The Skyline Newspaper

Photo: Rugby players take down an opponent in a match last year. Photo by Jason Hennington

Rugby Team Achieves a Try

By Jason Hennington
News Writer

Football with no pads. Most people would call it crazy, but some people prefer to call it rugby. Rugby has become a respected sport on the Sul Ross campus in the past three years. Since its inaugural season in 2004, the rugby team, like any other team, has seen its ups and downs and improved as the years progressed.

Patrick Tarlton, Round Rock, helped to get the club started not only as a player, but as the president.

"We put the rugby team together to give students an outlet from academic obligations and stresses from being away from home," Tarlton said.

In high school, Tarlton won a state rugby championship, and his team was third in the nation at the National Championship. His team was also the Western Division Champion in Texas.

Beginning its third season, the rugby team, without the assistance of scholarships or recruiting, has 27 players and one coach involved with the club. Some of the players had never played rugby until they came to Sul Ross, but enjoy the game.

"This was a good way to meet people," said Peter Kanicki, Round Rock.

For some, this is an alternative for football but one that still allows them to be involved with a physical sport.

"This is a contact sport," said Skyler Brunson, Fredericksburg. Brunson began as a soccer player and made the transition to Rugby.

"In soccer you need eye-foot coordination," Brunson said. "Rugby is a harder sport to learn, but you don't that it as much."

In Rugby there is no blocking, but it tends to have more running involved than football, where the player assignments are more specialized.

In rugby everyone gets a chance at every position.

"You get to hit people and just have fun," said Alvaro Rosas, Austin. "You get to do it all in rugby. Everybody gets a chance to touch the ball."

Liz Garcia is serving her first year as advisor and Tarlton is serving as president. Sean Nunnelley is the head coach.

Nunnelley played last year with the team and is sanctioned by the USA Rugby Union.

With five games and two tournaments against Division 1 and Division 2 teams, the rugby team is staying busy and active this semester.

Two home games are scheduled for this season, October 20 and November 3.The team won its first game at TAMU on Friday, Sept. 28 and lost its second game at Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Anybody is welcome to join the Rugby team.

Interested individuals are invited to the track field Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 pm.

Tarlton stresses they are always looking for players.

The Rugby team consists of a close knit group that sticks together and follows the leadership of its veterans.

"Rugby gives us a way to represent Sul Ross in ways that other sports can't," said Tarlton.

"We're happy that Sul Ross and the community have welcomed our club, and we hope to give back through community service and university participation."