Stu Mackay 'Silverware in our sights.'

Stu Mackay has been with the Spartans since the day it was created. A founding father, whos list of attributes include pace, power, agility but most imporantly, when it comes to tours like the one the Spartans are about to embark, he can bring experience to the team.

RuckU caught up with Stu to get his view on a few key points leading into the tour.


Q - What part of this tour are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to us taking our strongest squad of the year to Las Vegas. We also have Will Lowden (Club captain) back which will be a huge plus for us. We have missed his influence in the starting 7. Adam Craddock is also back and he wins a huge amount of ball for us on the floor so i am looking forward to bringing home the Vegas Silverware.

Q - What you think will be key in terms of success on the field?


3 things for me: Communication, Defence & Organisation. We get these things right it will take a very good team to beat us on our day. I also hope the boys have been working hard in the gym as the heat in Vegas will be a real killer.


Q - What you think of the squad in terms of talent going to Vegas?



I am excited we have lots of talented players coming and i think finally we have some good depth and strength in our squad.

We need to work hard on our structure and game plan during the week while we are in Vegas so come Saturday everyone knows exactly the type of game we are going to play.

Lets not forget we are there to win this competition .... It is Vegas and yes we will have a good time but everyone's sights should be set on Saturday and winning this tournament.

You can hear more from Stu as the days count down to the tournament including photos and a video message from Vegas.

RuckU

RuckU Spartans Set For Vegas

The RuckU Spartans are all set to play in the Las Vegas Midnight Sevens. The boys depart on Sunday in preparation for an enjoyable yet extremely rugby sevens tournament.

Over the next 10 days, we will bring you news, interviews, photos and video of the boys as they prepare to attempt to bring home the coveted Vegas Sevens Crown.

The RuckU Spartans will be heading to the coast this weekend, to take part in the Bournemouth sevens. An event which was a huge succes last year will see some of the best teams around compete over the bank holiday weekend.

The Spartans are heading down south on the back of a consistent run of three semi finals in as many tournaments. Yet they keep failing at the same hurdle.

The squad has been struck with an injury list that would hurt any premiership side but the strength in depth has allowed the team to be consistently competitive.

A side will be announced later this week for what is undoubtedly the biggest test for the Spartans to date.

Steven, or 'Peebs' as he is known to everyone is just what you need when planning a sevens team. He has the skill level and the pace for him to take on the very best but what really sets him out from the rest is his work rate. He has an unbelievable engine that means that if anyone makes a break, Peebs is first there in support. Now we have all said thats only way he will score but the truth is he is what you love to have on your team and what you hate when you are on the oppostion. Its the last few minutes, you are breathing hard but then there is Peebs, who just doesn't stop.

Introducing Alex Hemsley

Alex is debut Spartan this season and after two tournaments has shown what a big future he has with the team. A powerful runner, with the speed, touch and awareness needed for sevens, Alex is dangerous. Also not shy to put in a big hit every now and then!

Spartans Drawn in Group D

The draw for the 2009 Ashby sevens has been made. The RuckU Spartans have been drawn against last years winenrs Leicester Tigers, Seru Ranbeni's Kaivati Crusaders and local and tournament hosts Ashby RFC.

A tough weekend in store for the Spartans who look to improve on two semi finals in two tournaments.

Full info here

Spartans Fall At Semi Final Hurdle

The RuckU Spartans fell one step short of a sevens final last weekend as they lost a tight a fierce game to The Smurfs.

The day started well for the Spartans, easing past the London Visigoths in the opening game. A tought game then followed against a very physical outfit by the name of the Camarthen warriors. The Warriors met the Spartans in the same tournament last year and were responsible for sending them out. Twelve months on however The Spartans showed they have grown and moved on, running out winners, 3 tries to 1.
A loss to the tournament favourites then meant that The Spartans finsihed as gorup runners up giving them a quarter final with the highly rated Elite Identity.

