There are many things rugby looks like, but it never fully fits a description.
Rugby players run around (mostly) unprotected like soccer players, yet they carry an egg-shaped ball to an endzone as if they were playing football. Sometimes they punt it, but the clock rarely stops. All in all, there is anarchy on the pitch, and this is the perfect escape for the Idaho men’s rugby team.
“It’s a mix between a lot of different sports, but the best way to describe it is as organized chaos,” said Bob Sproull, head coach for the men’s team. “There’s elements of football, soccer, lacrosse and so many others. In this way it’s a pretty beautiful thing, because it can pull together people of any body type and athleticism and gives them a role on the team and a place on the field.”
Rugby games are played one of two ways, between two teams consisting of either 15 or seven players. Idaho focuses more on the 15s, which can include players ranging from undersized running backs to bruisers who are closer to the linemen playing in the trenches of the NFL.
“15s is the version of the game that the game’s leaders put their resources into. This version of the game allows for all different body types to participate due to the way the game is set up,” said Sproull. “The seven’s game is a lot more sprinting involved, so you’re looking for guys that are much more like what you would see out of a cornerback or a linebacker in football.”
In both versions, the goal is familiar: outscore your opponent. Teams score points by securing tries, which occurs when a player makes it to the endzone and taps the ball on the ground. While that half is decidedly closer to football, tries are often the result of precision strategy and passing that are suggestive of soccer.
Even then, there are facets of the game that are distinctly unique. Players can pass the ball, but only laterally or backwards. If a player wants to exploit a hole deep in the defense, they can punt the ball forward in hopes that another teammate will be able to sprint and scoop it up. And of course, there are plenty of jarring but technically sound hits that make the sport reasonably safer than football.
The men’s rugby team has played on campus for more than 40 years, typically facing off with teams from around the northwest. And, like most club sports, the relationships with other teams are often quite amicable once the chaos on the pitch is finished.
“We play against WSU, Boise State, Gonzaga, those types of teams on the weekends,” Sproull said. “We play 4-6 games in the fall and practice during the week, and then we start back up once the weather gets nice again with a couple more 15s games and a short seven’s season. The game itself can get violent, but it’s the culture that keeps bringing people back. Once you walk off, we’re all pretty much friends moving forward and happy to share good times together which builds that respect for your opponents.”
Even with the year-round schedule, the team is always accepting newcomers with any level of prior experience.
“We’re trying to grow the program right now, and the community around us actually has a lot of rugby roots with the local professionals with the Moscow Mules and more than 70 kids in the Moscow-Pullman area playing in youth rugby programs,” Sproull said. “There’s a great culture for the sport up here, and the sport has taught me a ton about discipline and respect and I’ve made tons of lifelong friends through the game. I’ve always said I would rather lose a rugby game than play something else like softball and win.”
Idaho men’s rugby will play its seven’s championship at Washington State Friday and Saturday. Further information on the team and schedule can be procured by emailing Sproull at [email protected].
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker