With one league game under their belts, the University of Oregon men’s club rugby team faces the University of Washington on Saturday.
After a promising run in last year’s playoffs, the team expects to make another playoff run this season.
“For us, that’s the goal we have every year,” said team coordinator David Hoffenberg.
Despite a 0-3 record heading into the weekend, the team remains optimistic. Its last loss was to an 11th-ranked Central Washington team that was fresh off a win at second-ranked Utah.
In addition to having played tough teams so far, this year’s squad benefits from the return of most players from last year; only three players graduated, and the team picked up a couple of transfer students.
Rugby contests are made up of two games: an A-side game and a B-side game. The A-side team is much like a varsity squad and currently has 45 active players.
Oregon’s team boasts two especially accomplished players this year. Senior Joji Kurosaki will be a member of the United States rugby squad at the 2009 Maccabi Games in Jerusalem. Also, freshman Bobby Mulvaney is a member of the U.S. under-19 team and will soon try out for the national under-20 team.
Fans have the chance to see two games, as both the A-side and B-side teams will play Saturday. Rugby is the only fall club sport that does not make cuts, so the B-side team gives players with less exposure to the sport the opportunity to play in a game and gain experience.
While rugby is not the most publicized sport on campus, the team appreciates fan support. “We love to see big crowds at our games,” Hoffenberg said.
Rugby is unique in that it combines the elements of many sports. Hoffenberg notes that it combines the “elegance of soccer, the fast pace of basketball, and the excitement of football” into one game.
As a Division I collegiate rugby team, Oregon is part of the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union, and will play eight league games and several other friendly games this season. If the team finishes first or second in the union, they will progress to regional play and work to continue even further into the national level of the playoffs.
The A-side match begins at noon Saturday, with the B-side match to follow at approximately 1:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend either game, and both will be played at Riverfront Field.
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