Rugby is a close-contact team sport that originated in England in the first half of the 19th century. The game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch.

Dustin Karnes started playing rugby about seven years ago. While coaching soccer, the men’s rugby team Siouxland Swine out of Nebraska were practicing on the field across from his team.

“I knew a few of the players and they kept asking me to come try it out. I was soon on the team,” Dustin, of South Dakota, said. “Rugby is not a very popular sport here in the Midwest but you can always find a team to play on.”

Dustin, 43, currently plays the position of prop for the Indigenous Warriors Rugby Club. Props are part of the group that is collectively referred to as the pack, or the forwards. This group’s main goal is to win possession of the ball. These players are usually the heavyweights of the team, using their bulk and strength to try to overpower their opponents. A rugby team has another group as well, the backs or back line.

Dustin’s son Brandon donned his first pair of rugby cleats as a high school freshman. Now a senior at Iowa State University, majoring in Business Administration, Brandon lives in Austin, Texas during the summer to train for rugby.

“I have not found it difficult to find a team to play on since I revolve my life around it, but I have noticed how much it has grown at the youth and college level,” Brandon, 21, said.

Playing tighthead and loosehead prop for the Iowa State University rugby team, he said being fit is an attribute that is necessary to be good in the sport.

“I played football and soccer my entire life and found that rugby is the most physically demanding. You should be able to tackle, pass and communicate on the field – those are the biggest three for the sport,” Brandon said. “I love the culture the most. I have played many sports growing up but the culture in rugby is by far the best.”

Dustin agrees, saying that you can be super aggressive to the other team’s members for 80 minutes but then after the game, you can sit and have a friendly drink with the opposing team. He said good coordination, including passing, kicking and catching the ball are critical skills to be good at the sport. Dustin played soccer in high school.

Brandon often joins his father for games with the Indigenous Warriors Rugby Club, which has players from all over the United States and Canada. The club combines its love for rugby with its love of its cultures. Every tournament they attend, the team participates in a cultural exchange that includes food, dancing and singing with the local Tribal nations. Since players are from all over, this allows them to be in a community with one another.

“The club has played in New York, Mexico and Alaska in the past. We are traveling back to Alaska this June to compete,” Dustin said.

Rugby season in the Midwest takes place in the fall but at the professional level, it begins in the spring and goes into the summer. There are currently 12 teams in Major League Rugby scattered across the country.

Brandon said, “I was recently drafted to the Houston SaberCats and played there during the preseason, but since then, I decided to return to school to get my degree since I was drafted a year early.”

He said he has always wanted to live in Texas so he would be happy to end up on any of the teams there. This past summer, he played in the Collegiate Rugby Shield, a post-season College Rugby All-Star competition held annually at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah featuring players from every conference.

“I also played for the U-20 national team in the summer of 2021, so becoming a USA Eagle is a dream of mine and being able to represent this country playing the sport I love will be a dream come true,” Brandon said.

Teresa Silvas Seaton and Deatra Manzanilla, who live on the Soboba Indian Reservation, are related to Soboba Tribal members Brandon and Dustin Karnes.

Photos courtesy of the Karnes family

The post Soboba family enjoys the demanding sport of rugby appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Labrador Mix
White/Tan

Jojo is incredibly sociable, mellow and sweet with our staff and volunteers and with other dogs here too. He is not just all looks either, he knows how to sit, shake his paw, and will always want to be at your side. Jojo really wants a home to call his own and the lucky person that adopts him will be adding a perfect companion to their household. Jojo came in as a stray, is about 6 years old, and weighs 85 pounds.

Jojo is up to date on his vaccines, dewormed, neutered and is AVAILABLE NOW. 156936 / Hs230117

General George Pawshington

Domestic Short-Hair

General George Pawshington is one of the most handsome kitties you have ever seen, he is sweet, loving, and cuddly. He greets you with a smile and loves his little nose kissed. George came in as a stray, is about 3 years old and weighs 11 pounds. George will be an amazing addition to your family.

