HARC Sets Record Pace in WRFU & Makes History in First Perfect Season

Texas is primed and ready to put forth its best team ever in battle against the top rugby clubs in the United States.  Fielding their first ever 10 – 0 perfect season in league play HARC’s stingy defense held all of its opponents to only 96 points in their 10 game league season.  Including their non-league games, HARC's overall record was 11 - 1 with their only loss coming from the likes of Super League Dallas Harlequins.  Scoring an amazing average of 42 points per game it’s no wonder HARC has been ranked #4 in the nation by the new powers that be at uspowerrugby.com.   

The points for and against ratio for HARC and some of their top competition is listed below.  Keep in mind that these teams play in separate leagues so the real measure will be when they go head to head in the playoffs.

(10 - 0) #4 HARC vs. Opponents                  423-96

(9 - 1) #1 Aspen vs. Opponents                   472-167

(7 - 3) #9 Glendale vs. Opponents                416-208

(12 - 0) #3 Olympic vs. Opponents               427-141                               

HARC is led by the player coach combo of Carl Newman (8-man) and Chris Scott (Wing), both coaches publicly stated after their defeat over the San Antonio Rugby Club, “We are not happy the regular season is over, our team is dreaming if we think we have accomplished anything.  We need another ten matches to sharpen up before we are ready for the playoffs.”  Although, coach Newman did attribute an increase in the team’s stamina and strength to one of its new addition of Scott who brought in a strong knowledge of training and a extra bit of professionalism to bolster HARC’s already stellar squad.  Chris came from across the pond as a strong player/coach addition who was welcomed immediately by this hard living group. 

Grant Challen (Hooker) and Matt "Cheese" Echezabal (scumhalf) round out the senior leadership on the team.  In the off-season HARC sorely lost talented flanker Paul Passino who went on to play for Super League Chicago Lions, but gained the services of Matt “Wildthing” Hayes from the rival Woodlands Rugby Football Club (currently playing in Div II).  In any sport, "speed kills" and HARC utilizes the deadly combo of "Bacardi and Cola" on the wing. Curtis Chafin and Pierce Reed are the speedsters on the wing and its, “Fry Time” when anyone gets in their way.  Some say their name is because during summer sevens play, they where only known to only drink Bacardi and Cola on game days and had once refused water in 90 degree heat with 100% humidity because of their affinity for their drink. In last Saturdays shellacking of San Antonio Bacardi and Cola scored 40 of HARC’s 84 points with Pierce scoring three back to back to back tries in less than 10 minutes in the second half.  Curtis Chaffin is a great young up and coming talent straight out of Texas Football powerhouse Katy High School where he excelled on the football and rugby fields.  He is a community leader for USA Rugby’s Rookie Rugby program and very highly recruited by the top rugby college programs in the nation. 

Matt "Cheese" Echezabal controls the game from the base of the scrum.  As the saying goes everything is better with a good bit of Cheese on it.  His sneaky sidesteps set the HARC attack free.  The Denver Highlanders visit to Houston will mark his last home game because he is headed to South Carolina to star his PhD program and work with the universities rugby club.  He hopes to leave Houston a winner.

A real crowd pleaser is inside centre Dennis "D-Walk" Walker.  “My favorite movie has always been and will always be Over the Top with Sylvester Stallone, I developed all of my forearm strength as a kid from what he did in the movie,” said D-Walk.  After rejoining the team last season he was not looked back, but if he did you might see two or three players on the ground in his wake.  His hard running is what this Texas team is all about; they depend on nonstop hard hitting on offense and defense every game. It's all part of the intense fast paced game that HARC plays, softened with a splash of Bacardi and Cola.     

HARC is more thunderdome esque, certainly not an attractive team and even the French players are rough looking.  With their fast paced in your face play and splash of Bacardi and Cola it might just be their ticket to the big dance this year.

“I like them French fried potaters. Mmm,” said Kyle Wittenbraker who appeared to be a bit dazed and confused as he rucked through everything and anyone on the field last Saturday.  Most don’t realize how important someone like Kyle is.  Not only is Kyle a formidable lock, a high school rugby coach, certified referee, law school student, HARC’s Director of Media, Marine Corps war veteran, and once prodigy of legendary Jack Clark of the Cal Rugby program he is a snake in the grass.  Aside from his love of French fried potaters Kyle is one of many unsung players for the organization and without his efforts on and off the pitch there would be some awful big boots to fill.      

HARC has home field advantage against the Denver Highlanders May 8^th at 2:00 pm.  Their facility is located at the Westland Family YMCA on 10402 Fondren Road.