Due to Hurricane Milton, the Tennessee-Florida rugby game has been canceled.
Tennessee was slated to host Florida in rugby on Friday and in football on Saturday. Due to Hurricane Milton, Friday’s Tennessee-Florida rugby contest has been canceled in Knoxville.
“Hurricane Milton has upended our plans to host Florida on Friday night,” Tennessee rugby announced. “Florida is not able to travel to Knoxville, so the match has been canceled.”
The Vols are slated to host Florida in football on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Gators is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN.
Tennessee rugby will next host Alabama on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. EDT ahead of the Vols-Crimson Tide football game at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 19 (3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).
According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs decided to release promising ex-rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on Tuesday.
Among the players cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday was Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who was among the team’s most heavily publicized players during training camp.
Signed as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in the 2024 offseason, Rees-Zammit showed promise in all three of Kansas City’s preseason games, but his inexperience showed.
Despite the Chiefs’ decision to move on from him, Rees-Zammit is still a prospect who should be on the radars of football fans around the country, who only got a first glimpse of what he is capable of over the last few weeks.
Though his time in Kansas City has come to an end for now, Rees-Zammit is likely to be a candidate to sign with the Chiefs’ practice squad if he isn’t offered a deal on another team’s 53-man roster in the next few days.
Stay tuned to see where Rees-Zammit lands after his release on Tuesday.
#Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit was seen admiring Arrowhead Stadium after Kansas City’s loss to the #Lions on Saturday.
Louis Rees-Zammit finally got to experience a football game at his new home field when the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon
Rees-Zammit was a star rugby player overseas before joining the Chiefs via the International Player Pathway, and while he has plenty of experience as a professional athlete, the sheer scale of Arrowhead seemed to give him pause after Kansas City’s loss to Detroit.
In two pictures that were posted to Twitter by FOX 4 sports anchor Harold R. Kuntz, Rees-Zammit was spotted taking in the grand spectacle on his new home turf after fans exited the stadium:
While his NFL career is still in its infancy, Rees-Zammit has already proven to be an asset for the Chiefs’ offense and special teams unit during the preseason.
Expect to continue seeing the former rugger in action against the Chicago Bears on August 22 as he vies for a spot on Kansas City’s 53-man roster.
Tennessee rugby announces 2024 recruiting class ahead of fall season.
Tennessee will kick off its 2024 fall rugby season on Aug. 24 with an Orange & White scrimmage.
The Vols will open regular-season play, hosting Queens, on Sept. 6.
Tennessee is also scheduled to play two road contests at Thomas More (Sept. 13) and Rio Grande (Sept. 14) before hosting Texas A&M for family weekend on Sept. 21.
Tennessee will host Florida (Oct. 11) and Alabama (Oct. 18) before SCRC playoffs on Oct. 26.
All home games will be contested at RecSports Fields at Sutherland except for the Vols’ match against Texas A&M. Tennessee and the Aggies will play at Tennessee Rugby Park.
Tennessee rugby announces 2024 recruiting class
Tennessee rugby finalized its 2024 recruiting class with 22 student-athletes (14 freshmen, eight transfers) for the 2024-2025 academic year. This season marks the 55th of men’s rugby on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Head coach Scott Tungay enters his third season as the Vols’ head coach.
“We are excited to get back on campus and begin training,” Tungay said. “With 50 experienced players returning and a recruiting class ready to contribute, we look forward to a very exciting fall season.”
Tennessee’s incoming class consists of accomplished rugby players at both the high school and collegiate level, as well as some promising crossover athletes. The freshmen class includes 10 players who come from state finalist programs, one player for the NAI 7s champions (Rebels Rugby Academy), and one player from Charlotte Cardinals 15s national championship program. In total, Tennessee’s incoming players are from 14 different states.
