Women's Rugby to tackle tough BC squad

Watching a women's rugby game isn't exactly like watching a Steven Spielberg movie remake of Jurassic Park, but the comparison may not be that far off. "We're kind of like those velociraptors," Co-Social Chair of the squad, Vanessa Agard-Jones, CC '00, said. "We strike at the other team in a different place every time, until we locate their weakness. Then that's where we hit them. Usually that's where we kill them too."

The team's record stands at 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the Ivy League. In their first tournament of the season this past weekend at the University of Massachusetts, the Bulldogs ousted defending national champions Penn State with a thrilling 7-5 win in the semifinals. They were stopped short in the finals by Princeton, but walked away from Massachusetts with high expectations for the future.

Led by co-captains Sarah Holley, SM '99, a fullback, and eight-man Jenny Machida, CC '98, the team has combined talent and motivation to formulate their early success this season. Rugby, perhaps much more than any other sport, requires full effort from the whole squad. Each team member affects the team in some way. Losing some key players in last year's senior class did indeed affect the team, but they have still managed to keep their heads and their goals high. Physically, the players on the field find themselves in great shape compared to the rest of the Northeast. Mentally, they feel that they may at times fall short of what is expected. The rookies this season are contributing a good deal.

Julia Tiernan/YH

Liza Halsey, MC '00, a first year player, has been a strong asset on the field. "She's been a tremendous force in her first season," veteran Alison Hajdusciewicz, BR '98, commented.

There have been some major disappointments with injuries to key players this season. Machida is out with a stress fracture in her tibia and Sandy Enuha, DC '99, joins her on the injured list with a torn MCL. No one can deny that rugby is a contact sport that may lead to injuries. Many players worry about not getting the same treatment as other injured athletes since rugby is not a varsity sport. According to Holley, "This is possibly the most physical sport ever and we do not have access to the physical therapy that varsity athletes get. That makes it very difficult to treat injuries properly."

As a group, the rugby players are very close-knit. There is usually a team dinner after each practice and a social activity with the opponents after every game. Many team members enjoy the social dimension of rugby. "That is one of the most fun and unique aspects of rugby," Holley said. "After playing 80 minutes of intensely competitive rugby, you get to drink, sing and hang out with the opposing team."

Simply from the large amounts of time spent playing and practicing together, the players have attained a uniquely tight bond. Machida observed, "Rugby is the ultimate team sport. If a player is not functioning at her highest level of intensity in a game situation, her fellow teammates will suffer, quite literally. Support is the game's key element, and this attitude pervades our relations on and off the pitch."

There are times when emotions dominate any athletic competition, but rugby in particular can bring out either the best or the worst because of its level of physical contact and intensity. With the potential for injury as high as it is, players must always look out for each other. Agard-Jones commented on how emotions may come into play: "We play well together not merely because we love the game (which we do), but because we care about each other. To watch one of your friends getting kicked around by a woman twice her size on the pitch really motivates you to run just that much faster and to strip the ball that much harder to get her out of trouble."

With their eyes set on making it to nationals this season, the ruggers look to this weekend's matchup with Boston College as perhaps the biggest game of the season. Holley commented, "It's going to be a really tough match." They will have to beat the undefeated Eagles to vie for a spot in the New England championships, the next obstacle on the road to nationals.

Back to Sports...