Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, September 17, 1999
Rough-and-tumble Kansas men's rugby gets physical
By Jason Walker
by Jason Walker sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Students looking for a hard-hitting, fast-paced approach to athletics need to look no further than the Kansas men's rugby team
No helmets, no pads, no problem for members of the Kansas men's rugby team who practiced last week. Although serious injuries are rare, cuts and bruises are par for a rugby course.
Photo Jamie Roper/KANSAN
The Jayhawks kicked off their season last Saturday with a 41-10 drubbing of Nebraska-Omaha, and want to continue that success for the rest of the season. A formidable opponent awaits this weekend as Kansas travel to Truman State.
"It's the biggest game of the season in terms of how well we're going to do," said Ben Figard, Bartlesville, Okla., senior. "They are our biggest rival."
Rugby combines elements of football and soccer to create a game as physical as football, without the aid of pads or helmets. In fact, rugby has been around longer than the sports it appears to combine.
"It has characteristics that parallel so many other sports," said Brian Holmes, Omaha, Neb., senior. "Fundamentals of several other sports have been derived from rugby."
Holmes said that rugby influenced James Naismith when he invented basketball.
Rugby originated in Great Britain in the early 19th century. While its biggest following remains overseas, its popularity in the United States continues to grow.
The main goal of rugby is simple — move the ball down the field and get it into the try zone, which is similar to football's end zone. A try, which is similar to a touch
the pace of rugby that sets it apart.
down in football, is worth five points, with a two-point conversion attempted after each try. A team also can score three points during play if a player kicks the ball through the goal posts. While the scoring may mirror football, Holmes said it was
"Football goes all-out for a few seconds and then has a break between plays," he said. "Rugby goes all out all the time. And if you substitute out, you can't come back in for the rest of the game."
Rugby is played on a field 100 meters
long, and 15 players are in the field for each team. Of those 15, eight are forwards and seven are backs. Holmes said that the forwards tend to be the bigger, slower players and the backs were the smaller, quicker ones.
The ball is moved down the field by players running with the ball and passing it to their teammates. Passes can be thrown backward or laterally, but not forward.
"Rugby is a possession game," Holmes said. "Football is more of a vardage game."
"Rugby is a possession game." Holmes said. "Football is more of a yardage game." The men's rugby team is the collegiate branch of a group called the Kansas Jayhawk Rugby Football Club, which also encompasses the Kansas women's team and a club team mostly made up of alumni. Holmes said that some enjoyed rugby so much that they continued playing competitively later in life.
"There's a guy in his 60s that still plays in a rec league," he said. "And I hear about a guy that is 80 that still plays competitive rugby."
Figard said that once he started playing rugby, it not to be addictive.
"There's no way to describe the intensity," he said. "It's like golf. You spend so much time figuring out how to do one part of the game right, and when you finally do it is the greatest feeling."
Figard said that rugby was a perfect fit in his life when he came to college.
"It itfs what I am good at," he said. "I enjoy the physical activity and athleticism involved. Plus, you get to be a part of a fun group of guys. It's more than just a sport;
RUGBY SCHEDULE
Sept. 18 at Truman State
Sept. 25 at Pittsburg State
Oct. 2-3 Heart of America tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Oct. 9 Emporia State at home
Oct. 16 at Colorado
Oct. 23 at Missouri
Oct. 30 Oklahoma at home
Nov. 6 at Rockhurst
Nov. 13 Kansas State at home
it's a way of life."
Holmes said that during a rugby match any player on the field had a chance to get a piece of the action.
"If you are in the right place and you get the ball and put effort into it, you can score," he said. "People get hooked by the fact that everyone participates."
But Holmes warned that touching the ball sometimes came with a price.
"You'll see guys jump up to catch the ball and right when he does — boom — he gets hit," he said. "There are a lot of high-speed collisions. Sometimes guys get picked up and slammed down but there are rarely any serious injuries, mostly just cuts and bruises. Ruby gets a bad rap, but it's not as dangerous as most people think."
Holmes said even for people who didn't know anything about rugby, it could be a fun sport to watch.
"It's so physical," he said. "You can see a guy running down the field and get killed all of a sudden. It's great."
Fourth Week
— Edited by Brad Hallier
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