About Us
In 1985, before the Colorado Youth Rugby was created, there were only four public school rugby clubs; Boulder, L.A.F.S., Littleton All Blacks and Ft.Collins. Air Academy also had a rugby team and Kent Denver hosted an English touring side but not against an organized Kent Denver Team.
Denver South, LAFS (Littleton), Overland, Regis, Arvada West, Douglas County and Ft. Collins were the first teams that comprised the first year teams as Colorado Youth Rugby became a reality in 1986.
In 1989 Overland won the third ever Colorado High School Rugby Championship. Rugby soon gained popularity and players from other Aurora high schools joined the team to play this exciting new club sport.
In 1990, coach Ken Brischke and the team voted to adopt "The Saracens" as the
official team name. Coach Brischke had played for the Winnipeg Saracens in Canada and
the Winnipeg Saracen Logo was used on jerseys and jumpers for the next 15 years. Because
the Aurora club is comprised of many different schools, the nomadic warrior
tradition of the Saracen as viewed throughout history was a perfect fit.
Why Saracens ?
In 2005, the Aurora Saracens entered into an agreement with the
Guinness Premiership Saracens,
professional rugby team to use their team logo. This decision was made to
gain a more contemporary look and feel in addition to linking the Aurora,
Colorado team to one of the oldest and most successful rugby teams in the world.
Over the last 21 years, Aurora has placed 5 players on the USA Under 19 team for
international competition. The tradition of rugby in Aurora is; play hard,
include everyone, dedicate yourself to the Spirit Of The Game, and have a good
time with your teammates and opponents alike.
Saracens Through History
The Saracens name can be traced back to the famous desert
warriors led by Saladin in the late 12th century. They were renowned for their
extreme mobility, and powers of endurance, which when allied to their bountiful
enthusiasm, rendered the Saracens invincible. In 1876
the Saracens Rugby Football Club was founded by the Old Boys of the Philological
School in Marylebone (later to become Marylebone Grammar School) and its first
fixture was at Primrose Hill playing fields with the red star and crescent worn.
Amalgamation with neighboring club, the Crusaders, occurred in 1878.
The Crescent and Star symbols and several other 'school' names were borrowed
from Rugby School. Many a headmaster and many masters came from Rugby School and
brought with them these names and symbols. There still exists in Rugby today a
Crescent School.
It should be noted that the Skull and Crossbones badge is another Rugby School
badge (School House) and was also used as the first badge of the Barbarians. So
many rugby clubs have paid homage to Rugby School in this way. It should also be
noted that England wear all white because Rugby School did and the England badge
of a red rose is taken from the crest of Rugby School which in turn takes it
from the coat of arms of its founder Lawrence Sheriff.
|
