Former Hawkeye John Ryberg called in to USA Rugby camp for two test matches...

[Menace Sockeyes]

The former Cedar Rapidian starting for first place Glendale Raptors against second place Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby for those of you with ESPN+. Glendale up 14-11 at the half and he's been a tackling machine. He's #11 with the Hawkeye Rugby tattoo on the thigh.

 

[Saint Louis Attorney]

Rugby should be renamed "not very good at football but refuse to accept it".

Rugby....lol.

 

[pink shizzle]

Rugby should be renamed "not very good at football but refuse to accept it".

Rugby....lol.

Nah

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Rugby is the back yard football we all played as kids...no helmets, no pads, and not much organization.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Rugby is the back yard football we all played as kids...no helmets, no pads, and not much organization.

No helmets: Correct
No pads: Correct
No organization: Incorrect

As someone who obsessively played back yard football (but had no interest in playing "organized" football), rugby certainly had moments like it, but the scrum, ruck, line out, and break out are anything but unorganized. Lots going on, and lots of coaching that go into it.

 

[Quintana]

No helmets: Correct
No pads: Correct
No organization: Incorrect

As someone who obsessively played back yard football (but had no interest in playing "organized" football), rugby certainly had moments like it, but the scrum, ruck, line out, and break out are anything but unorganized. Lots going on, and lots of coaching that go into it.

i say this with all due respect... you have to be a special kind of crazy to play that game. i like my teeth way too much.

 

[leiserom]

Houston has a MLR team. I went to one match this year. Some guy got clotheslined. Slow to get up. Also went to the USA/Scotland test match last Saturday. What an upset. The 10K or so there were screaming USA USA at the end. The Scot missed the conversion kick so the final was 30-29. Biggest victory for USA Rugby ever.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Houston has a MLR team. I went to one match this year. Some guy got clotheslined. Slow to get up. Also went to the USA/Scotland test match last Saturday. What an upset. The 10K or so there were screaming USA USA at the end. The Scot missed the conversion kick so the final was 30-29. Biggest victory for USA Rugby ever.

I missed this post. I'm jealous you were at both this summer.

FYI, Ryberg and the Raptors lost to Seattle Seawolves in the first ever MLR Championship Final.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

BUMP: Ryberg scored his first ever regular season try (like a TD) last night in the season opening game on CBS Sports Network. I will put up video later, but I believe I heard the Hawkeyes got a mention. /CSB

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Here it is as #2 in the Top 5 MLR Tries of the Week! Beautiful stiff arm and speed to turn the corner. Cuts off the Hawkeye comment, but if I find video I’ll add it...

 

[pink shizzle]

I couldn't see the number on his jersey. Does he still play 11? He's a thick back, looks like an 8 basically.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I couldn't see the number on his jersey. Does he still play 11? He's a thick back, looks like an 8 basically.

Not sure if he reclaimed the #11 for this year, or if he is still #16 like most of last season. He was definitely playing wing, and they seem to prefer to play him against Seattle’s stout “Sea Wall”defense. Those are his two starts. You’re right, he’s a big boy for a wing, but he showed some wheels with that power there.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Another start, another try! This game on ESPN+.
@pink shizzle , he’s earned the starting wing, but as the #14 this time.

 

[DogBoyRy]

The former Cedar Rapidian starting for first place Glendale Raptors against second place Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby for those of you with ESPN+. Glendale up 14-11 at the half and he's been a tackling machine. He's #11 with the Hawkeye Rugby tattoo on the thigh.

I remember this kid when I lived in Cedar Rapids. Played for a really good CRX team and was a beast back when David Perry played for Lin Mar.
I know Iowa thought he was going to be a great fullback for them until he tore up his knee.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I remember this kid when I lived in Cedar Rapids. Played for a really good CRX team and was a beast back when David Perry played for Lin Mar.
I know Iowa thought he was going to be a great fullback for them until he tore up his knee.

