Intense, physical and dangerous are usually the first words that come to mind when the sport of rugby is brought up, repelling many people. To attract newcomers, the men’s club rugby team places a strong emphasis on brotherhood and preaches that one doesn’t have to be “big and strong” to make their mark on the pitch.
“Rugby is a sport that supports everyone,” sophomore politics and economics double major Quinn McGahey said. “Whether you’re big, small, tall, short, it doesn’t matter. There are positions on the field for everyone.”
McGahey explained that entering his first-year, he had no interest in joining the club and knew little about the sport. It was when he attended the club sports fair where he was convinced to give it a shot. “The guys at the rugby table called me over and just talked to me. Not about rugby, but just about life,” McGahey said. “I decided I’d go to one practice since the guys were nice, and I fell in love.”
Club President and junior kinesiology major Logan Thoreson said, “We are a beginner friendly club, so [we are] heavily focused on creating a supportive and learning focused environment. Some club team cultures fall victim to the intensity of the competition,” he said. “I just want to make sure that every single new player can reflect on their growth from the start to the end of the season and feel that rugby made a positive impact on their life.”
The team plays 15s, which features two 40 minute halves with 15 players on each side. Rugby is played on a pitch, as the club competes on Negoesco Field. The game features an ellipsoidal shaped ball, which can only be passed backwards or perpendicular. The ball can be advanced across the field by being carried or kicked. Tackling plays a fundamental role in the game, but unlike American football, players don’t wear helmets or padding.
Each team has their own in-goal area, which they try to defend. In simplistic terms, a team scores by grounding or placing the ball into the opponent’s goal area, which is called a “try.” Other ways points can be scored are through kicking the ball through the cross bar, either following a try, a penalty or a drop-goal. The team with the most points at the end wins.
This semester, the team is in the midst of their fall season, previously playing games against opponents like San Jose State University, Cal Maritime Academy and San Francisco State University.
Despite suffering a 14-29 loss to SF State on Oct. 25, many members pointed to this game as a defining moment for the club. “Even though the result didn’t go our way, the team stuck together instead of pointing fingers or falling apart,” first-year neuroscience major Zafir Ahmed said. “That moment pushed us to improve, stay unified and raise our expectations for ourselves. It showed that our chemistry isn’t just visible in the good moments, but in how we respond to setbacks together.”
Senior finance major Nathan Wong said, “Another thing about the match that meant so much to us was that it was our first official league match held at Negoesco in the last six years. Having the fans, friends and family out there to support us really did show how many people had our backs and were supporting us throughout this season.”
In addition to showcasing mental toughness, the team aims for growth not only in the sport, but in all aspects of life. “We always make it clear to the boys that we are emphasizing the growth of character as well. Aside from team dinners, watch parties and trainings, we are trying our best to show appreciation to the city we live in,” he said. “We started volunteering at the USF Food Pantry, and have been connecting with our past alumni to help guide the team in their responsibilities, not just as players, but as respectful, caring individuals as well.”
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the club is hosting a free tailgate @ 5-7 p.m. at the Koret upper parking lot prior to their game vs the University of Nevada Reno at 7 p.m. Free food will be provided while supplies last. Students can RSVP to the event by visiting the link on their Instagram, @usfrc. Admission to the game is free.
