Sean McGinley (semcginley@ursinus.edu)
This spring will see the return of another Ursinus club sport, Men’s Rugby. The revival is a product of heavy interest amongst students along with the addition of a student coach, according to junior Matt Parias. Practices for rugby are occurring weekly with the goal of a spring start date.
When asked about his specific interest in Men’s Rugby, Parias stated, “I’ve always wanted to start playing a club sport since I stopped playing lacrosse freshman year.” Ben Henwood, a junior, also shared his feelings about why he chose to get involved with the team. “My personal interest in starting the rugby team is I wanted to try something new and build a bond with others.” This new team is a great opportunity for any undergraduates on campus to get involved and build new bonds with their future teammates.
As far as the logistics, the men’s rugby season would look much like what Ursinus is used to. “Our season would be played in the spring and we’d probably play a similar schedule to the women’s rugby team,” said Henwood. There is sure to be warm enough temperatures for spectators to come out and support their fellow Bears! If the women’s rugby team is any benchmark for the men’s, this team is sure to be a lot of fun!
This is an exciting development for Ursinus College. This is just another example of how an old institution, such as Ursinus, is still taking strides to reinvigorate its campus and meet the demands of its students. This new rugby team also shows how receptive Ursinus can be to its students, completely allowing students to present their interest and follow through.
If you’re interested in joining Ursinus Men’s Rugby, contact head coach Jonny Gherman at jogherman@ursinus.edu or direct message their account on Instagram @ursinusmensrugby.