Seems like lots of fullbacks convert to rugby. Paul Lasike of BYU rugby/football went to the Chicago Bears before going to Utah Warriors and now London Harlequins. Ryberg has the potential to make that jump with his size and speed.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Co-league leader in crossing the goal line at the half way point in the season. May be playing his way on to contract with a big British team at this point. Go Hawks!:

 

[m.stoops2013]

Rugby players are in general tough s.o.b.'s
I got offered to join a club team after organized FB was over for me, I went to one practice & F that. Too violent

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Rugby players are in general tough s.o.b.'s
I got offered to join a club team after organized FB was over for me, I went to one practice & F that. Too violent

The only really violent confrontation is the ruck, and you are very safe if you know what to do, and the people you play with know what they are doing.

 

[pink shizzle]

Rugby players are in general tough s.o.b.'s
I got offered to join a club team after organized FB was over for me, I went to one practice & F that. Too violent

I've been playing for about four years now. My first game ever I fractured my collarbone and separated my shoulder. I finished the game with it because I didn't want the guys thinking I, the new guy, was a little bish. Bad idea, I couldn't lift my arm further than 3-4 inches away from my body and took months to really get healthy again. CSB.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I've been playing for about four years now. My first game ever I fractured my collarbone and separated my shoulder. I finished the game with it because I didn't want the guys thinking I, the new guy, was a little bish. Bad idea, I couldn't lift my arm further than 3-4 inches away from my body and took months to really get healthy again. CSB.

Damn, that’s bad first game luck. How did you manage that? The worst I had in three years of HS and college was a deviated septum, a dislocated pinky, a goose egg on the head, and torn cartilage in the ear. (The last one was the worst. Felt like a knife slicing my ear anytime it was touched.)

 

[pink shizzle]

Damn, that’s bad first game luck. How did you manage that? The worst I had in three years of HS and college was a deviated septum, a dislocated pinky, a goose egg on the head, and torn cartilage in the ear. (The last one was the worst. Felt like a knife slicing my ear anytime it was touched.)

Had a big impact with a Samoan. I've had two concussions (if I get another I will call it quits) but the last one was 2.5 years ago. Other than that I haven't had any real injuries other than a couple pulled muscles.

The ear sounds bad. We played against a guy that had his ear almost entirely ripped off. The finger would be a major pain in the arse. I cant stand when I get a finger jammed, stepped on, etc.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Don’t hurt ‘Em, Johnny Ryberg!

UPDATE: Hat-trick TIME!...

 

[Auger]

Rugby is the back yard football we all played as kids...no helmets, no pads, and not much organization.

If you're not organized in rugby you're going to have a rough go of it. If more Americans actually spent some time to learn the game I think it would become a top 5 sport here. Watch some European, South African, Australian or New Zealand teams play. It's a great sport to watch and the fans are a blast to hangout with. Or watch some Rugby 7's, you just might get hooked.

 

[Auger]

Rugby players are in general tough s.o.b.'s
I got offered to join a club team after organized FB was over for me, I went to one practice & F that. Too violent

Haha it's a rush though. An Australian friend of mine got me into it after my FB days were over. I live in an area where Rugby is pretty popular. Can honestly say playing the sport and the overall team camaraderie has been more enjoyable than my 13 years of experience playing tackle football.

 

[Auger]

I've been playing for about four years now. My first game ever I fractured my collarbone and separated my shoulder. I finished the game with it because I didn't want the guys thinking I, the new guy, was a little bish. Bad idea, I couldn't lift my arm further than 3-4 inches away from my body and took months to really get healthy again. CSB.

I messed my shoulder up in a game last August. Took until February before it began to feel right again. From August til December couldn't raise my right arm above my head without significant pain. My wife wants me to finally hang things up after 13 years of FB and going on 10 years of off and on rugby. But shoulder feels great again and the sport is calling for me.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Wanted to also include this sweet move and run from former Des Moines kid and SE Polk prep, Deion Mikesell. Mikesell has been getting looks from the USA national team too. Special shout to @leiserom ...

