Black River Rugby

Rugby Tourney Poised to Set World Record 
07/26/09
832 kids, 95 teams play at festival in Chester

By VANESSA VERA • STAFF WRITER • July 26, 2009

Reprinted from the Daily Record

CHESTER -- The Morris Rugby Corp. set an unofficial world record Saturday for the largest touch/mini/tag rugby tournament.

With 832 kids on 95 teams competing at Saturday's tournament held at Black River Fields, Morris Rugby exceeded the current record documented on March 19, 2008, at a the Tag Rugby Festival which was held in the United Kingdom. That record-setting tournament had 487 players on 48 teams, said KJ Feury, Guinness record coordinator for the Morris Rugby Corp.

Chester fire officials were reviewing Guinness record documentation of the tournament, which will then be notarized and sent to Guinness World Record headquarters in England next week, KJ Feury said. Within a few weeks, Morris Rugby should hear from Guinness to confirm whether it officially broke the record.

Saturday's tournament marked the 10th American Flag Rugby Youth Festival sponsored by the Morris Rugby Corp.

Morris Youth Rugby, a division of Morris Rugby Corp., was founded 11 years ago by KJ Feury's husband Tom Feury, 48, of Denville. It comprises about 80 teams from eight different towns in Morris County. It serves boys and girls from as young as 5 years old, who play a non-contact version of the game, to those in high school who play the full-contact version.

Additional teams that are not part of Morris Youth Rugby — teams from Sussex, Union and Bergen counties — also played at Saturday's tournament. The tournament was judged by 28 referees, all teenagers who formerly played flag rugby for the organization, KJ Feury said.

When Tom Feury started it in 1999, there were only 25 kids involved. Now, the program has grown to about 1,000, he said.

'I never really thought back then it would grow to this level,' Tom Feury said.

Zachary Steinberg, 11, of Parsippany, has been playing with Morris Youth Rugby since he was 4 years old.

'I'm amazed that we broke the world record,' Zachary said of Saturday's event. 'All my friends are here from all around, different teams. It's just such a fun event to meet everyone.'

Rugby player William Kinzer, 13, also of Parsippany, said it's nice his organization possibly broke a world record.

'You work up for it. It takes a while to get enough kids, but when you get enough to break a record, that's nice to do,' he said.

Dennis Gibson, 58, of Montville is the president of the Morris Rugby Corp.

A native of England, where rugby is popular, Gibson grew up playing the sport. Seeing the youth tournament is something that makes Gibson glad, he said.

And a possible Guinness world record? That's just icing on the cake.

'The event isn't about breaking records. It's just a by product of (the game). This is just a fun day for the kids,' he said.

 Black River Rugby

Play Youth Rugby This Summer - Join the Renegades!

Once again, Morris Rugby will combine forces to offer the Black River Renegades summer youth rugby program.

American Flag Rugby is a coed, non-contact form of rugby using flags.  Skills including running, kicking, passing, space strategy, teamwork, and self-confidence will be developed.  The program is run as a clinic, with two evening practices and Saturday morning games scheduled against neighboring towns.  We know its summer, so we keep things low key - the commitment level is entirely up to you.  The program is intended for children entering first through ninth grade.

Where >> Black River Fields

When  >> June 15 - July 27

All children, entering grades Kindergarten - Ninth Grade in the fall of 2009 are welcome to join.  There is a $50 application fee. Participants will receive the new rugby t-shirt.  A team jersey ($30) and rugby shorts ($15) must be purchased.  Most of all, participants will have FUN learning and playing the exciting sport of Rugby!

For Schedule, directions and more information visit our website:  Black River Rugby