Oregon Rugby League to play inaugural men’s game
Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL) are delighted to announce that our affiliate Oregon Rugby League will play their inaugural men’s game against the Vancouver Dragons on Saturday, September 3rd at 1pm at Clagget Creek Park in Keizer, north of Salem, Oregon. The game is being billed as “The Battle in the Capital.”
The ORL team will be made up of players from all over the state and the Pacific Northwest. The Dragons are a Canadian rugby league team that plays in the Rugby League British Columbia (RLBC) competition, where they recently made it to the Grand Final of the competition.
The ORL is looking forward to its inaugural game and is confident that it will be a great match against a strong Dragons team. ORL head Nicolas Sarabia said, “Oregon Rugby League has an opportunity to not only plant a flag for the code of League here in the PNW but to also become another tool in helping Oregon become a state where some of the best rugby players in America can come from. This match is the first step in making such a thing become reality.
In Oregon we value each other and work to better our communities, Oregon Rugby League looks to help better the sport of rugby and add on to the community already here in bettering more members while working alongside our fellow brethrens. The Battle in the Capital is our chance as Oregonians to not only show pride and rally but to let the rest of the world know that rugby league is growing and Oregon is ready for the challenge.”
Vancouver Dragons President Josh Knight was equally optimistic: “The Vancouver Dragons are coming off a very successful Rugby League British Columbia season and are looking forward to our first road trip as a club, to visit our southern neighbors. Most importantly, we are very excited to help Oregon Rugby League grow the greatest game of all in the 33rd state; eventually building the growth of the sport for the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Coast Rugby League.”
In our first season, this exciting matchup will mark the third different state to host a game under the PCRL umbrella, after California and Utah.