We are in the first week of our battle to save rugby at Valhalla. The rugby program at Valhalla was started four years ago by one freshman girl. That first year, rugby was recognized as a "club sport" at Valhalla - just like cheerleading and girls field hockey. At the end of that first year - Valhalla High School was fully behind us, especially when they saw the incredible change in a number of students who had never played sports before (note: that tradition continues. Each year both the girls and boys sides have players who have never played competitive sports. ) They were so enthused - they wanted to make Valhalla a "school sport" and they went to the district to find out how to make us one. After that, everything changed. We never were brought on as a school sport - quite the opposite. After talking with the district, Valhalla prohibited the players from recruiting other players during school hours (at club fairs they were allowed to talk about rugby, but NOT to say that students could play for the Norsemen or Valkyries) and they started to make us to pay for use of their fields. Last year, when the ASB Club Officers went to renew their club charter - they (the students) used the school name Valhalla in reference to the rugby teams on the paperwork... and Valhalla refused to approve the club. The players were told to remove ANY mention of the word “Valhalla” - and they did. Now, the school administration won't allow us to practice or play on campus. The Athletic Director wrote: "we feel that there has been too close of ties and blurred lines between the club and school. Due to these reason (sic), we will not be allowing the rugby team to practice on our fields (or play) this year as a way to separate the perception that has been created about the rugby team and Valhalla.” Keep RUGBY at Valhalla! Some facts: * There is no cost to the school - the clubs are self sufficient; * Other NON-CIF sports are allowed to recruit, practice and play on campus - Valhalla Field Hockey has been accepted, but rugby has been discriminated against; * There is no risk to the school - we carry a $1,000,000 general liability policy each season and add both the school and the district are added as additional insured; * There is no more risk of injury to players than other school sports - and significantly less than football and cheerleading - and through USA Rugby each player has supplemental health insurance coverage for injury. We are calling to schedule meetings with the school and district administration this week, and we are planning a rally at the next Grossmont Union High School District school board meeting. We will keep you posted on our progress! In the meantime - help us get to 1000 signers by sharing this petition? THANK YOU!