Morris Rugby today announces  new head coaches for our u18 boys and u18 girls club sides as well as our senior women’s club due to retirement of our previous long term coaches. Please join the Morris Rugby board and trustees and coaches’ selection committee in welcoming Karl Matthews, Gene Caufield and Laurence Fry.

Karl is replacing John Sutherland the only head coach the u18 boys program has known since its inception in 2002. Karl coached in his native England before moving to the US in 2005. He volunteered with one of our original “core four” flag programs in Long Valley from 2009 -2013 and also coached  the u15 boys tackle club as an assistant from 2011 before moving up to the U18 club in 2013. Karl has a USA Rugby level 300 certification and continues to look for ways to learn more and give back to the game.

Our other high school club side, the 3 time defending state champion and currently nationally ranked u18 girls saw Tom Feury step down and assistant coach Gene Caufield named as his replacement. Gene was a Morris player and administrator back in the 1990’s. Gene who volunteered as one of Tom’s assistants last year has coached other sports and has received a USA Rugby level 200 certification. In a bit of a twist Tom will stay on one more year as Gene’s assistant to ensure a really good transition. The club would also like to announce Eli White as a backs and 7’s coach to work under Gene. She has extensive select side and college playing experience and has coached girls HS for the past two years in DC. The club would also like to thank and give warm wishes to departing u18 girls assistant coach Kevin Corley who is leaving us to become an assistant coach at Life University and pursue a graduate degree.

Finally, our women’s team which has been in existence since 1992 is saying good bye to former player and longtime head coach Donna Waliky. Donna has coached the women’s side for most if not all of the past 15 years. She is also stepping down as Owls coach with the Denville Dawgs Youth Program, a spot she has held since the program’s inception in 1999.  The team and selection committee would like to welcome Laurence Fry.  Laurence moved from the UK over a year ago to pursue a graduate degree and has been  volunteering with both the men’s and women’s sides.  Laurence has multiple certifications from both sides of the pond and is striving to promote an atmosphere of innovative rugby through execution on the field and believes that promotion of teamwork, respect, enjoyment and progression are at the heart of a great club side.

All coaches position changes are in effect as of this writing and staffs are being readied for the fall season.

About Morris Rugby

Established in 1977 Morris Rugby promotes the game of rugby in as many facets as possible and currently has over 600 members in the county and surrounding areas. Besides our senior Men’s and Women’s teams we support 13 town flag rugby programs, u14 girls and boy’s teams, u18 girls and boys as well as u12 and u16 boys. There is an “old boys” team as well as support for wheelchair rugby. We provide opportunities to play touch rugby and offer touring opportunities to all.