Race Across America begins its start in Oceanside next week and we are thrilled to announce and welcome two teams of international rugby players that will be cycling over 3,000 miles across the United States. The two teams of eight riders representing the UK are aptly named The Ruck and Rollers. Since rugby isn’t a sport widely celebrated by American fans, I thought I’d introduce you to these players, and if you are a fan of rugby then you’ll definitely want to read on.
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Glossary of Terms (according to Wikipedia)
- Cap: In European sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player’s appearance in a game at international level.
- Back-Row – Consisting of Number 8s and Flankers.
- Flanker (Number 7 position): Also known as breakaways or wing forwards. The player should have all round attributes: speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills.
- Fullback: They act as the last line of defense against running attacks by the opposing three-quarter backs. The full back is expected to field high kicks from the opposition, and reply with a superior kick or a counterattack. The full back is sometimes the specialist goal-kicker in a team, taking penalty and conversion kicks.
- Lock: Locks or second-row are very tall, athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength.
- Number 8 – Number 8 is the only position that does not have a specific name in English and is simply referred to as “number eight” or “eighthman”. They bind between the locks at the back of the scrum, providing extra weight at the push.
- Openside – Strongside flanker.
- Pitch – The official name of a rugby playing field. Dimensions are 100m long by 70m wide.
- Ruck: A ruck is formed when the ball is on the ground and two opposing players meet over the ball.
- Scrum – The eight forwards from each team bind together and push against each other.
- Test Game: A test match in rugby union is an international match, usually played between two senior national teams, that is recognized as such by one of the teams’ national governing bodies.
- Try – Similar to an American football touchdown, but the ball and the player are grounded in-goal, not just run it in.
Team Members
Team 1: AKA The Ruckers include: John Hall (Corsham), Rob Wainwright (Isle of Coll), Rachelle Healy (Wimbeldon), Mark Reed (Bath), Denis McBride (Newtonnabbey), Damian Cronin (Surrey), John Matthews (Portishead), Jessica Palmer (Portishead)
Team 2: AKA The Rollers include: Alix Popham (Newport), Colin Charvis (Swansea), Bruce Finnamore (Tormarton), Chris Blackwell (Marlborough), Trevor Phillips (Marlborough), Warwick Waugh (New South Wales, AU), Patrick Johns (Belfast), Paul Byrnes (Corsham)
Charity
The Ruck and Rollers ultimate purpose for participating in RAAM is to raise funds for Asthma UK, the UK’s leading asthma charity. Asthma UK was chosen as the charity by the Ruck and Rollers in memory of Antonia Brook Thomas, a loving, considerate and enchanting daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend who had a sudden asthma attack on the 17th October 2009 and passed away within just minutes at only ten years old. Antonia’s father, Jeffrey Thomas, will accompany the team as a driver and navigator of a support vehicle. Donation website: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/ruckandrollers
The Riding Rugby Players
Alix Popham (Wales)
Alix is a former professional rugby player who won 33 caps for Wales over a distinguished career spanning 13 years. He had the honor of being the first Welsh player to captain an elite French team as he led Brive la Gaillarde for the 2010/11 season, when the prestigious French club was embarking on its first Heineken Cup campaign for 12 years.
Image Source: RuckandRollers.com
Colin Charvis (Wales)
Represented Wales 94 times and a member of the British and Irish Lions who toured Australia in 2001. Currently mixing TV punditry, after dinner speaking and running Colin Charvis Flooring in Swansea.
Image Source: Race Across America
Damian Cronin (Scotland)
Played Rugby for Bath and Wasps playing in 2 Pilkington Cup Finals against Leicester & Gloucester winning both, 45 Caps for Scotland including the Grand Slam 1990 and the British Lions Tour to New Zealand in 1993, all from 1988-1998. Cronin now owns his own company Woodstone inc Cronins Reclamation dealing in the sale of reclaimed and new flooring.
Image Source: RuckandRollers.com
William “Denis” Mcbride (Ireland)
Denis can unarguably be viewed as one of the most gifted players of his generation, not only for his club or province, but also for Ireland at International level. The pinnacle of Denis’s sporting achievements was a 9 year International career playing for Ireland, from 1988 to 1997, earning 32 caps. 3 of these caps where earned as first choice open side during the World Cup in 1995 in South Africa. Denis also toured with Ireland on four occasions firstly France 1988, Canada and USA in 1990, 1992 to New Zealand and to Australia in 1994. He also scored 4 tries from the number 7 position. Denis will long be remembered as a tenacious tackler and ball carrier and one of the fittest men on the pitch and true rugby legend!
Image Source: Race Across America
Captain John Hall (England)
John played for Bath Rugby, Somerset, Barbarians, South & South Western Counties and England and gained 21 caps He primarily played as a forward. In 1995 John became the Director of Rugby leading the club to a league and cup double in season 1995-96.
Image Source: RuckandRollers.com
Patrick Johns (Ireland)
Patrick Stephen Johns, known as Paddy Johns was an Irish rugby union player from 1990 to 2000. He played mainly as a lock and occasionally in the back-row. He won 59 caps, scoring 4 tries and 20 points. He had his international debut, on October 27, 1990 against Argentina, in Dublin, in a match won 20-18, and his final appearance came at November 11, 2000, with Japan, in a win of 78-9, again in Dublin. He played at the 1995 Rugby World Cup finals and the 1999 Rugby World Cup finals.
Image Source: Race Across America
Rob Wainwright (Scotland)
Rob was capped 37 times for Scotland (Captain 16 times) and once for the British and Irish Lions. He received his first cap in 1992, as a reserve against Ireland. He could play all back row positions, including flanker and number 8. Wainwright came to prominence in the 1994 Five Nations Championship with a try against England, and also scored a try against France in the final pool match of the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He became Scotland’s first professional Captain following the retirement of Gavin Hastings after the Rugby World Cup in 1995, and led Scotland to a surprise second place behind England in the 1996 Five Nations Championship.
Image Source: RuckandRollers.com
Warwick Waugh (Australia)
Warwick made his debut for the NSW (New South Wales) on the undefeated 1991 tour of Argentina. His career went on to include 62 caps for the Waratahs, 12 Caps for the ACT Brumbies, and 12 Caps with the Queensland Reds. Warwick was selected in the Wallaby squad from 1992 till 1997. In that time he played 8 Test Matches which included Bledisloe Cup series and the 1995 World Cup. Through Rugby Warwick has lived and played for clubs in Europe and the UK including Padova in Italy, Beziers in France, Bath in England and Connacht Province, Ireland.
Image Source: Race Across America
The RAAM teams begin their journey across country on Saturday, June 20th starting at noon. Come down to cheer on your favorite rugger. While rugby chants are welcome, you’ll need to head up to the local pub for a lager after the sendoff.
