Giepert’s Report on Deep South Youth Rugby for 2011-12 Season

 Gary Giepert’s report on high school rugby to Deep South Rugby Union President Charles Dube for the Union’s 2011 AGM..
It has been a very exciting few months. I received calls and e-mails from approximately 5 students or parents regarding starting new high school rugby programs in the Deep South. In addition, I have been assured by J R Vendetto that Baton Rouge will have a high school rugby team this year. Baton Rouge has already participated in 3 or 4 7’s tournaments. Three of the calls I received were from schools in New Orleans, one was from the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain and one was from Ocean Springs, Miss.
 
The three schools expressing interest in New Orleans are Lake Area High School, New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy ,
and DeLa Salle. We are hoping to get two teams from these three inquiries. The school on the Norhtshore was Norhtlake Christian School from whom I have not heard back. Ocean Springs is going to be a multi-school club and had 25 players show up to its first practice.
 
We will have a scheduling meeting on December 2nd and anticipate having the following teams represented:
 
RETURNING:
1) JESUIT
2)SHAW
3) BR MARTIN
4) RUMMEL
5) NICEVILLE
6) EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF ACADIANA
 
NEW :
7) LAKE AREA
8) BATON ROUGE
9) OCEAN SPRINGS
10) UPTOWN New Orleans
 
Games will be scheduled from mid January through mid April.