Play Rugby USAT Launches Engaging New Web Site Aimed at Players, Parents, Coaches and Educators

August 30, 2006
PlayRugby

New York, NY (Aug. 30, 2006) -- Play Rugby USA™, a grassroots youth rugby development program, today announced the launch of a new Web site, www.playrugbyusa.com, aimed at introducing this fast-paced international game to American youth, parents, educators, coaches and recreation leaders. In addition, the Web channel will be key in organizing, promoting and popularizing youth rugby at the same level as youth soccer.

Designed by GlobalFluency, the online community will be crucial to engaging with young players, tracking teams, educating coaches, showcasing programs, and enlisting the help of youth organizations, city recreation departments, summer camps and schools seeking to offer an exciting team building sports experience to inner-city and suburban teens.

The launch of www.playrugbyusa.com is timely as Play Rugby USA begins to grow its programs which are currently based in New York City. Play Rugby USA will be offering two new curriculum and professional development packages to schools this fall, including "Give Rugby a Try" – a fun after-school based introduction to various rugby-themed games, and "RugEd – 1" a fun, fitness-themed curriculum for Physical Educators. Later in the year, these will be complemented by a "Team: Rugby" after-school curriculum and a new USA Rugby Physical Education Curriculum, which Mark Griffin, Play Rugby USA™'s Founder, is helping USA Rugby develop along with an advisory group made up of five educational experts chosen by USA Rugby.

Clearly, USA Rugby, the governing body for the sport in America, sees the potential in Play Rugby USA's plans and has been firmly in tune with Play Rugby USA™'s initial successes in New York. More than 60,000 Americans currently participate in high school, collegiate and amateur rugby leagues and tournaments nationwide, and USA Rugby is ramping up a major marketing campaign to further develop the sport with funding from the International Rugby Board.

Mark Griffin is not only an elected member of USA Rugby's Congress but also a staff member of the Game Development Team. USA Rugby and Play Rugby USA intend to continue working together on projects that make sense for the "development of youth through rugby" - Play Rugby USA's underlying philosophy that fits well with USA Rugby's desire to make rugby the "best experience in American sport."

"The site is an exciting development in Play Rugby USA's future," noted Mark Griffin. "GlobalFluency did a fantastic job designing the site. It is easy to navigate, providing coaches, players & supporters their own dedicated pages, in addition to providing detailed information about Play Rugby, our programs and news, which will be of specific interest to educators and other organizations looking to partner or learn more about Play Rugby," he added.

Play Rugby USA has ambitious plans for growth, aiming to become the "premium youth rugby program in America," said Griffin. It intends to do this by partnering with schools, educational organizations, CBOs and other youth rugby programs throughout the U.S., as it has began to do effectively in New York. There's no rush though, as Griffin points out "we have to get our ducks in order in New York first…the next 12 months will be key in proving the success of our educational-based urban rugby model as we scale it up. In the meantime, we're simply looking to establish contact and build relationships with other programs in the country." In the not too distant future Play Rugby hopes to be working with other programs in getting the game into elementary and middle schools throughout the U.S. and it feels the new Web site will prove to be a valuable resource in facilitating this process.

Play Rugby USA Play Rugby, Inc (Play Rugby) is a non-profit organization providing a fun, unique and inspirational educational experience through the innovative coaching of rugby. Play Rugby’s programs provide children with a fun athletic and developmental experience giving them the tools they need to succeed in life. Play Rugby lives by its philosophy of 'developing youth through rugby'.

GlobalFluency
GlobalFluency (www.globalfluency.com) is a worldwide leader in Intelligent Market Engagement and has built numerous web sites for business, institutional and non-profit organizations. Based in Silicon Valley, GlobalFluency has offices in New York and a presence in every major market globally. It provides demand generation, authority leadership, perception management, branding, corporate communications and competitive intelligence services to leaders in technology, life sciences, professional services, and consumer market sectors.

USA RUGBY
USA RUGBY, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization is responsible for the development of boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club athletic programs, as well as the six national teams representing the United States in international competition.

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