ABERAVON HARLEQUINS R.F.C.
Aberavon Harlequins R.F.C., have been invited to officially represent the town of Port Talbot on a cultural / sporting visit to Denver, Colorado, during May 2010 (date to be finalised) a unique opportunity. Along with the development of the proposed new changing rooms this will be a major achievement further elevating the profile of Aberavon Harlequins R.F.C. and hopefully assist the current players in their continuing drive for promotion. The purpose of the visit, is primarily to highlight the profile of Wales in the United States of America, this will be achieved by playing rugby against a strong, successful, local team Glendale RFC will use the opportunity too showcase their impressive, currently under construction, 3.000 seated stadium. Hopefully this invitation can be reciprocated and an invitation can be extended to Glendale RFC to attend and assist Aberavon Harlequins in the opening of the proposed new changing rooms. Due to the fact that this visit is to highlight the profile of the Welsh in the USA, grants and loans are available and their maximum availability is currently being explored. It has also been intimated that our hosts will assist in offsetting the overall cost of the accommodation. **Currently both the above subsidies will only be used to offset the cost of players attending the trip. The tour is open to all current players, officials, sponsors, former players, web master, former officials, supporters and guests – no headers. All information in relation to the tour will be regularly updated to the Quins Web Site www.thequinsrfc.com. This will also include links to other useful Colorado Web Sites, and will include everything every tourist will need to know, it will be used as the main form of communication. Updates will also be posted on the Quins Club walls, and those who have email addresses will receive emails. Text messaging will also be used as required. As a result of the task ahead, to ensure that maximum benefit is achieved by all attending, a tour committee has been formed, all committee members will have separate remits from organising events to subsidise the tour to merchandising. To ensure fairness is achieved to subsidise the tour a tried and trusted points system will be implemented, both the Web Site and a future document will be issued detailing the points system. In brief, points are achieved by supporting, attending and assisting in proposed events. For those able to do so, please use the Web Site.
* Welsh speakers have may be called upon to briefly speak at any official planned functions, that includes me. The Tour Committee as it stands (to be finalised) will consist of the following:
It is proposed that all tour meetings will be held on the first Sunday of every month, the inaugural meeting will be held on Sunday the 7th December 2008, and most Saturday events at the club will be held on the last Saturday of every month. All meetings will be openly transparent and everyone who has paid their deposit will become an active stakeholder and therefore greatly encouraged to attend meetings and share any ideas for fund raising, or if you feel that you have something to offer and want to join the committee, please let us know, don’t sit back. An old cliché, but remember as far as everyone’s concerned, ‘points make prizes’. Minutes from the meetings will be available on the Web Site, as will the current state of play in relation to the points board, there’s no excuses. Flights to Denver Colorado for 2010, at today’s volatile prices are estimated at around £350.00, (flight time is about 9hrs 40mins), therefore a non-refundable deposit of £100 will be required from all those wishing to attend by Monday 26th January 2009, with further, staggered, deposits required to achieve the required £350.00 by October 2009, by which time the final dates and prices would have been a long time finalised. This money will be required to enable the flights to be paid for on-block, regardless of the monies raised, and obviously the larger our tour party the substantially cheaper the flights will be. To coincide with the official tour of 7 days, further packages will be offered including a shorter 5 day tour for those who can’t quite make 7 day’s, 10 day’s including a stop off in New York etc (See me) A facility will be made available to encourage individuals to save or pay by direct debit, likewise anyone needing any financial assistance, see me in confidence. We want everyone on this trip It is impossible to estimate how much the final cost will be, as it is in the hands of the individual attending, but what with sponsorship***, points obtained from the proposed fund raising and subsidies this is could easily be a very cheap trip. It is further intended to obtain a one off rugby kit for the tour for the players and all tourists will be kitted with a bag, shirts, tie etc****. At a later date an honorary tour manager will be appointed, with responsibility for the beer kitty, dress code, meetings and general tour discipline. This will be a high profile appointment and the post holder will be invited to attend all meetings and other official functions prior to the tour commencement. I propose to speak to everyone over the coming weeks individually or in small groups in relation to the tour, sponsorship, grants, points system, role and aims of the committee etc. but in the meantime anyone wishing to speak to me to aire any fears or ideas you may have, please do so, I don’t bite. Or I can be contacted at quins2colorado@googlemail.com. JONAH Glendale Rugby Club: Glendale, CO. The city of Glendale, Colorado, has adopted rugby as the official sport of the city. In so doing the city has passed a resolution designating a rugby high commission to administer the development of rugby within the city. The rugby high commission consists of five members including one city councilman. All members must have previously been involved in rugby. Three members will hold five year terms and must be affiliated with the City of Glendale. The present five year members are: Mike DUNAFON, Mayor Pro Tem, Debbie MATHEWS, local business woman and Chuck BONNIWELL, City Legal Council. The two independent members, each appointed for one year terms are: businessman Andy DeVilliers and Consultant Ed THOMAS. The high Commission has appointed Mark Bullock, a co-founder and former head coach of the USA u19s national Team as the Director of Rugby Operations. Former All Black Jeff OLD has been appointed as Head Coach of the senior’s men’s team. The city, in conjunction with the YMCA has established a YMCA rugby program for youth aged 5 – 13 and will begin a youth high school (u19) team in the spring of 2007. The women’s program is represented by the Harlequin Olde Girls Rugby Club. The city is currently building a 3,000 capacity rugby stadium in the middle of the civic center government campus, the adjacent recreation center is being remodelled to serve the rugby team with a weight room, cardio room, change room and showers while the second floor will contain the club room for after match functions. The recreation center will also be open to the general public. In addition, the city has recently purchased property a half block south of the stadium which is being developed into a regulation sized rugby pitch and a half size artificial turf pitch. The City of Glendale is a ½ square mile city of 4,500 residents surrounded by Denver. The average age of residents is 27years. The city has a high density of apartments with inexpensive rent. The economy is strong and the Metro area and Glendale is 12 minutes to downtown Denver and 13 minutes to the Denver Technology Center. It is truly in the heart of the Denver Metro area. The climate is pleasant, sunny and dry with mountain recreation a short drive to the west. From the stand point of employment, housing and recreation Glendale has much to offer. The Glendale Rugby Club is sponsored by clothing supplier and rugby development company KUDU RUGBY. Kudu Clothing and Outfitters manufacturers high-tech rugby and sports apparel. Kudu is dedicated to the development of rugby in the USA. A portion of the company’s net proceeds go to sponsor Kudu Rugby Camps. Kudu coaches from around the country recommend players to compete on a spot on the Kudu’s elite U-23 Aspen Ruggerfest Select XV squad. The Kudu select XV serves to bridge the gap between college rugby and the USA Super League. Each year American born or legal residents of the USA are invited to attend the Kudu High Altitude Training Camp in Vail, Colorado where all expenses, other than travel to the camp, are covered by Kudu Rugby. Glendale and Kudu Rugby share the philosophy that the road to successful future citizens is founded on the development of programs for youth, and that the international culture of rugby is the perfect conduit to that goal.
Here are some links to what's on in and around Denver & Colorado:-
http://www.colorado.com http://www.denver.org |
Supported by Our Local M.P. Dr Hywel Francis
