Overview
August has been an exceptional month for Play Rugby AZ, setting new milestones and achieving unprecedented community engagement. This month, we've collectively clocked 41 hours of rugby, involving 8 teams and orchestrating 10 rugby matches.
Touch Rugby: Beating the Heat
Despite the soaring temperatures, the enthusiasm for our Touch Rugby program was unwavering. Record participation numbers graced the field this August, proving once again that the Touch Program continues to be the success we envisioned.
Fiesta 7s Series: The Road to the State Final and Groundbreaking Moments
August was a significant month for the Fiesta 7s Series, featuring two qualifier events on August 5th and August 19th. For the first time ever, the series included women's games, marking a groundbreaking moment. The Tempe Ninjas and Phoenix Women's Rugby Club graced the tournament as our esteemed guest stars, playing in front of record crowds to resounding success.
Ninjas vs Phoenix play at Fiesta 7s
We had eight diverse teams participate:
Camelback
Scottsdale Blues
Tempe Old Devils
Mesa Warthogs
Phoenix Storm
Tucson Magpies
Chupacabras (U23)
The Dingoes (Motley)
From this strong field, four teams have qualified for the State Final Tournament on September 16th:
Camelback
Tempe Old Devils
Scottsdale Blues
Tucson Magpies
These events drew record attendance numbers ranging from 200-400, and we're optimistic about the series' future growth.
New Membership Options and Merchandise Store
This August, we also launched our membership options:
$9.99 for Touch Rugby access
$14.99 for Touch Rugby + PlayRugbyAZTV on PlayRugbyAZ.com
$25 for all the above perks plus additional features to be revealed soon
Additionally, we're excited to announce the opening of our merchandise store. Fans can now purchase quality merchandise directly from our website.
Financial Milestones: Our First Sponsorship and Community Contributions
Creating quality rugby experiences involves financial commitment. It costs Play Rugby AZ $25 to create 1 hour of rugby, amounting to $1,025 for the month of August. We are elated to announce our first-ever sponsorship from www.HomeHelpAZ.com, who generously donated $500. This contribution assisted in covering the costs of lighting and venue rental for the Fiesta 7s Series.
We also want to express our gratitude to individual donors who have stepped up:
Glenn Rose: 4 hrs - $100
David Perez: 4 hrs - $100
These community contributions are invaluable and mark an exciting beginning as we look to forge more relationships within the business community.
Coming Up: September Plans
As we step into September, college rugby is resuming locally. We are committed to providing extensive coverage and are excited for what's on the horizon.
We couldn't be prouder of what we've accomplished in what used to be a dormant month for rugby in Arizona. From our athletes to our fans, thank you for being part of this remarkable journey. Here's to an even more impactful September!
Thank you for your continued support.
Best Regards, Play Rugby AZ Team