BARBOS LOOK AHEAD TO 2026 AFTER CHALLENGING FALL SEASON
The line between winning and losing can often be very thin. At other times, the margins are rather expansive. For the 2025 Denver Barbarians, the challenge of playing a complete 80 minutes (with physicality, speed, cohesiveness and thoroughness) was one that kept the team out of the win column in league play. The poor results were not due to a lack of effort by the players, coaches and team admin. It really just came down to our inability to put up 80 consecutive minutes of winning rugby.
A tip of the hat to the Aspen Gentleman who won the league for the second consecutive year in a Rocky Mountain division that continues to drive high rugby standards. The reality is, as our competition improves each year, we must continually search inward as a club for ways to deliver the best possible rugby experience for our players and long standing club members. It takes a village to succeed, and we must ask the tough questions of ourselves as a club …
“Am I playing my part to help our club succeed?”
“When is the last time I brought a new recruit to training?”
“How can I contribute to our future success?”
There are many more important things than winning and losing men’s club rugby matches. But those who have been lucky enough to experience a winning team know … victory makes the sacrifice all that sweeter.
Left to Right (Cortland Castro, Dante Brown, Hank Kafonek, Juan Bialy)
There were highlights in a season that saw flashes of brilliance from a core of rookies and newer players. Your Denver Barbarians hoisted the 54th annual Aspen Ruggerfest trophy beating Los Mexico Serpientes in the final 62-17.
The team also capped a total of 13 rookies in 1st side matches. This group of players continued to be the heartbeat of the team, even as the success on Saturday seemed all too elusive. Going forward, the youth of the playing group will be a strength as the players learn to gel in the coming months.
Nick Johnson beats a Serpiente on his way to a breakaway try
While the spring season won’t feature a playoff push or a national championship, it will be chock full with local matches and a possible Spring tour. Stay tuned to see where the team will be traveling and reach out if you’d like to join. Details to follow shortly.
As Always, Bleed Green