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The Daily OrangeShark Attack
The Hammerheads, SU's club rugby team, advances
By Jake Romer
Posted: 10/22/08, 5:09 AM EST Section: Feature
Every weeknight, as late as the players are willing to stay, team captain Steven Patch leads the Syracuse University Club rugby team, the SU Hammerheads, in practice.
After months of intense training, Patch and his teammates prepare for a series of playoffs that could lead them to a national title.
"We're just a normal group of guys who come together to do something pretty extraordinary," said Rich Gallina, senior scrum half, the equivalent of half-back in football. "Everyone knows their role on the team."
The SU Hammerheads will host the first round of conference playoffs at Lower Hookway Field at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
Rugby, the predecessor to American football, is "sometimes described as the most exciting sport in the world," said Bob Wilson, head coach of the Hammerheads.
Unlike baseball or football, two of the United States' most popular sports, rugby is a much "more uncontrolled and fluid" experience. Focusing less on specialized positions and roles, anyone on the field can do just about anything they want.
The result: an exciting, fast-paced game similar to American football, but also quite different.
One characteristic of rugby and soccer alike is that of a continuously running clock. There are no time-outs, and limited substitutions are allowed.
The outcome is based on the performance of the team; individuals playing on the field, not on questionable officiating or smart plays from the coach.
A large part of the team's 5-0 conference record, first place in the New York State Conference out of 36 teams and its 15th national ranking, must be credited to the players.
"We have a lot of returning players. Also, we are in much better shape than the competition," said Colin Bell, a sophomore at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a fly half on the rugby team.
Bell and his teammates slaughtered the team from the University at Buffalo, who had gone undefeated in conference play the past six years.
After months of intense training, Patch and his teammates prepare for a series of playoffs that could lead them to a national title.
"We're just a normal group of guys who come together to do something pretty extraordinary," said Rich Gallina, senior scrum half, the equivalent of half-back in football. "Everyone knows their role on the team."
The SU Hammerheads will host the first round of conference playoffs at Lower Hookway Field at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
Rugby, the predecessor to American football, is "sometimes described as the most exciting sport in the world," said Bob Wilson, head coach of the Hammerheads.
Unlike baseball or football, two of the United States' most popular sports, rugby is a much "more uncontrolled and fluid" experience. Focusing less on specialized positions and roles, anyone on the field can do just about anything they want.
The result: an exciting, fast-paced game similar to American football, but also quite different.
One characteristic of rugby and soccer alike is that of a continuously running clock. There are no time-outs, and limited substitutions are allowed.
The outcome is based on the performance of the team; individuals playing on the field, not on questionable officiating or smart plays from the coach.
A large part of the team's 5-0 conference record, first place in the New York State Conference out of 36 teams and its 15th national ranking, must be credited to the players.
"We have a lot of returning players. Also, we are in much better shape than the competition," said Colin Bell, a sophomore at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a fly half on the rugby team.
Bell and his teammates slaughtered the team from the University at Buffalo, who had gone undefeated in conference play the past six years.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
matty ney
posted 10/22/08 @ 4:49 PM EST
it's the same the whole world over,
it's the scrum that gets the blame.
it's the backs that get the glory,
and all the bloody shame.
good luck HHE
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