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VB Falcons are Official. VRU Grants Reinstatement for Upcoming Season.
The Virginia Beach Falcons took a major step Saturday afternoon as they were granted permission to rejoin the Virginia Rugby Union. Coach Steve Murray and President Brian Longtin took the annual pilgrimage to Richmond to meet the VRU executive committee as well as all the teams associated with the VRU. In addition to the Falcons, three other teams were able to join the growing rugby powerhouse union. Charlotte will join as a division I squad, while Randolph Macon's men and the University of Richmond's women will also get on the field this spring.
While we had great news off the field, on the field the Falcons took a blow. Three injuries highlighted the late morning inter-squad scrimmage. Center Tim White and flanker Joel Fravel had a nasty collision on a kick-off. Both were attempting to get a kick and ran square into each other not knowing they were on a collision course. Both were taken to the hospital across from the pitch. "I appreciated all the nurses and their help, they were kind. Hopefully they'll be coming to some games," said Fravel. Tim White had his noggin scrambled and suffered a concussion. He will be evaluated in two weeks and his time line to return to the team is questionable. Fravel suffered a gash above his eye requiring four stitches and he also broke his left pinky. He will have surgery mid-week to insert some pins and his return to the team is questionable. "It's a great game. It can obviously be a little rough but chicks dig scars," Fravel added.
The injuries did not end there as hooker Victor Cintron lost one of his front teeth while wearing his mouth piece. Cintron did not realize he lost his tooth until he asked the rest of the team where they were drinking after the match. Cintron later found his tooth embedded in his mouth piece. Although it's a bad injury, Cintron apparently didn't realize it happened and the rest of the team got a huge chuckle. "Everybody tells me I should quit playing the game because I'll get killed" Cintron said, "I think it's pretty cool so whatever." While on duty in South Carolina "Rico Suave" Cintron will get a new ceramic tooth while having surgery to put some metal studs in his mouth. Cintron will be back in action a week into February.
The Falcons will continue team training Tuesday night at 6:30 when they continue beach boot camp at the 1st street oceanfront boardwalk. Boot camp will also be slated for Thurs night. The Falcons have invited the the Norfolk Blues and ODU to participate in their weekly Saturday scrimmage. This may be the last of two Saturday scrimmage's as the injury riddled Falcons will have to be at full strength for their March 6th match at Virginia Men's team in Charlottesville.
02.09.2004 Rolls into Feb
Beach Rugby Rolls Into February
With less than a month remaining before the season opener the Virginia Beach Falcons wrapped up there final inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday. The game was one of the most physical to date as several players were "laying the wood" on that pleasant Saturday morning.
One key injury did occur right before the half. Trying to make a tackle on James Seymour, Hooker Andy Hill's knee buckled and he was forced to sit the sidelines the rest of the game. "I just went to tackle somebody. I went one way and my knee went the other. Then I said oh my goodness it hurt, and I went to the hospital." The preliminary report was a sprained right knee, but with lots of swelling over the weekend it could be more serious. Hill will have a MRI on February 20, 2004 to determine the exact time table for his return.
Despite the rash of injuries that continues to plague the team the Falcons have made some strong moves off the field. Most importantly the Falcons were issued there field from our great city of Virginia Beach. All home games will now be played at the Falconsplex at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. "The old days we played at Princess Anne Park. That's the center for sports in Virginia Beach, so for the old guys it's important to have a continuous home, " said field coordinator Todd Grissom. "I'm ecstatic we have a place to call home." Conveniently the team found a bar to host the post-game festivities about a mile from the pitch. Hometown Hero's proudly welcomes in the Falcons for a nice bar to host their guest.
Three new officers were also appointed to positions in President Brian Longtin fascist non-voting anti-democratic regime. Scrum-half Scott Humphreys will take the role of Vice-President now that Kyle Kennedy is out to sea again. Dave Bastiaans was named team treasurer in place of old boy John Sternigan. "We need money, we need mullah, cash," said Bastiaans. James Seymour was placed in the Secretary position. His willingness to go down the phone list at all hours of the night looped on Budweiser was the reason. In case Ajia Warman, the old secretary, hasn't been told of this I guess he's finding out about it now.
