After a long and rugby-less winter, we’re happy to announce that our regular practices are back! Starting February 6, we’ll be meeting from 6 to 8 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, behind the tennis center in Forest Park (see the map below).
If you’ve always been curious about rugby, then this will be a great time to learn. Come dressed to run (yes, outside in February) — cleats are optional, but bring them if you have them — and we’ll start teaching you our favorite game.
See you on February 6!
Saturday is… (you guessed it) a RUGBY day!
Due to the Balloon Race at Forest Park, we’ve got a new time and location:
Our home opener against the Kohlfeld Scorpions will start tomorrow at 11 am, in Creve Coeur Park. Bring a comfy chair, a cooler of your favorite beverage, and your excitement! Third half will follow immediately the match.
Tonight at 7 pm, is our season opener against Franklin County RFC.
If you want to take a small Rugby Road Trip and join us, the pitch is at:
Francis Borgia High SchoolWe’ll celebrate our (future) win on Sunday, September 11, at Just John from 2-6 pm. We’ll be guest bartending on the patio, and have loads of Jello Shots to go around. We’ll also have a pickup point for local subscribers who ordered Foster Courtney Memorial T-Shirts.
RSVP to this event on Facebook.
No problem. Our home opener is next weekend in Forest Park, vs The Scorpions. Game time is 3 pm on Saturday September 17th. Come join us at the Rugby Pitch on Cricket Drive in Forest Park!
Foster Courtney Donation/T-Shirt Update
Thanks once again to everyone who bought a shirt honoring our brother Foster. We raised over $1000 each for the Courtney Scholarship at Culver-Stockton College and Mid-America Transplant Services. Donation checks will be issued shortly.
For those of you out of town who ordered online, we will ship shirts this week. For those of you in the Saint Louis Metro area, we will be distributing shirts Saturday, September 3rd at Just John starting at 6 pm. If you’re unable to make it at this time, please send an email to jpjernigan@gmail.com, and we can make alternate arrangements.
Saturday’s a Rugby Day!
Rugby season is in full swing with the Saint Louis Crusaders! We’ve got lots of new players, but there’s still time if you want to join in the fun. Email us at stlouiscrusaders@gmail.com if you’d like to play, or just want to come to a few practices to see what we’re all about.
Our season opener is Saturday, September 10th, at 7 pm, in Washington MO, against Franklin County RFC. For more information, please see our event on Facebook, or check our Match Calendar on our website.
Our first home game is Saturday, September 17, at Forest Park, against the Kohlfield Scorpions. We’ll be playing at the rugby pitches at Forest Park, starting at 2 pm. Check our Facebook page or website for the exact pitch location within the next week.
Events and Fundraising Opportunities
Through September 14th, we’re selling Dogtown Pizzas as a fundraiser for our trip to the Bingham cup. Contact your favorite rugger, or email us at stlouiscrusaders@gmail.com for more information.
In addition to T-Shirt distribution, we’ve got a full weekend of events at Just John to help get your Labor Day weekend rockin’ and ruckin’.
On Saturday, come join us for a Survivor Flip-A-Cup Tournament – great prizes for the winning team and as always, a good time is promised by your favorite ruggers. Create a team, or team up with your favorite ruggers!
On Sunday, we’ll be selling Jello Shots throughout the evening. Come on out and join us – you don’t have to work on Monday, right?
Our next monthly beer bust at Just John is Sunday September 11, from 6-9 pm. A portion of the proceeds from our team bar goes to the team, and we’ll also have Jello Shots and fun games in store. Grab some friends, and start your week with some ruggers!
Finally, we’ll be presenting a bachelor auction in the coming month
(Keep checking the website for date and time details). Have you been pining for a certain rugger on the pitch? Well, now’s your chance to enjoy a great night out with that special prop, 8-man or wing. (The hooker joke’s too easy. We’re gentlemen, folks.)
Check our website and facebook page for more information in the coming weeks.
With a whole host of new recruits to the team and enough players for our subs to have subs, the Crusaders are off to a strong start as begin the march into our fall season which starts with our first match on September 10, 2011 against Franklin County. We love to have spectators, so check out our match dates and come out and cheer for your favorite St. Louis team!
We are not only gearing up for our season here in the States but also for our first year at the International IGRAB Championship, the Bingham Cup, to be held in Manchester, England in July of 2012. We will be holding many events and fundraisers throughout the year to fund our travel and entries to the Bingham Cup, so stay updated about our upcoming events by looking at our events calender and come have a fun time with the team while supporting a good cause!
Want to get to know the Crusaders better? Meet all our members by checking out our new team roster or get in contact with us by e-mailing info@stlouiscrusaders.org.
Thanks to all who came out to support and honor Foster at Just John last night. As t-shirt orders are still coming in by email and Facebook, we don’t have final tallies for the gift proceeds, but we’re off to a great start, raising over $1500!
