Monday, October 27, 2014

Men's Rugby Grows to League Powerhouse in Just Three Seasons










Following an undefeated league record in their inaugural 2013 season, the BW men’s rugby team has established themselves as a force in the Ohio Division III Rugby. According to the team's co-founder, Luke Berry '14, the team has been ranked as high as number 22 nationally out of the 325-member National Small College Rugby Organization. Not bad for a team that started two years ago on Klein field.

Back in 2012, Berry co-founded the club team with a small group of BW students who simply loved to play rugby. Before that, the "team" had consisted of a handful of students playing on Klein field, gradually garnering more and more interest in the sport. Berry said the team was truly legitimized once Brian Lewis and Marty Moran signed on as their “very experienced coaches.”

Once a fledgling club team scraping together funds for cheap uniforms and referees for scrimmages, the BW men’s rugby team now boasts an impressive record of success. In the current fall 2014 season, the BW rugby club carries a roster of 28 players, and has compiled a perfect 6-0 record with wins over Oberlin, Tiffin, Ashland, Cleveland State, John Carroll and Wright State.

The Yellow Jackets notched their 2nd straight Eastern Division Championship and earned a number 1 seed in the Great Lakes Cup Championship. BW will host the Great Lakes Cup on Nov. 8.