2008 Woodie Awards
Macalester Rugby - the beloved and unknown
Macalester's rugby players are all about intensity when it comes to playing the game they love, but they have the misfortune of playing a sport that is relatively unknown to most of the campus
By: Jamie Macpherson, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: Sports
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Although last Saturday was grey and wet, a small crowd showed up at the stadium to watch Macalester's men's rugby team take on Bemidji State University. The men lost 13-0, but generated a level of enthusiasm that caught on in the stands. Amidst the cheering and a few rounds of "Scotland the Brave!" however, was some confusion.
"I don't understand this game, it's just an excuse to roll around in the mud," said one fan. "Ohhh, there's a ball on the field," said others.
"We don't have a very wide fan base because people don't really understand the game," Captain Curran Hughes '07 said. "People will go [watch] football even if they don't understand the game because it's a part of their culture. If you're not a part of the culture, it's kind of a detractor."
So why go see the rugby team? Because right now, they're hot.
Although the club sport has been at Mac for over twenty years, with the help of new coach Jaffery Blanks the team started to take off.
"Five years ago, maybe eight guys would show up for practice," Hughes said. "And most would be drunk. This year we're skyrocketing. The Bemidji Captain came up to me after the game and was like, 'You guys have improved so much.'"
"The team is doing very well," agreed Club Sports Director Vanessa Seljeskog.
"In good rugby, play never stops," Captain Brian Pouw '08 said. "You want to be seeing teams that are spread out, and carry the ball well. If they are tackled, the ball [should] get back to your team quickly, to keep the play in motion."
Pouw, wearing a shirt with the words "Donate blood, play rugby" written on it, defends the aggressive reputation rugby receives. "There's this general misconception that rugby is more dangerous than football. With rugby you get bruises and cuts, but with football, you get broken bones…I felt more scared playing football than rugby."
"[Things] happen," said Hughes. But, he explains, it builds a sense of camaraderie between different teams, as well as within the team itself. The people who tackle you know how much it hurts. "Usually they'll help you up afterwards. And you don't see other sports teams partying together after a game, they usually hate each other," he said.
"I don't understand this game, it's just an excuse to roll around in the mud," said one fan. "Ohhh, there's a ball on the field," said others.
"We don't have a very wide fan base because people don't really understand the game," Captain Curran Hughes '07 said. "People will go [watch] football even if they don't understand the game because it's a part of their culture. If you're not a part of the culture, it's kind of a detractor."
So why go see the rugby team? Because right now, they're hot.
Although the club sport has been at Mac for over twenty years, with the help of new coach Jaffery Blanks the team started to take off.
"Five years ago, maybe eight guys would show up for practice," Hughes said. "And most would be drunk. This year we're skyrocketing. The Bemidji Captain came up to me after the game and was like, 'You guys have improved so much.'"
"The team is doing very well," agreed Club Sports Director Vanessa Seljeskog.
"In good rugby, play never stops," Captain Brian Pouw '08 said. "You want to be seeing teams that are spread out, and carry the ball well. If they are tackled, the ball [should] get back to your team quickly, to keep the play in motion."
Pouw, wearing a shirt with the words "Donate blood, play rugby" written on it, defends the aggressive reputation rugby receives. "There's this general misconception that rugby is more dangerous than football. With rugby you get bruises and cuts, but with football, you get broken bones…I felt more scared playing football than rugby."
"[Things] happen," said Hughes. But, he explains, it builds a sense of camaraderie between different teams, as well as within the team itself. The people who tackle you know how much it hurts. "Usually they'll help you up afterwards. And you don't see other sports teams partying together after a game, they usually hate each other," he said.
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