General George Pawshington is up to date on his vaccines, dewormed, will be neutered prior to his adoption and is AVAILABLE NOW. 157413 / Hs230073

Delta

DOB: 1/08/11
Female German
Shepherd Mix

Delta’s unique personality, strength, and energy make her a stand out dog. She is so independent and smart that she almost seems to figure things out all on her own. This is a girl that enjoys a challenge and learning new things. She does especially well when rewarded with a treat. Delta would be best as an only dog and will probably be too much for young children. She will be happiest in a home with adults and an experienced dog owner that can demonstrate good pack leader skills.

Delta wants to please and would love to go to a home with an active owner that would take her on long hikes and provide her with daily challenges.

Hawaii

DOB: 9/1/16
DSH Female Calico

Say aloha to Hawaii!
Hawaii came here with her 5 babies a few months ago and due to some unforeseen events, she ended up taking care of 4 more kittens. Although Hawaii was a great mom, she is definitely ready to find her forever home. Hawaii is a very social calico. She enjoys talking to her human companions and she will never turn down a cuddle session.

The more attention she gets, the happier she is! Come meet this tri-colored cutie today!

All of our cats are spayed or neutered, up to date on all vaccinations, and have been microchipped. Our two main requirements for adopting a cat are:

• Must be indoors only, cannot go outside
• Declawing is not allowed

The post Pet of the Week – 07/05/2019 appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

As a kid growing up in a traditional church, we sang from a hymnal each and every Sunday morning. I remember standing and singing one – maybe two hymns. We usually sang verses one, two, three and five. I never knew exactly why we skipped verse four. Who knows? But we did.

Then a time came about in the early 70’s when there was a distinct move of the Holy Spirit and churches across the country began to feel a shifting that came with a new sound for those who were listening for it. New songs were stirring in the hearts and minds of musicians and the result was that congregations were awakening to music that inspired them in a way like never before.

People were up and on their feet, clapping and lifting their hands, shouting to the Lord with new voice of triumph and even dancing. It was an amazing time for sure!

But not all was well in the land of “all things new.” Many sincere believers did not like this new sound and new freedom, and many others were confused. Is it okay to shout and clap and even — dare we mention it — dance in church?

The Bible has plenty to say about praise and worship and for the most part this is all covered in the Book of Psalms. There are actually seven Hebrew words that define our single English word for “praise,” which clearly shows there can indeed be multiple dimensions of worshiping God. For example the Hebrew word “halal” gives us our hallelujah. It means “to boast, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.” “Yadah” is the Hebrew
word for worshiping with lifted hands. And the list goes on.

But there’s an interesting verse found in John 4:23 that says in part, “…true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Nothing about how loud the music should or shouldn’t be, whether or not we can have lights (can they be colored lights or only white?) Can we worship only with a piano and organ or can we have thunderous drums and congas, loud guitars and really noisy horns? Please keep in mind all this worship is to Almighty God who created magnificent vibrant sunsets, cascading waterfalls and animals of such diversity there’s not enough room in this newspaper to rightly describe them all.

Over and over the Bible constantly encourages us to ”sing a new song unto the Lord” but many will only be content to sing songs that are no doubt awesome and moving but are, let’s be honest – really, really old. “A Mighty Fortress” by Martin Luther is one of my personal favorites but it’s almost 500 years old. By all means sing it, but how about adding a new song like “I Am Free” because – hallelujah – you are free!!!

I personally love our church services! We have colored lights up on our platform, drums inside a big drum box, congas, guitars and synthesizers. I truly believe if Jesus were walking around in Hemet today, He would be wearing a watch, driving a car, have his
face on Facebook and I’m pretty sure He would love’ our church services too!

As one pastor puts it: “Worship is the most powerful, joy producing, hope sustaining, life altering thing a person can do!” So, this Sunday, why don’t you put on brave and like they say — “Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching and live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Pastors Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet. For more information visit them at DPCityChurch.com

The post Shout in Church? Can you do that?! appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.