Rugby has grown in popularity, gaining traction as a major sport in the United States and on the NC State campus. Tom Kiernan, the captain and president, and Thomas Reynolds, the vice-captain, of NC State’s club rugby team explained how there is almost no discernibility between this club team and other schools that have varsity level programs. This team looks to be successful this year and add to the ever growing list of strong teams and programs at NC State.
“Most club sports have competitive levels, and we have two sides, an A-side and a B-side, which is selected based on how skilled you are, how dedicated you are,” Kiernan said. “The B-side is just going to be your learning curve experience for the younger guys to build up.”
This team plays teams like Virginia Military Institute, Duke, Virginia and Queen’s University. Some of these teams have paid programs as well as recruitments and scholarships.
“We got to the quarterfinals,” Kiernan said. “We felt we had a team that could’ve won nationals but we just had injuries, so there was just a lot going against us towards the end of the season. We had seven or eight of our starters not be able to play, so we are looking to win it all this year.”
Kiernan and Reynolds both believe that this team has tremendous depth as well as more size and speed than last year. The team has added four new players to the competitive team so far, so the chemistry that this team has built is going to show on the field. Players Jack Dalton and Mayo Ogunmola are both believed to be a big help.
“Jack Dalton… he’s generally honed his skills, and he’s one of the leaders on the team. He’s a juggernaut when he runs over,” said Kiernan. “One of the guys that is just gonna be rampaging through teams is Mayo Ogunmola, who’s a human bus: really fast, really strong. I feel like he’s gonna be a tank this season.”
With a team this talented, the worry of injury is probably in the back of the players’ minds. Reynolds has tried to mentally prepare the guys for each game and letting each player learn their limits.
“But every year we have to take the proper steps to teach the newer guys and ourselves how to go into contact and how to take contact safely,” said Reynolds. “In American football, they really just say ‘hit the guy.’ In rugby, you have no protection whatsoever so you have to be smart about how you hit the guy.”
American football and soccer still take prominence for youth looking to join new sports despite the attempt to recruit new players.
“Come out there to two or three sessions and get a grasp for it,” Kiernan said. “If it’s not your thing, there’s no pressure for you to come, but most people come out and generally realize it’s not this gladiator sport.”
Kiernan in particular has spent a good chunk of his life playing and learning the sport. Since he did not grow up with American football, rugby was the most prominent alternative, and as a result he feels emotionally attached. They both explained to me that you have to have a certain emotional connection to the sport, or you will “get smacked”.
Anyone can go in, and go at their own pace, to build up to where they want to be in the sport.
The club loves its competitive and friendly reach, and truly loves the community it has built.
“Hopefully one day NC State rugby will become a varsity level program,” Kiernan said. “Rugby has definitely showed that it is worthy of that level of competition.”
