The Milwaukee Barbarians are proud to announce their 2017 summer rugby program featuring 8 tournaments and the opportunity to play some of the best teams in the Midwest.
This year, the Barbarians are focusing their recruiting efforts on collegiate rugby athletes who live or work in the greater-Milwaukee area. In prior years, students struggled with the cost of tournaments entry fees and the availability of match uniforms and training apparel.
To make the barrier to entry as low as possible for students, the Barbarians are offering a $75 student membership that includes:
- Entry for up to six 7s tournaments
- Match shorts and socks
- Reversible training tank-top
- Fuel reimbursement when car-pooling
- Six affordable payments of just $13
Travel-friendly schedule
The 2017 schedule is a mix of 6 tournaments in Wisconsin and 2 regional events. In total, three of the eight events this summer will serve as qualifier events to determine the two clubs that will represent the Midwest in the National Club Sevens Championship.
Any member in good standing — student or otherwise — is eligible to be selected for these extra qualifier events.
- 6/3 — Leinie’s 7s (Appleton, WI)
- 6/10 — Lighthouse 7s (Fond du Lac, WI)
- 6/15 — Madtown 7s (Madison, WI)
- 6/24 — Harborfest 7s (Kenosha, WI)
- 7/1 — Lakefront 7s (Milwaukee, WI)
- 7/8 — Lionhunter 7s (Oconomowoc, WI)
- 7/15 — Michigan 7s (Brighton, MI)
- 7/29 — Midwest Club 7s Championship (Cincinnati, OH)
New Coach and program Director
The 7s program also has a new coach and program director this year: Ryan Duklas.
Coach Duklas knows rugby in Wisconsin and the Midwest very well having played throughout High School (Muskego) and college (UW-Whitewater). During his post-graduate training at Palmer College of Chiropractic (Davenport, IA) he played for the Dragons (the local Men’s Division 1 side).
His rugby resumé also includes stints on the Wisconsin and Midwest Collegiate Select Sides, the Collegiate All-Americans, and three trips to the Division 1 National Club Championship final four.
“This year we’ll be doing a fun mix of touch rugby and — for those interested to take it to the next level — skills and strategy for the qualifiers”, said Coach Duklas about the upcoming season.
