Club rugby to begin in spring

March 17, 2008 —

by Matt Shaw

The men's and women's club rugby teams practice together in preparation of spring games, which will act as a preseason for the fall season.

In England, it's often referred to as a thug's game played by gentleman.

But here at SVSU, members of the newly formed club rugby teams want to bring the sport to campus without the stigmas associated with it.

"Since nobody knows about it, we want people to come out and watch," pre-med sophomore Steve Grimshaw said. "As much as you might think it's just people tackling each other, there's a lot of skill in the game."

Both men's and women's teams have been formed, and have joined USA Rugby, which is, according to its bylaws, the national governing body for the sport of rugby, and helps promote, coordinate and develop athletic activity directly relating to the sport of rugby in the United States.

While the rugby season doesn't start until the fall, both the men's and women's teams are beginning exhibition play in the spring months.

The women began play over the weekend, squaring off against Western Michigan. The men are set to play their first game March 29 against Hillsdale. All men's games are played at the soccer complex on McCarty Road, while all of the women's games are away.

Both teams say there are a number of reasons for starting the clubs.

"Thing about rugby is you need a lot of passion for it," athletic training senior Katie Torma said. "The reason clubs dissolve in America is because people don't have the passion for it."

"It's not necessarily developing a passion for it, but recognizing it," athletic training junior Chelsea Robl said. "I know Ken [Renno] and I were sitting around watching a game the other night thinking, 'Where has this been all our lives?' It was like our life was boring before, because it makes it so much better."

The clubs also say the unique tradition rugby has is also a big draw. The host team holds a social after the game to maintain a camaraderie.

"When you host a game, you pay for the social afterward, because rugby's a family. Whatever happens on the field you're all a family off the field. We all have rugby in common," Torma said.

"It's a tradition," Grimshaw said. "You play your game on one o'clock on Saturdays, and from there on, you kind of have a party with the other team."

Even though the clubs are new to campus, they hope to gather the same kind of following other club teams have enjoyed this year.

Robl hopes SVSU's rugby teams acquire a following as determined and faithful as the groups that support soccer teams in Europe.

"We want hooligans."