The Falcons will keep "Beach Boot Camp" moving down at the first street boardwalk at 6:30 Tuesday and Thursday, with hopes of heading inside later this week. Rugby 101 will be the plan for Saturday as we will meet at coaches house for the pre-game festivities as we do once a season. We will then go to one of two rugby tournaments hosted by our rivals to check out the action. The teams gala is tentatively scheduled for February 21, 2004 at a place tba this week
03.03.2004 March Rolls on In
As March Rolls In So Does The Falcons Season
It's been about fifteen months since the ball got rolling, but the Virginia Beach Falcons are finally ready to kick-off their spring season. After months and months of hard work by all this Saturday Beach invades Charlottesville for a 1:00 drop against the Virginia Gentlemen. The Falcons have not played a rugby match in about four years but that will all change this week. "It's monumental. It's the beginning of a new era for a potentially great team. I think we have the skill and talent to surprise a lot of people and we're going to start this weekend by kicking some arse in Charlottesville," said inside center Grant Ramsay.
The season couldn't come at a better time for the Falcons as they are at their healthiest, returning many guys from a rash of injuries. Todd Grissom, Brian Longtin and Joel Fravel will all be available by game time Saturday. The one sad note has Andy Hill sidelined until the fall following a MRI on his knee showing a tear of the ACL and a medial meniscus injury. Even with the Hill injury the pack should be in pretty good shape for the season opener.
The Falcons will return home the following week for a match against Quantico. The Falcons field will now officially be on Holland Rd next to the SPCA around the intersection of Dam Neck Rd and Holland Rd. The city garbage trucks will be parked next to the field making our home pitch all the more funnier when we have a few brews in us after the game. "It makes all the trashy people feel welcome," said fly half James Seymour. It's good to have the garbage trucks, that's where we're going to dump the remains of of the folks we beat," added Ramsay. Surveyors will be out to mark the field on Monday preparing for the opener.
Virginia Beach will have their A and B side selections after Thursday's practice. Beach boot camp came to a close last Tuesday and the Falcons will move to Lynnhaven Middle School for at least the one practice. The Falcons homepage will have directions and a map to the practice pitch.
03.14.04 Virginia Weather
On a typically weird day for weather in Virginia, the Virginia Beach Falcons dropped their season opener in Charlottesville to the Division III champion Virginia Rugby Club. Virginia got off to fast start against the Falcons putting up two quick scores in a matter of three minutes. Beach held the Charlottesville team scoreless for about 25 minute before giving up two scores before the half.
The second half started off with some hard intense hitting. Flirting with the try zone the Falcons still could not muster a score. Both teams went scoreless for about twenty minutes until Virginia opened up the flood gates on some poor tackling. The experience was all the difference in the game as the Falcons looked like a team that has played for their first time. By the final count Virginia managed to tally 83 points while shutting out the Falcons.
VB's pack played well in the set plays winning line out and scrum downs, while spoiling the opposition a few times. Both packs were hitting hard and the game was very physical in nature. "I just didn't want to wake up the next day," commented fly half James Seymour about his multiple bruises, black eye and huge scab on his leg. "I was hurt in every muscle including the ones I didn't know I had," said flanker Andrew Sinclair, "getting the rust out was good we shouldn't hurt as much in the other games." Flanker Joel Fravel mentioned his nose problems, "I would pick my nose Sunday in the car on the way home and blood would come out. My girlfriend said 'you're disgusting'." Fravel was worthless on Sunday but played with a lot of heart considering his finger just got the pins removed from his fingers, an injury suffered in an earlier scrimmage.
04.02.04 Penalties, Penalties, Penalties!
Penalties, penalties, penalties! That seems to be the continuing trend for the Virginia Beach Falcons after they dropped a gutsy performance to the VRU Division II Richmond Lions on Saturday 33-5. Richmond reeled off the first 21 points of the contest before the Falcons were able to score just before the half on inside center Grant Ramsay's 20 meter try. "I couldn't tell which line it was because of the six yard soccer box, I just looked for the goal post. We needed to restore some pride, so I knew I had to make it. Nobody was going to stop me," Ramsay said. Richmond put up 12 points in the second half and that was the difference.
