by Bill Laforme and Kristin Proulx Jarvis ’06G

Women's Rugby Club

It takes a lot of energy to be a rugby player at PSU. The sport itself is played at a fast pace, with few stoppages and continuous possession changes. All players on the field, regardless of position, must be able to run, pass, kick, and catch the ball. They must also be able to tackle and defend, making each position both offensive and defensive in nature.

Then there’s the work of managing the behind- the- scenes aspects of a club sport, which entails selecting coaches and referees, obtaining equipment, making travel arrangements, and setting up insurance for players. “It’s a ton of work,” says Melissa Duhamel, a junior who is president of the PSU Women’s Rugby Club, one of eight club sports teams at the University. “There’s paperwork to be completed so each player can play. There are arrangements I have to make for us to go to away games. [Managing] our budget is also a lot of work.”

Men's Rugby Club

While some may view all this work as a drawback to club sports, the players enjoy the level of involvement club sports demand. “We are very proud of the fact that we are self run,” says Men’s Rugby Club President Paul Jackson ’08. “Our captains and our presidents are the ones who are in charge of the team and bring us together.”

The players’ cohesiveness and dedication have helped lead both clubs to national success. Last season, the men’s rugby club, the Norsemen, enjoyed a perfect 8–0 regular season before advancing through the National Club Rugby Final Four tournament where they captured the National Division III Club Rugby Championship with an exciting 22–17 win over Furman University. The women’s rugby club won national division championships in 1999 and 2000, and in 2006 earned second in the nation in the Rugby Collegiate Division II National Championship.

These successes are even more impressive when you consider that many PSU rugby players don’t know much about the sport before joining the team. Jackson notes that his interest in the sport was sparked at a University recreational activities fair. “[During] the first practice, I fell in love with the game, and I’ve been playing for four years now,” he says.

Women's Rugby club

Duhamel notes that new recruits tend to be apprehensive about the aggressiveness of the sport, but they soon grow to love rugby. “It is an aggressive sport, but … it’s one of the easiest sports to learn how to play, and it’s a lot of fun,” she says.

With growing interest on campus, the rugby clubs are understandably optimistic about their futures and have set ambitious goals for the coming season. “The team’s goal is to win another national championship, but my personal goal for the team is for them to win New England again,” says Jackson. “We had a really special team this season. If we win New England again, it will say a lot about the program and keep good players coming in. Ever since we’ve started winning, we’ve had kids come to Plymouth because of rugby. That’s awesome.”

Duhamel is also determined to build upon her team’s success in the coming year; her goals include making it to the Division III national finals and reclaiming the club’s Division II status. But she’s quick to point out that, while victory is sweet, it isn’t what inspires her to play. “The thing that makes me love rugby is the bonding I have with my team,” Duhamel says, adding, “It’s an amazing sport.”

The Norsemen, fresh from their National Division III title Club Rugby Championship. Kindra Clineff photo.