Freshmen
Aidan Decker – Wing / Christian Brothers HS / Memphis, Tennessee
Alex Samson – Fullback / St Xavier HS / Cincinnati, Ohio
Brady Calkins – 8 Man / Oliver Ames HS / North Easton, Massachusetts
Charles Seemann – Wing / Jesuit HS + NOLA Gold Academy / New Orleans, Louisiana
Erasmo Cortez – Flanker / Christian Brothers HS / Memphis, Tennessee
Erik Fontanella – Flanker / Pelham Memorial HS / Pelham, New York
Eric McIlrath – Center / Paideia Academy + Knoxville Youth Rugby / Knoxville, Tennessee
Landon Arsenault – Center / Fairfield Ludlowe HS / Fairfield, Connecticut
Mathias Di Si – Flanker / New Trier Township HS / Glencoe, Illinois
Nathan Rawls – Flanker / Marvin Ridge HS + Charlotte Cardinals / Waxhaw, North Carolina
Niko Zaharas – Flanker / Columbine HS + Valor Rugby / Littleton, Colorado
Peter Wilson – Second Row / Christian Brothers HS / Memphis, Tennessee
Ryan Markham – Second Row / Monacan HS + Richmond Strikers Rugby / Richmond, Virginia
Jack Folvig – 8 Man / Riverview HS + Sarasota Surge Rugby / Sarasota, Florida
Transfers
Alex Plese – Pellissippi State CC / Tennessee Rugby Academy / Knoxville, Tennessee
Anthony Reed – 8 Man / St. Ambrose University/Glen Ellyn Rugby / Addison, Illinois
Garrett Salas – Wing / Central Washington University + Nashville RFC / Seattle, Washington
Hudson Schutte – 8 Man / Nazareth University / Shorewood, Minnesota
Jack Oberhofer – Front Row / Syracuse University / Glen Elyn, Illinois
Jude Lenahan – Flanker / UT-Chattanooga + Raptors Rugby / Brentwood, Tennessee
Remington Roderick – Flanker / UNC-Wilmington / Wilmington, North Carolina
Spencer Daves – Flyhalf / Central College + Des Moines RFC / Urbandale, Iowa
Take a look at these photos of #Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit, which were posted by the former rugby star on Twitter.
Former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has been one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ most exciting players to watch during training camp, and after a few weeks of NFL practices under his belt, the rising running back is garnering more attention from fans every day.
Though he won’t be expected to push Isiah Pacheco for the starting spot in Kansas City’s backfield, Rees-Zammit has an opportunity to fight for playing time in short-yardage situations and has made his case for a spot on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in St. Joseph.
This week, Rees-Zammit shared these photos from training camp on his Twitter account:
— Louis Rees-Zammit ⚡️ (@LouisReesZammit) July 30, 2024
Few players on the Chiefs’ roster have a better opportunity to make an impact as a rookie than Rees-Zammit, who seems uniquely positioned to earn meaningful snaps in Andy Reid’s offense this year.
Expect to see more from Kansas City’s newest training camp darling as practices continue in St. Joseph.
New Zealand celebrated their women’s rugby gold with an electric Haka performance.
New Zealand’s women’s rugby team defended its gold medal in rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics and celebrated with a thrilling Haka.
On Tuesday, after New Zealand bested Canada 19-12 in the final and they received their gold medals, the entire team performed the Haka — a traditional Māori ceremonial dance. The dance has become more well known in the sports world for its use before games and after victories by New Zealand in rugby.
This rendition by New Zealand’s women’s rugby sevens team was quite electric, and the fans in Paris were treated to a thrilling show after the gold medal match.
New Zealand Olympic rugby sevens player Michaela Blyde is a HUGE of fellow Olympian and decorated track and field star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
When I say huge fan, I mean Michaela could hardly keep it together at the mere thought of her idol following her on Instagram. In a new video, Blyde is downright giddy as she realizes that Fraser-Pryce followed her and commented on a recent reel she posted after she (perhaps jokingly) invited her to be friends.
