Roosevelt Island Free Co Ed Rugby Coaching Clinic & Conditioning Presented By Roosevelt Island Youth Program With Pacific Island Warriors Players Starting August 1

Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) Executive Director Charlie DeFino reports:

Rugby on Roosevelt Island

Image From Pacific Island Warriors (NY) Rugby Team

The Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) will launch a free co-ed introduction to rugby coaching clinic for middle to high school age children on the island starting on Saturday, 1 August 2015. The clinics will also extend to conditioning and coaching for all ages.

Registration is free.

Dates: Saturdays beginning 1 August 2015

4:30 pm to 5:30 pm: Introduction to rugby for middle to high school age children.

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Rugby conditioning and coaching for all ages (Touch Rugby).

Venue: Octagon Fields on Roosevelt Island

The RIYP rugby clinic is organized in collaboration with the Pacific Island community on Roosevelt Island. Coaching and instruction will be led by Coach Viliame Vakasisikala

Image From Pacific Island Warriors (NY) Rugby Team

and members of the Pacific Island Warriors (NY) Rugby team.

Image From Pacific Island Warriors (NY) Rugby Team

Coach Vili has been affiliated with New York club rugby for 15 years after playing senior representative rugby in Fiji and the Pacific. Two of his sons are currently on scholarships playing Division 1 college rugby. They, along with rugby playing Roosevelt Island residents, will form the core volunteer coaching staff at the clinics.

This community initiative comes from the growing interest in the United States in rugby both as a recreational and professional sport. Rugby is the national sport of many Pacific island countries. Over the last twenty years, Roosevelt Island has been home to many Pacific Islanders, who see this as a unique opportunity to give back to our host community by sharing their passion for rugby.

Image From Pacific Island Warriors (NY) Rugby Team

Bring the kids out for an introduction to one of the fastest growing sports in the United States or simply join us for a run!



The US national rugby team, the Eagles, will be playing in the Rugby World Cup in September 2015 and at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Rugby is also played at the high school and collegiate levels in the US.

I am excited about the rugby program as previous attempts to introduce rugby on Roosevelt Island did not pan out. This rugby clinic is built on the commitment of volunteer parents and families who want to give back to their community through a sport that they know. It's a great opportunity for the kids to learn a new sport and make new friends."

Here's a sample of Pacific Island Warriors rugby from their Facebook page.

Posted by Pacific Island Warriors on Saturday, July 11, 2015

Call the RIYP (212) 527-2505 or check out their Facebook page for more information