Want to play High School Rugby?

The Alpharetta Phoenix Rugby Football Club is a club team drawn from all the high schools in the North Fulton area. We have players from Alpharetta, Milton, Chattahoochee, Wesleyan, Dunwoody, Northview, Roswell, Centennial, Independence.

2009: State High School Champions, 3rd place in USA Rugby South Region Championship, Carolina Youth Tournament champions, Georgia State Games champions, Renegades Annual Tournament 7s champions

2008: 2nd place, State High School Championships, Carolina Youth Tournament champions, Georgia State Games champions

2007: 2nd place, State High School Championships

Our players have been selected to & played for the USA Rugby National Eagles youth teams in international matches & also represented the State of Georgia on Select teams.

The goal of the team is to introduce new athletes to the popular international sport of rugby. New players are always welcome. Uniforms are provided & club fees are nominal compared to other high school sports. We plan to compete in a “learn to play” league in October & will prepare for our league season in February which lasts until April, with the potential of moving on to national rounds of competition after that. Practices are held at Wills Park. Our club is sponsored by both the US Army National Guard & USA Rugby.

Learn a new sport! Have a great club sport to play in college and beyond. College scholarships are available for high school rugby players. Keep in shape after your other fall sports. Skills from every sport are great for Rugby. Everyone makes the team & carries the ball!

Coach Jim - jturners@bellsouth.net or 678-427-6717

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Georgia Games Reflections from Coach Jim

Alpharetta Phoenix ended the 2008/2009 season on a high note Saturday successfully defending its title in the Georgia State Games tournament. We played 4 games & amassed 143 points while conceding only 7 points (how did that happen? There will be an inquiry). Teams defeated were Grayson (43-0), Brookwood (37-0) & Walton (twice 37-7 & 26-0 in the final). A total of 25 tries were scored with scorers as follows: Will (4), Jimmy (3), Josh (3), Michael Castanaro (2), Michael Gilkenson (2), Tabri (2), Tyler (2), Jeremi (2), Andrew Farrell (2), Charlie (2) & Tom (1). Multiple players took turns at the conversions (9) with mixed results.

Starting in the 2nd half of the first game the team began to click & there was an ongoing display of interpassing skills & team work which was very impressive. We improved in this respect with each game. I'm sure our players will endorse the old rugby adage that it's just as satisfying providing a scoring pass as it is to score yourself. Well done everyone for your unselfish play. Another hall mark of our play was our aggressive defense, the other teams simply could not handle it. Starting with the State Championship game against Lassiter our defense has progressed by leaps & bounds. We have turned defense into one of our best attacking weapons pressuring other teams with relentless execution. I trust this fact will not be lost on those players returning next season.

It's time to acknowledge & say farewell to our graduating seniors all of whom have progressed so far, rugbywise, since we first met. You have all become accomplished players in a relatively short period. I trust most of you, if not all, will go on to play at college where I'm sure you will further improve your skills (provided you keep fit). Some will make a mark in USA Rugby & your performance was duly noted by an attending USA Rugby coach Saturday. For the record here are our departing seniors: Tom Bell, Charlie Schellhorn, Mike Cummings, Luke Rogusky, Michael Castanaro, Josh Riesser, Mitchell Jackson, Chris Cundari, Tabri Tandy, Rigo Palomarez, Mat Harnet, Jimmy Lynch, Michael Gilkenson & finally Amir Mahdari.

Well done all of you. I know I speak for the other coaches in saying that it has been a pleasure working with you. You have enhanced the reputation of our club. Alpharetta Phoenix is both feared & respected in the GHSRA league & the Carolinas. During the course of the season I've been the recipient of so many positive comments about your play & sportsmanship by players, coaches, referees & observers alike. I want you to know that as you move on to fresh pastures.

For the returning players next season you have the challenge of matching & maintaining the high standards set by this group. Let's go one step further & win the Regional Tournament next year !!

2009 USA Rugby South Tournament

Alpharetta finishes third in the USA Rugby South Tournament. The Tournament was played April 26th and 27th in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Congratulations to the Alpharetta Phoenix on an outstanding year. They finish with the Georgia State Championship and a place in the South.

USA in World Trophy Cup Final

Alpharetta's own Tim Barford and the USA Rugby U20 team have made it to the finals of the World Trophy Cup in Kenya. The results are posted on the International Rugby Board. The final game will be played Sunday morning May 3rd at 8:30AM. The Game will be streamed here.

David Barnett's Photos from The State Championship

2009 Georgia State U19 Rugby Champions

Alpharetta PUR Rugby Win's Georgia U19 State Championship

April 19th, 2009. Alpharetta Phoenix United Rugby (PUR) takes home the Georgia State U19 Championship. Alpharetta PUR played the 2 time and returning state champions Lassiter Trojans. The final score was 20-12. Congratulations to all the boys who fought very hard. Now it is on to the Southeast regional championship in Nashville, Tennessee next weekend.