“Oh my God. We’re best friends,” Michaela says before the video cuts to her receiving a message from Shelly-Ann and eventually getting help from her teammates to arrange a nearby meetup. Soon, a very excited (and barefoot) Michaela comes barreling down a Paris street and into the arms of an awaiting Shelly-Ann, who embraces her.
Aye Shelly have Michaela in shambles. 🤭
This is so cute btw, and her teammates coming together to reply to the message is even cuter.
I knew when I saw her barefoot that she ran from somewhere.
That’s amazing stuff, really. But that isn’t the end of the story. Shelly-Ann was in the stadium to see Michaela and New Zealand beat China during this year’s Games. You love to see it.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 🇯🇲 cheering Michaela Blyde 🇳🇿 today in her Rugby match against China!
Jason Kelce and the USA women’s rugby sevens team is the duo we never knew we needed.
Jason Kelce is having the time of his life at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he’s hamming it with the Team USA women’s rugby sevens team.
Jason and his wife Kylie went to Paris to watch the Olympic Games, and they already spent time watching the United States compete in women’s field hockey.
Now, Jason’s been hanging out with Ilona Maher and the USA women’s rugby sevens team, and the clips from his time in the Olympic village with the whole squad are genuinely tremendous. Maher recently asked him to be a super fan of the team (similar to the way women’s water polo has Flavor Flav), and he wholesomely agreed.
But it gets better. At some point, Jason was arm wrestling — YES, ARM WRESTLING — with another player, Nicole Heavirland, and you have to see the clip to believe it.
An Australian-born ex-rugby player, TE Thomas Yassmin would not count against the 16-player limit if he makes the Broncos’ practice squad.
Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie tight end Thomas Yassmin, No. 86.
Before the Broncos: Yassmin (6-5, 251 pounds) was born and raised in Australia, where he grew up playing rugby. He committed to Utah in 2018 and had a redshirt season, his first experience with American football. Yassmin went on to play primarily on special teams in 2019 and 2020, with the latter season shortened by COVID-19.
Yassmin posted the first catch of his college career in 2021, then he followed that up with 13 receptions for 301 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. Thanks to his redshirt freshman year and an extra year of eligibility from COVID-19, Yassmin returned for a sixth year in 2023. He hauled in eight receptions for 89 yards and one score through five games before suffering a season-ending injury last fall.
Broncos tenure: Denver signed Yassmin as a college free agent this spring. He joined the team as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
Chances to make the 53-man roster: Long shot. Yassmin is unlikely to make the active roster as a rookie, but each NFL team can carry an extra international player on the practice squad in 2024. That IPP rule makes Yassmin a very strong candidate for the practice squad.
Kansas City #Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit at training camp: “Rugby really prepared me for this” | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Louis Rees-Zammit as a potential breakout player in their system, utilizing many skills that made him a famous rugby star.
As part of the rookie group already working at the Chiefs’ training camp, Rees-Zammit gave reporters an update on Thursday about his adjustment to the NFL and traits he learned from rugby.
“It’s just learning all the plays that are so different from what I’m used to. Obviously, in rugby, you don’t have to learn as much. But I think physically, I think I’m in good shape. I think rugby really prepared me for this with the condition, and it’s been in physical shape.” said Rees-Zammit. “I think the biggest difference is just mental, just staying on top of things, staying on top of the playbook, and making no mistakes.”
Rees-Zammit has already garnered attention on social media following the Chiefs posting highlights of him working with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He stood out in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which led to his eventual signing with Kansas City.
“Yeah, so with the international player pathway, we’ve been there for about two months, with pads and helmets. So I was just trying to get used to it, to be honest. Obviously, never training with pads and a helmet is quite unusual.” said Rees-Zammit. “But that really prepped me to be able to come in here and kind of get the ball rolling straight away, not having to get used to, you know, the pads and the helmet. So, yeah, I was pretty prepared for that.”
The rookies continue to find their footing in the early stages of training camp, and things are expected to intensify once the veterans are in the mix. Many will be watching Rees-Zammit as a potential special teams standout as he continues to learn the game.
