RRRC Committee Meeting Notes – 6/9/2025

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The Red River Competitions Committee releases their monthly committee call minutes and notes. View all of the archived RRRC minutes or read on for the most recent:

  1. Roll Call
    1. McPhail 
    2. Norton
    3. Dale
    4. Curl
    5. Robinson
    6. Hanlon
    7. Hughes
    8. Davies
    9. Kurylas
    10. Wegman
    11. Regrets:
      1. Keuppens
      2. Hanson
      3. Haley Hunter
      4. Rob Walker
  2. Compliance
    1. Texas Clubs in RX not in USAR compliance 
      1. This counts against the TRU in the USAR compliance check. Let Elaine V know which are inactive 
        1. BCS Rugby – Stale / Remove
        2. Cypress Bombers – See Below
        3. Houston Chupacabras – Stale / Remove
        4. Oklahoma City Tribe – Defunct / Remove
        5. Other Rugby Club – Defunct / Remove
        6. Sabercats 2 – Defunct / Remove
        7. Spartans Rugby – See Below / Pending D4
        8. Texas – At large – Okay / Leave as option
        9. Waco Wombats – See Below / Pending D4
    2. Clubs not in good standing
      1. Alamo City – refusal to pay fines related to RX input.
        1. Fine paid – $50 rec’d
    3. New / Returning Club Interest:
      1. Deadline was June 1
        1. Waco Wombats – Recommend D4 Only / RX = 9 active members at this time
        2. Concho Valley Pearls – Information is incomplete / recommend decline
        3. Cypress Bombers – information is incomplete / recommend decline
        4. Spartans Rugby – Recommend for D4 only
        5. Arkansas Gryphons – TRU Board Approved / MD3 North Division
  3. RX items
    1. Trial run of utilizing “2025 TRU 7s” to track rosters towards RRRC pathways.
    2. Lonestar 7’s
      1. Men: Dallas RFC / Austin Huns / ???
      2. Women: Dallas Harlequins / ??? / ???
  4. 15s
    1. Next Season’s schedule and structure
      1. Schedule development ETA June 12th. Goal was end of May
      2. 2026 Nationals will be May 15, 16 & 17.
        1. USACR 15’s Committee to discuss start of bid process during May meeting
        2.  
      3. GCSR will be either weekend of April 25 or May 1
        1. Looking at adding an MD4 match. WD3? Note, TS has WD3 and appears to have MD4 too.
        2. Will teams travel?  Number of extra fields / time / resources needed to complete?
      4. David has meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 10th with GC Presidents to discuss:
        1. MD1 – RRRC Winner, Atlanta Old White, and Miami?  Fourth?
          1. Asked for AOW and Miami confirmation / commitment in writing.
          2. How about RRRC #2 fill in fourth?
        2. MD2 – Assumes AOW will play in ARP in the Fall.  Plan is to play in the True South D2 competition.  Is there a team from Carolina?  RRRC, Florida, True South, and Fourth?  
          1. How about RRRC #2 fill in fourth?
        3. MD3 – Need to find resolution to the 4 vs 5 play-in weekend.
          1. Table winners play each other?  Eliminate State Finals weekend?
        4. WD3  – It’s been suggested again.  Asking if there are enough teams to have this at SR and if they are able to travel?
    2. Championships
      1. RRRC 
        1. Dallas hosted most recently.  Austin region up next?
        2. Call for a host to be made by?  Selection by?
      2. GCSR
        1. Texas is the Host.  
        2. Likely need access to 3 fields (2 playing & 1 warm up) preferred.
        3. Call for a host to be made by?  Selection by?
  5. 7s
    1. USA Club Rugby 7s 2025 Club Declaration Form – Due July 1st 
      1. Texas support:  Rob & Beth Walker, Fil Keuppens, David McPhail
    2. Next event is RRRC Q #1: Bloodfest; Austin June 14th
      1. ~93 teams entered
      2. Schedule: http://bf.hunsrugby.com/
      3. 4 plus referees to handle ~165 games
      4. Fil, David, & April will be doing RRRC book checks on-site.
  6. Referees
    1. AGM will be held in Austin this year; following Bloodfest. 
      1. Voting is complete.
      2. Multi-year terms (2yrs) have been approved for Chair & Vice-Chair.
        1. Retroactive to last year; thus no changes.
        2. Terms to be staggered; begin at next year’s election.
  7. Events
    1. 2025 Hall of Fame – Houston TX
      1. 10th annual HOF Banquet is August 23 in Houston, TX
      2. Hilton – Houston North, 12400 Greenspoint Drive, Houston TX 77060
      3. Hotel booking link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/trusummitandhalloffamebanquet/
      4. Deadline for booking link rates: August 1st
    2. 2025 Summit Conference – Houston, TX
      1. 10th annual Summit Conference is August 22-25 in Houston, TX
    3. Elections coming up this summer at AGM / HOF weekend in Houston
      1. Chair – McPhail – Elected by RRRC after rest seated
      2. MD1 – Dale
      3. MD2 – Hanlon
      4. MD3 – Wegman
      5. Women – Hunter
  8. New Business
    1. Policy adjustments to improve schedule development
      1. RRRC Promotion & Relegation Policy appeal timeline
        1. Current 21 day deadline to submit an appeal left over from days of carrier pigeons. How about 7 days?
          1. Motion: M Norton / J Kurylas Approved? Yes, by Proclamation
      2. Deadline for new club applications delaying schedule
        1. Currently it is June 1st. How about recommending TRU move it and the refundable viability fee up to May 1st?  
          1. Motion: M Norton / J Dale Approved? Yes, by Proclamation
    2. TRU Men’s D4 and Women’s D3 Division Regulations – Texas Rugby Union 
      1. There was discussion about issues last season with guest players not on rosters.
        1. If a player is already CIPPed to a Texas club they can get a clearance to MD4/WD3 without additional cost nor violating eligibility as MD4/WD3 is non NCS.
        2. Also, like Carolinas GU does, we could add to only MD4/WD3 clubs Weekly CIPP as an option.
        3. Above would allow all players to appear on rosters.
        4. Working committees to make proposals and bring proposals back before Sept-1st.
  9. Meeting Adjournment 8:51 PM 
    1. Motion: MN / JW