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 PUMP WATERDOGS; SEASON FINALE OFFERS A CHANCE FOR PLAYOFF BERTH
The Denver Barbarians made a statement with a commanding 80-28 win over the Waterdogs Saturday, positioning themselves for a showdown against Aspen October 24th at Infinity Park (2p kick off) to wrap up the regular season. With a beautiful fall day as the setting, the Barbos ran in many tries and did their best to restore order in the Denver derby after last year’s disappointing results.
After allowing the Waterdogs to stay in the game for the first half – taking a 24-14 lead into halftime – the Barbos unleashed an attack their opponents could not contain. The men in Green and White played with freedom, style, panache and pizzazz, scoring some show stopping end-to-end team tries in the onslaught.
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"
THESE DOGS CAN SWIM
As we approach the season opener Friday night, it got me thinking about the Water Dogs and our recent form against them. After some thorough research ... (clicking around online and looking at old posts/videos), it appears the series is knotted at 4-4 over the last 4 fall seasons.
BARBO 7S FACE ‘WIN OR GO HOME’ TOURNAMENT IN KANSAS CITY
Your Denver Barbarians 7s squad will face a “win or go home” proposition when they travel to Kansas City to compete in the Fountain City 7s. After taking 1st place in our home qualifier Denver 7’s, the squad fell to the Kansas City Blues in the final of Omaha 7s and now sit among a three team race for Nationals Qualification. The Denver Barbarians, Kansas City Blues & Kansas City Reds, will all battle it out on Saturday July 26th at the Raytown Soccer Complex. Winning the tournament outright would see the Denver Barbarians advance to the Club 7s Nationals in Madison Wisconsin.
DEVIN MARTLING CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER RETURNS ON SEPTEMBER 5th
On behalf of the Denver Barbarians Rugby Foundation, we would like to thank you for your generous support of the inaugural 2025 Devin Martling Classic. Your contributions helped make the event a tremendous success and allowed us to honor the life and legacy of our friend and teammate, Devin Martling.
We are excited to announce that the 2nd Annual Devin Martling Classic will be held on September 5, 2026, at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton, Colorado. Thanks to the incredible support we received last year, the tournament is expanding to 100 players, allowing us to welcome even more members of the rugby community, friends, family, and supporters to celebrate Devin's lasting impact on the Denver Barbarians.
In addition to a great day on the golf course, this year's event will feature a post-tournament banquet at the clubhouse including a lunch buffet, complimentary beer, tournament honors, a silent auction featuring exciting prizes and experiences, and tournament merchandise available for purchase.
As we prepare for this year's tournament, we are seeking the continued support of our sponsors, donors, and community partners. Funds raised through the Devin Martling Classic directly support the mission of the Denver Barbarians Rugby Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. These funds help provide resources for club operations, support player development opportunities, reduce barriers to participation in the sport, and strengthen rugby communities throughout Colorado. These donations are tax deductible according to applicable tax laws.
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
BARBOS OLD AND YOUNG TO REPRESENT AT “MINGO 7S”
Mingo 7’s Roster:
Kai Arye
Andre Bass
Mason Butler
Micah Duffield
Lane Gahagan
Steve Karas
Marcel LeFevre
Garrett Murphy
Conor O’Brien
Todd Oswald
Ben Pinkelman (C)
Elian Robles-Revuelto
Vince Sikorsky
Dillon Stander
Zach Thies
Jacob Valdez
Logan White
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.
BARBOS LOOK AHEAD TO 2026 AFTER CHALLENGING FALL SEASON
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.
BARBO SUMMER 7’S - TOURNAMENT DATES AND NEW SPONSORSHIP
The summer of 2025 is primed for success thanks to a strong schedule of tournaments and two key sponsors. Head coach Jason Kelly’s Koru Movement and assistant coach Steve LaPorta’s Perfect Denver Homes have generously sponsored the Barbo 7’s efforts to perform at the highest level.
The team will open up the summer on June 15th, travelling to Austin Texas to compete in the premier bracket of Bloodfest 7’s. They will follow that up by hosting the 56th annual Denver 7’s, with a final qualifying tournament in Kansas City. The summer campaign will end with the club national 7’s tournament hosted for a 3rd straight year in Madison Wisconsin.
June 14th - Bloodfest - Austin, Texas
June 28th - Denver 7’s - Denver, Colorado
July 12th - Kansas City 7’s - Kansas City, Missouri
August 9-10th - Club 7’s National Championships - Madison, Wisconsin
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.
SUMMER 7’S HAVE ARRIVED
The Barbos opened up their 2024 summer 7’s with a strong showing in the Gateway 7’s in St. Louis, Saturday June 15th. The men in Green & White played sharp throughout the day, winning 4 straight pool games before a tantalizing final against the St. Louis Bombers. The cup final went into sudden death, and the home side won 26-21 after 5 minutes of extra time. The Barbos played with strong cohesion throughout the day, and the lessons from the first tournament in the summer will be valuable.
The Barbos lineup for Gateway 7’s:
Nick Johnson
Eric Sykes
Campbell Johnstone
Alex Wormer
Mickey Bateman
Rufus McLean
Ian Wormer
Arnaud Agasse
David Hightower
Jack Miller
John Ryberg
Kobe Millar
Logan Lair
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.
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.
BARBOS RIDING HOT STREAK INTO DOUBLE HEADER CLASH VS. BOULDER
BARBOS DOWN THE WATERDOGS 69-14
Your Denver Barbarians defeated the Denver Waterdogs 69-14 on a perfect October afternoon at Infinity Park. The game was physical and included some impressive ball work as the two side duked it out for 80 minutes. Alex Wormer was impressive in attack all day as the open side flanker and lineout operator consistently broke the gain line finishing four tries (most of the under the posts). In the end, the relentless Barbo attack was too much for a Waterdogs side who had a man sent to the bin with a red card.
BARBOS FALL TO PARK CITY IN A TALE OF TWO HALVES
When the team travelling to Park City was named on Thursday night, we saw some new names looking for new opportunities on the rugby pitch. Luckily for them, there is no greater opportunity that travelling west to face our Utah based league rivals Park City Haggis.