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Meet the Conestoga Rugby Club Coaches

High School Boys 15s Head Coach

 

Arturo Bravo Nuevo aka "Coach R2"

 

Playing Experience: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, University of Sydney, R.F.C., Scrumhalf (2000-2003); AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, Waitemata, R.F.C., Scrumhalf (1999-2000); MADRID, SPAIN, Universidad Autonoma of Madrid; MADRID, SPAIN, Liceo Frances, Wing and scrum; SPAIN, Spanish National Team, Scrumhalf (1989-1998)

Coaching Experience: ​​​​​Philadelphia Women’s Rugby Football Club, Head coach (2016-2019); Boston Women’s Rugby Football Club, Head coach (2015-16); Northeast Philadelphia Irish Women’s Rugby, Head coach; St. Joseph’s University Women’s Rugby, Head coach (2014); Ursinus University Women’s Rugby, Head coach (2013); Bryn Mawr-Haverford Women’s Rugby, Head coach (2012); North Shore Men’s Rugby Football Club (Lynn, Ma), Assistant coach (2009-11); Old Gold Men’s Rugby Football Club (Boston, Ma), Assistant coach & Vice-Captain (2005-2008)

Best Part of Coaching: Sharing the values of the sport with the players. Implementing a system and seeing it work.

Best thing about Rugby: The values that you can apply to your regular life. The respect to the referee, the other players and the crowds. 

High School Boys Backs Coach

Marsh "Puddin" Pennington

Playing Experience:

University of Delaware - 1977-1981, Philly Whitemarsh RFC 1981 - Present and Hall of Fame member, Atlantis Sevens, Team America, EPRU and ERU Allstars, Cardinals Rugby (old boys allstar team)

Coaching Experience:

Valley Forge/Phoenixville U-19 for 12 years, West Chester University Assistant Coach 2009 to present, Conestoga High School 2015 to present

High School Boys Assistant Coach

Kyle Antoian

Playing Experience:

Conestoga HS 2001-2002, Duke University 2002-2006.

Coaching Experience:

Duke University 2005-2006, New York Rugby Club 2009-2015, Philadelphia-Whitemarsh RFC 2015-Present. World Rugby Level 2 Coach. World Rugby Level 1 Referee.

Best Part of Coaching:

Teaching the next generation of future rugby athletes and giving back to the game.

Best thing about Rugby:

The lifelong friends and connections you make.

High School Boys Forwards Coach

Keith McLean

 

Playing Experience:

West Virginia University, Seacoast RFC, Boston RFC, Philadelphia RFC, represented East Penn MARFU, ERU. Played for USA Atlantis 7s A-side and Classic Eagles 15s.

Coaching Experience:

11 years coaching experience - Assistant Coach to US All-American 7s Aside team. Philly Whitemarsh RFC Forwards Assistant Coach. Conestoga High School.

Best Part of Coaching:

Inspiring players to have a passion for the game of rugby and the culture of sportsmanship by which the game is played.

Best Thing about Rugby:

Is that you put yourself through so much physical combat, that winning is everything!

High School Boys Assistant Coach

Heather King

Playing Experience:

Saint Joseph's University (2013-2016); Philadelphia Women's Rugby Club (2015-2021)

Coaching Experience:

Conestoga Rugby is my first real coaching experience! I was the captain for 2 years at SJU and the Treasurer and President for Philly Women for 3 seasons. World Rugby Level 1 Coach. World Rugby Level 1 Referee.

Best part of coaching:

The best part of coaching is still being a part of the team and watching players learn and implement what you are asking them to do. As a teacher in the real world, coaching takes everything I love doing anyway, but in a more fun environment where everyone actually wants to be there learning with you.

Best thing about Rugby:

The competitive atmosphere on the field, and the camaraderie and respect off the field.

High School Girls Head Coach

Brittany Vegso

Playing Experience

Phoenixville Whitehorse Women's Rugby, 2020-present; Louisiana Lagniappe 2013-2020; Penn State University 2005-2009, Div. I National Champion 2007 & 2009

Coaching Experience

Louisiana Youth Rugby 2015-2020

Best Part of Coaching

When the "lightbulb" turns on for a player because they first understand a new skill

Best thing about Rugby

Lifelong friends and international community

High School Girls Assistant Coach

Laura Berry

Playing experience:

I began playing rugby for West Chester University as a sophomore walk-on in 2013 and have played with club teams ever since. Starting my rugby career as a lock, I've also played flanker for the Phoenixville White Horse Women's Rugby team.

Coaching experience:

When my husband was stationed in Cherry Point, NC, I worked on starting a team there. Working with a group of about 4-5 women who had never played rugby before, I got a taste of how wonderfully challenging coaching can be. Last year I was able to pop in from time with Conestoga, and I was impressed with the team's work ethic. This year I'm just as impressed and very exciting to see this program grow.

Best part of coaching:

Watching the confidence of a new player rise throughout the season or even in just one practice is incredibly rewarding.

Favorite thing about rugby:

Rugby is incredible because new and salty, old, seasoned players can walk onto a pitch at any point and be welcomed. It's an incredibly equalizing sport. Small players may pack the hardest punch while other athletes can be deceptively fast. You never know what you're going to get because the sport is so welcoming to everyone.

High School Girls Assistant Coach

Steve Bugh

Playing Experience

Clarkson University - 1980-84, Old Gold (Boston) - 1985-90, Philly Whitemarsh - 1989-92, 1995-2000, Raleigh - 1992-95

Coaching Experience

Valley Forge HS Girls - 1998-2010, Whitehorse Women - 2014-16

Best Part of Coaching

Watching a group of kids grow as a team on and off the field.

Best thing about Rugby

No other sport builds more camaraderie.  When you have played, you join a global community.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS ASSISTANT COACH

zhayer legrande

 

Playing Experience: Conestoga Girls Rugby (15-17), Captain ; Penn State University (17-22), Captain; Phoenixville Whitehorse (22, 24)

Coaching Experience: ​​​​​Conestoga Girls Rugby (Fall 22)

Best part of coaching: watching the players have fun while implementing everything they’ve learned

Best thing about rugby: There is a place for everyone, no matter what size, on the field.

 

Juniors Head Coach

Pat Reiss

 

Playing Experience: Conestoga Rugby Club (2014, 2015)

Coaching Experience:  3rd year with Conestoga Rugby (2 years coaching the Youth team)

Best Part of CoachingWatching new players discover talents they didn't know about 

Best Thing about RugbyMaking that first hit of the game to get you in the zone

Juniors Head Coach

Scott Jean

 

Playing Experience: 8 years. Started in the Stoga youth program and worked up through the varsity team. Additionally, played 2 years of college rugby at West Chester University.

Coaching Experience:  3rd year full time coaching (coached the Youth team previously)

Best Part of CoachingHelping kids to both understand how to play the sport and to learn how to enjoy the game

Best Thing about RugbyLearning to access your full athletic potential in a sport that fosters respect and sportsmanship above all

Youth Head Coach

Brian Keown 


Playing Experience: Coach Keown is having a stellar first coaching season.  His playing experience includes St. Joe's Prep, University of South Carolina, Schuylkill River RFC, and Atlantis 7s.