Morris U14 co-founder Emily Dobbs
It doesn’t get much better than combining rugby tour with World Cup. The amateur and elite versions of the game abut each other – a joy that is magnified by being immersed in a rugby-loving country. With the guidance of Irish Rugby Tours, the U14 members of Morris (N.J.) are heading to the Women’s Rugby World Cup for two USA tests, three games against Irish U15 teams, loads of cultural excursions, and no doubt an unforgettable experience.
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In fall 2014, the Dobbses were driving to a Morris girls’ U18 rugby practice. Emily, who is now 13 years old, asked her father, William, why there wasn’t a girls’ tackle team for her age group.
“My dad didn’t really have an answer, it was more of just that nobody had done it before,” Emily recounted. “So, it was then we decided we would try to start up a team.”
The duo built some momentum, and seven players showed up to the first practice in spring 2015.
“That was surprising considering it was a whole new team and concept. We weren’t expecting that many,” Emily reflected. “There were a number of people who believed we would fail, doubted that we could pull this off, and some people who thought since we are girls we wouldn’t be accepted as a team. But none of this happened. We started our first official season and worked hard to grow and recruit so our team wouldn’t fail.”
The Morris U14s practiced that spring and fall while looking for competition. It wasn’t until spring 2016 that another club was able to field a veritable team, and Morris played its first 7s games against West End in Virginia.
“The games didn’t go so well for us because [our opponents] were more advanced and experienced, as they practiced with their high school team, but with every game we improved,” Emily explained. “It was a great experience and everyone enjoyed the weekend there.”
The New Jersey team recruited well over the summer and had 20 players for fall 2016. Doylestown (Pa.) fielded a U14 team, allowing Morris to play its first home game.
Morris U14 vs. Doylestown U14
“This was the time where we really took a turn and became a more established team,” the co-founder noted. “We now had a sponsor [Buffalo Wild Wings], a lot more players, two opposing teams, and two more coaches. We played two more times that season and we even won two matches!”
Results during the spring 2017 season were mixed, but after attending the Army West Point camp, the team began to click. Morris U14s placed second at the Baywatch 7s, hosted by North Bay in Maryland, and then won the Blazing 7s tournament in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Emily’s father and Morris U14 coach William Dobbs wanted to take the team on the road, and saw the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland as the perfect venue. Parents and players alike rallied around the idea, and with the aid of Irish Rugby Tours, a stellar trip was crafted.
The itinerary includes visits to the Cliffs of Moher (preceded by a surfing lesson), Aviva Stadium, Irish president’s house, Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, Viking boat tour, and more. The team, which consists of 19 players ranging from 10-15 years old, will play three U15 teams – Cill Dara Rugby Club (Kildare), Monivea RFC (Galway) and Portlaoise RFC (Laois). The touring group will also bolster the crowd during the USA’s first two pool play games in Dublin.
“My team has been through a lot – times when not many people believed in our program or players, since we are a relatively new team; times when we had no other teams to play,” Emily summarized. “We’ve also been through times of celebration and excitement. We have been through a lot of ups and downs, but our team has improved so much in these past three years, and we’re all very anxious and excited to see what’s in store for the future!”
MORRIS U14 – IRELAND TOUR
Jackie Blumhoefer – 15 years old*
Shannen Brennan – 11
Elizabeth Cogan – 14
Marissa Cogan – 12
Emily Dobbs – 13
Rachel Grimaldi – 13
Katie Hartmann – 12
Sosi Hoerning – 10
Isabella Kuzmich – 10
Sophia Loosemore – 14
Megan Mathews – 14
Neasa McLaughlin – 12
Catherine Mignone – 13
Jojo Mignone – 11
Xanthe Miller – 14
Emilia Monrad – 14
Grace Reinke – 12
Alexandra Rupprecht – 11
Grace Ward – 14
* Playing Irish U15 teams