The last Saturday in February was a big day for Shawn Clark.

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Former Monmouth tight end, Shawn Clark, suited up at lock for the Colorado XOs in his first-ever rugby match ending in a 26-10 victory over New Orleans RFC.
Shawn Clark at rugby match vs New Orleans RFC

The former Monmouth tight end suited up at lock for the Colorado XOs in what was his first-ever rugby match, and he scored the second try of the match to help the XOs to a 26-10 victory over New Orleans RFC.

“It was probably the best experience I have had in a long time,” Clark said after the victory. “The boys were buzzing and I think just getting to come out and play together in this first match just meant everything to us.”

Clark didn’t know much about rugby before last November. He is one of several players on the XOs’ roster that the coaching staff recruited from The Spring League, a four-team developmental football league that was finishing up a competition down in San Antonio last fall when a COVID outbreak brought it to a premature halt.

An early end to the competition left Clark with some free time, and he jumped on a flight from San Antonio to Denver to observe the final two days of the first-ever RugbyTown Crossover Academy camp. Clark saw an opportunity to learn a new sport and continue to train. Fast forward to March and he’s loving every minute of it.

“I’ll tell you what,” Clark told RugbyFactory after his first match. “This is probably the most fun I’ve had since I was a kid.”

Clark is hard to miss. There is a reason he had a shot with the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the 2020 NFL season. He makes sure his height is listed at 6’8 1/2’’ on the team’s roster. He weighs in at 245 pounds and can run like a gazelle. The first time he touched the ball in the XOs’ first match of the season, he galloped past the New Orleans backline and in for a try.

“It was the first catch and Campbell (Johnstone) did a little skip one there,” Clark remembers about his first try. “He put it up high and I think it was actually going to ‘Flea’ (Jarrell Patterson) and I just kind of caught it and had some space just took it in. It was an unbelievable feeling I’ll tell you that.”

The adrenaline boost that comes with scoring your first try on your first carry in your first rugby match is unfortunately not enough to get you through said match. Clark soon realized that eventually the realities of the match settle in and he had to put his skills and fitness to the test.

Shawn Clark in Colorado XOs rugby practice
Shawn Clark in Colorado XOs rugby practice (photo by Justin Purdy)

“Honestly it felt a little bit slower than practice,” Clark said of the match. “The coaches really have a high-intensity practice and have us going. The work rate and everything was definitely hard. You had to dig down and go into those dark places and just having to dig out was challenging but I think we did really well.” 

Clark may have started playing as a way to keep in shape, but he’s well on his way towards a future in rugby if he’s not careful. Based on his experience in his first match, I’d say he’s perfectly fine with that.

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Changes to date or site may be charged $25.00 per permit change.

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Applications should be submitted at least 10 business days prior to requested date of use. Applications received within 24 hours of event/activity may be charged a $25 service fee. Payment and all applicable documents must besubmitted at least 5 business days prior to permit date. Depending on the nature of the activity, “applicable” documents may include an Athletic Organization Information Form, Waiver of Liability and/or Insurance Agreement.

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Mailing Address: Infinity Park Operations, 950 S Birch St., Glendale, CO 80246
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1. Daily Park Hours: The Synthetic Turf Athletic Field at Infinity Park is available to reserve from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM. The volleyball courts, as well as the pavilions and fields at Creekside and Mir Parks, are available to reserve from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Use of all spaces may be limited to certain months of the year and select days of the week

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3. Usage Priority: If a site has been permitted, the permit-holder has priority over other users. Contact Park Operations (number listed on permit) for any site issues.

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22. Insurance: Insurance is required for reservations for 100 or more people. In such cases, permit holder must provide commercial general liability insurance for the benefit of all activity-related individuals and groups, including permit holder group members, participants, attendees, invitees, and the City of Glendale. The commercial general liability insurance shall provide coverage of at least $1,000,000 and name the City of Glendale, its employees, agents and/or assigns as Additional Insured. The certificate of this commercial general liability insurance shall be received by theCity no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to the permit holder’s scheduled use of the site reserved. Permit holder expressly acknowledges and agrees that homeowner’s insurance coverage does not meet the requirements hereof. Certificate must read as follows with this exact language: ADDITIONALLY INSURED: THE CITY OF GLENDALE, ITS OFFICERS, OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES. If you are unable to obtain this insurance, please contact Park Operations at 303-692-5799

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1. Field Conditions: Athletic field permit holders may be asked to limit field use hours and days as determined by Infinity Park Operations and/or the City of Glendale Public Works Department. In the case of adverse field conditions, such as weather, sprinkler operations, field repairs, etc., athletic fields may be closed. Any use of the athletic fields without the appropriate authorization or when the fields are closed may result in fines and possible loss of future scheduling privileges.

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Option 2. In lieu of an Insurance Certificate, permit holder signs waiver form on behalf of all participants (form located next page).

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