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 Neal Goodwin, second left, Matt Prengaman, right, and Daniel Lee, back, attempt to tackle Drew Hicks as Joe Winston, left, watches during rugby practice Tuesday night on the SprinTurf. Idaho will travel to Coeur d'Alene this Saturday to play in the Kootenai Cup. Nick Groff/Argonaut
Students walking the campus at night can hear them. Under the lights on the SprinTurf and armed only with cleats and striped polo shirts, they collide, kick and tackle one another. The unorthodox play calls, grunts and echoed expletives are in tune with the laughter, cheers and jokes the University of Idaho rugby club throws at each other.
“I guarantee if you play one game, you’ll be hooked on this sport,” Idaho coach Matt Hudson said.
The team consists of roughly 30 players, and Hudson said they’re always looking get new players hooked.
“People don’t quit rugby, that’s the basic bottom line,” Hudson said. Once people get wrapped up in the sport, it takes on a life of
its own.”
The team has roughly 10 players with experience dating before college, another 10 who picked up the game during college and 10 more who are new to the sport.
Club president Neal Goodwin has played for two years and said what attracted him to rugby was its unique team aspect.
“In other sports, like football, you have the star players — the “In other sports, like football, you have the star players — the running back, the quarterback,” Goodwin said.
“In rugby, anyone can score. You can’t win with just a couple good players. There’s no number one.” Goodwin said. “In rugby, anyone can score. You can’t win with just a couple good players. There’s no number one.”
Drew Humel is a rookie to the game. He grew up playing football at Kuna High School and found a new interest in rugby this fall.
“I like that the game keeps going. It’s a fast-paced game and the guys seem a lot cooler than in a lot of other sports,” Humel said. “They’re easygoing, they like to play hard and have fun.”
With veterans playing alongside rookies, the new guys are forced to pick up the rules and strategies at the same time they’re dodging tackles and making plays.
“The best way to go is just keep your head down and keep trying and they’ll help you out every chance they get,” Humel said. “Just try and hit somebody.”
Off the field, the rugby team has a brotherhood and hierarchy between the experienced and inexperienced players.
In his freshman year, Goodwin felt scared and unfamiliar but felt immediately welcomed.
“I remember our first little get-together after the game I was wearing a dress flipping burgers,” Goodwin said. He said everyone bonds really well and enjoys the sense of humor and brotherhood among the team and said it was a great way to meet friends at school.
Off the field with opponents, rugby strikes another unique chord. Contrary to the violence and aggression on the field, rugby players have a respect for the opponents after each game.
“It’s really just aggression on the field,” Daniel Lee said. Lee, last season’s rookie of the year, described the mood after games as a family event.
Regardless of what happens or what is said on the field, both teams get together for barbecues and “drink ups.”
“By the time the game’s over, you come together as one,” Lee said.
The UI rugby team competes in the College Division II league against teams based close geographically such as Gonzaga, Portland State and Eastern Washington. Hudson said he encourages new players to come out to any of the practices Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m.
“Goals for this season are obviously to win our conference and go to the regional playoffs,” Hudson said.
In the long term, Hudson said he wanted to see UI embrace the program.
“Anyone can play the sport and you can build a program anywhere. You play one game, and you can see why people get drawn to it.”
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