My Centaurs Family and Rugby friends,
I hope this mail finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health. I am so saddened not to have been able to say goodbye to you all and the kids personally. My memories are etched deep with Rugby in Massachusetts, training with the kids, games with the other MA clubs, conversations with coaches and parents.
We are blessed to have made this journey and in starting Centaurs Rugby Boston. It all started with meeting Carrick Pell in early 2018 and talking rugby over training sessions, training with Jadon playing at the Wolfhounds, and a shared desire to make rugby available to the kids in the community where there wasn’t any. Long story short, we kicked off 2019 with 40 kids registered, ran a spring, summer and fall season and ended with 120 or so participants in the Centaurs program. None of this could have been done without the dedication and commitment of our players, parents and coaches who stepped up and did an amazing job in coaching the kids, I thank you all for your time and effort and bringing so much fun for the kids. Coaches, thank you from the bottom of my heart, I will miss you all. Thank you also to our fellow MA rugby clubs for your friendship, support and encouragement, the spirit of Rugby truly exists in MA. Our family has grown and we are blessed to have renewed leadership and drive to take Centaurs forward.
Daryl Jackson whom we all know and love working with has picked up the reigns and stepped up as the President of Centaurs rugby Boston. Daryl has a wealth of experience in Rugby, development and teaching kids and is well known through our community. Daryl is also acting as the committee head for MYRO, and deeply involved in many discussions in our youth rugby community, state and national levels. Daryl is a well respected and loved member of the rugby community and we thank him and wish him a fun and productive journey with Centaurs for many years to come. We couldn’t have come this far without Benjamin Wallace and Carrick Pell, the endless emails and discussions on the program, offering and planning for training and events, the support and encouragement and forever thankful for the deep friendships. The core leadership of Centaurs is mature and passionate and we are blessed to have this passion to take Centaurs forward.
Carrick and Ben have been working in the background together with Daryl and myself on the future rugby seasons for Centaurs, especially in the current crisis. Some projections:
Summer:
Unfortunately UMASS Mt Id have not opened their fields for the summer so we are not able to offer a program. We are supporting our fellow clubs the Boston Irish Wolfhounds and South Shore Sharks who are running programs this summer, and if interested you can check out their programs as follows:
Fall:
Our fall program was a great success last year, where we had participants from many clubs and a heap of fun, and we hope that we can get our Sunday Fall sessions up and running. This will again be dependent on the authorities and access field space.
Our utmost concern is for our community, and above all with the health of our community and beyond and we will not be returning to play in any way until we are confident it is safe to do so. There are many online resources and avenues to keep the kids active and practicing their passing, kicking, and other skills. We encourage you to keep them moving and a ball in their hands. If you need extra balls please contact
daryl.jackson@centaursrugbyboston.com.
On a positive not, there is soft buzz in youth rugby in MA, a hive of energy forming with people coming together, ideas and thoughts flowing and many exciting things being planned for Rugby MA at a youth level. You have some outstanding individuals and leaders to take youth rugby forward, who behind the scenes are investing a lot of time, emotion and energy into improving the infrastructure for rugby in MA, building new programs, leagues, camps and clinics, and strengthening the foundation with experience from professional to international levels to create a world class, safe and fun experience for the kids in MA. Give them your support, the more hands on deck the more that will be achieved.
Parents, please convey my goodbyes to your kids, I really enjoyed and am very thankful to have been able to coach them. Thank you.
Although we have made the move to Hong Kong and very excited about Rugby and what the future holds for us here, I am in no way removed from Rugby in MA, and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Take care and be well.
