BARBOS FALL TO PARK CITY IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN FINAL
Your Denver Barbarians fell to Park City Haggis 63-26 in the 2023 Rocky Mountain Premiership Final. The match remained close at the 60 minute mark, but the Haggis closed out the game with 6 unanswered tries. This was the 6th time in two years that the teams have played. Geographic isolation is a challenge for population hubs in the Western Mountain states. The 8 hour drive between Denver and Salt Lake City rivals most interstate drives when it comes to scenic beauty. However, the travel is costly, time consuming and has year round weather challenges …
Yet, when it comes to playing high level club rugby, it’s 100% worth it. The Park City Haggis have been an amazing partner to your Denver Barbarians. Having consistent matches against a strong club who is capable of fielding MLR level talent is beneficial to our continual growth. Simply put, you can only become the best if you choose to compete with the best.
With snow due from October to late May, the mountain states must know how to compete in the frigid cold.
Winning games on the road is also challenging. Earlier this spring, the Barbos beat Park City in Salt Lake City. But this time, momentum went the way of the home side as the fall season concluded (match was played Nov 18th in Salt Lake). The battles between the two clubs have been epic. Denver’s best rugby talent gets a chance to vie against the best talent Utah has to offer. These two Rocky Mountain Rugby teams always lay it all on the line when they meet, come rain, snow or shine.
Both teams will look to compete in the club championships in the spring of 2024. Until then, the men in Green & White will enjoy a winter off-season resting, recovering and investing time in family. The demands on club players continues to grow as 7’s professionalizes through PR 7’s. With XV’s starting up in late February and running to mid November, some players compete week in and week out for 9 months straight. It’s no easy task. There is a toll that year-round rugby takes on a player. Yet the joy, excitement and tenacity the game brings to us almost always makes the work worth in. You’ve just got to know when to take a break to rest the body and mind.
Winter Social Calendar
Denver Lions / North High School -Youth Rugby Fundraiser - Join Barbo Legend Jamie Graves who helped found our youth rugby organization the Denver Lions. Lions youth rugby has been serving the community for decades in Northwest Denver. As the players grew older, and the demand for high school rugby grew, North High School Rugby was established. The fundraiser will feature 3 live bands, a food truck and swag bags for top donors!
Diebolt Brewing Co - Sat Dec. 16th - 5 to 10pm
End of Year Team Awards Night - Join the Barbo community as we celebrate the work that goes into a season of rugby.
Friday Jan. 12th - Bierstadt Lagerhaus - 7pm
Awards will be given for:
XV’s MVP
7’s MVP
Most Improved Player
Club Man of the Year
We can’t wait to see you all at our upcoming social events!
Stay safe BarboFam and as always …. BLEED GREEN