While the Reds have already claimed the Australian conference top spot before the last round of Super Rugby this weekend, the race is still firmly on for New Zealand and South African front-runners. The Blues and Crusaders will be fighting it out to the final whistle to grab top honors along with an especially made conference trophy that was unveiled today. The Blues will first take on the eighth-placed Highlanders in Auckland on Friday night, while the Crusaders play technically a home game against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
This year's competition format change has led to the introduction of a 'family' of silverware which includes a brand new Super Rugby champions trophy for the overall winner along with the three Conference winners' trophies. The new Super Rugby champions' trophy will be unveiled in the next few weeks.
SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said today the new trophies are necessary to acknowledge each conference winner. "With the introduction of a Conference system it was pertinent that the respective winners be presented with a trophy for their achievements," said Peters. He added that the new format allows for upsets near the end of the tournament rather than the predictability of past years. "The new finals format, with six teams involved, also means that a non-Conference winner could claim overall honours and the Super Rugby champions' trophy."
The shape of the trophy is cantered around three curved legs, representing the three Conferences. The Conference trophies contain panels inside the legs that correspond to the respective country; gold for Australia, black for New Zealand, and green for South Africa. "The chosen trophy design reflects the core elements of Rugby - tradition, physical toughness, camaraderie, and skill," said Peters.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Orange 2011 Season Ends At Tewaaraton Banquet
Syracuse was well represented on college lacrosse’s biggest night. Seniors John Galloway, Joel White and Orange legends Roy Simmons Jr. and Jim Brown were all in attendance at the 2011 Tewaaraton Trophies Awards banquet held at the Warner Theatre on June 2. Galloway and White were two of the five finalists for this year’s Tewaaraton Trophy as the college lacrosse player of the year. Brown was there to receive the first Tewaaraton Legends Award, and Simmons, Brown’s teammate at SU in the 1950s, introduced him.
Even though Virginia attackman Steele Stanwick took home the top prize as the 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, the night belonged to Brown. The NFL legend shook hands, posed for pictures and captivated an audience full of lacrosse giants.
“Because of his father I’m here tonight being honored by all of you,” said Brown referring to his former coach, Roy Simmons Sr. “It’s a wonderful honor. I usually don’t care about trophies and things like that, but those of us who play lacrosse know that we do it for the love of the game, and simply for the love of the game. We’re all in the same fraternity. And for you to remember me and to bring me back with these young lions here, it’s truly an honor.”
Created to recognize greats of the past, the Tewaaraton Legends Award will annually be presented to an individual whose college lacrosse achievements would have earned them a Tewaaraton Trophy had the award been around when they played.
There was no better choice than Brown to receive the inaugural award. A two-time All-American midfielder for the Orange, Brown scored 64 points, including 43 goals, to lead Syracuse to an undefeated (10-0) season as a senior in 1957. He then embarked on a record-setting football career with the Cleveland Browns and has since been recognized as perhaps the greatest athlete of the 20th century.
As intimidating on the lacrosse field as he was on the gridiron, Brown was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984.
White and Galloway were two of the “young lions” Brown was referring to in the crowd. Thursday’s Tewaaraton Awards banquet marked the end of their brilliant college careers, and like Brown, they will go down as two of the best to ever play at Syracuse. They were also roommates for four years.
Even though Virginia attackman Steele Stanwick took home the top prize as the 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, the night belonged to Brown. The NFL legend shook hands, posed for pictures and captivated an audience full of lacrosse giants.
“Because of his father I’m here tonight being honored by all of you,” said Brown referring to his former coach, Roy Simmons Sr. “It’s a wonderful honor. I usually don’t care about trophies and things like that, but those of us who play lacrosse know that we do it for the love of the game, and simply for the love of the game. We’re all in the same fraternity. And for you to remember me and to bring me back with these young lions here, it’s truly an honor.”
Created to recognize greats of the past, the Tewaaraton Legends Award will annually be presented to an individual whose college lacrosse achievements would have earned them a Tewaaraton Trophy had the award been around when they played.
There was no better choice than Brown to receive the inaugural award. A two-time All-American midfielder for the Orange, Brown scored 64 points, including 43 goals, to lead Syracuse to an undefeated (10-0) season as a senior in 1957. He then embarked on a record-setting football career with the Cleveland Browns and has since been recognized as perhaps the greatest athlete of the 20th century.
As intimidating on the lacrosse field as he was on the gridiron, Brown was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984.
White and Galloway were two of the “young lions” Brown was referring to in the crowd. Thursday’s Tewaaraton Awards banquet marked the end of their brilliant college careers, and like Brown, they will go down as two of the best to ever play at Syracuse. They were also roommates for four years.
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