News Blog
BARBOS BEAT ASPEN IN A SHOOTOUT; WILL PLAY IN RMR FINAL
Your Denver Barbarians defeated the Aspen Gentleman 50-38 in a high scoring affair to book a spot in the Rocky Mountain Rugby Final on November 7th. The Barbos will face Park City Haggis who topped the league thanks to a strong point differential (see league table below). The match against Aspen marked the first time the Barbos defeated their instate rivals in league play since Aspen joined in 2024. It came at a moment where the playoff like atmosphere raised “win or go home” tensions for both teams.
The team opened up the scoring through strong field position from flyhalf Luke Neely’s boot that kept the men in Green & White attacking down in Aspen’s half. Julian DeRaffele was a standout in the backline, and Kierian Langskov won man of the match honors in the forward pack. Strong lineout retention was key to the Barbos success as hooker Jackson Zaberiek was laser sharp with his throws. Sean Gorman opened up the back of the lineout in the second half, creating strong opportunities in the back of the lineout.
Coach Davie Williams was masterful with his full use of the bench players, helping the Barbos hold off a second half surge by the Aspen Gentleman. Somehow, off guts and sheer will power, the Barbos were able to survive 5 yellow cards throughout the match. The defensive effort in the second half was spearheaded by forward replacements Christian Rubio, Ian Wormer, Jacob Valdez and Dillon Stander. Ian Priest stepped up big after the loss of fellow prop Benji Hund to injury the match prior.
The Barbos now look towards the culmination of the fall season, the Rocky Mountain Rugby Final. The team will travel to Salt Lake City for the biggest match of the year on November 7th. Kickoff is set for 1:00pm at Murray Fields Park.
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.
All-BARBO SIDE PLAY WITH PRIDE AT RUGGERFEST
Your Denver Barbarians put forward a valiant effort to defend last year’s Championship at the 58th Aspen Ruggerfest Tournament, falling to a stacked and impressive home side in the Grand Final. Aspen came loaded for bear – fitting, as this year featured a historic number of sightings, including a “Bear Delay” when one of several bears napping in pitch-side trees climbed down for a leisurely stroll across Wagner. The Gentlemen, infused with international legends of the game like flyhalf Kurt Morath, a veteran of three World Cups, orchestrated several show-stopping tries that outpaced the Barbos’ best efforts for a 67-12 final.
All in attendance were treated to a dream final between the two teams who’ve hoisted the trophy more often than all other Ruggerfest winners combined. And none will forget the electric silence echoing down the Roaring Fork Valley before kickoff. At the end, the Barbos were well beaten but stood proud as the only true club side in the competition – all players being current or former Barbos.
BARBOS LOOK TO TOP A COMPETITIVE DENVER 7S LINEUP
Denver Barbarians A
Arnaud Agasse
Julian DeRaffele
Ben Haapapuro
David Hightower
Campbell Johnstone
Tadiwanashe Kainga
Logan Lair
Marcel LeFevre
Jack Miller
Takudzwa Musingwini
Luke Neely
Alex Wormer (C)
Ian Wormer
Denver Barbarians B
Kai Arye
Lane Gahagan
Steve Karas (C)
Brad Kissinger
Conor O’Brien
Todd Oswald
Adam Otto
Elian Robles-Revuelto
Vinny Sikorsky
Dillon Stander
Zach Thies
Jacob Valdez
Logan White
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 SWEEP 55TH ANNUAL DENVER 7’S
After posting a 4-0 record on a successful trip up to Aspen Colorado for an afternoon of 7’s matches, the men in Green & White turned their focus toward their home tournament. The 55th Annual Denver 7’s. An event that once stood at 30+ teams across the Men’s, Women’s, Social and High School brackets at the pristine Dick’s Sporting Goods Park fields, is now a more humble gathering of teams at Cook Park. After semi-final victories over Aspen and Park City, it was the Denver Barbarians who raised the hardware in the end, defeating the Barbo 2nd side in the final match of the day. The day featured great moments of 7’s excitement, a strong showing from the local rugby audience and pizza for all after the final from Guido’s Pizza in Genesee.