 

[lonesomedove]

Rugby should be renamed "not very good at football but refuse to accept it".

Rugby....lol.

What a joke of a poster. You don’t know sh** about rugby, or football for that matter.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

What a joke of a poster. You don’t know sh** about rugby, or football for that matter.

He’s usually a good poster. He’s just ignorant on this subject.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

KCRG Sunday Night Spotlight...

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Former Hawkeye walk-on fullback turned rugby player starring alongside some international rugby legends in Giteau (AUS), Ashley-Copper (AUS), Bryce (SCOT), and Van Der Merwe (CAN) at first place expansion side LA Giltinis. Playing TONIGHT on Fox Sports 2 from the new NFL SoFi Stadium...



Fastest try in league history this year...

 

[pink shizzle]

I went to the game in LA today at SoFi Stadium.. Holy hell that place is sweet!

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I went to the game in LA today at SoFi Stadium.. Holy hell that place is sweet!

Sweet! Only caught the first half, but it looked like an amazing stadium. Only downside was the football lines, but I’m guessing that’s because it’s an artificial surface. I also heard they sold out the 10% capacity and it held the noise in well.

Our favorite Hawkeye rumbled in as well, I see...




But this was my favorite. A damn near perfectly executed kick and chase try...

 

[pink shizzle]

Sweet! Only caught the first half, but it looked like an amazing stadium. Only downside was the football lines, but I’m guessing that’s because it’s an artificial surface. I also heard they sold out the 10% capacity and it held the noise in well.

Our favorite Hawkeye rumbled in as well, I see...

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But this was my favorite. A damn near perfectly executed kick and chase try...

View embedded media

They announced they sold out the allotted tickets. The football lines are always a bit odd but I'm sure the guys thought it was sweet getting to play in that stadium.
The kick and chase was pretty.
The 9 for LA and the 15 for Utah are former teammates which is always cool to see. The 9 helped me out a lot when I was out of shape and coming back from a knee injury and dying during 7s conditioning haha.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

THIS IS NOT A DRILL, @pink shizzle, @Mountain Man Hawk, @ThamesHawk. A Hawkeye will be in uniform for USA Rugby away to England on the 4th of July 👀...

 

[pink shizzle]

THIS IS NOT A DRILL, @pink shizzle, @Mountain Man Hawk, @ThamesHawk. A Hawkeye will be in uniform for USA Rugby away to England on the 4th of July 👀...

View embedded media

Hell yeah. Enjoy the experience (and probably the beatdown). That's a huge moment for him.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Hell yeah. Enjoy the experience (and probably the beatdown). That's a huge moment for him.

Forgot that this is a pool and he won’t NECESSARILY dress for it. We’ll see if he’s chosen. Also play Ireland. So yeah, two beat downs.

 

[jaxhawk06]

Well shit, I'm driving down from Iowa to Florida this weekend and decided to make a pit stop in Atlanta. I went to the LA vs. Atlanta rugby game tonight and didn't realize there was a Hawkeye on LA until now. I was standing by LA's bench and left the Hawkeye hat in the car

 

[pink shizzle]

Well shit, I'm driving down from Iowa to Florida this weekend and decided to make a pit stop in Atlanta. I went to the LA vs. Atlanta rugby game tonight and didn't realize there was a Hawkeye on LA until now. I was standing by LA's bench and left the Hawkeye hat in the car

I went to an LA game recently and when they announced Ryberg I perked up. I wasn't aware he was on the team until then.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Well shit, I'm driving down from Iowa to Florida this weekend and decided to make a pit stop in Atlanta. I went to the LA vs. Atlanta rugby game tonight and didn't realize there was a Hawkeye on LA until now. I was standing by LA's bench and left the Hawkeye hat in the car

You might have seen a preview of this year’s final. LA and Atlanta. As if those two cities haven’t had enough success in sports we like recently.

 

[twindman]

Did the announcer on one of the videos above really say 'He's as scary as lime disease!'???? Or did I mis-hear that?