All Over Albany

"Date auction" for rugby players

The Albany Knickerbockers Rugby Football Club will be auctioning off dates with its players -- men and women -- this Thursday (December 20) at Brown's in Troy. The event is a fundraiser to help the club cover its travel and added expenses of the women's team's recent move to a higher division.

Each date comes with a gift certificate for some activity -- dining, pottery classes, kayak rentals -- and bidders can bid just for that. But bidders also "may find the rugger of their dreams." The auction starts at 7 pm. It's $5 to enter. More details post jump.

Press release:

"DATE AUCTION" PUTS ALBANY RUGBY PLAYERS ON THE BLOCK - DEC 20
Albany Knickerbockers Rugby Football Club Raising Funds to Support D1 Classification

TROY (12/10/12) -- This December, the Albany Knickerbockers Rugby Football Club will be auctioning dates with 30 of their hottest players. The auction will raise funds to help with the added expenses of competing in their club, including their recently achieved Women's Division I status.

"D1 teams are usually only in bigger cities like New York or Boston," said Director of Club Fundraising Caitlin Casey, 28, of Troy. "We're putting Albany on the map because we're doing so well."

But success comes with a price. Casey says her club's new level of professionalism requires them to travel farther afield to compete. "Before, our women used to travel to New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine to compete," she said. "Now we're going to places like Atlanta. Everything is more expensive -- the travel, the union dues and equipment. A lot of our players are young professionals and college students, but they're all dedicated athletes."

Established in 1973, "The Knicks" are governed by the New England Rugby Union and USA Rugby. Currently, the club is comprised of a Men's Division II (ages 18- 34), an active Old Boys' side (ages 35 and up) and a Women's Division I side (age 18 and up). In 2010, the women won the Division II National Championship Title and have since moved up to play competitively in Division I.

THE AUCTION

What: Date Auction with Albany Rugby Players (men and women)
Where: Brown's Revolution Hall, Troy
When: Dec. 20, 2012, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $5 Entry, Cash Bar
Ages: 21 and up

The Auction is just one of many ways the club will be reaching out to the community for support. But while their goal may be serious, Ruggers are notorious for having a good time and this auction promises to be a wild night of fun.

Dates with 10 women's players, 15 men, and 5 "Old Boys" will be on the auction block. Each player comes with a gift certificate-for-two from a local business, including dining, pottery classes and kayak rentals -- all great to use for a date, Casey pointed out.

Some high bidders may just be interested in the gift certificate, said Auction Master of Ceremonies Erin Putnam, 28, of Troy. But they may find the rugger of their dreams.

"It's better than finding dates of Craigslist," Putnam said of the date auction, noting that Pure Elements of Western Ave. in Albany is donating makeovers for all female players and Men's Wearhouse will be donating the evening's attire for the men. "You're gonna like they way they look."

Sponsors include: Brown's Brewing Co.; Men's Wearhouse; Pure Elements; and DJ Jared Kingsley, who will be spinning the best beats of the 1980s, 90s and today during the evening. The auction costs $5 to enter for ages 21 and up. There will be a cash bar.

Earlier on AOA:
+ Clifton Park's Claudia Braymer -- World Cup rugby player
+ He picked the wrong wallet