Darien High School Rugby Club

Athletic Medical cards:     **MOST IMPORTANT**

DHS Athletic Emergency Form and the Sports Participation Form (physical  current within 13 months) must be completed for each player every year to participate in sports at DHS. NOTE:  One sports participation form covers all sports. The Emergency Form however, must be completed for the coach of EACH sport in which the player participates.  Both completed forms are to be taken to the DHS health office for a nurse’s signature. The nurse will then keep the Sports Participation form and give the emergency form back to the player to be delivered to a coach. Forms found on the DHS website under ‘Athletics’. Questions to the DHS health office. 

DHS PARTICIPATION FEE:  This $100 fee is a one-time DHS club/sports fee new in 2010/11. Players pay one fee each year to cover all their DHS extra-curricular activities so if you have paid the fee for another sport/club you need not pay again. The Commitment Form is also part of this process so an actual copy of that form is no longer needed. To pay for the participation fee, follow the instructions on the DHS website, or use this link:  http://darienpaydeck.org/CourseCatalog/classView.asp?id=981.

USA Rugby Registration: All players must register with USA Rugby to play. Failure to do so puts the team at risk of forfeiting matches if another team challenges our compliance http://membership.usarugby.org  (cost is $30 & now includes liability and secondary accident insurance).

Socks/Jerseys: Match jerseys are provided. Match socks are offered for purchase at cost, approximately $6/pair. We will order more and have them available before the first match.  OTHER necessary equipment:  mouth guards, white shorts for matches, and cleats. Suppliers online:  

www.rugbystore.com , 

www.Worldrugbyshop.com, 

www.soccerandrugby.com.  

Closest store:  Soccer & Rugby Imports, 42 W. Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 661-7622

Club (& charity) Fundraising:  As this is a Club sport it is expected that the players step forward to initiate fundraising ideas and execute them, using the Club Captains and the administrator as coordinators. Players can indicate interest in fundraising verbally, or by email. Recruitment is also an ongoing responsibility of the players.

Website:  the current website is www.darienrugby.org. This website is current and updated at least once a week during the spring season. Match schedule, volunteer schedule and social activities, plus announcements, are found on this website.   

Match Fees:  Still $5 per player applicable for home matches only. Coach Caruso will be collecting match fees at the matches. Once our schedule is finalized we may make an adjustment based on the number of home matches/teams we are hosting & any results of fundraising we secure.

Game Jersey washing:  Traditionally parents have volunteered to wash the team jerseys after each match, home or away. If you would like to help, please sign up once the match schedule is complete by sending an email to that effect to darienrugby@yahoo.com.  Please mention any dates that DON’T suit.  

Canceled Practice or Match: An email and a facebook notice are sent if there is enough time when the weather is bad, but the BEST way to check if the fields are closed is to look at the www.dariensoccer.org website. They also have a hotline phone number listed. Also, the DHS website, where a scrolling item alert saying all grass fields are closed (or click on ATHLETICS to be sure) is a good (but not as reliable) source. DO NOT HESITATE to call Coach McCarthy to confirm (phone number in the DHS directory).

Photographers:  We have been extremely lucky with the quality of photos taken at all the matches to date. The photos are sent to the newspapers and the DHS website, and are a huge help to our recruitment and publicity. Please email some match photos that you would like to share to darienrugby@yahoo.com, or contact Mary McCarthy to arrange other delivery. 

Contact info:    

Mary McCarthy, admin:  darienrugby@yahoo.com 

John McCarthy, head coach:   John.McCarthy@lighthousepartners.com   

New players interested in playing rugby in 2011/12 please email darienrugby@yahoo.com.

Almost all practice and time sensitive information is conveyed via email or facebook so it is important you are included on the email list. Players often choose to cc a parent so you may include a parent email, as well. Static information such as match schedules, kit requirements, DHS emergency card requirements and USA Rugby registration is kept up to date on this website.

We look forward to hearing from you. See our practice schedule on this site and feel free to join in at any point. Make yourself known to a coach, or contact one of the captains, or any player, at DHS during the week. ALL ARE WELCOME.