Both teams are familiar with each other with players having played for both camps over the past few months and it showed in a very tense, tight first half, RuckU leading 7-0. The second half carried on in the same way only for Orlando Stott, RuckU's flying french winger to round two oppenents and finish under the posts.

The semi final then threw the Spartans up against the Smurfs, who had 3 Welsh world cup winners in their starting line up. Not bad! That said, RuckU came out firing and after going a try down, levelled the scores at half time. The game looked to swing Rucku's way with Stott going in in the corner again however two quick tries for the Smurfs gave them win, albeit by 3 points.

The Spartans can hold their heads high. A squad depleted of four players, two with long term injuries suffered two days prior to the tournament, held their own against a very strong field. The big test are around the corner for the Spartans now. Ashby this weekend looks set to be a great weekend of rugby and the Bournemouth is upon us.

Good timing, as the Spartans are moving in the right direction!

Spartans off to Church

The RuckU Spartans are stepping back onto the sevens circuit a little earlier than expected. With a team pulling out of the Church Sevens, the organisers looked to the Spartans for help.

With tough tournaments including Ashby sevens and Bournemouth sevens around the corner, Will Lowden said he saw this weekend as a good chance to get a run out. "We have two tough weekends of tournaments coming up consecutively. We need to get into a groove and start stringing weekends together. Consistency is key."

It will be a good weekend of sevens, with some very talented teams running out. The Spartans have been drawn in group A and start their day at 12:00.

If you are around Grasshoppers Rugby Club then get down and cheer The Spartans on.

Spartans kick off season

The RuckU Spartans kicked off their summer season with a good showing at the Sunshine sevens but sadly not as succesful as they had hoped, falling in the semi final to overall winners Jedi.

The Spartans had a strong outfit yet had two key men missing. However they showed the depth of the squad and what they could doin the early rounds posting high scores of 61, 34 and 29 on their way to the quarter finals. Then followed an outstadning performance against a good Rosslyn Park side and the Spartans were in the semis.

After 5 minutes of the Semi final it looked as if RuckU were going to be in the final fighting for the Sunhinse trophy again. Although as the game of sevens has taught many, that can all change in one minute. And in that minute the Jedi ran in two unanswered tries. The game was gone.

Fatigue played a major part in the Spartans undoing, with many players not yet adjusted to sevens fitness. That will come and with two weeks to go until the next tournament in Ashby, Will Lowden and Tom Carling have have time to take the boys a few steps further.

Draw made for Sunshine Sevens

The Draw for the first tournament of the season has been made. The Spartans kick off this summer against the Honey Badgers at the Sunshine Sevens, Sunday 26th April. The training sessions, the hard work and all the off field organisation has built up an excitement about the commencing of a new season. It all kicks off at 11:20, so get yoursefls down to East Grinstead.

Introducing Will and Scott Lowden

Will and Scott Lowden play a big part in the Spartans. Scott learnt his rugby at Wellington College and is currently a member of the succesful Bristol UWE rugby side. He is a dancer on the pitch; elusive, quick and one of those players who you annoyingly can't get hold of. The Scottish half of him means he will work his socks off and his French half means he can bring out the flair.

Will is an older and more experienced version of Scott. A hard worker, a very skillfull player but also a leader. As club captain, Will has been there from the start and always stands up to the challenge. Sadly, Will suffered a knee ligament injury which has meant he has been out for 9 months and is a few months away from a return. In which Will has stepped into the coaching role at the Spartans and it is something he is controlling very well.

With Scott on the field and Will directing things off it, the Spartans are still in safe hadns.

Introducing Sam Caven

Sam is set to make his debut for the Spartans in the first tournament of the season. The boys are looking forward to getting him running. They also know what a threat he poses having played against him on a nunber of occasions for the Templars.

Electrifying running and quick feet will be on show when Sam is on the pitch so make sure you catch it!

