Friday, September 24, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Members of the Jayhawk women's rugby team push a weight sled during an evening practice. The team began its season last weekend in Manhattan with a loss to Kansas State and a victory against Nebraska-Omaha.
Photo by Eric Sahmann/ KANSAN
Women's rugby gaining popularity
Physical challenge draws in players
By Jason Walker
sports@kanson.com
Kansas sportswriter
Any women out there who aren't afraid of a little physical contact might want to check out the Jayhawk women's rugby team.
Rugby, a hard-hitting sport usually thought of as a men's game, has developed a following at the University of Kansas. About 30 women play on the collegiate team.
Heidi Spann, Fayetteville, Ark., senior, said the team was known for its competitiveness.
is competitive. "We're the team to beat in a lot of tournaments," she said. "We have potential because we have a lot of veteran players and dedicated rookies with a lot of motivation to play."
pky. Mae Duling, Columbus sophomore, is one of those rookies. Duling said that she was motivated by the athletic challenge of the game.
"You have to take a beating and keep on going," she said. "It's pretty rough. I'm used to lifting
weights and running, so rugby was the next physical challenge I wanted."
The team's season began last weekend in Manhattan, when the team played Kansas State and Nebraska-Omaha. They were narrowly defeated by K-State 19-15, but then beat Nebraska-Omaha 30-0.
Spann said that some interesting road trips were on the slate for the team this year, including a trip to New Orleans for a tournament during Mardi Gras.
"It's one of the best tournaments we play in," she said. "We will play some good opponents. We go play hard and then we go party hard."
Spann also said the team hoped to go to the "Debutante Ball" tournament in Houston this year.
"Everyone dresses up in formal wear and plays rugby," she said. "I definitely wouldn't want to wear a new dress."
Kristen Brandt, Andover senior,
said that she started playing rugby
last spring because she wanted a
good way to stay active.
"I started going to practice and got really into it," she said. "Now I want to learn as much about it as I possibly can. It's definitely one of
the best things I have ever done at KU."
Brandt also said that she would encourage anyone who had an ambition to play sports to come out for the rugby team.
"It's an absolutely wonderful group of girls," she said. "And a good way to gain a new side to your social life. It's worth coming out and taking a look at."
The camaraderie among the teammates was something else that attracted Duling to the Jayhawk team.
"The girls are really friendly and down-to-earth," she said. "It's like it's a family."
The team had a scrimmage on the lawn of Strong Hall Sept. 15 and 16, to give students a firsthand look into the world of women's rugby. Spann said that she didn't think many people knew that women played rugby.
"Our goal is that people will gain rugby awareness," she said. "There's not as much publicity for women as there is for men. People think that because it's a contact sport women don't play it."
Spann said her favorite part of the rugby matches was when a physical play took place.
Oct. 9 against KC Jazz at home Oct. 16 against Nebraska at home
WOMEN'S RUGBY
home Oct. 23 at KC Sirens
Oct. 25 at RK offens
Oct. 30 against Oklahoma at
Nov. 6 at Trumon State
Nov. 13-14 at Ozark
Tournament in Little Rock, Ark.
"There's that one play of the game when there's one downright aard-core tackle," she said. "And someone really gets taken out. That's the best. Especially if that person deserves it."
Spann said that rugby was the only sport she had experienced that had such high levels of physical and mental intensity.
car and memoirs.
"You crave that intensity," she said. "It gets to where you need to play it to release your aggressions. You need that intense of an outlet, and through that outlet you find out rugby is a great game and develop a love for it."
Anyone interested in learning more about women's rugby can call Heidi Spinn at 865-3889.
—Edited by Darrin Peschka
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