The New York Rugby Club has begun fundraising $20,000 to help four young men from the Bronx who have been selected to attend the prestigious Natal Sharks international rugby program in Durban, South Africa from July 6 to 28...

The four are seniors at Sports Professional High School in the Bronx and are the only Americans to join promising young athletes from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Japan at the summer clinic.

Arnold Chavis, Rob Cabrera, Matteo Cortes and Jorge Cabrera have only been playing rugby for 2 years. They are charter members of the New York Rugby Club's evolving Under 19 squad and are involved in Play Rugby USA's after-school program.

They were selected for the South African program for their commitment to both developing their own rugby skills and for their maturity and leadership amongst their team mates. In addition to being role models as players, all four coach rugby in New York Rugby club's blossoming U-12 program.  Rob, Jorge, and Arnold are also certified Level I referees and are pioneers in the Rugby Referees Society of New York U19 referee development program.

The four were introduced to the sport by former US women's representatives, Lisa Lake and Annie Collier, who saw rugby as an opportunity to teach valuable life lessons to the young men through a disciplined afterschool sports program that included regular interaction with the adult members of the New York Rugby Club. In addition to basic rugby and athletic skill development, the program emphasizes team work, respect, commitment, discipline and responsibility, and partners young players with adult mentors to assist with college applications and job preparation.

Matteo, Rob, Arnold, and Jorge firmly assert that rugby has changed their lives by providing them with a sense of belonging and purpose, improving both athletic performance and their grades.

All four young men will become the first members of their family to attend college on their return from South Africa.

The Natal Sharks program is highly respected in international rugby circles. Training classes are provided by full-time coaches and current professional players at the Kings Park Stadium facilities in Durban. Several members of the current reigning world rugby champion South Africa 'Springboks' have come through the program, and other graduates are now in professional rugby contracts in the Super 14, the Japanese Top League and the European Heineken Cup. During weekends the participants will attend live Currie Cup rugby matches, and travel to local attractions such as Ushaka Aquarium and the Valley of 1000 Hills. 

Please help us make this opportunity a reality for these fine young men and donate using the Google Checkout Link above.

or mail a check payable to 'New York Rugby Club' to:

Annie Collier
Attn: BRONX TO DURBAN
1 Pier Pointe St.
Apt. 521 F
Yonkers, NY 10701