The score gave Ramsay man of the match honors giving the Falcons four different winners in four weeks. Ramsay was also the first back to score this season as the Falcons other tries have come from the forwards. Ramsay was by far not the best man of the match winner. "I haven't been that tipsy in a long time," Ramsay added. "Apparently I was tied to a chair or taped to a chair. When I decided to dive into the hot tub I really screwed my shoulder up. It was the worst idea I've ever had."
Ramsay went ill on several occasions and lost the mug on three times. The mug was eventually hand-cuffed to Ramsay by scrum-half Scott Humphrey so he would not permanently lose it. It was necessary that we hand-cuffed the mug to Grant's wrist. Grant was irresponsible on two occasions and allowed the sacred mug to all from his sights, so three strikes you're out Grant," Humphrey mentioned.
There was a B-side match on Saturday as well. Several Norfolk Blues traveled down to the Falconsplex to jump in on the game. They whooped up on the Lions for their first ever b-side win at the Falconsplex. "I appreciate the Blues coming down and supporting our club. We are the clear underdogs in the Union and this area which houses three teams. For the perennial 'big dogs' to come out and support the Falcons means a lot for my team. We only want to make rugby better in this area, not to dilute it. With their support I know the Falcons are moving in the right direction. I'm proud of the friendships I've developed on that squad and I hope that it grows between all our players, said coach Steve Murray. "Norfolk once had a good rivalry on the field with the Falcons. I know we have a lot of work to do but the rivalry will be restored to what it once was."
Post game was great with a special thanks to AJ Gators located at 3908 Holland Rd. and all over South Hampton Roads, good job Al and staff. Richmond, some Blues and the Beach all represented well. The party at Tyler's was a blast as well. Good times at the Tiki Bar poolside on the Linkhorn. Special thanks to John Jordan for hosting the clubs. Richmond and the Beach and our guest Enjoyed a great Saturday. The party was so Good Newport News Rugby players managed to drop on in. Beach now moves to 4-0 at the party.
This week the Falcons head north for their spring trip. Virginia Beach will be participating in the Gorge Cup hosted by Rocky Gorge around Laurel MD. We will be the feature match in the college recruiting tournament. Teams such as Navy, Frostburg, Washington College, and George Mason will be in attendance.
06.27.04 Season One in the bag.
FALCON NATION NEWSLETTER 6/27/04
After finishing a hard fought spring season, the Virginia Beach Falcons are geared up and ready to turn their attention to the summer season. The Falcons plan on entering at least one side in the Ninth Annual Norfolk Blues Sevens Tournament to be played at Lake Taylor High School on July 10, 2004. Injuries look to be the deciding factor on whether the squad will have enough formidable players to submit a second side.
The Falcons won't have to wait until July 10th to get a piece of the Blues. The two squads will knock heads on Thursday evening at Lafayette park @ 7:00 in a round robin 7's bonanza. The first of a series of games in which the Falcons and the Blues are able to restore the old rivalry. The Blues went 2-0 against the Invincible British team on Monday night 7's earlier this week.
Beach will continue their hard training regiment throughout the remainder of the summer. On Tuesday nights the Falcons practice 15's with a abundance of drills and cardio to sharpen our skills. Thursdays have been delegated as 7's night with games of 7's throughout the evening. All practices for Virginia Beach are held at Lynnhaven Middle School off of First Colonial Road.
Off the Field Virginia Beach is planning on a banquet for our spring season and to help officially kick-off our fall season sometime towards the end of July. Also talks of a booze cruise on the vessel "Civil Unrest" has also been talked about. A special thanks to Golds Gym and Jerry for hooking up all of the Falcons with free memberships to help get us shredded for the fall season.
The Falcons have released their fall schedule for Division III matrix competition. The schedule is posted on our website and a date for the Falcons 15's tournament should be known in the very near future. Follow the Falcons all season long on vbrugby.com