“The new kid is puking,” one player comments, grabbing his mouth guard. Drenched in sweat, he heaves again bringing up just a little more vomit then he stands up straight and drinks some water. Without a second thought, he drops his water bottle while jogging back to the lines of fellow rugby players doing drills.
“Legend has it, rugby was created by William Webb Ellis in 1832, at Rugby School, in Rugby, England, when Ellis picked up a soccer ball and started running with it,” Captain of the FAU Rugby Football Club, Brian Trew explains. “Rugby is now the third most watched sport, worldwide, after the Olympics and World Cup Soccer.” However, the sport maintains “club” status because it is not a recognized by NCAA.
On the field, Coach Greg Van de Grift sets up for the next drill, “…one guy is the runner the other guy is the tackler,” and as the drill progresses, Dylan Kennard, President of the club, runs toward Trew. They collide like two trains, wrestling briefly and dropping to the grass field. “He wanted to crush him,” someone in line jeers, “That’s rivalry right there!” Everyone laughs.
The club’s 30 plus members are tough, they have real war faces, a certain sense of honor radiates off them and pride burns in their eyes. Words like respect, dedication and camaraderie seem only to scratch the surface of the energy on the field as Kennard says, “Something intangible…like I can only run so hard on my own, but if I’ve got a buddy, like Brian, with me we can run for each other.”
The FAU Rugby Football Club was founded in 1990. It’s existence waxed and waned, but more recently it has been growing. According to Trew, the men’s team has beaten every other college team in the state for the last three semesters, “We might challenge for Nationals this year.”
In addition, the Rugby club started a women’s team two semesters ago.
The atmosphere is very inviting, “Don’t be scared, just come out,” sophomore Alex Cook says.
Captain Trew says, “There is a place for every body on the field, no matter how big or small you are.”
“Rugby is a unique sport, it’s a team of one with the strength of fifteen,” Kennard says. “Everyone is equal, everyone has a chance to touch the ball, everyone has the opportunity to score, but everyone also works together on the team.”
Kennard goes on to say, “Rugby is a sport of running and tackling for 80 minutes (two 40-minute halves); if you grew up loving backyard football you’ll love Rugby.”
“The camaraderie of the guys, and the lifetime friendships you create are why rugby isn’t just a sport,” Kennard says.
The club also believes in giving back to the community. This year they are participating in the Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
Kennard and Trew say that because rugby is not recognized as an NCAA sport they don’t have access to the Oxley Center, which provides a gym, trainers, and other services to FAU athletes. But they have several volunteers to make up for the lack of services. Dr. Bruce Fischer provides his medical skills to the team for a very low price, and Coaches Greg Van de Grift and John Cawthray, volunteer their time.
Trew points out the dedication of players, coaches, and fans. They usually get about 300 fans in attendance, “which is at least 200 more than other colleges we play,” Trew says. “The fans make the sport what it is.”
Kennard says “Rugby is an underground revolution sport.”
If you are interested in joining the “brotherhood known around the world,” as Trew describes it or going to the games, the team meets for practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on the Henderson Field, next to the A.D Henderson University School, just north of 20th Street.
For more information e-mail [email protected] or click here to see their Web site, which is updated regularly.
