Renewed dedication leads to dream season

"Winning and losing are both self-perpetuating," Yale men's rugby club president Jedd Herrmann, JE '00, explains. "And we are tired of losing."

Herrmann's not lying--the team that compiled a 2-12 record over the last two seasons has jumped out to a perfect 4-0 mark this fall and looks to make a run at the league title. Yale's recent success has come from a combination of a new approach and more experienced, stronger players.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Justin Beal, CC '01, wins yet another lineout for Yale.

Perhaps the most important facet of Yale's revitalization was the acquisition of coach Peter Hawkins. Though Hawkins is not full-time or paid, he has the experience necessary to lead the Bulldogs. An independent investment manager in Darien, Conn., Hawkins has played with the national champion men's club team Old Blue of New York and the Los Angeles Rugby Club. He has also written for national publications about the sport.

The captain Derek Webster, PC '99, tore his Achilles tendon during an awkward tackle in the Williams game on Sat., Sept. 19, which Yale won 34-21. He has been serving as an interim coach during games when Hawkins has had to referee. "I was lucky that I tore the tendon out of the muscle and not out of the bone," Webster said. "I'm probably out for the fall, but my big ambition is to be back for the big Harvard game [on Sat., Nov. 20]."

Another important factor to Yale's newfound success is last spring break's tour of Great Britain. Though the team ended up losing to Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh, they returned dedicated and more experienced. "The tour was very important in bringing the team together. We returned serious about rugby and the play was much improved," Herrmann said.

Hawkins agreed. "Since they went on tour over spring break, they have really turned around," he explained. "It sort of completed the puzzle." The Bulldogs are planning on travelling to Spain this year.

The Bulldogs' renewed dedication to aggressive offense has also contributed to the team's success. "It's too difficult to play defense all day. If you play defense all day, you will lose," Hawkins said. During the losing era, the Elis used to do just that, giving up offense and relying on defensive maneuvers. Now they offense speaks for itself and the defense backs it up. Not only have the Elis been defeating teams that only two or three years ago humiliated them, but they have also been beating them by a lot. The most recent example came on Sat., Oct. 10, as the Elis pinned traditional powerhouse Trinity on their side of the field in a 20-0 rout.

The team's experienced core has been nicely supplemented by a strong group of freshmen, led by Irish phenom Dara McCaba, MC '02. "We have him playing both inside and outside center positions. Dara leads a very athletic and talented freshman class. Along with the veterans, everything is coming together this year," Herrmann said.

McCaba has been playing rugby since he was nine years old. "It started off because a friend said it was really good fun," he explained. "For nine years, I played five or six days a week for several hours a day." After McCaba finished high school, he was offered a semi-professional contract. Though he chose Yale instead, he almost did not play here. "It was only after rowing lightweight crew for the first two weeks that I realized I missed ball sports," he said.

Although he reminisced about the huge crowds, advertising, and stardom that surround rugby in Britain, McCaba is excited about playing for Yale. "Here, training three times a week with Saturday matches suits me very well. Now we have a lot of good juniors and seniors. I've got a lot of respect for that. Experience along with the international blood brings a bit of flair to the team."

This Sat., Oct. 17, Yale will play Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn. "It's an important game, but winnable," Hawkins said. If the Bulldogs persevere, they will play for the league title against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut on Sat., Oct. 24.

Though Yale has come a long way in just one year, the president does not want this team to become too confident too quickly. "It's important not to become complacent. We've already been through too many losing seasons," Herrmann said.

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