Introducing Stuart Mackay

Stu is the old head of the Spartans. Having been with the team from the very first day he knows what being a Spartan is all about. Representing Bracknell and running in tries on a regular basis, Stu is a power on the sevens circuit. Catch the 'bear' as he is known to some and see his wicked step in action this summer.

Introducing Ed yarnton

Ed made his debut in Hong Kong just over a year ago for the Spartans, so in some regards, is one of the experienced squad members.

An aussie who bears a scary resemblance to Cuade Cooper of The Reds Super 14 franchise, Ed played at Wellington College for both the XV and VII sides. He was a strong performer for Bracknell last season and currently is working his magic at Newcastle University.

Get down and see 'Cuade' this summer.

Likes - Banter, University lifestyle, Shooting Rooks in his back garden, Winning

Introducing Richard Smith Bernal

Richard has added a presence to the Spartans sicne joining them in the past couple of weeks. A player with enormous power but coupled with a surprisingly delicate touch. Not only that but the surpise package is topped off with an unexpected extra gear or two.

Richard represented Wellington College 1st Xv before moving to London Irish. Since leaving London Irish he has represented Esher and is currently trying to help them in their quest for Division one survival.

Likes - Gym, Training, Women
Dislikes - Alcohol

Introducing Charlie Hobart

Charlie is a new face to the Spartan set up after being brought in over the summer. An Old Cranleighan who represented the 1st XV, Charlie also represented the succesfull Oxford Brookes University side. Currently playing for Henley Hawks at Fly Half.

Likes - Drinking, Skiing and playing rugby in traffic (as shown above)

Donate to the Spartans and you could win!

Ladies and Gentleman,

The Spartan's donation system is up and running. Not only will your donations help the Spartans reach their goal but it will also give you the chance to win.

When you donate to the Spartans, you will automatically be entered into a draw to win:

Two tickets to England vs Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday 14th November with post match passes into the captains club for drinks and the chance to meet some of the players from the day.

The winners of the draw will be announced on the 1st of October and will be notified immediately.

A great prize for simply making a small contribution.

We will also be putting more prizes up for grabs over the coming months so keep checking.

Donation Incentives

In order to incentivise you to Donate to the Spartan cause, a few of the boys have stepped up and offered their services. For example, if we can raise the following amounts of money:

200 - Manager Tom Carling has offered to dye his hair red for a torunament.
Likewise if we reach:
300 - Coach Will Lowden has offered to dye his hair in the colours of his native France.
Whereas if we reach:
1000 - Ed Yarnton, the team's Aussie, will have a full body wax. That means the lot!

So get those donations rolling in. Lets get the man waxed!

Spartans Looking Good

Training and preparation for the kick off of the Spartan Season is underway and going well. The boys got together recently at 'base' to start getting an udnerstanding between each other and blow out the cob webs and Coach Will Lowden was pleased with what he saw.

"Was good to finally get things started and get the ball rolling. Some of these boys are really talented and the potential is great. We still have players out either injured or unavailable. When they get back in it is going to be a headache for me ad Carling to select but, any coach will tell you, that's one headache you are happy to have."

Will also made a plea to everyone to get behind the Spartan's cause and donate to the team. "This donation process we have set up is a great idea and i really urge people to get behind us. We are not asking for stupid amounts of money but little donations here and there will give us a huge advantage. It is a great thing to support aswell. The Spartans are giving guys who are at small clubs and universities the chance to show what they can do and give them the chance to play high levels of rugby. Some of these guys will raise some eybrows!"

The Spartans training schedule continues this weekend.

The RuckU Spartans

Welcome to the RuckU Spartans mini site. The Spartans, set up under www.rucku.com, are venturing into their second year with one goal, to conquer the world.

The team is a mixture of youthful raw talent, passion and endless hours of hard work. However we still need your help and support. east Grinstead is the first step on our long road to success so please make a donation to our cause. Even the smallest donation would help us and we would be very gratful.