The Grey in the news.
Connecticut Grey rugger and FDNY firefighter Phil Tufano (No. 59) graces the cover of the December24, 2001 issue of Sports Illustrated . SI dedicates its special year-end double issue to taking stock of thetumultuous year that was. Michael Bamberger's cover feature examines the indomitable spirit of New York City's firefighters, men who give new meaning to the word teamwork, while Richard Hoffer tries to put the sports landscape into perspective. The Connecticut Grey salutes Phil and all the brave men and women of the FDNY. We mourn the loss of their brothers and sisters.
(Photograph by Walter Iooss Jr.)
Bill Aman is our man!
The Greys own Bill Aman was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2005 and re-elected in 2007.
(Photo courtesy of the 2006 Connecticut House Republican Office.)
Fri., April 16, 1999
BLEED RED, PLAY GREY: The Connecticut Grey prove you don't have to be young to play rugby
By Evan Goodenow
Mike Guzzio of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club (left) and teammate Thom Ward-McKinlay (second from right) put the squeeze on an unidentified player from Les Vieux of Manhattan in the recent season opener at Wallingford's PNA Park. Guzzio, of New Haven, is an English teacher; Ward-McKinlay, of Wallingford, is a neuropsychologist. Photos by Peter Casolino/Register
Father Time may have robbed a step or two from the 35-year-old and-up members of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club, but they didn't let him steal any of their toughness - or love of the sport.
"The great part about rugby is the camaraderie," Grey fullback Ed Robinson said. "You can get out and kick ass. At 54, you can still tackle somebody, you get up, win or lose, you go and drink a couple of beers with the guys you played against."
Robinson, a Cheshire resident, played football in college until he realized that, at 5 feet, 6 inches, he would never play quarterback, and switched to rugby. Robinson, one of the team's older members, estimates he's been playing with and against the same players for some 30 years, and like his teamates, has lost none of his desire.
The Grey, which kicked off its 20th anniversary season March 28 on its home field at Polish National Alliance Park in Wallingford, was established by rugby players who didn't want to let the game pass them by despite their age. The team name, while spelled in the British fashion, is actually a whimsical reference to the gray hair of team members.
"The only difference about this game is that it's a little slower," said team founder, Jeff Bouvier, 56, of Milford, who is now a referee. "It's just as hard, everybody plays with just as much vigor. A lot of guys think that they're just going to come out and have a lark, but the first time they get knocked on their asses, they realize that everybody's got the same rugby ethic."
While standard rugby games have two 40-minute periods, the 35-and-over game has three 20- minute periods designed to get more players involved. The Grey have a 44-member squad. There are 15 players on each team, which is called a "side".
Rugby is an English game from which American football descended. But while the hitting is just as ferocious as American football, possession changes are more frequent because once players are tackled, they must release the ball, preferably by lateralling it to a teammate.
When laterals aren't possible, players can kick the ball, which is slightly larger and longer than an American football. Frequently, after tackles, "scrums" occur. A scrum is similar to the crowd of players who pile on the ball in football when a fumble occurs, but in rugby it's more structured, with the idea being that one of the eight frontline players will gain possession and flip the ball back to the backs. In rugby, there are no forward passes.
A "try," which is worth five points, is similar to a touchdown except that the scorer must physically touch the ball down in the end zone rather than just breaking the imaginary plane of the goal line. Extra points after tries are worth two points and players can dropkick the ball from any part of the 110-yard-by-75-yard field for a "drop goal" worth three points.
The Grey's 1999 debut was the first of a 14-match season (including two tournament matches) that runs through June. The Grey, which is now 2-3, primarily plays in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, but has occasionally played in Canada and Wales.
While they have no reservations about getting bloody and muddy on weekends, most of the Grey players wear white collars during the week. Their professions include an aersopace engineer, attorneys, a CEO and a former first selectman. Players reside all over the state and include some European transplants like scrummer Steve Jones, a Wilton resident formerly from Cardiff, Wales.
"I always sort of had reservations about coming out for this side," he said. "I thought it would be slow and you'd sort of wander around, but this is very good, I'm very impressed … If you're going to play quality "old boys" rugby, this is the team."
The Grey players appeared a little rusty from their winter break and weren't as quick as their New York.- based opponent, Les Vieux. They fell behind 7-0 midway through the second period, but rallied in the third to take a 10-7 lead before falling, 12-10, on a late Les Vieux try from seven yards out.
Despite the loss, the players and the approximately three dozen wives, girlfriends and children who turned out to provide moral support, weren't too disappointed.
"They put their heart in it, they really do, it doesn't matter that they're older," said Roberta Romeo of West Hartford, who turned out to cheer on her boyfriend, John Kerr.
CHEER 'EM ON
The Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club has three more home games this season:
- 3 p.m. April 24, against the Beacon Hill Dinosaurs of Boston at PNA Park, , Wallingford.
- 11:30 a.m. May 8, against the Albany Knicks OB of New York, at the Irish-American Club, Oak Street, Glastonbury.
- 1 p.m. May 22, against Berkshire of Massachusetts, at the Woodhouse Avenue Soccer Field, Wallingford.
Admission is free.
GREY MAKE RUGBY MAGAZINE
Thanks to a timely e-mail from Captain Eddie Carr, the Grey received a very nice mention in Andy Alpers' "Masters" column in the September 25, 1999 issue of Rugby Magazine.
We got a very nice e-mail from Ed Carr, captain of the Connecticut Grey RFC. They're approaching their 20th Anniversary this fall and celebrating with a small tourney consisting of old friends ... a truly appropriate way for a Masters club to honor 20 years of blood, sweat and cheers. © 1999 Rugby Magazine |
