain, snow, or drunks in the night will hold us back!

I feel this is a great way to start another great season.......I look forward to seeing you all. More information and a detailed agenda for the night is forthcoming.