Kalamazoo HS Rugby Club (Photo Credit: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kzoohsrugby)
Source: Mlive.com – See original article here
Richland Township board gives Kalamazoo High School Rugby Club preliminary OK to use township field
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, MI – The Kalamazoo Bulldogs High School Rugby Club is one step closer to finding a home field for the 2013 season.
The Richland Township Board of Trustees gave preliminary approval for the club to use the township’s park as a practice and game field. A final agreement must be approved by the township board, once the contract is drafted and presented to the board.
“They need a home, and in trying to find them a home, all the organizations that utilize the southside park in the spring felt we could accommodate them,” Richland Township Park Director Kristie Maiers said. “
For the past two years, the team – which is composed of high school students from Galesburg, Parchment and Gull Lake – used the park as a practice field. Maiers said club officials approached the township about using the field for games as well.
“They told us that they were going to need a home field, and that was about six weeks ago,” Maiers said.
The township park has one soccer field, one half-soccer field and a football field. The agreement would allow the rugby team to use the football field. Currently, the football field does not have goalposts. As part of the agreement, the club will erect goalposts that can be used by both football and rugby teams.
“This is an avenue, any kid that decides that decides to go on to any college, there’s always club rugby,” Maiers said. “Many of the kids who have played on this club rugby team have played at their college club rugby team. “
“They’re just a bunch of great kids looking for an organized sport because maybe they’re not a track or baseball [athlete].”
The team plays between six and 12 games, Maiers said, and the season runs from mid-March until early June, so there is no conflict with football games. The club does not have to pay the township any money, but must sign an insurance waiver to use the park.
Township Supervisor Alan Bussema said it will be positive to get the goalposts up for both rugby and football teams.