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Northbrook Hosts Rugby Tryouts for 2013 Maccabiah Games
Updated: August 27, 2012 2:30PM
NORTHBROOK – The World Maccabiah Games, one of the largest international sporting events, will host national rugby tryouts in Northbrook over the Labor Day weekend. Players from the U.S. will come to Northbrook, vying for a spot on the team.
The team typically consists of players older than 19, but this year a youth team will also be drafted. The team will be available for those born between 1995 and 1996.
The games, sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, take place in Israel every four years for Jewish athletes. The next competition is scheduled for July 17-30 of 2013.
Spectators in Northbrook can enjoy high-level rugby games from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Sept. 3. There also will be training sessions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1and on from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. The action will take place on the field at Wescott School, 1820 Western Ave.
The Maccabi USA Rugby Team has a proud history, winning medals in every Maccabiah Games since rugby was introduced in 1985. The USA team won gold in 1997 when coached by Jeff Simon, Northbrook Park District commissioner. Simon will be work with rugby alumni Shawn Lipman, head coach, and Gregory Schor-Haskin, to recruit a world-class squad to represent the United States at the 19th Maccabiah Games.
“As a Northbrook Park District Commissioner, I am very excited that Northbrook is hosting this national tryout to showcase our facilities. In the past, we also hosted tryouts for men’s and women’s softball,” Simon said in a recent release.
In the last Maccabiah Games, in 2009, more than 7,500 athletes from 51 countries competed in 31 sports. Team USA captured 284 medals, and the USA Rugby Team won the Bronze Medal.
For more information, email maccabiahrugbyusa@comcast.net.
