The men’s rugby club President David Wilkinson says his team could compete for a NCAA Division II men’s rugby championship this year, and that women’s rugby is back. Wilkinson also says that anyone can play rugby. The rugby club doesn’t cut players to make a roster, and everyone receives playing time regardless of talent or skill level. Last year the women’s team dissolved after the season and the thought was that women’s rugby had folded for good. That certainly is not the case anymore, due to new enthusiasm in women’s rugby and 20 new players participating. “One thing that helps our program is having the women’s program around,” said Wilkinson. So far this season, the rugby club has defeated the University of Central Florida 17-15, at a match held at the University of South Florida. In their second match, held on Feb. 4 at rival Florida International, they won in a lopsided victory 43-5. On Feb. 18, FAU defeated the University of North Florida 38-7 during a match at UCF. Future matches include Florida State University at the University of Florida on Feb. 25, and a home match against the University of Miami on Mar. 4. Home games are played at Henderson Field on the FAU campus. According to www.faurugby.com, the FAU rugby club focuses on providing college students, regardless of experience, a chance to learn the game of rugby. The rugby club emphasizes that “Size is a not a Prerequisite,” and points out that there is a spot on the field for every body size ranging from 5’3” 130lbs. to 6’9” 280lbs. “We don’t really have cuts like a lot of sports. Anybody can play and everybody will get a chance to play,” said Wilkinson. He also stresses the point that advancement is a reality for players.There are two levels of play, A-side games and B-side. A-side games are equivalent to varsity-level games while B-side matches are more at the junior-varsity level. The goal for FAU rugby players is to play in A-side matches. Even though they don’t play in premier matches, B-side players are still extremely important because they represent the future of the rugby club. “Everyone shoots to be on the A-side because that’s the starting team, the top team that we have. Every position there is always a constant battle within the team for that position. If an A-side [player] doesn’t do well or gets injured, a B-side player can step [up] and prove themselves,” said Wilkinson.Rugby is also a strenuous sport and can help anyone get into shape. Most of the practices consist of conditioning and running. “It’s incredible the amount of fitness that’s required in rugby,” says Wilkinson.The rugby club builds real life skills by developing teamwork, discipline, strength, and determination. In this country, rugby has grown to over 400 collegiate programs, and men’s clubs play rugby throughout North America. The FAU Men’s Rugby Team is, collegiately, a Division II program. All players must be students and be enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester, for undergraduate, or three credit hours for graduate students. The rugby club is a sport that receives funding from the Student Government Association and fundraisers. It also includes a board of student officers, elected within the club, that help with growth of the club. While funding from S.G.A. contribute to pay some of the costs of fielding a rugby team, tax-deductible donations through the FAU foundation account also help to pay the bills. The rugby club also appreciates material donations, in terms of everything from tents to water coolers. “We get some funding from student government like some clubs do. We [also] do a tremendous amount of fundraising, and [receive assistance] from parent’s donations and player dues,” said Wilkinson.Other club sports at FAU include ice hockey, a competitive cheer club, climbing, judo, scuba diving, fishing, fencing, and a surf club. These sports encourage student participation in physical and athletic activities. According to Campus Recreation, “The emphasis of Sport Clubs is on leadership and student development and its success is dependent upon student interest and involvement.” Club sports are open to men and women of all skill levels.The club sport participants at FAU are very dedicated individuals. Sometimes an inadequate amount of funds from the university forces club sports to become more creative. In the past, the Rugby Club has had to make rugby equipment themselves, with the help of Fred Knapp from the Ocean Engineering Machine Shop. Eric A. Hawkes, assistant director of Campus Recreation says his department oversees the clubs, acting as the liaison between the clubs and S.G.A. He says that campus recreation has the ability and the means to meet club sport situations effectively. “Campus recreation is really more a resource for sports clubs. As a club, they’re really more responsible for making their club as great or average as they want to be,” says Hawkes.He says that campus recreation is there for sports clubs whenever they need anything. They process all sports club paperwork along with field reservations.”We are really here to help them navigate the bureaucracy of the institution,” said Hawkes.

Upcoming Rugby Schedule3/25 Quarter Finals4/1 Finals at Furman (Greenville, SC)4/22 Playoff game for Nationals at Seminole County Sports Training Center, Sanford, FL.5/5-5/7 D II Championships at Stanford University

Fact Box? The game of rugby evolved from soccer. The term ‘rugby match’ comes from ‘soccer match.’? A pitch is the field where rugby is played. This term derives from soccer pitch, traditionally where a soccer match is played. ? American football was invented from the game of rugby.? The term touchdown comes from rugby. In rugby the player must touch the ball to the ground after the player scores. American football copied this to use in football games.? The home rugby team invites the away team to a social after the match. All hard feelings about the match are discarded and the two teams celebrate in a friendly atmosphere.? FAU Rugby matches consist of two 40-minute halves for per match.? Rugby is played all year round. During the summer months, a version of rugby is played with seven players, and is only 14 minutes long. Summer 7’s start in June at FAU. Normally matches are played with 15 players, and are 80 minutes long.