News Blog
BARBOS SQUEAK BY PARK CITY; BIG TEST IN ASPEN AWAITS
The men in Green & White battled with the Park City Haggis last Saturday, treating the audience to an epic match of rugby union. The Barbos turned a sloppy 1st half into a high scoring, wild-west, shoot-out victory, the final score 41-40. But in the Rocky Mountain Rugby Union, the handshakes and Atta boys can only last for a few fleeting hours after a victory.
With Park City waking up the following Sunday to soundly defeat the Waterdogs, the pressure is back on the Barbos shoulders to defeat the reigning champion Aspen Gentlemen on the road to remain on the top half of the table (see below). Since Aspen rejoined the competitive XV’s RMR in 2024, they have defeated the Barbos six consecutive times. Four of the matches were in league play, and the other two came during the Ruggerfest Final in 2024 & 2026. The Aspen winning streak will continue if the Barbos don’t learn how to win on the road. Saturday’s match in Aspen will also come with some early fall chill, and the extra altitude will only ask more of the Barbo forward pack.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
There’s something about a long road trip that brings out the best (and worst) of us. Let’s start with the challenges.
A long ride. A packed van. A seat with no leg room. A van member who won’t stop snoring or chewing so loud you want to smack him. These are many of the challenges we have all faced on our annual trip to Utah and back. But I’m not done … A late arrival (I-70 traffic). A queen bed too small for two full grown rugby players. A continental breakfast that doesn’t inspire confidence the eggs were freshly cooked (spoiler alert … they weren’t). Add another additional 1000 feet of elevation, and you’ve got a mountain of things to whine and whinge about.
When you list all of these things out in succession as I have, it may all just sound like a list of excuses.
“Here are the reasons we struggle on the road”
“This is why it’s tough to win in Utah"
BARBOS ON THE ROAD; HEADING NORTHWEST WITH THE MAGGOTFEST 50TH IN SIGHT
The vans loaded up Friday morning in the Dinosaur commuter lot and the Men in Green & White arrived promptly. We were lucky enough to record some brief conversations about a range of subjects:
¿ What does it mean to go on such a long tour (900 Miles … One Way) with all of the boys ?
¿ What will it mean for the club to compete for the tournament’s 50th anniversary trophy ?
¿ What themes will the club dress up in on the Saturday Night stroll on the town ?
Listen to all the below conversations with new club member Gabriel Jaramillo, club president and legend Max Murphy, and a surprise interview with Jojo Sarr & W. Logan White.
BARBOS EXCITED TO RENEW OLD RIVALRY AGAINST BOULDER
Your Denver Barbarians take on Boulder RFC Saturday, April 4th at noon. The match will be held at Infinity Park Turf, with the weather looking sunny, chilly, breezy and all the lovely things we associate with springtime. With Boulder competing in Division 3 RMR, last fall marked the first time the two historic clubs did not play each other for the first time in a decade. Over the years, the two clubs have played epic clashes dating back to the 1960’s. The Barbos are fizzing to host what will surely be a match which they must rely on defense and tenacity in order to be victorious.
Earlier in March, the men in Green and White defeated Queen City RFC 34-28 to open up the spring campaign. Will “Wild Bill” McCormick was named man of the match, as he led the defensive charge … throwing his body around like a Raggedy Anne Doll tossed in the dryer cycle. The forward pack saw success in the lineout, with the return of stalwart Alex Wormer. His prowess in the air is notable as he looks to continue to make his mark in the set piece.
DENVER 7’S AT COOK PARK FEATURES A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MIX OF TEAMS
Nothing gets me more excited than watching the Barbos compete in a high stakes 7’s qualifier tournament on home soil. This year’s Denver 7’s Frontier region qualifier will be held at Cook Park, Saturday June 28th, from 8am-5pm. While the men in Green & White have won the past three Denver 7’s tournaments, they will surely be challenged this year by some highly competitive teams from the Heart of America conference in the Midwest.
Pool A: Denver Barbarians A, Air Force Rugby 7’s A, Kansas City Blues B
Pool B: Kansas City RFC, Denver Highlanders, Air Force Rugby 7’s B
Pool C: Kansas City Blues A, Vail Rugby, Colorado Springs Spartans
Pool D: Omaha Goats, Gentleman of Aspen, Denver Barbarians B
BARBOS RIGHT THE SHIP HEADING INTO PLAYOFFS
Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming, hibernation ends as life begins again. The men in Green & White step into the arena once again, to defend what is currently theirs. A nation club championship. But those who have won in the past know how fleeting success can be. In order to maintain a winning form, your Denver Barbarians will face their most daunting opponents they have seen since last year’s club finals.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - COLLEGE RUGBY IN DENVER - MINES VS. DU
The Colorado School of Mines Men’s Rugby Club will head across town to take on the Denver University Pioneers. The battle for small college rugby eminence will take place Friday Night at 5pm MST (7pm Eastern). It will be streamed nationally via the National Collegiate Rugby Youtube page.
The Denver Barbarians have had many alumni from both schools join the club over the eras. This year, the team features veteran winger Landan Banks (DU Alumn class of 20??) and rookie lock Micheal Oliver (Mines alumn class of 2022). As many young college students in Colorado approached their graduation date, they pondered what life would be like if they got a job in Denver and stayed for a while. After all, nothing beats playing rugby in the crisp Mile High air on a sunny October day.
Come out at support local college rugby, Friday Night 5pm, under golden Colorado sunset. See you all at Denver University, turf pitch behind the lacrosse stadium.
BARBOS SQUARE UP AGAINST BOULDER AS THE SEASON HANGS IN THE BALANCE
Your men in Green & White take on Boulder RFC on Saturday October 29th. The 1pm Kick Off will take place at Pleasant View Fields Sports Complex. The team is looking to bounce back from a home loss against Park City Haggis, and the coaching staff has named a strong side.
BARBOS LOOKING TO RIGHT WRONGS AS PARK CITY COMES TO TOWN
The coaches have selected 4 backs and 4 forwards on the bench, creating unique options for any 2nd half subs. Max Murphy has proven he can bump straight into prop from flanker or 2nd row and not miss a beat. The veteran’s defense and fitness has been stellar all fall and he’ll look to amp up the pace tomorrow morning as the dew dries up on a luscious Cook Park grass pitch.
BARBOS FACE BIG TEST AGAINST PARK CITY HAGGIS
Can the Barbos continue their 2022 winning ways out in Utah? Some new names and faces to the first team lineup have the BarboFam excited and aroused for some potential first team debuts. If you love this team as much as I do, you’ll allow the tingling sensation in your extremities to take over as you read the below lineup.
Steve Karas (c)
Solo Charboneau
Max Murphy
Mitchell Jarosinski
Kierian Langskov
Brian Rice
Eric Sykes
Luca Tani
Conor O’Brien
Noah Pflaum
Landon Banks
Liam Wynne
Dante Brown
Brett DeBoy
Harold Hernandez
Corey Jacobs
Jack Grisanti
Kaleb Boleyn
Glenn Hughes
Devarius “Beanie” Miller
Todd Oswald
Gus Sokol