Updated 11/22/20

As we watch covid data we will continue to make adjustments as necessary.  This is the current plan.

We will take a break from practice for the Thanksgiving week to allow everyone to stay isolated and healthy for the long weekend.   No practice Monday 11/23, no Kick-pass-punt nor Attic social on Wednesday 11/25.  We will also not have practice on Monday 11/30.

Rugby Arizona's paintball event on Sunday 11/29 has been postponed to early 2021.

We are planning to have a practice on Wed 12/2 get a run in, and then participate in the Touch Rugby session down in Tucson the following Saturday 12/5.

We will then take a break for the remainder of December and the winter break, and then aim to be back at practice on Monday January 4, 2021.   

Rugby Arizona will be assessing covid trends during December to make a plan for what rugby we can play in the Spring based on how covid is being managed.  It could be tackle 7s, or it may still be touch.  Tackle 10s or 15s is less likely at this stage.  There is also calendar flexibility.  We may start with touch and then move to tackle, we may extend the season longer to get more rugby opportunities.  We have options!

Stay fit, healthy and happy!

Week 4: Saturday Dec 5, 2020.

Location:  Naranja Park, Tucson area
810 W. Naranja Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85737
https://goo.gl/maps/goxp9YegtTeeF3ho8

Times:
Youth (U8-U14): 1pm to 3.30pm
Boys U16 & HS: 3.30pm to  7.00pm
Girls U16 & HS: 2.00pm to 6.00pm

Format is round robin games of FIT Touch. Each team will get at least 3 games. Each game is 14 min long (2 x 7 min halves, 2 min half time break). Open subs, non-stop play. 

Resources to learn about FIT Touch are posted on our Firebirds FIT Touch page.

Covid protocols will be in place at the field - wearing a mask, social distancing, temperature checks, and BRING YOUR OWN WATER and snacks. This also unfortunately means the Firebirds tradition of the Fall season evening pot-lucks won't be able to happen this season.

Practice Schedule

We started the Fall season practices on Wednesday Oct 28 but it is never too late to join the fun.

For October and November we will be practicing at Coronado Park in downtown Phx (due to field construction at Longview).
Location: 1717 N 12th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006.

* Everyone practices on the same nights, Mondays and Wednesdays.
* U8-U14 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, and U16/HS from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Current Fall schedule:

=> Fall 7s Games on Saturday nights:  11/7, 11/14/, 11/21, 12/5.

- Parents vs Players touch rugby night: 12/14
- Winter break from 12/16/20 to 1/1/21

Tentative Spring schedule:

=> Spring Rugby season practice starts Monday 1/4/21

=> Spring 7s + 10s Youth Rugby season (7 weeks)
- 1/9/21 - 2/20/21

=> Spring 15s HS Rugby season (16 weeks, includes some bye weeks)
- 1/9/21 - 4/24/21

The Firebirds are following applicable safety guidelines and protocols as recommended by AZ State Health Dept, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USA Rugby, and World Rugby for our practices.   We will follow these steps to reduce risk as much as possible, but parents need to understand there is still a level of risk in the activity and as such this is completely voluntary.

In summary:

1. If you feel sick, stay home.
2. If you get a covid diagnosis or come into contact with someone who you suspect has it, stay away for 2 weeks.
3. Bring your own sanitizer and clean your hands before, during and after practice.
4. Bring your own water, absolutely no sharing of water bottles.
5. Sanitize all equipment after use.

We are also following Osborn School District COVID mitigation plan which requires the following items be implemented:

1. Temperature screenings prior to entrance to our facilities / fields. No one is to be admitted to an Osborn facility with an elevated temperature of 100.4 or higher. 
2. Masks must be worn by all participants when arriving/departing, when moving about the facility/fields, in all buildings and restrooms. 
3. Masks are not required to be worn during physical activity but are required to be worn by all bystanders, coaches, and by players on the sidelines.
4. Social distancing of at least 6 feet is to be maintained. Please stress this with all bystanders, as well as participants when not on the field of play. 
5. Please be sure to stress with your players and families that the only areas they have access to are the fields, restroom, and outdoor bottle filler/hydration stations.
6. No one is allowed on the outdoor bleachers or playground equipment.

Latest News

USA Rugby website maintains an updated status of when rugby is going to return to play.

Stage 4 means tackle practice is allowed.
Stage 5 means normal rugby.

Read more

Congratulations to:
U14 Boys - Winner of State Championship
U14 Girls - Winner of State Championship
U10 Coed - Runner-up in State Championship

Our High School and U16 season also has been completed early with the remainder of the season cancelled due to Covid-19. No playoffs or Finals were played.

practice location

Firebirds practices are on Mondays and Wednesdays. 
6-7.30pm for youth; 6-8pm for HS/U16.

We normally practice at Longview Elementary  School (1209 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014). 

Park in the northern parking lot closest to Indian School, go through the gate and follow the lights to the field.

It is never too late to join the club, we happily accept new players during the season, so come out to practice (it's free to check out a practice) and check it out.

We are always looking for players and it is never too late to get started with rugby.  All our age groups need a few more players so that we can be sure that each week we are able to field a team plus have a couple of subs.

The easiest way to show someone the sport is to "bring a friend" to practice!  (it is free to do so).  If anyone has questions about this, contact Coach Rob.

Facebook Page

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for additional news and updates:
https://www.facebook.com/phoenixfirebirdsrugby

Our parents have filmed various games over the years and posted to Youtube:

Rob Speers channel
Taylor Miller channel  
Louis Quiroz channel

In order to grow our numbers to fill out these teams we need help from all current players to bring their friends out to give rugby a try!

Come and join a practice and see what rugby is all about!  It is free to come to a practice and check it out.

Also, we are a co-ed squad so bring out the girls as well as the boys!  Girls rugby is also a fast growing sport (check it out at the Olympics!) and the Firebirds encourage girls to come out and give rugby a try.  

REMEMBER:  It is never too late to get started with rugby.  If you have kids that are interested and want to give it a shot, bring them out to practice and we'll get them involved!

We practice at Longview Elementary (1209 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014).  All age grades share the practice field together.

Practice is generally on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00 pm to 7.30 pm for Youth and 6.00 pm to 8:00 pm for High School & U16.

For the 2020-2021 season we will again be offering the following teams and levels for kids to play:

• Boys and Girls tackle 7s & 15s rugby for High School, U16, U14
• Co-ed tackle 7s rugby for U10, U12
• Co-ed FIT (international rules)  Touch rugby for  U8, U10, U12, U14