June 22 2005 – Herk Koranski has created a monster.

It's a good monster, but a monster just the same.

The Denver-based rugby man started a U19 LAU tournament five years ago, and that year welcomed four teams. A year later, six teams showed up, and last year, when Texas won, it was eight teams.

The Texas team that won in 2004

And this year? Sixteen all-star teams, 14 from the USA, one from Canada, and one from Europe, descend on Boulder, Colo. to challenge for the title, sure, but in addition to expose themselves to a higher level of rugby and simply get better.

"It's good fun," said Koranski, who is taking this entire week off from his day job to make sure the tournament goes ahead smoothly. "Doubling the number of teams, we've discovered one plus one is more than two. It has taken a lot of work. But we're very excited."

The tournament (dubbed the USA's Premier LAU Tournament) welcomes eight returning teams, and Koranski said it was not hard to seed that group as they based it on last year's finish (see Texas U19s Win Premier Tournament). But the next eight were a different kettle of fish.

"We basically put those teams in a hart and drew them out for nine through 16," Koranski said.

Each team will play four games over the weekend in a round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final format. There will be consolation rounds, and trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and the winner of the consolation bracket.

In addition, Salty Thompson and other selectors from the USA U19 team will be in attendance to observe and spot talent. Those selectors will also pick a player of the game for every game, both teams. Those players will receive a special All Star medal for their achievement.

Texas must be considered the favorites as they won last year and return a number of players who were standouts for the USA team. But Sacramento Valley, which numbers former Eagle hooker Kirk Khasigian among their coaches, should be a challenger, as will Eastern Rockies. Arizona is expected to be much improved.

Also of interest will be Manitoba, the only team of foreigners at the tournament. In addition, there will be a team of European All Stars. These are American kids who live and play rugby in Europe. They are coached by a teacher at the American School in London, whose rugby program has gradually improved over the years.

Teams expected to compete at the Premier LAU Tournament June 25-26 in Boulder, Colo.
Sacramento Valley / Redwood
Pacific Northwest
Met NY
European All Stars
New England
Texas
Wisconsin
Manitoba
Missouri
Minnesota
Louisiana
Great Plains
Heart of America
Arizona
ERRFU
Rio Grande

JANUARY 2005
============================================
Jan. 21, Friday
Mesa 28 @ Scottsdale 3 @ McDowell Mtn. Park
1st side--Tucson 0 @ Mesquite HS 17
2nd side--Tucson 7 @ Mesquite HS  0

Jan. 28, Friday  Tucson 3  @  Mesa  36

FEBRUARY 2005
============================================
Feb. 4, Friday  Tucson 5 @ Scottsdale 8

Feb. 5, Sat  Mesquite B 17- UofA Freshman 5

Feb. 11, Friday  Austin Texas 22 @ Westview  0

Feb 12, Sat   Austin Texas A 5  vs. Mesa A 0

Feb. 18, Friday (Rained out)
Mesquite A @ Scottsdale @ McDowell Mtn. Park
Mesquite B vs. Tempe @ McDowell Mtn. Park
Westview @ Tucson (canceled)

Feb. 23, Wednesday  Mesa 0  @ Mesquite HS  5

Feb. 26, Sat  Tempe 10 @ Tucson 05

Feb. 28, Monday  Scottsdale 8 @ Westview  10

MARCH 2005
============================================
Mar. 3, Thursday  Westview 00  @ Tempe  00

Mar. 4, Friday
Mesa 34 vs Scottsdale 10
Mesquite 31 @ Tucson 00

Mar. 11, Friday  
Mesa 18 @ Tucson 05
Westview 05 @ Mesquite HS 60
Tempe  22 @ Scottsdale  3

Mar. 18, Friday
Mesa 48 @ Westview 0
Tempe 17 @ Mesquite 07
Tucson Badgers @ Fullerton Tournament:
-Tucson Badgers 7; Barbarians (SoCal) 10
-Tucson Badgers 8; RegisJesut (Denver) 15
-Tucson Badgers 7; Gators (SoCal) 15
-Tucson Badgers 13; Fullerton (SoCal) 19

Mar 23, Wednesday  Mesquite @ Westview  -canceled

Mar 26, Saturday  Mesa 28 @ UofA Freshman 17

Mar 30, Wednesday  Scottsdale  5 @ Mesquite  44

APRIL 2005
============================================
April 1, Friday  Mesa 17 v. Tempe 16

April 7, Thursday Tempe U19 @ ASU U19(*TBD)

April 8, Friday
Mesquite 15 @ Mesa  14
Scottsdale 22 @ Tucson 29

April 16, Saturday
HS Tournament @ Mesquite HS

8am-Mesquite "A" 20 - Mesa  7
9am-Scottsdale 26 - Mesquite "B" 19
10am-Mesquite "A" 15 - Tempe 10
11am-Tucson beat Mesquite "B"
12pm-Mesa 0 - Tempe 0
1pm-Tucson 36 - Scottsdale 3

JUNE 2005[EB}
============================================

June 25/26
Denver All-star U19 Tournament

Mesa 10 v 10 Westview I
Scottsdale 5 v 35 Tempe
Westview II v Mesa
Scottsdale 10 v 10 Westview I
Tempe 20 v 05 Mesa
Scottsdale v Westview II
Tempe 10 v 10 Westview I
Mesa v Scottsdale
Tempe 20 v 15 Westview II