T-Shirt orders are now available online, with all proceeds going to the Courtney Scholarship at Culver-Stockton College and Mid-America Transplant Services.
Alternatively, you may also send a check for $20/shirt to the address below. For small orders (under 5 shirts) outside of the Saint Louis Metro Area, please consider adding $5 per order. For larger orders, please contact Jay Jernigan at jpjernigan@gmail.com for more information. Please include the quantity and sizes and a valid shipping address for all mail orders.
St. Louis Crusaders RFC C/O Jay JerniganTo ensure that all family members and friends can order a shirt, we’ll continue to take orders for the next two weeks. We expect to ship shirts out in about a month, and will announce a place and time to pick up shirts for local orders within the Saint Louis Area.
On behalf of the Crusaders, thank you all for your support, and thank you for honoring Foster.
With you,
Jay Jernigan
Treasurer
Saint Louis Crusaders RFC
J. Foster Courtney, December 15, 1981 – July 04, 2011
As many of you may have heard or read, our fellow rugger, J. Foster Courtney died Monday, July 4, 2011, following injuries from a tragic accident. On behalf of the team and his family, thank you for the outpouring of support and condolences within the past few days. Foster was and continues to be loved by many. He was a great friend both on and off the pitch, and it was an honor to play rugby with him. Information regarding bereavement services can be found here.
Sunday July 10, 4pm-9 pm:
Foster Memorial at Just John
4112 Manchester Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110
Please join the Crusaders in a memorial event honoring our fallen brother. We will be taking orders for a memorial t-shirt, with all proceeds going to the Courtney Scholarship at Culver-Stockton College. To make an additional contribution to this fund, or to Mid-America Transplant Services, more information is available below.
The design of the T-Shirt can be found below:
We’re “with you,” Foster, and you’ll always be in our hearts, on and off the pitch. We love and miss you dearly.
St. Louis Crusaders RFC
Ways to Honor Foster
Foster will be laid to rest this weekend and at his family’s request, in lieu of flowers please send donations as a memorial to the following:
Culver-Stockton College c/o Courtney Memorial Scholarship
The Courtney Memorial Scholarship account was something that Foster was working on as part of his overall end-of-life planning. It will ultimately support a needs-based scholarship for a business student at the College.
Please contact Eric Barkley in the Culver Advancement Office at 573-288-6463 for information about supporting this fund.
Mid-America Transplant Services
Foster gave us many gifts when he was here, including his humor, warmth, kindness, and athletic ability. His final gift was as an organ donor.
Sunday July 3, 3 pm – 6 pm:
Beer Bust at Just John
4112 Manchester Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110
Come celebrate the Fourth with us! We will be guest bartending on the patio, complete with a cornhole tournament, jello shots, and other fun surprises. Proceeds from guest bartending benefit your favorite ruggers in red, so brush up on your rugby songs, and come on down!
(Hey, you’ve still got Monday to recover, right?)
Want to keep up-to-date on the latest events? Sign up for our newsletter in the form on the right. In the last field, Let us know if you’re interested in playing or want to become a supporter. Our latest newsletter is here.
Happy Pride Weekend, Crusaders Fans!
A long overdue post, but worth it, we promise. 
The Crusaders will have lots of events this weekend to celebrate Pridefest. Check below for the schedule:
Saturday, June 25th:
1-3 pm: Rugby 101 – Join the Crusaders for a quick demonstration of basic Rugby moves. We’ll be in Tower Grove Park in the new Sports Complex, right behind the Pride drink booth. Never played rugby? This is your perfect chance to learn the basics.
4-5 pm: We’ll have a few gentlemen at the Team St. Louis info booth, so stop by and say “Hi” to your ruggers in red, and sign up to play or be an athletic supporter. We’ll also be manning the Pride drinks booth from 5-close, so there’s plenty of chances to show your support.
Sunday, June 25th:
12 pm: Pride Parade! The Crusaders will be walking in the parade with our Team Saint Louis compadres, so be on the lookout, and be loud and proud, and let the gents know you appreciate how hard St. Louis Rucks!
3-5 pm: We’ll have a few ruggers in red manning the Pride drink booth – come by and have a drink with the boys.
5-6 pm: Rugby 101 returns! Come learn some basic rugby moves with the Crusaders. You’ll find out that rucks, mauls, and scrums aren’t as dirty as they sound, but they sure are a lot of fun!
At all these events, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to play, or be a supporter. We’ve got a great season coming up this fall, so you’ll want to be part of the action, either as a player, or as a fan!
The Crusaders hope you have a fun and safe Pridefest weekend. We’ll see you at the park, and hopefully, on the pitch this fall!
07 May 2011 Madison Minotaurs, Madison, Wis.
Details to follow.
