BARBOS RIGHT THE SHIP HEADING INTO PLAYOFFS
Always look a man in the eyes before you snatch victory from him
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 national 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.
Sean Kilfoyle and Dante Brown prepare for a double tackle
With a schedule intentionally designed to prepare for club championship playoffs, the Barbos 1st XV went 2-1 over a month’s span. A loss on the road to a stout Kansas City RFC made it essential to regain momentum. After all, as reigning national champions, the men in Green & White will always have a target on their backs come playoff time. The lads answered the bell with a 15-12 victory against Park City in Grand Junction, CO. In a match that saw snow, rain, sunshine, then snow again, they learned to win ugly.
They followed that up with a 62-17 victory over Colorado Springs Grizzlies. Sean Kilfoyle opened up the attack through his boot and wide passing. The forward pack got back to basics and excelled in the set piece. Sean Gorman has become an increasingly tough ball carrier to tackle, jacking his work rate up through these last two matches. But it was the team effort that saw them pack points on in the 2nd half and regain their swagger.
Dakota Southworth (and his mullet) have been instrumental in the lineout and defense this season
All roads lead to Chicago where the Barbos will look to win the big games when they matter. Playoff (knock-out, win or go home) rugby is some of the most tantalizing and exciting matches ever played. The stakes are higher, and it just means more. An entire season’s worth of effort, suddenly gone in the blink of an eye … from a tender or cruel bounce of the ball.
I look back to our championship run in 2018, and some of my fondest memories were just as we took the pitch before the opening kickoff. That one last peaceful breath in and out before you push yourself beyond the brink for 80 minutes. Those last second nerves that dissolve into the chaos after the opening whistle.
It’s what I still remember when I watch playoff rugby. I still remember those specific moments. The coin flip plays that turn a team around. The momentum pulsing through the stadium as the crowd feels a team’s energy during comeback … down 15, down 10, down 3, tie game … it’s thrilling to see.
The 2024 Club Northern Regional (pictured above) features a battle of the Barbarians. Denver and Milwaukee will duke it out May 4th, 2pm MST. The game will be streamed live (link to follow), and you’ll be able to cheer on the men in Green & White as they look to pursue greatness. On the other side of the bracket, features two team that have not lost yet this season. The Indianapolis Impalas have dominated the Chicago Cup and Kansas City RFC defeated the Barbos at home 34-24 earlier this spring. It will surely be a hotly contested region and the task will be tall … but it’s playoff rugby and anything can happen.
Jake Vassar carries in the open field. Pictured behind, left to right, Tim Hanify (shirtless with jortz), Esteban Crispin, Ryan Walker & Logan White
If you’ve even been a part of an exciting team in the past, and want to help provide a similar experience for this year’s playing group, please consider donating to our club’s go fund me page. Every penny goes to help players subsidize their cost of travel, hotel, halftime orange slices and Band-Aids. More importantly than those things that are rugby team necessities, your donation will help young men create lasting memories together as they dare to defend another national championship.
As always, Bleed Green